words. The rebels fired by rank, but so nervous and unsteady as to pass closer in rear of my reserve than to my advance. Clarke crum bled their right, and, wheeling, aimed for their heart, but it was gone in all directions. Occupying the court-house with two companies, the remainder pursued the flying force beyond the outskirts of the town. Fearing an ambuscade where there were so many, I ordered that the pursuit should be discontinued where opportunities for such would offer. Captain Walsh, however, could not restrain his fierceness, and taking Lieutenant Kirk and his company with him, drove Scott so close that he dropped him a first lieutenant and 3 men to stay his chase. The jail and court-house had been emptied of prisoners an hour before our arrival, and, placing some loose cotton in the former, resigned it to the flames. The citizens begged that I would spare the court-house, as its destruction would disfigure and perhaps mutilate and destroy a monument close by, erected in memory of those of its former residents who died on the plains of Mexico defending the Republic. Apprehending trouble on my return, and anxious to get into an open country before night set in, I gave the prisoners in charge of Lieutenant Kirk, left Lieutenants Clarke and Finn, under Captain Walsh, to guard the rear, while Lieuts. A. P. Sinclair and James Stewart, under Captain Donnelly, were to clear any hinderance to our advance. Lieutenant Miller I held to aid either front or rear when attacked. The enemy, being informed as to my strength and numbers, felt chagrined at his discomfiture, and gathering his scattered force on the west side of the town, determined to take advantage of the hills and road through which I had to pass to annihilate my little band. I had scarcely gone 2 miles when a courier from the rear informed me that Clarke was hard pressed, and the fierce yells of my assailants gave warning of their near approach. I ordered Captain Walsh and Lieutenant Finn to form in the woods on the right, telling them that I would go back with Clarke's 32, feign an attack, give way, and run by them, when they should open on them and close in in their rear. I led Clarke's command to the rear, telling him my intention, but as I advanced to the brow of the hill the rebels were too close upon me to permit of my retiring with any chance of safety; they were about equal to my entire command, drawn up in the form of a crescent, their right resting on the road while the left lapped my rear. Sending an orderly to the rear to bring up Captain Walsh, I determined to punish them on their own ground or perish in the attempt. I ordered a charge, telling my men to reserve their fire till we could strike them in the face with our revolvers. We were about 30 yards from the rebel semicircular line, and my men, deeming themselves close enough, hesitated for a moment. Putting spurs to my horse I dashed forward to show my contempt for the guerrillas that confronted me, and, beckoning to the noble and truly gallant Clarke, urged him to follow. Bravely, fearlessly, and heroically did he and his men obey the summons, and up to their very teeth we dashed. At this moment my horse was shot from under me, three of a volley of musket balls having penetrated his heart, brain, and side. The struggle that now raged over me was fierce, terrific, and appalling, exceeding in stubbornness any hand-to-hand and face-to-face encounter that has marked any war of the present age. Completely encircled by a galling fire, the rebel commander twice essayed to capture us, but the undaunted Clarke still struggled bravely, and though one after another of our horses fell to earth, we converted their bodies into a barricade and cleared the field. Captain Walsh arrived in time to join in the pursuit. The rebels left (as Lieutenant Clarke, who counted the bodies, informed me) 8 of their men in the throes of death behind them, while Sergt. William Davis, who refused to go to the rear, though severely wounded, and Private Beebe L. Saxton, of Company I, and Private Heman Curliss, of Company E, wounded, besides 3 horses killed, was all the loss the "terrible 32" sustained. Being extricated from my horse by the aid of my faithful orderly, O. B. Brombly, I formed both companies to resist another onslaught, telling them to retire alternately and join the column. Anticipating an immediate attack on the advance I hastened to the front to prepare for. it, and scarce had I formed when one of the most terrific but wildest volleys that ever was hurled upon a column greeted Captain Donnelly's command from a frowning hill on his left. Coolly did that gallant officer receive it, and calmly did he deliberate upon his duty. Up that steep hill did he charge with his men, Stewart advancing direct upon their center, while Sinclair struck them on the right flank, both driving them in confused groups into a dense thicket, pouring volley after volley into the confused mass. Never before was such daring, dashing, cool, determined bravery exhibited by men, and, the cry of "no quarter to guerrillas" having been heard above the din and rattle of musketry, drove the enemy through briers and thickets to the mountains. The force on this hill was little less than 150, half of whom were dismounted and contested Captain Donnelly's ascent. He himself blew the brains out of one, and, as I had ordered that no more prisoners should be taken, he says their loss must have been very great. Both these terrible reverses terrified the assailants, and, if I except one more desperate effort on the rear which Walsh, Clarke, and Finn gallantly met and repulsed, their firing was irregular and at long range. Providentially the only loss sustained by the onslaught upon the front was the killing and wounding of 7 horses, which I soon replaced from the stables of adjacent farm houses. Finding themselves baffled and defeated at all points, Captain Barnes was dispatched to Mount Pleasant, 16 miles ahead, on my line of march, to notify Major Coffee to join and aid in a last attack at that place, he having about 50 guerrillas in the neighboring mountains, but he could not escape the watchful eye of Captain Donnelly, who sent two men on fresh horses in pursuit, and they, being unable to close on him, drove him off the road with their long-range rifles. Ignorant of this, about 100 of the enemy kept in my rear to Mount Pleasant, where the brave “32 were concealed to receive them. The rear of my column having passed out of town, these cowardly murderers galloped up, shouting as they came, when Lieutenant Clarke wheeled his men into line and, delivering one volley in their face, scattered them in all directions to trouble us no more. I reached this post at 6 p. m., after an absence of twenty-seven hours, having traveled 82 miles, fought and defeated four times a superior force having advantage of ground and position, without food or rest. The prisoners, 26 in number, including 1 captain and 2 lieutenants, I turned over to Provost-Marshal Nixon, thus making in six days 107 prisoners captured by a single battalion. It will doubtless seem strange to some that in such terrible and 16 R R-VOL XXXI, PT I close conflicts between armed forces, so few are killed and wounded, but to the intelligent officer or soldier who has witnessed the unwieldy clumsiness of a Springfield rifle in the hands of a mounted man, the wonder is easy of solution. Such men as compose the Fourteenth Michigan, armed with breech-loading rifles or revolvers, would prove themselves a terror to any force with which they would come in contact. No tremulous hesitation, no fear of danger or of death, no retiring to load, or excuse to go to the rear, was visible in officer or soldier. They fought coolly, bravely, nobly; repulsing every attack, and breaking every line and barrier that interposed between them and success. The State of Michigan and the Republic [have] just reason to be proud of such noble sons and gallant defenders. Respectfully submitted. Your obedient servant, THOMAS C. FITZ GIBBON, Major, Commanding Fourteenth Michigan Volunteers. Capt. A. E. MAGILL, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. GENERAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES, No. 38. Nashville, Tenn., November 8, 1863. The general commanding compliments the officers and men of the Fourteenth Regiment of Michigan Volunteers. The late brilliant scouts through Lawrence, Giles, and Maury have done credit to our arms and taught the people of that section that our flag is carried by men who mean that it shall be respected. The general commanding feels assured that every portion of this command will emulate the energy, zeal, and gallantry of this regiment. By order of Brig. Gen. R. S. Granger: W. NEVIN, Captain, and Assistant Adjutant-General. NOVEMBER 3-5, 1863.-Operations on the Memphis and Charleston Rail road. SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS. Nov. 3, 1863.-Skirmish at Quinn and Jackson's Mill, Coldwater River, Miss. Action at Collierville, Tenn. 5, 1863.-Skirmish at Moscow, Tenn. Skirmish at La Fayette, Tenn. REPORTS.* No. 1.-Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut, U. S. Army, commanding Sixteenth Army Corps. No. 2.-Col. Edward Hatch, Second Iowa Cavalry, commanding Third Cavalry Brigade. No. 3.-Lieut. Col. George W. Trafton, Seventh Illinois Cavalry. No. 4.-Brig. Gen. James R. Chalmers, C. S. Army. No. 5.-Col. Robert McCulloch, Second Missouri Cavalry, commanding brigade. No. 6.-Col. W. F. Slemons, Second Arkansas Cavalry, commanding brigade. No. 7.-Col. R. V. Richardson, Twelfth Tennessee Cavalry. * See Union Correspondence, etc., November 1, Stevenson to Hurlbut, and Hurlbut to Dodge and Mizner; November 3, Hurlbut to Hatch, Mizner and Stevenson, and replies, Part III. No. 1. Reports of Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut, U. S. Army, commanding Sixteenth Army Corps. MEMPHIS, November 4, 1863. Chalmers was handsomely repelled by Colonel Hatch with three regiments of cavalry. General George captured. The railroad and telegraph unhurt. The enemy are south of Coldwater, 3,000 strong, and Hatch is waiting for Mizner and McCrillis to come up from Corinth and La Grange on their rear and flank. Dodge commences crossing the river to-day. S. A. HURLBUT, Major-General GRANT, Chattanooga. HEADQUARTERS SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Memphis, Tenn., November 5, 1863. GENERAL: Your orders contained in letter of 31st October, this day received, have been anticipated so far as it was practicable with present force. No troops have as yet arrived from Arkansas, and therefore I have no movable column at Memphis. I have ordered Stevenson, in the event of an attack in force, to draw in everything to Corinth as far as Moscow, and for that purpose directed him to keep a train and two engines. Chalmers attacked Collierville day before yesterday, and was repulsed and pursued by Colonel Hatch with the Second Iowa, Sixth and Seventh Illinois. I filled the Germantown and Collierville garrison with the Twenty-fifth Indiana Infantry. The enemy's loss was serious in killed and wounded. BrigadierGeneral George, of Mississippi Militia, and 8 officers captured at Collierville. Hatch followed to Chulahoma. Mizner was ordered from La Grange to their flank and rear, but has not been heard from. This morning at 3 a. m. the enemy, about 1,000 strong, pushed in 5 miles east of Saulsbury and commenced destroying track; damage not ascertained. Hatch and Mizner are ordered to push in upon them. I think the road is badly broken, but cannot yet tell. Corinth must take care of itself in that case until re-enforcements from Steele arrive. I fear McPherson will scarcely get Tuttle's division up for want of fuel. Your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. WILLIAM T. SHERMAN. No. 2. S. A. HURLBUT, Reports of Col. Edward Hatch, Second Iowa Cavalry, commanding Third Cavalry Brigade. COLLIERVILLE, TENN., The enemy in force, under Chalmers, attacked this place about 12 o'clock to-day and were badly whipped by 3 o'clock. They are in full retreat, and my sabers are charging them. Brigadier-General George is in our hands, and a number of other prisoners. Losses on both sides not yet ascertained. There are no troops at Germantown. We are short of ammunition. Will report further soon. The line is all right east. EDWARD HATCH, Major-General HURLBUT. Colonel, Commanding. COLLIERVILLE, November 3, 1863-8.30 p. m. The enemy have been driven across the Coldwater. The rout is complete. At the Coldwater they made a stand with artillery. Firing has ceased. Colonel Mizner has assumed command of the Second Brigade, and has issued orders to Colonel McCrillis which conflict with my plans. Impossible to handle the First Brigade, owing to Colonel Mizner's rank. I think there is another column, which passed through Salem; am not certain, though, and hardly think it prudent to leave the road too far in pursuit with the force at my command. My advance is now near Quinn and Jackson's Mill, and I leave here as soon as the infantry comes up. Major-General HURLBUT. EDWARD HATCH, Colonel, Commanding Division. CHULAHOMA, November 4, 1863. The enemy's retreat, since leaving Coldwater, has been a rout. Retreating so rapidly, I have captured but few prisoners. The enemy have many killed and wounded lying along the line of retreat. Chalmers' force engaged, so far as ascertained, are McCulloch's Second Missouri Regiment, Jackson's old regiment (First [Seventh] Tennessee), George's Mississippi, McGuirk's Mississippi, Slemons' Second Arkansas, Bart's [?] Mississippi, Twelfth Tennessee, Chalmers' Battalion, two 6-pounder guns, one rifle, three small caliber. I shall be on the road to-morrow. Respectfully, your obedient servant, Major-General HURLBUT. EDWARD HATCH, HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE CAVALRY, Collierville, Tenn., November 9, 1863. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report the part taken by the Third Brigade Cavalry, Sixteenth Army Corps, in the attack on Collierville, November 3, 1863, by the Confederate General Chalmers, in command of seven regiments and six pieces of artillery. On the morning of the 3d of November, Collierville was occupied by eight companies of the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, and two iron howitzers, in command of Lieutenant-Colonel Trafton, with outpost 8 miles south on Coldwater. I was at Germantown with eight companies of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, four mountain howitzers of the First Illinois Light Artillery, 450 men of the Second Iowa Cavalry, and a section of mountain howitzers, commanded by Lieutenant Reed, Second Iowa Cavalry. Eight companies of this brigade were guarding trestle-work and bridges from Memphis 40 miles east. |