7 OCTOBER 20, 1863.-Skirmish at Warm Springs, N. C. Report of Brig. Gen. Orlando B. Willcox, U. S. Army. GREENEVILLE, TENN., GENERAL: The rebels made a fresh attack on Warm Springs this morning at daylight, and were repulsed after a skirmish of two hours; 1 killed and 5 wounded on our side. Adjutant Grace, Second North Carolina Infantry, supposed to be captured. Last night our men captured a picket of 10 men on the Marshall road. Colonel Smith still calls for arms, and asks for re-enforcements. The attack was made on Spring Creek road. Do you wish any more troops sent there? General BURNSIDE. O. B. WILLCOX, OCTOBER 20, 1863.-Reconnaissance from Bridgeport toward Trenton, Ala. HDQRS. EIGHTY-SECOND REGT. ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, SIR: Pursuant to orders, I left Long Island at 12 o'clock to-day with 180 men of the Eighty-second Illinois, Forty-fifth New York, One hundred and forty-third New York, on a reconnaissance to ascertain the whereabouts of the enemy. We marched on the Moore Gap road toward Trenton. On the road I obtained the information from several citizens that two brigades rebel cavalry were stationed at Trenton, and that small squads of this cavalry were infesting the mountains. At the top of the mountain my advance noticed a vedette of the enemy, who, after firing at my men, turned his horse and fled. I deployed some men as skirmishers, throwing them out to the right, left, and front, and captured 1. I then pushed forward as rapidly as the bad mountain road and heavy rain allowed, and after considerable skirmishing along the road we captured 2 more; we were then about 8 miles from Bridgeport and 9 miles from Trenton. After a careful and separate examination of the prisoners and a citizen named Potts, I found that the rest of the rebel cavalry company which had been out there had fallen back on Trenton, and as it was getting dark, and on account of the bad roads and weather it was impossible for me to push on any farther, I considered it best to return to camp, which I did. I also captured 3 horses and the arms of the prisoners. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieutenant-Colonel MEYSENBURG, Assistant Adjutant-General. OCTOBER 20–29, 1863.-Operations on the Memphis and Charleston Rail road. SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS. Oct. 20, 1863.-Skirmishes at Barton's and Dickson's Stations and Cane Creek, Ala. 21, 1863.-Action at Cherokee Station, Ala. 26, 1863. Skirmishes near Cane Creek and at Barton's Station, Ala. 27, 1863.-Skirmish at Little Bear Creek, Ala. 29, 1863.-Skirmish at Cherokee Station, Ala. REPORTS. No. 1.-Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, U. S. Army, commanding Fifteenth Army Corps, of skirmish at Barton's Station, October 20. No. 2.-Brig. Gen. Peter J. Osterhaus, U. S. Army, commanding First Division, including operations October 20-November 4. No. 3.-Brig. Gen. Charles R. Woods, U. S. Army, commanding First Brigade, of skirmishes near Cane Creek and at Barton's Station, October 26. No. 4.-Lieut. Col. David J. Palmer, Twenty-fifth Iowa Infantry, Second Brigade, of action at Cherokee Station. No. 5.-Col. George A. Stone, Twenty-fifth Iowa Infantry, of skirmishes October 26-27. No. 6.-Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Lee, C. S. Army, commanding Confederate Cavalry Report of Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, U. S. Army, commanding Fifteenth Army Corps, of skirmish at Barton's Station, October 20. Major-General HALLECK: MEMPHIS, TENN., October 21, 1863. General Sherman telegraphs from Bear Creek : IUKA, October 21, 1863. My advance found Forrest's Cavalry, 400 strong, at Barton's Station, and whipped them handsomely yesterday, killing 2 and taking 9 prisoners. Our loss, 1 killed and 3 wounded slightly-all of the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, which acted most handsomely. The Tennessee River is up 8 feet on the shoals. I must cross over to communicate with Nashville and Chattanooga, and must have a steam ferry-boat. I will keep a regiment at Eastport. Wheeler, 10,000 strong, is near Decatur. I hope he will oppose my advance, but think he will swing up on my flank. My advance is at Cane Creek. SHERMAN. I send by this boat dispatch to Porter and Colonel Allen for a ferry-boat to be sent up, and hope it may be hurried forward; otherwise, after crossing, Sherman will be beyond reach of supplies, of which he has now fifteen days' on wagon train. (Copy to General Grant.) No. 2. S. A. HURLBUT, Reports of Brig. Gen. Peter J. Osterhaus, U. S. Army, commanding First Division, including operations October 20-November 4. HDQRS. FIRST DIV., FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Cherokee, Ala., October 20, 1863. GENERAL: I have the honor to report that my advance to-day found the rebel pickets near Dickson's Station, and drove them for several miles, until they reached the open fields at Barton's Station, where Colonel Forrest's cavalry (about 400 men) had formed. The colonel was in command himself. On this intelligence, I immediately brought all the cavalry and one section horse artillery forward. Before I came up two companies of the Fifth Ohio Cavalry had made a brilliant saber charge, but could not cause the enemy to yield his very strong position. After the re-enforcements were deployed, the Fifth Ohio advanced gallantly, driving the rebels from every inch of the first and a second position they had fallen back on on the east side of Cane Creek. Posting the artillery, supported by the Third Regulars, on a slight elevation commanding the road, I pushed the Fifth Ohio forward and succeeded in scattering the enemy completely. The cavalry and one section artillery is encamped in the rebel camp. Our loss is, 1 seriously wounded (since dead) and 3 slightly wounded, all of the Fifth Ohio. The names I will send in as soon as possible. Of the enemy, 2 dead, 4 wounded, and 5 prisoners fell into our hands. The Fifth Ohio Cavalry, under command of Colonel Heath and Major Smith, did gloriously. I am sorry to be unable to give you the name of another officer, who, although shot through the left wrist, remained with the command during all the fight. I will send in the nominal list of casualties to-morrow. I am, general, with great respect, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. FRANK P. BLAIR, Jr. Commanding Advance Fifteenth Army Corps. HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Cherokee, Ala., October 21, 1863. MAJOR: In consequence of your orders of last morning not to move forward, I deemed it prudent to withdraw the small force which I left after yesterday's engagement at Cane Creek, in the expectation to close up on them by this morning. I only left two companies of cavalry as picket at the creek. About noon the commanding officer of this picket sent me word that he was hard pressed by a large rebel mounted force. I ordered the division to fall in at once, and advanced a part of Second Brigade and one section of Missouri Horse Artillery to support the retreating picket. When I came up with these troops to the advance infantry picket, I met the retiring cavalry and the rebel mounted infantry hard on them. I ordered Col. J. A. Williamson, commanding Second Brigade, to deploy one battalion of infantry on each side of the main road and then advance; the remainder of Second Brigade was to follow in supporting distance. The First Brigade, General Woods commanding, and batteries. were placed so that they could be thrown forward on either flank. The two leading regiments of the Second Brigade advanced steadily and forced the rebels to fall back into an open field on the east side of the timber. I then brought the whole of the Second Brigade up; while I ordered them to deploy, the enemy made an impetuous charge, and for a short time succeeded in occupying the skirt of the timber again. Colonel Torrence, of the Thirtieth Iowa Infantry, was killed there at the head of the regiment. 2 R R-VOL XXXI PT I This advantage lasted but a very short time, when the brave men of the Second Brigade drove them back across the open field I mentioned above. Forced back in front, the enemy pushed his cavalry forward around my left, but the Twenty-ninth and Thirty-first Missouri Infantry, and a part of the Twelfth Missouri Infantry, of First Brigade, was soon brought into position and in readiness to repulse any attempt of the enemy. I now advanced the Fifth Ohio Cavalry and Third Regulars on the right, and a section of First Missouri Horse Artillery took position abreast of Second Brigade on the east skirt of the timber. The artillery dislodged, by very good practice, the enemy, who had formed again out of range of the artillery, and occupied several plantation houses, about 500 yards in my front. Seeing the effect of this section, the second section of First Missouri Horse Artillery was ordered forward and caused the rebels to yield their position again. The movement of the cavalry on the right and the advance of the whole line of infantry caused the enemy to abandon his attempts on my left. They withdrew rather promptly out of the [range of the] artillery and infantry and the flanking maneuver of the cavalry. Following them up by advancing both my lines of infantry and the artillery, preceded by the cavalry, I drove the rebels for about 5 miles, when night set in and I withdrew my command, leaving only very strong pickets on the ground we had taken from the enemy. Only the Second Brigade, under Colonel Williamson, Landgraeber's battery, and the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, and Third U. S. Cavalry, participated in the fight, and they all did their whole duty. The casualties are, since yesterday's report, 8 killed and 24 wounded. Some prisoners were made, and I learn that the enemy had quite a number of casualties. The force attacking us was several thousand strong, mostly infantry and cavalry. I inclose nominal list* of killed and wounded, as far as ascertained to-night. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. W. D. GREEN, P. JOS. OSTERHAUS, Brigadier-General of Volunteers. Assistant Adjutant-General. [Inclosure.] List of killed and wounded in action at Cherokee, Ala., October 21, 1863. Many of the wounds are of very severe character; four capital operations of the lower extremities have already been performed. M. W. ROBBINS, Surg. Fourth Iowa Inf., Surg. in Chf., First Div., 15th A. C. HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Bridgeport, Ala., December 15, 1863. MAJOR: I have the honor to report on the operations of my division consequent on your order (received in camp, Cherokee Štation, Ala.) to push the enemy's forces then in my front toward and into Tuscumbia, without, however, going beyond that place. Before entering on the narrative, however, I beg leave to refer the general to my reports on previous engagements with the enemy on October 20 and 21, copies of which I now inclose.* The very signal repulse of the enemy's attack on our position at Cherokee, October 21 (see inclosure marked B), made him extremely careful, and all the information we could receive showed that he was receiving considerable re-enforcements, and occupied a very strong position on both sides of Cane Creek. In compliance with your orders we left camp in the lightest possible marching order at 3 a. m., October 26, and arrived at the cemetery near Barton's Station (Memphis and Charleston Railroad) at 4.30 a. m. The rebel pickets stationed there fled very hastily on our approach and gave the alarm in their camp. As it was too dark to push my advance forward and endeavor to intercept them, I awaited daybreak, and then deployed the First Brigade (Brigadier-General Woods commanding) behind a slight elevation in the ground to the right and left of the graveyard mentioned above, and placed the First Missouri Horse Artillery (Captain Landgraeber) in the cemetery itself. The cavalry-Fifth Ohio, and Third Regulars-were formed on both wings of the First Brigade, while the Second Brigade (Col. J. A. Williamson commanding) was kept in reserve in column near Barton's Station. The distance between my front line and the enemy's position was from 800 to 1,000 yards. (The cavalry engagement, reported on the inclosure marked A, was fought on the same ground.) The enemy's position was on a pretty steep ridge and well masked by timber, while my troops occupied the open fields, which extended, almost prairie-like, all the way from Cherokee Station to the hills in possession of the enemy. Awet weather" branch of Cane Creek flows at the foot of the hills. The first rays of the rising sun gave us some light as to the enemy's forces. He opened on us with artillery (rifle pieces) planted on the hill in my immediate front, and deployed a large column of cavalry on my right. The skirmishers of the First Brigade engaged those of the rebels in front and exchanged a brisk fire, while I dispatched Colonel Heath to the right with part of the Fifth Ohio Cavalry and two battalions of infantry of First Brigade. My instructions to the former were not only to check the advance of the enemy on that flank, but to attempt to gain his flank in turn; to the latter, to support the movements of the cavalry. *See pp. 16, 17. |