SKIRMISH AT LADD'S HOUSE, HOG JAW VALLEY, ALA. 33 quite a number of Union families in the mountains of North Carolina, who manifested great joy at the sight of the old flag. There are but few men belonging to these families at home. I also learned that a force of the enemy, about 2,000 strong, had been started out from Waynesville with the intention of striking the Knoxville railroad at Loudon, when, hearing of our march into North Carolina, they were halted at Quallatown. I had no men killed and only two men wounded, they quite seriously. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, I. M. KIRBY, Colonel 101st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Commanding. Capt. ED. D. MASON, Assistant Adjutant-General. FEBRUARY 1, 1865.—Skirmish in McLemore's Cove, Tenn. Report of Lieut. Col. George A. Gowin, Sixth Tennessee Mounted Infantry. RINGGOLD, February 2, 1865. After leaving camp yesterday morning I learned that Gatewood was in McLemore's Cove with seventy-five men. I therefore marched up the cove road, I being upon his rear during the evening without letting him know that I was there. I waited for him to camp. About 10 o'clock at night I attacked his camp and made a smash of him, killing a number, capturing several horses, guns, &c. I took no prisoners. I was attacked by a squad of bushwhackers to-day. We killed two. I have lost no men, nor had any wounded. G. A. GOWIN, 9 Lieutenant-Colonel, Comdg. Sixth Tennessee Mounted Infantry. Major-General STEEDMAN. FEBRUARY 3-4, 1865.-Skirmish at Ladd's House, Hog Jaw Valley, Ala. Report of Col. Felix Prince Salm, Sixty-eighth New York Infantry. HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Bridgeport, Ala., February 6, 1865. MAJOR: I have the honor to report to you that one of my_scouting parties met a gang of guerrillas in Hog Jaw Valley, near B. Ladd's house; they came to fight and one of the bushwhackers, named Frank Howard, was severely wounded and died a few hours afterward. No information could be obtained from him, he being senseless until his death. The rest of the gang skedaddled to the mountains without returning the fire. The above happened during the night of the 3d to the 4th instant. Most respectfully submitted. Maj. S. B. MOE, FELIX PR. SALM, Colonel, Commanding Post. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dist. of the Etowah, Chattanooga, Tenn. 3 R R-VOL XLIX, PT I FEBRUARY 5, 1865.—Skirmish near McMinnville, Tenn. Report of Capt. Howard N. Woley, Forty-second Missouri Infantry. FEBRUARY 5, 1865. I have the honor to report to you the history of our engagement with some of the Southern chivalry. They were supposed to be the notorious Perdham, together with some other bands of desperadoes, as their combined numbers were full 100. We followed them all day, or until about 3 p. m., when we came on their camp in the mountains. They had picked their position and had made a good selection, and were it not for their condition they might have held their position for awhile. They were posted along a gulch running south to the brow of a hill. They were also in line along the hill. As Captain Lewis came up in the advance they poured a heavy fire into our advance as we ascended the hill where they were posted. Most of our officers being in the front, Capt. M. M. Floyd, of the Fifth Tennessee Cavalry, was severely wounded, also two soldiers belonging to the same regiment. The boys of the Forty-second were uninjured, except by slight scratches and bullet holes in their clothes. The rebels left so rapidly that it was impossible for us, on worn-out horses, to overtake them. On examination we found two dead horses, and from indications two men were killed or severely wounded and taken off the field by their comrades. Captain Lewis says he can hold the country and scatter the rebels all through. He thinks a few more of the Forty-second would be acceptable, as the home guards will not all do to tie to. We go to McMinnville from here. By order of Captain Lewis, commanding scout. Your obedient servant, Colonel STAUBER. H. N. WOLEY, Captain. FEBRUARY 6, 1865.-Affair at Corn's Farm, Franklin County, Tenn. Report of Capt. William H. Lewis, Forty-second Missouri Infantry. HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD, Hillsborough, Tenn., February 6, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to report the capture of 3 horses, saddles and bridles, 3 gum blankets, 2 pairs of saddle-bags filled with clothes, 1 revolver, 1 Mississippi rifle, besides the killing of John Raigan at Jack Corn's farm in Franklin County, 12 miles from Hillsborough, by Lieutenant Haines, of Company K, Forty-second Missouri Infantry Volunteers. At 12 p. m. last night I received information of Perdham and two of his men at Corn's. The lieutenant with three of my men and three of the Hillsborough Home Guards went in pursuit. At Strickland's he dismounted and proceeded to Corn's house. On account of the family stubbornly opposing his sleeping in the house, Perdham went to the barn and all three went to sleep. The lieutenant, in approaching the barn, frightened Perdham's horses, which aroused Perdham and Stearns, who dashed off barefooted and without coats or hats, and made their escape, but Raigan was shot before he got out of his nest. Major-General MILROY. WILLIAM H. LEWIS, Captain, Commanding Scout in Field. FEBRUARY 7, 1865.-Scout on the Hernando Road, Tenn. Report of Col. John McConnell, Fifth Illinois Cavalry, commanding First Brigade, Cavalry Division, Department of the Mississippi. HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, CAVALRY DIVISION, Camp Shanks, near Memphis, Tenn., February 7, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to report that the mounted patrol (Lieutenant Jones, First Mississippi Cavalry, commanding), sent out this morning on the Hernando road, went about ten miles south and heard of a squad of fifteen or twenty rebels a short distance ahead. They were pursued five or six miles by our men, but were not overtaken. From citizens and negroes they also heard of several other small squads in that vicinity (all belonging to Forrest's command). They further learned that the headquarters of the several squads was at the house of Mrs. Heldinbrand, about fourteen miles from Memphis, between the Hernando and Hollow Ford roads. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN MCCONNELL, Colonel Fifth Regiment Illinois Cavalry, Commanding Brigade. Capt. E. J. MEYERS, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry Division. FEBRUARY 8-9, 1865.-Affair at New Market (8th), skirmish at Bradfordsville (8th), and skirmish at Hustonville (9th), Ky. REPORTS. No. 1.—Brig. Gen. Edward H. Hobson, U. S. Army, commanding First Division, Military District of Kentucky. No. 2.-Maj. Thomas Mahoney, Thirtieth Kentucky Infantry. No. 1. Report of Brig. Gen. Edward H. Hobson, U. S. Army, commanding First Division, Military District of Kentucky. HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, MILITARY DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY, Lexington, Ky., February 9, 1865. I have the honor to report that a train of nine wagons was captured yesterday morning at 11 o'clock at New Market by guerrillas, numbering forty-five, and burned by them. Three of the train guards were killed and four captured and taken to Bradfordsville, where they were murdered by the guerrillas under Captain Clarke. Major Mahoney fol. lowed the guerrillas from Lebanon and fought them at Bradfordsville with thirty-five men of the invalid corps. Detachments stationed at Crab Orchard, Campbellsville, Columbia, one at Danville, one at Stanford, Lebanon, Lawrenceburg, all moved out after them, leaving citizens to guard town. This morning at 2 o'clock the detachment from Stanford, under Captain Bridgewater, of State force, attacked the guerrillas on Little South Fork, west of Hustonville; killed 4, captured 35 horses and equipments; ran 30 or 35 of their men into the woods, most of whom were barefooted; only 7 got away mounted. Captain Clarke escaped barefooted, but our men in three detachments are hunting for them and witli good prospect of finding them as the snow is fresh on the ground. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, É. H. HOBSON, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Capt. J. BATES DICKSON, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Military District of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky. No. 2. Reports of Maj. Thomas Mahoney, Thirtieth Kentucky Infantry. LEBANON, KY., February 8, 1865. Guerrillas going toward Hustonville. We fought them as far as Bradfordsville; they have some forty-five men; we had thirty-five. They fought desperately; charged us at Bradfordsville. Most of my force was the invalid corps; could not master horses and load their long guns. I expect some of my men to-night, when I will try and head them off. Send me word if you learn their course. Brigadier-General HOBSON. MAHONEY, Major. HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, CAPTAIN: I have the honor to forward the following statement, with the accompanying document,* for your consideration: On the 8th of this month the guerrillas passed around this place, killing seven men of my regiment at or near New Market, burning several wagons and killing the mules. Having no mounted men here I pressed some horses in order to send after guerrillas and save the other part of the train, which was some distance ahead of that part they captured. My men caught up with them some place near New Market, fought them across the country toward Bradfordsville road, and then to Bradfordsville, where guerrillas made a stand. My men dismounted; guerrillas charged, and in the excitement some of Captain Horton's men let their horses get away, which ran to the guerrillas. Captain Horton then drew off his men without consulting Captain Searcy, who had but twelve men with him. Thus the chase was given up. Captain Bridgewater captured E. G. Chandler's horse, which he got back, but lost his saddle and bridle. Your servant, Captain BUTLER, T. MAHONEY, Major Thirtieth Kentucky. Assistant Adjutant-General, First Division. * Omitted as unimportant, FEBRUARY 9, 1865.-Skirmish near Memphis, Tenn. Report of Lieut. Col. Hugh Cameron, Second Arkansas Cavalry (Union), commanding Fourth Brigade, Cavalry Division, District of West Ten nessee. HEADQUARTERS FOURTH BRIGADE, CAVALRY DIVISION, February 9, 1865. COLONEL: I have the honor to report that the escort having charge of the wood train from this brigade was attacked this morning at 8 o'clock about the time it arrived in the wood-yard one and one-quarter miles outside the pickets by a party of rebels believed to be seventyfive in number. The escort comprised seventeen mounted Second Arkansas Cavalry, twelve dismounted Second Missouri Cavalry, and eleven dismounted First Iowa Cavalry, making forty men, commanded by Second Lieut. Laban N. Garrett, Company A, Second Arkansas Cavalry. At 8.30 o'clock I received information by messenger that the escort had been driven back and the train captured. I at once sent messengers to division headquarters with the information and for orders and immediately ordered out all the cavalry of the brigade. My messengers, returning, met me near the Carr avenue picket about 9 o'clock, bringing orders for me to pursue the rebels some distance beyond where the train was captured. I pushed forward as fast as possible ten miles on the rebel trail, but did not overtake any of the party. Had my men been mounted on serviceable horses I might have overtaken and severely chastised them. The trail was through the woods in the direction of Hernando, as far as I followed it. Doctor Raines, living about one mile west of the Hernando road and ten miles from the city of Memphis, informed me that the rebel force passed his house on the way to the wood-yard at 4 a. m. and returned with the captured mules at 9.15 a. m. in a hurry; that they divided just before they reached his place, thirty-five or forty passing his house, and the remainder turning to the right and making for a skirt of timber southwest of his house, through which the Mississippi and Tennessee Railroad passes. I abandoned pursuit, satisfied that I could accomplish nothing with my broken-down horses, and determined to return. Dividing my detachment of sixty-six men, I ordered Captain O'Brien back over the road we came with thirty-three men, and with the remainder I returned by the Hernando road. On reaching the Hernando road I captured Doctor Gabbert, who said he lived in the vicinity of Hernando, and supposing that he might give important information I brought him along. I have turned him and the property captured with him over to the provostmarshal. A negro moving his family to Memphis told me that he passed a rebel force having a large number of mules with them about twelve miles from Hernando; he supposed about 11 o'clock. In the encounter at the wood-yard our casualties were 1 sergeant, Second Arkansas Cav- • alry, killed; 1 man, Second Missouri Cavalry, mortally wounded, and 3 slightly; 1 man, of the First Iowa Cavalry, severely wounded; 1 man, of the Second Missouri Cavalry, prisoner; also 5 teamsters, Second Arkansas Cavalry, prisoners. Loss of property, 111 U. S. mules in harness. Rebel casualties, as far as ascertained, 1 man killed, from whose person was taken, it is reported, a cotton pass dated February 8, 1865, and a letter containing valuable information. I have delayed this report, expecting to be able to get said cotton pass and letter and forward them with it, but have failed. I have placed the lieutenant |