Page images
PDF
EPUB

here. I have only part of a cavalry regiment (eight companies of Eleventh Missouri) and eight of the Twelfth Michigan. Am worried every hour for lack of means to do the work. The transportation and officers' baggage of the Twelfth Michigan have already gone to Browns

ville.

Very respectfully,

C. C. ANDREWS, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Maj. Gen. F. STEELE,

Little Rock.

SEPTEMBER 9, 1864. - Affair on the Warrensburg road, near Warrens

burg, Mo.

Report of Lieut. Col. Bazel F. Lazear, First Missouri State Militia

Cavalry.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND SUB-DISTRICT,

In the Field, September 13, 1864.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report for the information of the general commanding that since my report of the 10th Lieutenant Teel returned from his foot scout near Dover, and reports no guerrillas in that vicinity after Major Mullins went east. Lieutenant Augustine reports that on the 9th he came upon a party of four on the Warrensburg road just as they had completed robbing the Warrensburg mail. In the chase after them he captured one of their horses and thinks one of the party was wounded. The main body are now in the western part of La Fayette County. Captain Meredith is also in that direction with 100 men. On the 15th I will move east to Republican Church, where my command will concentrate to receive rations. I have nothing later from Saline than my last report.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

B. F. LAZEAR,

Lieut. Col. First Car. Mo. State Militia, Commanding.

Capt. J. H. STEGER,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Warrensburg, Mo.

SEPTEMBER 9-11, 1864. - Expedition from Pine Bluff toward Monticello, Ark., with skirmishes near Monticello (10th) and at Brewer's Lane (11th).

REPORTS.

No. 1.-Brig. Gen. Powell Clayton, U. S. Army.

No. 2.-Maj. Thomas W. Scudder, Fifth Kansas Cavalry.

No. 3.-Capt. John W. Lewis, Assistant Adjutant-General, C. S. Army.

No. 1.

Reports of Brig. Gen. Powell Clayton, U. S. Army.

PINE BLUFF, ARK., September 11, 1864-5.45 р. т. Colonel Erskine, Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry, with 300 men, left here on the morning of the 9th at daylight, drove in the pickets at Monticello early the next morning, captured 3 prisoners, ascertained

48 R R-VOL XLI, PT I

positively that there are now three brigades of infantry at Monticello. namely, Parsons', Hawthorn's, and Dockery's, numbering between 3,000 and 4,000 men, and one battery of artillery-two 12-pounders and four 6-pounders. Prisoners captured said 7,000 cavalry and 7,000 infantry, under Generals Walker and Prince Polignac, were on their way to Monticello from Louisiana, and that the cavalry was already on Bayou Bartholomew, twenty-three miles from Monticello; ascertained positively that there are no troops at Princeton, except about 150 cavalry. Churchhill's division of infantry left Princeton on the morning of the 9th for Camden 2,500 strong, mostly conscripts and poorly armed. All information gathered from deserters say that Price has from 8,000 to 15,000 men poorly mounted and not very well armed, with sixteen pieces of artillery. He was also reported to have a large amount of arms and ammunition for arming and equipping recruits. All goes to show that he has gone on his way to Missouri. Was attacked to-day about twenty miles out on the Warren road by Lane's brigade, numbering about 1,000 men. After a severe fight of about an hour's duration succeeded in cutting the way through; supposed to have killed 20 or 30 rebels and took 8 prisoners. Loss to ourselves about 20 men. A rebel lieutenant, who was severely wounded and captured, said that we were attacked by Lane's brigade just from Louisiana, that they were encamped twenty miles from Monticello, where we drove in their pickets, and were sent for to intercept us. This confirmed reports of prisoners previously captured that there were troops on the way from Louisiana to Monticello.

Lieut. Col. W. D. GREEN,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

POWELL CLAYTON, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

PINE BLUFF, September 12, 1864.

No news from the enemy to-day. In the skirmish yesterday, seventeen miles from here, we lost 2 men killed, 5 wounded, and 2 officers and 11 men missing.

POWELL CLAYTON, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Captain DYER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 2.

Report of Maj. Thomas W. Scudder, Fifth Kansas Cavalry.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH KANSAS CAVALRY,

September 12, 1864.

COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my command (First Indiana and Fifth Kansas Cavalry) in the late expedition toward Monticello:

I reported at headquarters September 9 at 4 a. m. with sixty men of the Fifth Kansas and one gun from the First Indiana. Owing to some mistake in the detail the First Indiana did not report until we were some seven miles out on the lower road. Captain Kyler then came up with thirty men. I marched during the day in the center, camped with the rest at the cross-roads, about fourteen miles from Monticello. That

Had

night detailed Lieutenant Wood with fifteen men, who reported to you t 3 a. m. for special service. Lieutenant Templeton with other details, believe, assumed command, although Lieutenant Wood was the rankng officer. The result of their reconnaissance has been already reported o you by Lieutenants Wood and Templeton. September 10, marched n advance in the direction of Mount Elba; camped at night near the Mount Elba and Pine Bluff road. September 11, detailed eight men to eport to you for a scout in direction of the crossing of Saline River. Marched at sunrise in the rear. The men who went to the crossing reoined me near Cheney's Store, on the Pine Bluff road, near McGhee's plantation. Detached by your order Lieutenant Jenkins and Company →, Fifth Kansas, to report to you for scout toward the fords of the Saine River above Mount Elba. About eighteen miles from Pine Bluff heard sharp firing in front. Moved up, and found the advance had dready driven the enemy. Fell back to my position in the rear. narched but a short distance when firing commenced upon the right lank a little ahead of me. The enemy were again repulsed. The colamn moved on a little way, when we were attacked almost simultaneDusly in flank and rear. The men were for a time thrown in confusion. I finally succeeded in rallying them; held the enemy in check for a time. Captain Kyler, First Indiana, acting as extreme rear guard, was cut off from the main body, but by sharp fighting, and making a short detour to the left, rejoined me. Here we had a severe contest for our howitzer; the artillerymen abandoned it, with the exception of the sergeant in command; the firing was heavy and continuous. At this juncture Lieutenant Jenkins, who had heard the firing and pushed with all speed toward us, came up the road in the enemy's rear, and gallantly charging them, cut his way through, with the loss of 1 man severely wounded. I finally succeeded, gallantly assisted by Lieutenant Quinn, Thirteenth Illinois, in getting the gun away and bringing it safely to town. From this point until the Warren cross-roads were reached, a distance of four miles, I was hotly engaged in repelling successive charges of the enemy upon our rear. Reached the cross-roads and found you, colonel, in line of battle, greatly to my relief. By your order formed upon the right. After awaiting the appearance of the enemy for some time, with the remainder I marched toward town. As to the nature of the fighting, the number of the enemy, &c., it is unnecessary for me to speak, you, colonel, having a better knowledge of that than any other person. From the nature of the attack (three sides at once), the men at first were terribly confused, but after it had finally developed itself they did nobly.

In conclusion, I cannot speak too highly of the valuable aid rendered me by Lieutenant Quinn, Thirteenth Illinois; Lieutenant Bonde, Seventh Missouri; Captain Kyler, First Indiana, and Lieutenants Jenkins, Wood, and Stevenson, Fifth Kansas Cavalry. The sergeant commanding the howitzer, for his behavior in standing bravely by his gun when nearly all the men deserted him, if otherwise capable, I heartily recommend through you to the Governor of his State for promotion.

I have to report the following list of casualties: Fifth KansasKilled, 1; wounded, 4; missing, 1; total, 6. First Indiana-Wounded and left, 4; missing, 1; total, 5; grand total, 11.

I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

T. W. SCUDDER,
Major Fifth Kansas Cavalry, Commanding.

Colonel ERSKINE,
Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry, Commanding Late Expedition.

No. 3.

Report of Capt. John W. Lewis, Assistant Adjutant-General, C. S. Army.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS,

Camden, September 13, 1864. GENERAL: I am instructed by Major-General Magruder to inform you that reliable information has been received that 8,000 Federal troops have gone up White River to re-enforce General Steele. A party of 500 of the enemy advanced toward Monticello; were forced by us to retire, taking the direction of Pine Bluff; were pursued by Colonel Crump, commanding a regiment of Texas cavalry of Major-General Wharton's command and driven to within six miles of Pine Bluff, resulting in the killing of 6 of the enemy and wounding 12. Three were wounded and none killed on our side.*

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. W. LEWIS, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

Maj. Gen. STERLING PRICE,

Commanding, &c.

SEPTEMBER 9-12, 1864. — Expedition from Fort Pike, La., to the Pearl River. Report of Lieut. Col. Alfred G. Hall, Seventy-fourth U. S. Colored

Troops.

HEADQUARTERS,

Fort Pike, La., September 13, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report the results of the expedition up Pearl River, made in conformity to orders from the commanding general:

I left Fort Pike at 9 a. m. September 10, 1864, on the steamer J. D. Swain with a force of 200 men. I proceeded up West Pearl River to a point called Deer Island Landing, where I landed my men at 11.15 a. m. and marched along the road leading from the landing into the country. At 12.10 a. m. I reached a house formerly occupied by John Porter; the house is now deserted. At 12.45 I reached the house of Widow Joyner. I found no one there but women and children. I was informed by Mrs. Joyner that three horsemen had passed her house that morning at about 10 o'clock riding toward the landing, armed with shotguns and pistols, probably a squad of the fellows we were after, en route to warn their friends of our approach, having seen the smoke of the steamer as she came up the river. I was unable to gain any other information of the jayhawkers at this place. The women stated that those that had passed the house that morning were the first they had seen for months. I resumed march at 1.25 p. m., sending one-half of my force, under Lieutenants Gallagher and Morrison, back half a mile over the road I had just come, to take a branch road to go to the house of a man named Sadler, while I with the remainder of the men kept on with the intention of visiting the place of a man named Snyder. I reached the house of Mrs. Mitchell; no one to be seen but women and children. I could get no information there; they say they know nothing of the rebel

* Some irrelevant matter omitted.

cavalry. Left Mrs. Mitchell's at 1.35 p. m. There were two roads from here, and through mistake of the guide I took the wrong road. The guide discovered his mistake after marching about one mile and took the shortest way across the country to gain the right road. After marching several miles I found myselfon the right road about one-fourth of a mile from Mitchell's. The road I should have taken runs nearly at right angles with the one I took. The other party gave the signal that they had reached Sadler's and I concluded to join them instead of going to Snyder's; I arrived at Sadler's at 2.15 p. m. I was unable to learn anything definite of the cavalry. A party of them had been there three days before and searched the house for rebel deserters. There was no one at home at the time but two women, one an invalid. They could not tell the number of men in the party. I obtained horses at Sadler's and accompanied by my adjutant proceeded to the house of Snyder, about two miles from Sadler's.

From information gained there and elsewhere I concluded that if I should run up East Pearl or Pearl River proper I should be able to find the party of cavalry or hear of them in the vicinity of Gainesville. I re-embarked and started for East Pearl at 5.30 p. m. Iran upas far as Pearlington, and laid off at that place till 5.30 a. m. the 12th; proceeded to a bluff about two miles and a half above Pearlington. I landed and sent a party under Lieutenant Sternes to Homer's Bridge, about three miles from the landing. He returned at 8 a. m., reporting no signs of the enemy. I landed again near Napoleon, marched through the town, scouting the country back of it. I found nothing of the cavalry at this place, and no news of them. The country here is nearly deserted. I was informed here that the news of our coming was far ahead of us, as they could see our steamer for a number of miles down the river. I proceeded from this point to Gainesville, fifteen miles above Pearlington, and here learned that five of the rebel cavalry had been there the day previous. At Gainesville one man, William Marsen, was brought in by the guard. He claims to be a paroled prisoner; but I have good evidence that he is connected with them, and has been employed in driving cattle for the commissary department, rebel army. There are probably a number of rebel cavalry at Honey Island, about nine miles from Gainesville; but with our steamer it was useless to attempt their capture, our approach being known to them hours before, and unless they choose to fight us they could easily avoid us. I would respectfully suggest that in any future expedition the troops be landed at some point near the fort on the rebel side and marched through the country, mounting if needs be. Although unsuccessful in overtaking any rebel force, the inhabitants expressed the desire that our troops come often.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Capt. F. SPEED,

ALFRED G. HALL, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Post.

Asst. Adjt. Gen., Defenses of New Orleans.

[First indorsement.]

.

DEFENSES OF NEW ORLEANS,

September 14, 1864.

Respectfully forwarded to department headquarters. This expedition was authorized on receiving a telegram from Colonel Hall, of which inclosed is a copy. Instead of going direct to Pearl

« PreviousContinue »