Samuel Joseph McCaleb

Born: 1843 in Jackson County (Now Putnam County) Tennessee

Died: 24 May 1864 at White Bluff Station, Dickson County, Tennessee

Company A, 5th Tennessee Cavalry, USA

21 Jul 1862-24 May 1864

The McCaleb family of Cane Creek was a strong Union supporting family. Samuel Moore McCaleb along with all four of his sons served in the Union Army.

Samuel Joseph McCaleb was the son of Samuel Moore McCaleb and Elenor "Nellie" Ray. Born in 1843 on Cane Creek in what is now Putnam County, Tennessee, Samuel never married.

Samuel died of a gunshot wound when a pistol was accidently "dropped" at Camp Gillem near White Bluff Station. The Blockhouse where Samuel likely died is at GPS 36°06'35"N, 87°13'12"W.

While the modern town of White Bluff has grown, the Civil War-era "station" and its defensive blockhouse were located on the high ground overlooking Turnbull Creek.

• Exact Location: The military site was positioned near the current intersection of Main Street (Highway 70) and the railroad tracks in White Bluff.

• The Blockhouse: This was one of several "Standard Plan" blockhouses built by the Union to protect the railroad from Confederate cavalry raids (like those of Nathan Bedford Forrest). It was a two-story timber structure with a protruding second floor and slits for musketry.

Accidental discharges were a leading cause of non-combat deaths during the Civil War, particularly among cavalry units. The early revolvers (like the Colt Army or Remington New Model) lacked modern "transfer bar" safety mechanisms. If a soldier carried a revolver with the hammer resting directly on a percussion cap and dropped the weapon, it would almost certainly fire.

Samuel's service record, attached below, shows that he was present or accounted for during all Company roll-calls. Nothing significant is noted on any of his roll calls except his death.

Samuel is buried in the Nashville National Cemetery in Gallatin, Davidson County, Tennessee.