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took prisoner one conscript, who, attempting to escape, was shot by the guard. He also routed other bands of guerrillas, killing 2 and capturing their horses; thence returned to Dallas, having killed in all guerrillas, captured 12 horses, 2 Enfield rifles and 8 common rifles. The whole expedition thus resulting in the killing of 15 guerrillas, capturing 1, and 32 horses, several stand of arms, and routing several bands of robbers.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

Brig. Gen. THOMAS EWING, Jr.,

J. B. ROGERS, Colonel, Commanding.

Commanding Saint Louis District, Saint Louis, Mo.

DECEMBER 21, 1864-JANUARY 5, 1865. - Expedition from Memphis, Tenn., to destroy the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, with engagements at Verona, Miss. (25th), and at Egypt, Miss. (28th).

REPORTS.

No. 1.-Maj. Gen. Edward R. S. Canby, U. S. Army, commanding Military Division of West Mississippi.

No. 2. Maj. Gen. Napoleon J. T. Dana, U. S. Army, commanding Department of Mississippi.

No. 3.-Maj. Gen. Cadwallader C. Washburn, U. S. Army, commanding District of Vicksburg.

No. 4.-Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, U. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Division, Department of Mississippi.

No. 1.

Report of Maj. Gen. Edward R. S. Canby, U. S. Army, commanding Military Division of West Mississippi.

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,

New Orleans, La., January 8, 1865.

GENERAL: General Grierson arrived with his command to a place within a few miles from Vicksburg on the evening of the 4th. The expedition has been perfectly successful. The following are the particulars received: About 100 miles of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad have been destroyed, together with nine locomotives, &c. Eight hundred prisoners captured, with nearly horses enough to mount them all. E. R. S. CANBY, Major-General, Commanding.

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,

Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, D. C.

No. 2.

Reports of Maj. Gen. Napoleon J. T. Dana, U. S. Army, commanding Department of Mississippi.

MEMPHIS, TENN., January 3, 1865.

GENERAL: I have information from the expedition sent by me against the Mobile and Ohio Railroad as late as December 27. On that day it

was four miles below Okolona, having destroyed the road from Boonville to that point. The camp of Forrest's dismounted men at Verona was surprised on Christmas night and dispersed. Six commissioned officers and 20 men were captured. Three hundred army wagons, 4,000 new carbines, two trains of 32 cars, and very large amounts of ammunition, commissary and quartermaster stores destroyed. Twenty-nine bridges, large quantities of trestle-work, and many miles of track thoroughly destroyed. Not a man lost up to that time, and the expedition progressing in fine spirits. The enemy reported concentrating in their front.

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,

Chief of Staff.

N. J. T. DANA, Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
Memphis, Tenn., January 8, 1865.

I have the gratifying opportunity of reporting the result of another very successful expedition to the major-general commanding.

The cavalry expedition sent by me from this point against the Mobile and Ohio Railroad has reached Vicksburg in safety and in good condition, with about 550 prisoners, 1,000 negroes, and 800 horses and mules. General Grierson has just arrived here and his force will follow as fast as transportation can be procured. When his brigade commanders arrive and I receive his report I will forward it to you. Meanwhile I give you the following outline of the work done:

The expedition left here on the 21st December in wretched weather, about 3,300 strong, and moved directly east, threatening Corinth. Detachments were sent out which cut the telegraph from Grand Junetion to Corinth, and also cut it and destroyed four bridges between Booneville and Guntown on the Mobile and Ohio road. The main column then moved rapidly on Tupelo, and on Christmas night surprised, captured, and dispersed Forrest's dismounted camp at Verona. Here they captured 6 officers and 20 men, destroyed two trains of sixteen cars, each loaded with new wagons, pontoons, supplies, &c., for Hood; burned 300 army wagons, most of which had been captured from Sturgis; destroyed 4,000 new English carbines, which were for Forrest's command, and large amounts of ordnance stores and ammunition, with quartermaster stores, and commissary stores for Hood's army. From Verona the command moved south along the line of the road, destroying it thoroughly to a point between Egypt and Prairie Stations.

At Okolona telegrams were taken from the wires from LieutenantGeneral Taylor and Major-General Gardner, ordering Egypt to be held at all hazards, and promising re-enforcements from Mobile and other points. On the morning of the 28th the enemy was attacked at Egypt. General Grierson reports them about 1,200 strong with infantry, cavalry, and four guns on platform cars. Two trains, loaded with infantry, under Gardner, were in sight when the attack was made. A force was thrown between them and the garrison, and Gardner had the mortification to see his friends dispersed after a fight of two hours and the stockade carried by assault, and its defenders, to the number of about 500, captured. The rebel Brigadier Gholson was among the killed. Another train of 14 cars was destroyed here. The command was now encumbered with so many prisoners and animals that, with the hostile force in front, it was-useless to think louger of going to Cahawba Accordingly the column turned west and southwest, through Houston and Bellefontaine, to the Mississippi Central Railroad, striking it at Winona. A detachment was sent to Bankston, which destroyed the large and valuable factories which worked 500 hands to supply the rebel army with cloth, clothing, and shoes; large quantities of wool, cloth, and leather were destroyed. A detachment was sent to Grenada, which destroyed the new machine shops and all public property in the place. A brigade was sent south from Grenada, under Colonel Osband, which destroyed the road and telegraph for thirty-five miles, and then met a brigade of the enemy under Wirt Adams, at Franklin, charged and drove them from the field, leaving 25 of their dead on the ground. The troops arrived at Vicksburg on the 5th of January. About forty miles on each road is destroyed, including a large number of bridges, telegraph depots, switches, turn-tables, and water-tanks, 4 serviceable locomotives, and 10 which were undergoing repairs, about 100 cars, a pile-driver and engine, 700 fat hogs, very large amounts of corn and wheat, and 1,000 stand of new arms at Egypt, in addition to the 4,000 destroyed at Verona. I believe this expedition, in its damaging results to the enemy, is second in importance to none during the war. So soon as the cavalry is sufficiently recruited, I will execute the orders I have received from you relative to Madison and Carroll Parishes, La. I shall immediately dispatch Winslow's command to Louisville according to former orders, but as Hood and Forrest are both reported at Corinth, and will be compelled to do something for relief, it really appears to me that force is required here rather than north of the Tennessee.

I have the honor to remain, very respectfully,

N. J. T. DANA,
Major-General.

Lieut. Col. C. T. CHRISTENSEN,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Military Division of West Mississippi.

No. 3.

Report of Maj. Gen. Cadwallader C. Washburn U. S. Army, command

ing District of Vicksburg.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF VICKSBURG,

Vicksburg, Miss., January 5, 1865.

GENERAL: The cavalry expedition under Brigadier-General Grierson sent out from Memphis about the 20th ultimo arrived here in good order to-day. The expedition has been a complete success. They struck the Mobile and Ohio railroad, between Boonville and Guntown, and passed down the line of the road, destroying it as they went, as far south as Egypt Station. At this last place they captured over 500 prisoners, and mortally wounded Brigadier-General Gholson. They captured and destroyed 300 army wagons, 4,000 new carbines, an immense amount of ammunition, two trains of cars, and a large amount of commissary and quartermaster's stores. Leaving the Mobile and Ohio road at Egypt, the command swept across the State, striking the Mississippi Central Railroad below Grenada, and destroying it for about thirty miles. At Grenada a number of locomotives and a large number of cars; at Bankston cloth and shoe factories, employing over 500

hands, were destroyed. The whole affair has been most successful, and reflects great credit on Brigadier-General Grierson for the skill and dash with which it was executed.

I am, general, your obedient servant,

C. C. WASHBURN,

Major-General.

Maj. Gen. E. R. S. CANBY,
Commanding Military Division of West Mississippi.

No. 4.

Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, U. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Division, Department of Mississippi.

HDQRS. CAV. DIV., DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI,

Memphis, Tenn., January 9, 1865.

SIR: I have just returned from an important and highly successful expedition against the lines of the enemy's communications and his stores in Mississippi. The task was accomplished by a command which was inferior, both in organization and numbers, consisting, in a great part, of detachments of regiments which were heretofore under my command, but the greater portion of which were recently transferred to Middle Tennessee. I beg leave to state that a few months since I was in command of a division of fifteen regiments of cavalry, which I had succeeded after much labor in organizing and equipping in a manner second to no body of cavalry in the U. S. service, as will be seen by reference to the reports of the inspector-general, District of West Tennessee. One by one these regiments have been taken from my command and transferred to other officers in Middle Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri, until but a mere shadow of my former splendid command remains. With this I have attempted and succeeded in a hazardous expedition at a period when roads and streams were considered almost impassable. I further take the liberty of expressing my belief that the emergencies in Middle Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri have ceased, and as from the most reliable and recent reports the army of General Hood has fallen back and concentrated near Corinth, I believe Memphis, or some other point on the Mississippi River, to be favorable for the concentration of cavalry in order to operate successfully against the enemy's lines of communication in the West, the river being a much more efficient agent than railroads for the transportation of forage and other supplies necessary for the successful management of cavalry.

I respectfully and earnestly request that I be allowed to select from my old command ten or twelve regiments of cavalry, to be organized into a division and concentrated at Memphis, or any other point the Department may think best, with a view of operating in battle against the enemy, or in raids against his railroads, depots, and arsenals. The regiments which I would select are as follows: Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Illinois; Second, Third, and Fourth Iowa; Tenth Missouri, Seventh Kansas; Third Michigan, and any others which might be assigned to me. With most of these regiments I have been identified as commander for the past eighteen months. With them, properly organized and equipped, I would be willing to undertake the destruction of every railroad and arsenal and depot of supplies in possession of the enemy.

Trusting that my past and future record may justify the Department in considering favorably this request, I am, sir, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

ADJUTANT-GENERAL U. S. ARMY,

B. H. GRIERSON,

Brigadier-General.

Washington, D. C.

DECEMBER 23-24, 1864. - Expedition from Baton Rouge to Clinton, La. Report of Maj. John H. Clybourn, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry.

HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT CAVALRY DIVISION,

Baton Rouge, December 25, 1864.

GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report of my expedition across the Amite River:

Left Baton Rouge, La., on the 23d instant at 2p. m. with two commissioned officers and 100 men; marched out on Clay Gert road to Harrell's Ford on Amite River, sixteen miles from Baton Rouge; found the river too high to ford or swim. Commenced crossing my command on a dugout found on this river. Could only cross two horses at a time, and when about one-half of my command were ferried across, the bottom was accidentally knocked out by one of the horses. I then marched my command up both sides of the Amite River and formed a junction at Benton Ford six miles from Harrell's Ford. We found the river too high to ford and it was impossible for me to swim the balance of my command across. I then sent back the part of the command that was on this side of the river to Baton Rouge. I then marched the balance on the other side the Amite to Burlington Ferry, sixteen miles from Benton Ford and six miles from Williams' Bridge; met a part of the rebel Col. Bob Hunter's command between Benton Ford and Burlington Ferry; captured 4 prisoners; arrived at Burlington Ferry at 4 p. m. on the 24th instant. Found a large ferry-boat that could cross ten horses at a time. Crossed my command and marched to Bogau's Ford on the Comite River, nine miles from Burlington Ferry. Ran across a gang of jayhawkers, under command of Capt. Bob Hooper, between Bogan's Ford and Burlington Ferry, charged them and captured 4 of them; arrived at Bogan's Ford at 3 p. m. 24th instant, swam my command across the Comite River, and marched to Baton Rouge. Learning from a negro that the rebel Lieutenant Brannan and Lieutenant Brown were at the house of Mr. Granville Pierce, on Greenville Springs road, I charged up with a party of ten men and surrounded the place, capturing Lieutenant Brannan's orderly and the lieutenant's horse and equipments, also Lieutenant Brown's horse and equipments, but could find nothing of the rebel officers. I am certain they were hid away in the house. Lieutenant Brannan is chief of all the rebel scouts in this district. Marched a distance of seventy miles, captured 12 prisoners and killed 1 bushwhacker, captured 12 horses and 2 mules without the loss of a man. Sergt. George Rork, Eleventh New York Cavalry, was shot by a jayhawker through the hand. Sergeant Rork killed the jayhawker after he had shot him through the hand. Lieut. Philip Dougherty, of Earl's command, deserves great praise for the service he rendered. His conduct was very brave and gallant. I did not learn of any large force being this side of Clinton, La. It was re

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