DECEMBER 14, 1863.-Capture of Union Wagon Train, near Clinch Mountain Gap, Tenn. Report of Col. Thomas J. Brady, One hundred and Seventeenth Indiana Infantry. BLAIN'S CROSS-ROADS, LIEUTENANT: I would respectfully report to you that, the 14th December, while carrying out Colonel Mahan's instructions respecting the improvement of the road through Clinch Mountain Gap, I was alarmed just at sundown by the repeated report of musketry, and information was brought me that the train just corraled at the opposite foot of the mountain was attacked. I immediately dispatched Captain Braxton with three companies to its defense. Shortly after I learned that the force attacking was larger than first supposed, and immediately led five other companies to its relief. Half way down the mountain the firing ceased, and knowing from the cheers that followed that the train was captured, I entertained the idea of attempting its recapture. At this time Captain Braxton returned, the train having surrendered before he could reach it. Making what dispositions I thought necessary for the attack, I had barely given the orders to advance, when informed the enemy was marching up the eastern hill and upon my right flank, seemingly regardless of my presence, and a few shots fired not causing him to pay us equal attention, I withdrew to the gap and dispatched a company (Captain Woodmansee's) to the summit of the aforesaid hill. The captain most gallantly repulsed his four several attempts to possess it. Night had already set in, and my attempt to communicate with General Shackelford at Bean's Station proving futile, and learning from scouts sent out that the enemy in my rear was in force, and perceiving the fact from his numerous camp fires, I adopted the only alternative left me-to retreat. Accordingly at 9 p. m. camp was abandoned, and we took up our line of march over the crest of the mountains toward Rutledge. The night was dark and cold and our route pathless and very rough, while the enemy was on either side of us, his pickets extending far upon the sides of the mountain, but all were impressed with the danger attending the movement and marched in silence. All night and the next morning until 10 o'clock we kept the mountains. At that hour the sound of battle below us drew our attention to the south valley, where we could easily discern the contending forces. Glad to leave our elevation, I marched below and reported to General Hascall for duty, and was quickly placed in position to avenge upon rebel heads our night's hurried march. From him I received orders to report to Colonel Graham, and was put in position upon the ground occupied by Fifth Indiana Cavalry (which moved farther to the right), near the right center. In front and to our right was a heavy wood. By order I dispatched a company (B, Captain King) as skirmishers, with instructions to gain a fence skirting the woods immediately to our front. The position was gained with scarcely any opposition, but upon the first appearance of the enemy's skirmishers the company withdrew in disorder. Iimmediately called upon Captain Braxton, Company H, to regain the fence at any cost. Most gallantly was the order obeved and under a heavy fire, while the captain held the position until withdrawn. In the meantime, the enemy had succeeded in planting batteries upon our right flank, and shot and shell flew thick and fast over us, but the position assigned us by Colonel Graham was held until night set in. In the meanwhile, I had been ordered to report to Colonel Gilbert, and by him to Colonel Reilly, from whom I received instructions to withdraw in silence when night had fairly set in. This I did without creating alarm and without loss, and marched 3 or 4 miles south of Rutledge, where we bivouacked for the night. Starting the following morning at 7 a. m., we came to these cross-roads, where we, for the first time since leaving the gap, received something to eat. Our transportation, camp equipage, and the greater portion of regiment and camp property, and books and papers were lost. To Captain Woodmansee, for his gallant conduct in repulsing the enemy, to Captain Braxton, who led the advance over the mountain and who distinguished himself as commander of skirmishers, to Lieutenant-Colonel Sayles and Major Bryant for hearty co-operation, and to the regiment for good conduct, I am under obligation. Commissary Sergeant Kesler and Private Lawton, Company B, were indefatigable and fearless in their efforts to trace the enemy's line below in the valley. Sergeant McGinnis, Corporal Rawlins, and Private Carlton, Company I, discovered the forces and positions of the enemy at the foot of the mountain and to rear of us; and while doing this Carlton was captured, but finally overpowered his guard, escaped, and rejoined us. First Sergeant O'Haver, Company B, acting lieutenant, commanded pickets during the night, and only withdrew at dawn, when the enemy prepared to assault. I am, with respect, THOS. J. BRADY, Colonel, Commanding 117th Indiana Infantry. Lieut. BENJ. F. OLDEN, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. DECEMBER 18-31, 1863.-Operations in Northern Mississippi and West Tennessee. SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS. Dec. 24, 1863.-Skirmish at Estenaula, Tenn. Skirmish at Jack's Creek, Tenn. 26, 1863.-Skirmish at Somerville, Tenn. 27, 1868.-Skirmish at La Fayette, Tenn. Skirmish at Grisson's Bridge, Tenn. 28, 1863. Skirmish at Mount Pleasant, Miss. 29, 1863.-Skirmish at Coldwater, Miss. REPORTS. No. 1.—Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, U. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. No. 2.-Col. Edward Hatch, Second Iowa Cavalry, commanding Second Brigade, of skirmishes at La Fayette and Collierville, Tenn. (27th). No. 3.-Lieut. W. Scott Belden, Sixth Iowa Cavalry, Acting Assistant AdjutantGeneral. No. 4.-Col. Edward Prince, Seventh Illinois Cavalry, of skirmishes at Estenaula (24th) and near New Castle, Tenn. (26th). No. 5.-Lieut. Col. Jefferson Brumback, Ninety-fifth Ohio Infantry, of skirmishes at La Fayette and Collierville, Tenn. (27th). No. 6.-Col. William H. Morgan, Twenty-fifth Indiana Infantry, commanding Third Brigade. No. 7.-Maj. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest, C. S. Army. No. 1. Report of Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, U. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. HDQRS. CAVALRY DIVISION, SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Memphis, Tenn., January 24, 1864. CAPTAIN :* In pursuance of Special Orders, No. 324, dated headquarters Sixteenth Army Corps, December 18, 1863, Colonel Mizner was ordered to move his command (except the Sixth Tennessee), in connection with a brigade of infantry and battery, under General Mower, from Corinth north toward Purdy. At the same time I prepared to concentrate the rest of my command at La Grange, for the purpose of moving north and operating in conjunction with General Mower from Purdy, and General A. J. Smith, [who was to move south] from Union City, toward the position of the enemy at Jackson, Tenn. Information arrived, however, that General Smith was not yet prepared to leave; accordingly my movements were postponed, with the exception of Colonel Mizner, who, in connection with General Mower, was ordered north to Purdy, there to await further developments. On the 22d of December, however, I concentrated the rest of my command at La Grange, for the purpose of moving north to Bolivar. Upon arriving at La Grange, I was informed by General Tuttle that a considerable force of the enemy under General Chalmers was posted near Salem. This information having been telegraphed to the majorgeneral commanding, it was thought best to remain at La Grange for the present. Accordingly, at daylight on the following morning, I started Colonel Prince with about 500 men of the Seventh Illinois north, with instructions to cover all the crossings of the Hatchie, and, if pressed by the enemy, to fall back toward Grand Junction. At the same time I sent 200 men south to feel Chalmers. Colonel Prince proceeded to Bolivar, thence northwest along the Hatchie, destroying all the boats as he proceeded. When near Estenaula, he came upon a considerable force of the enemy under Richardson, who were crossing the Hatchie at that point. He attacked and drove them back until night compelled him to suspend operations, and he fell back to secure a safe position in which to encamp. Upon reception of this news I immediately dispatched Major Burgh, with the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, to re-enforce Colonel Prince, and, it being the belief that the enemy would attempt to * For portion here omitted, see p. 578. cross the railroad between La Grange and Pocahontas, I disposed my command as well as possible to intercept him. That night Forrest succeeded in crossing his whole command at Estenaula. To prevent being flanked, Colonel Prince was compelled to fall back to Somerville; here he remained all day on the 25th, and communicated with me at La Grange. I immediately ordered him to move east to New Castle, where Major Burgh had by this time arrived. He started on the morning of the 26th on the road to New Castle. About 4 miles from Somerville, he met the enemy in force and engaged them, but being attacked vigorously in the rear, his command was thrown into disorder and compelled to retreat. They arrived in La Grange, as did also Major Burgh, the same afternoon. On the morning of the 27th, I learned that the enemy had moved west. I telegraphed this information to the general commanding, and suggested the propriety of starting a regiment of cavalry west. This was approved, and Major Burgh was immediately ordered to Collierville, with his regiment, and instructions to report by telegraph to the general commanding immediately upon his arrival at that point. Scarcely had he started when the operator at La Fayette stated that the enemy were coming, and a few moments afterward the wires were cut. The bridge at this point had been repeatedly ordered destroyed, and when passing there upon the railroad on the 22d instant I sent a staff officer to inquire if it had been done. He was told by Lieutenant Roberts, of the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, who was in command there, that it was entirely destroyed. The information of their approach was received about fifteen minutes after 1 p. m. on the 27th. I immediately telegraphed Colonel Morgan, who was at Grand Junction with his brigade and a train of cars, which he had been ordered to keep in readiness to move at a moment's notice, to embark his command and run to La Fayette as speedily as possible, as the enemy had attacked that place. Considerable delay occurred before Colonel Morgan left La Grange, at least two hours being consumed in embarking his command and running 2 miles. At this point I gave him written instructions to attack the enemy vigorously wherever he might be found, and sent with him Major Starr, one of my staff, for the purpose of sending me information. In the meantime I suggested to Brigadier-General Tuttle that the force of white troops under Major Henry, stationed at Moscow, be sent to Grisson's Bridge until the arrival of Colonel Morgan. The suggestion was approved and acted upon. When Colonel Morgan arrived at Grisson's Bridge he found Major Henry stationed there and his advance already skirmishing with the enemy. He (Major Henry) received orders to advance with his command, which he did with alacrity, and engaged the enemy sharply; and I beg leave here to make mention of the bravery displayed by Major Henry and his troops upon this occasion. He drove them back, and Colonel Morgan advanced with his train to within 1 miles of La Fayette, where he disembarked and formed in line of battle, although Major Henry was still in his advance for some distance with skirmishers and reserves engaging the enemy. Finding it impossible to get through the swamp in line, he formed column and deployed again into line three or four times. In this way at least one hour was consumed, during which time the enemy was fast crossing Wolf River, and succeeded in crossing his entire force before Colonel Morgan had fired a shot. In the meantime Major Burgh, with the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, about 300 strong, marched by wagon road from La Grange and met the enemy about 14 miles west of Moscow. He skirmished with and drove them, in connection with Major Henry, until he arrived at La Fayette. Here the enemy divided, part going west along the railroad and the rest going south. Major Burgh pushed west, and again came up with them near Collierville before midnight. He immediately dispatched Colonel Morgan, who had gone into bivouac at La Fayette. At 3 a. m. on the 28th, Colonel Morgan moved upon them, but before he arrived at Collierville they had gone. From this point he communicated with the major-general commanding, stating that his command were worn out, when they had marched but 8 miles in two days and had not yet succeeded in coming within shooting distance of the enemy. He was ordered both by the major-general commanding and myself to start immediately in pursuit of the enemy. The last order he received at 6 p. m. on the 28th, but did not move until 3 o'clock the next morning. In the meantime, Colonel Mizner's brigade had returned from Purdy to Corinth and was brought by rail to La Grange. On the morning of the 28th, I started the Second Brigade, under Major Coon, southwest to Mount Pleasant, thence to Hudsonville. As soon as Mizner arrived at La Grange I proceeded with his brigade to Hudsonville. At midnight on the 28th, I started scouts to ascertain the whereabouts of the enemy, who had passed southwest from Hudsonville the morning before. At daylight on the 29th, I started the Second Brigade in pursuit. I soon received information from Major Coon that Forrest had been joined by Chalmers, and that another movement on the road was contemplated by the combined forces. Taking this information, in connection with a dispatch which about this time I received from the major-general commanding, with information that a considerable force of the enemy had crossed Coldwater north to re-enforce Forrest, I deemed it best to move to Mount Pleasant with the rest of my command, and sent detachments to Olive Branch and farther west, in order to completely cover the line of the railroad, and sent expeditions to all the fords and crossings on Coldwater, and one to proceed, if possible, as far as Byhalia. The next morning (30th) I received information from all the scouts that the enemy had passed rapidly southward, and a cold rain, accompanied by snow, setting in, I ordered Colonel Mizner to proceed with his command, via Mount Pleasant, to La Grange, sent the Sixth Illinois, via Olive Branch, to Germantown, and with the rest of the command fell back to Collierville. I herewith transmit report by Colonel Morgan of the part taken by his command in the late pursuit; also, extract from the report of Maj. M. H. Starr, acting assistant inspector-general of the Cavalry Division, who was present during the movements of Colonel Morgan's brigade from La Grange at La Fayette. If Colonel Morgan had evinced as much enterprise in pursuing and attacking the enemy as he has in making excuses for his tardy movements, success would undoubtedly have attended our efforts. Respectfully, your obedient servant, B. H. GRIERSON, Brigadier-General, Commanding Cavalry Division. Capt. T. H. HARRIS, Assistant Adjutant-General. 39 R R-VOL XXXI, PT I |