John Newport
John C. Newport (~1833 – Jan. 29, 1864) was a Union soldier from Scott County who was killed in action during the Civil War. The Scott County chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic was named after him.
See Also: Scott Countians killed in war
Biography
Born about 1833, John C. Newport lived on Brimstone Creek. He was the son of Calvin Newport (1810-1858) and Elizabeth Begley (~1810-~1858).
While some genealogical records suggest that John’s father died in 1864, he did not appear in the 1860 census. At that time, John was the head of household, living with his siblings, Ezekiel (age 23), Sarah (21), Malinda (19) and Elizabeth (14). He had another sister, Mary “Polly” Robbins, who married John Michael Robbins in 1851.
Civil War
John Newport was a lieutenant in the 7th Tennessee Infantry regiment that was organized in Scott County by William Clift from Chattanooga early in the war. He enlisted on July 13, 1862 in Huntsville. When that regiment disbanded, he received a commission from Tennessee’s military governor, Andrew Johnson, as captain of his own company, Co. E, 11th Tennessee Cavalry (also known as the 1st East Tennessee Cavalry Battalion).
Ezekiel Newport, John’s younger brother, served in the same company.
Newport was part of a 50-man patrol near Jonesville, Va. on Jan. 28, 1864 when they were surrounded by hundreds of Confederate soldiers under the command of William E. Grumble. During a six-hour skirmish, Newport and another Union soldier were mortally wounded.
Capt. Newport was shot in the groin. Col. S.P. Love wrote to Gen. T.T. Garrad of his injury, stating, “I fear the wound will prove mortal.”
Capt. Newport died around 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 29, 1864.
Aftermath
The U.S. War Department in 1892 issued a memo stating that “records fail to show” that Newport “mustered in or that he rendered any service” in Co. E, 11th Tennessee Cavalry, which meant he was officially listed as 1st lieutenant in Co. F, 7th Tennessee Infantry.
However, Scott Countians who served under Newport in Co. E, 11th Tennessee Cavalry, swore that he died at the Battle of Wierman’s Mill in Virginia, and they named the Scott County chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic, a Union veterans organization, in his honor.
It is not known where Newport is buried.
Ezekiel Newport had married Nancy Smith (1837-1883) in 1860. Their children included John Critton Newport, Cal Newport, Minnesota Strunk, Ulissis S. Newport, William Wyatt Newport, Augusta Newport, Genira Newport, Conna Ada Newport, Alvin Newport and Sarah Yarbrough. Nancy died in 1883 and was buried at Vanderpool Cemetery near Huntsville. Ezekiel died in 1895 in Arkansas. Many of his children made the move west with him, including John, Minnesota, William, Genira, Alvin and Sarah. Cal was the only surviving child who remained in the local area, settling in Pine Knot, Ky.
Polly Newport Robbins died in 1915 and was buried at Slick Rock Cemetery at Brimstone. Her children included Calvin, Elizabeth, Melvin Cox, William, Melton James and Almira. Her husband, John, was murdered by Polly’s cousin, James Mounterville Newport, on Nov. 3, 1869 at Brimstone. Melton James “Mitt” Robbins went on to serve as Scott County Judge.
Melinda had a daughter, Julia, born around 1866. She later married James H. Taylor in 1892 in Loudon, Tenn. She died Feb. 19, 1916 in Loudon. Her death certificate noted that she “had been in bad health for a number of years.”
Elizabeth married Horatio Gates Strunk (1848-1928) in 1870. Their children included Eldora Elizabeth McCartt and Marion Ezekiel Strunk, along with James, George and Sidney. She died in 1923 in Sunbright.