NOVEMBER 27, 1863.-Skirmish at Monticello, Ky. Report of Col. John M. Hughs, Twenty-fifth Tennessee Infantry (Confederate), including skirmishes near Sparta, Tenn., November 30; at Scottsville, Ky., December 8, and near Livingston, Tenn., December 15. DALTON, GA., April 28, 1864. SIR: I have the honor herewith to submit the following report of my operations in Middle Tennessee.* On the 27th November I attacked Monticello, Ky., with 149 men, and captured the town with its entire garrison, numbering 153 officers and men, with but little stores of any kind. The prisoners were paroled on the spot. In this affair Major Bledsoe, of the Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, was severely wounded by accident. On the 30th November, a fight occurred between the rear guard of my command, under Capt. R. H. Bledsoe, and a party of Colonel Brownlow's (Tennessee) regiment. For the numbers engaged the fighting was very severe. The enemy lost 13 killed, 8 wounded, and 7 captured. My loss, 5 killed. On the 8th December I attacked, with about 200 men, Scottsville, Ky., capturing the place with its garrison, composed of Captain Gilliam's company of the Fifty-second Kentucky Regiment, numbering 86 men, and a considerable quantity of quartermaster and commissary stores, together with about 500 stand of small-arms and several hundred saddles, bridles, &c. The prisoners were paroled. My loss, 1 killed. On the 15th December, near Livingston, Tenn., I attacked, with a portion of my command, numbering less than 100, a detachment of the Thirteenth Kentucky Mounted Infantry [Cavalry], numbering 250 men, under Major Hurt, and succeeded in whipping and driving them out of the State, a distance of 18 miles, killing and wounding several and capturing 6. My loss, 2 wounded. † Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JÓHN M. HUGHS. NOVEMBER 27, 1863.-Skirmish at La Fayette, Ky. Report of Col. Cicero Maxwell, Twenty-sixth Kentucky Infantry. HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, SOUTHWEST KENTUCKY, Bowling Green, Ky., December 2, 1863. CAPTAIN Yesterday I received report from Colonel Murray, Third Kentucky Cavalry, commanding at Hopkinsville, that a few days since Lieutenant Brunner and 17 men of the Third, in a stockade at La Fayette, Christian County, were attacked by the rebel Hawkins with largely over 100 men, and after an obstinate contest and after robbing several stores, which Brunner could not protect from his stockade, the rebels retired, losing 3 killed and 7 wounded, 4 mortally, Brunner losing none. Hawkins, after leaving La Fayette, went in the direction of Canton, stealing all the horses he could find, pursued by Colonel Mur *Portion here omitted is printed in Series I, Vol. XXX, Part II, p. 646. +Portion here omitted relates to operations in Middle and East Tennessee from January to April, 1864, and will appear in Series I, Vol. XXXII. ray; and the colonel says but for the treachery of one Captain Cox, of the steam-boat Duke, who used his boat to ferry the rebels over the Cumberland River, he (Colonel Murray) would have overtaken Hawkins at the river, as he was only an hour or so behind him. Lieutenant Brunner and his little band deserve great credit for their gallant and successful defense against such great odds. Very respectfully, CICERO MAXWELL, Colonel 26th Ky. Vols., Comdg. Southwestern Kentucky. Capt. A. C. SEMPLE, Assistant Adjutant-General. NOVEMBER 28-DECEMBER 10, 1863.-Operations against the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, in West Tennessee. SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS. Nov. 28, 1863.-Skirmish near Molino, Miss. Dec. 1, 1863.-Skirmish at Ripley, Miss. 2, 1863.-Descent on Saulsbury, Tenn. 3-4, 1863.-Action at Wolf River Bridge, near Moscow, Tenn. 4, 1863. Skirmish at La Fayette, Tenn. Affair at Ripley, Miss. REPORTS. No. 1.-Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut, U. S. Army, commanding Sixteenth Army Corps, with complimentary orders. No. 2.-Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, U. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Division. No. 3.-Col. John K. Mizner, Third Michigan Cavalry, commanding First Bri gade. No. 4.-Col. Edward Hatch, Second Iowa Cavalry, commanding Second Brigade. No. 5.-Col. Frank A. Kendrick, Second West Tennessee Infantry, African Descent. No. 6.—Lieut. Col. George W. Trafton, Seventh Illinois Cavalry. No. 7.-Col. Fielding Hurst, Sixth Tennessee Cavalry. No. 8.-General Joseph E. Johnston, C. S. Army. No. 9.-Brig. Gen. James R. Chalmers, C. S. Army. No. 1. Reports of Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut, U. S. Army, commanding Sixteenth Army Corps, with complimentary orders. MEMPHIS, December 3, 1863. (Received Chattanooga, 5th.) The enemy, under Lee, Forrest, and Ferguson, broke into Saulsbury yesterday. We had no troops there. They destroyed track and bent rails. It will take twenty-four hours to repair. Mizner fell back to Pocahontas against orders, and left this gap open. Hatch is following their main body, which is retreating south by Holly Springs. Forrest escaped north with about 500 men. We have lost no men nor trains, and have, so far, 40 prisoners. I cannot learn with certainty of any infantry below this cavalry move ment. Major-General SHERMAN. S. A. HURLBUT, MEMPHIS, TENN., December 5, 1863. The enemy, about 3,000 strong, with three pieces of artillery, under Lee and Chalmers, struck La Fayette and Moscow yesterday at 1 p. m. They were met at Moscow by Col. E. Hatch, who, after a sharp conflict, drove them 4 miles, and again engaged them. They retreated to Mount Pleasant, and have gone this morning. We lost 4 killed and 11 wounded and 25 captured. The Sixth Illinois Cavalry lost 125 horses and equipments. Full particulars not received. Colonel Hatch severely wounded. The line is open to-day. Loring's division of infantry is at Okolona, so reported. Roddey, at Courtland. Two regiments north of the river. Bell, at Trenton, with 2,500 men, looking toward Paducah. Tuttle's division is lying east of La Grange ready to concentrate in Corinth, if required, and I shall keep them until my rolling-stock can be worked in. If Dodge is not much wanted at Pulaski, he would do great service by moving on Okolona and Columbus, via Tuscumbia. S. A. HURLBUT. Major-General SHERMAN. MEMPHIS, December 7, 1863. The affair at Moscow the other day was more spirited than I thought. The negro regiment behaved splendidly. Our loss is 7 killed and about 40 horses-10 captured. We have captured in the movement 54 prisoners; buried 30. The entire loss of the enemy cannot be less than 150. Forrest is gathering the guerrillas together at Jackson. I shall move on him from Columbus and Moscow simultaneously. Major-General SHERMAN, through S. A. HURLBUT, GENERAL ORDERS, No. 173. HDQRS. SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, The recent affair at Moscow, Tenn., has demonstrated the fact that colored troops, properly disciplined and commanded, can and will fight well, and the general commanding corps deems it to be due to the officers and men of the Second Regiment West Tennessee Infantry, of African descent, thus publicly to return his personal thanks for their gallant and successful defense of the important position to which they had been assigned, and for the manner in which they have vindicated the wisdom of the Government in elevating the rank and file of these regiments to the position of freed. men and soldiers. By order of Maj. Gen. S. A. Hurlbut: 37 R R-VOL XXXI, PT I T. H. HARRIS, Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 2. Reports of Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, U. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Division.* HDQRS. CAVALRY DIVISION, SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Memphis, Tenn., January 24, 1864. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to Special Orders, No. 296, from headquarters Sixteenth Army Corps, dated November 24, 1863, I ordered the brigade commanded by Colonel Hatch to move on the morning of the 26th of November by separate columns north of the railroad, sweeping round and assembling on Somerville, for the purpose of covering the taking up of the material on the Somerville Branch Railroad. At the same time I ordered the brigade of Colonel Mizner to move south from Corinth as far as was safe without risking his command. Colonel Mizner moved south about 40 miles, when he captured a number of the enemy, and ascertained that they were moving north in large force, evidently with the intention of attacking the railroad. Having received this information, agreeable to instructions from the major-general commanding, I immediately sent couriers to Colonel Hatch with orders to move as quickly as possible with his brigade to La Grange. The enemy's advance were met by Colonel Mizner and several times repulsed. They, however, overpowered and drove him back to Pocahontas, when they moved south, probably as a feint, and taking another road moved upon Saulsbury. Colonel Hatch arrived at La Grange, and was immediately ordered to move east along the railroad, scouting south toward Ripley. He met the enemy at Saulsbury, after they had succeeded in destroying the railroad at that point; and starting a portion of their command north, Colonel Hatch fought and drove the remainder of the enemy some distance south and returned with his command to La Grange. The next morning I sent scouts south, and information was soon obtained that the enemy were moving west, evidently with the intention of again attacking the railroad. I immediately ordered Colonel Hatch to move west with his command. He arrived at Moscow simultaneously with the enemy. Here a brief, but severe, engagement ensued, in which Colonel Hatch was severely wounded. The enemy were, however, repulsed, and moved south. Their loss was probably over 100 in killed, wounded, and prisoners, they having left 26 dead upon the field. Our loss was 4 killed and 19 wounded. I beg leave, in connection with this engagement, to bear witness to the bravery displayed by the colored regiment under Col. Frank Kendrick, stationed at this point. The enemy having moved south of the Tallahatchie, my command renewed their former status upon the line of the railroad. The force of the enemy, which had moved north from Saulsbury, proved to be about 1,500 strong, under General Forrest, who had come north of the road for the purpose of conscripting in West Tennessee. † Respectfully, your obedient servant, B. H. GRIERSON, Brigadier-General, Commanding Cavalry Division. Capt. T. H. HARRIS, Assistant Adjutant-General. *See also Grierson's dispatches in Part III. No. 3. Reports of Col. John K. Mizner, Third Michigan Cavalry, commanding First Brigade. RUCKERSVILLE, December 1, 1863-4 p. m. (Received 10.30 p. m.) The enemy in full force, not less than 6,000, is making for Pocahontas. He has pressed me very hard to this point, where I have finally checked their advance. One of my columns has been falling back on the Middleton road and find the enemy pursuing with a much smaller force, showing the main column making for Pocahontas. I will hold every inch possible, but they must be prepared for heavy work at Pocahontas to-morrow. J. K. MIZNER, Colonel, Commanding Cavalry. HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., CAV. DIV., 16TH ARMY CORPS, Corinth, Miss., December 15, 1863. CAPTAIN: I herewith submit a report of the operations of the First Cavalry Brigade, in obedience to Special Orders, No. 296, from headquarters Sixteenth Army Corps, of November 24, 1863: I left Corinth at daylight, on the morning of the 26th ultimo, with about 900 men, consisting of 400 from Third Michigan, 300 from Seventh Kansas, and 200 from First Alabama. Marched 31 miles and encamped 3 miles south of Blackland. Believing that no force of the enemy were nearer than Okolona, except a regiment at Chesterville, I moved through Carrollville to Ellistown. This gave me a position from which I could scout a greater number of roads leading toward points which the enemy might occupy, and securing a better line of retreat if encountering a superior force, which I had reason to expect, as the enemy were reported from 8,000 to 12,000 strong at Okolona and vicinity, preparing to move north. At Ellistown I captured a rebel officer and 10 men engaged in conscripting. I moved 6 miles south on Chesterville road and halted to feed. Here several rebel officers and men rode unsuspectingly into my camp and were made prisoners, expressing their surprise at finding us there and reporting much of their cavalry north of us. At this point I also learned that Lee had moved with a heavy force from Okolona to Pontotoc, on his way north. Also, capturing one of Lee's command who left him 8 miles north of Pontotoc at noon, moving toward New Albany. I therefore moved to a safer position near Molino, from which I could better watch the movements of the enemy, and remained until the morning of the 28th, when, it being necessary for me to change my position, both to keep the enemy in ignorance of my whereabouts and to obtain forage, I moved toward Dumas post-office. Soon after leaving camp, I was attacked in rear by a regiment of the enemy's cavalry, which I dispersed with a loss to them of 8 killed and 17 wounded, and no casualties in my command. Scouted the roads toward New Albany and camped for the night 5 miles south of Ripley, which place, I was satisfied, would |