DECEMBER 24-28, 1863.-Operations near Mossy Creek and Dandridge, Tenn. SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS. Dec. 24, 1863.-Skirmishes at Peck's House, near New Market, and at Mossy Creek Station, Tenn. 26, 1863. Action at Hays' Ferry, near Dandridge, Tenn. Skirmish at Mossy Creek, Tenn. 27, 1863. Skirmish at Talbott's Station, Tenn. REPORTS.* No. 1.-Maj. Gen. John G. Foster. U. S. Army, commanding Department of the Ohio. No. 2.-Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis, U. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Corps, Department of the Ohio. No. 3.-Brig. Gen. Washington L. Elliott, U. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Corps, Department of the Cumberland. No. 4.-Col. Edward M. McCook, Second Indiana Cavalry, commanding First Division. No. 5.-Col. Archibald P. Campbell, Second Michigan Cavalry, commanding First Brigade. No. 6.-Col. Oscar H. La Grange, First Wisconsin Cavalry, commanding Second Brigade. No. 7.-Col. William J. Palmer, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, of operations De cember 24. No. 8.-Lieut. Samuel E. Miller, Ninth Tennessee Cavalry, of action at Hays' Ferry. No. 1. Reports of Maj. Gen. John G. Foster, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the Ohio. KNOXVILLE, December 25, 1863. Yesterday the cavalry was mainly engaged with the enemy's cavalry beyond New Market. General Sturgis reports that on the Dandridge road Colonel Campbell's brigade met a superior force of the enemy, and had a severe fight. They at once charged on his rear and captured two guns, but he recaptured them by a counter charge. The enemy lost 80 killed and wounded. Colonel Campbell, Colonel Garrard's brigade, was also on the Dandridge and Morristown road, while Sturgis, with the main body, drove the enemy beyond Mossy Creek. Sixty-one prisoners have been brought in. Major-General GRANT. J. G. FOSTER, Major-General. KNOXVILLE, December 28, 1863. General Sturgis, with his own and Elliott's cavalry, has been almost constantly engaged with the enemy's cavalry for the past few days. He has gallantly driven them from every position, and is now *See also Martin's report, p 547. 40 R R-VOL XXXI, PT I in the country between Mossy Creek and Morristown. One of his brigades made a dash into Waiteu's [Witcher's?] camp last night, and put to flight three rebel brigades and captured their camp, with provisions and cooking utensils. Longstreet is unhappy about his communications. J. G. FOSTER, Major-General GRANT. Major-General. No. 2. Reports of Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis, U. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Corps, Department of the Ohio. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, New Market, Tenn., December 24, 1863-2 a. m. GENERAL: My whole command reached this place this evening. From all the information I can gather, I have little doubt but the whole, or nearly so, of the enemy's cavalry are on this side of the Holston. Colonel Palmer has arrived from Dandridge with his command. He captured 4 prisoners of Morgan's division, who were a part of an advanced guard to Dandridge. From these and from citizens we learn that one brigade, and perhaps a division, is now at Dandridge. Armstrong, unless he moves to-night, is in the vicinity of Morristown, and a large force somewhere in the vicinity of Cheek's CrossRoads. I propose to attempt the separation of the force at Dandridge from the remainder. I will move a brigade by Mount Horeb to intercept their retreat, and a brigade with four pieces of artillery on the direct road to Dandridge. These forces can reach their destination by daylight, I hope. The brigade, or division, supposed to be at Dandridge has six pieces artillery, five rifled and one brass. The prisoners say that the cavalry came over to intercept us, because it was understood that we contemplated a raid on Longstreet's rear. I talked with one-an Alabamian and a straightforward kind of fellow-who says that last Friday Longstreet was joined by A. P. Hill's corps, and that what the men say through their camps is that Longstreet has now 50,000. I give you this for what it is worth. I think it would be well to send the dismounted men left by Colonel Wolford down to Strawberry Plains, taking their wagons with them, and they would serve as a guard for that place. Respectfully, S. D. STURGIS, Brigadier-General, Commanding Cavalry Corps. Maj. Gen. JOHN G. FOSTER. P. S.-If the brigade of Colonel Wolford which went to Tazewell can be reached, I hope you will send it on at once. The colonel's whole division now here is only some 800 or 900 strong. General PARKE: [Indorsement.] DECEMBER 24, 1863-6.30 a. m. I send you a dispatch just received from General Sturgis. Send over as soon as you can the first brigade that you can get hold of; also comply with his request to have Wolford's dismounted men sent, with his wagons, to Strawberry Plains. J. G. FOSTER, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, New Market, December 24, 1863-11.30 a. m. GENERAL: The division of Colonel McCook, General Elliott's corps, has been engaging the enemy more or less since early this morning on the Morristown road. The Second Indiana has just made a very handsome charge on the enemy's left and driven him back. There is a rumor to the effect that the force I sent to Dandridge has captured the enemy's battery; nothing official in regard to it, however. I am anxious to hear from Colonel Garrard, who commands that force, as I do not wish to separate my forces any more by pushing the enemy until Garrard returns, or at least until I can hear of him. I trust you can spare the brigade now with you and send it as rapidly as possible to join me. Respectfully, S. D. STURGIS, Brigadier-General, Commanding Cavalry Corps. Major-General FOSTER. P. S. This moment I hear firing in the direction of the mouth of Chucky, 8 miles from here. I am apprehensive that Garrard has followed up the enemy's force that way. I have been endeavoring to hear from him all the morning, but so far without success. I expect to hear from him in an hour at the outside, however. I have sent him two couriers, directing him to come to this place on the direct roads. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, New Market, December 24, 1863-8.30 p. m. GENERAL: Of the two brigades I sent to Dandridge last night, one (under Colonel Campbell, Second Michigan Cavalry) has returned, and the other (Colonel Garrard) is within supporting distance. Colonel Campbell had a severe engagement near Dandridge, killing some 80 or 100 of the enemy, and wounding, he thinks, a very large number. Our loss will probably not reach over some 20 or 30 in killed and wounded, among whom are several fine officers. The enemy surrounded him with a very large force, and while defending himself on one side, the enemy charged his battery from the other side, capturing two of his pieces. In this charge the enemy's loss was very severe, and the major who led the charge was killed. Colonel Campbell then handsomely charged the enemy and recovered his guns. Colonel Campbell informs me that he saw 15 of the enemy's dead in one spot, and says they were strewn around in great profusion. The colonel deserves great credit for the masterly manner in which he extricated his command. On the Morristown road the fighting was stubborn, but the enemy was driven beyond Mossy Creek. The brigade of Colonel Garrard was engaged also near Cheek's Cross-Roads, but I have no report as yet of his operations. The whole number of prisoners brought in thus far is about 45; several officers among them. The enemy is evidently in great force. Please accept my thanks for the promptness with which my requests have been granted, and believe me, yours, respectfully, S. D. STURGIS, Brigadier-General, Commanding Cavalry Corps. Major-General PARKE. P. S.-A copy of this has been sent to the telegraph operator at Strawberry Plains for General Foster. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, New Market, Tenn., December 25, 1863-2.15 p. m. GENERAL: The brigade of Colonel Garrard returned last night to this place, having lost some 12 or 15 of his men in killed and wounded. The colonel is of opinion that the enemy's loss was about the same. Hearing no firing at Dandridge yesterday morning, I feared the enemy had received information of the movement I had ordered and had gotten away, and that a force might be sent from Mossy Creek to intercept our force. I accordingly sent orders to return at once. The enemy had the information, and did march with the intention of cutting them off. Colonel Garrard, however, apprehending the same movement, fell back just in time to secure the intersection of the road from this place with that from Mossy Creek to Dandridge, and thus secured the withdrawal of both brigades. In this move the colonel sustained well the favorable opinion we had formed of his coolness and skill. It is due to Colonel Palmer, of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry (commonly called the Anderson Cavalry), to say that he accompanied this expedition with the few troops he had as a volunteer, and rendered valuable aid. His loss was some 8 wounded, and Capt. W. Airey, whose horse was killed, taken pris oner. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brigadier-General, Commanding Cavalry Corps. Brig. Gen. E. E. POTTER. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, GENERAL: This morning my line occupied a fine position about half a mile beyond Mossy Creek, and it was my intention to attack the enemy, whose line was about three-fourths of a mile beyond, and drive him back on his main force. The rain coming on, however, and threatening to raise the river in my rear, I was deterred from undertaking a general action; all of which I reported to you, and was happy to learn that you acquiesced in my action. The weather becoming more favorable, however, about 11 a. m. our line of skirmishers was pushed forward a little and engaged the enemy; but little injury was done on either side, I presume. Our artillery opened for a little while and was briskly replied to by the enemy's battery, but this latter was soon driven from its position and retired. The ease with which the enemy was driven back, taken in connection with the cavalry on our right flank, led me to apprehend that he desired to draw us as far as possible toward Morristown with his infantry, and I did not pursue. The position I occupied, though a fine one for defense against an enemy in front, was in advance of the roads coming in from Dyer's Ford, from Chucky Bend, and from Dandridge; so I withdrew to this side Mossy Creek, so as to command these roads. While withdrawing, the enemy attempted to regain a wood on Morristown road from which he had been driven, when the Fourth Indiana charged upon and drove him back, killing several of the enemy, [who] thereupon shelled the road, and wounded 1 man. I learn that the enemy is picketing at Dyer's Ford. The weather is still unsettled, and it is raining. From a citizen just in I learn that rebel soldiers stated, in answer to the question what brought them to Dandridge, that they had intended making a dash on Strawberry Plains and destroying it by a surprise, but were themselves surprised on reaching Dandridge. I am, general, respectfully, &c., Brig. Gen. E. E. POTTER. S. D. STURGIS, Commanding Cavalry Corps. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, Brenner's House, Mossy Creek, December 27, 1863. Brigadier-General ELLIOTT: GENERAL: Your welcome dispatch_is received. I got up in time to see a part and hear the balance. I congratulate you on having troops to charge with such a vim. Remain where you are, and I will see to the roads. Advance against them in the morning, and let me know what assistance is necessary. You have done exceedingly well, and I will telegraph so to General Foster. Yours, &c., S. D. STURGIS, If you do not come down to-night, I will go up and see you in the morning. [Indorsement.] HDQRS. CHIEF OF CAV., DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, Col. E. M. McCook: COLONEL: I send you General Sturgis' note. I await your report and those from brigade commanders to send particulars. Return this with report of particulars. W. L. ELLIOTT, Brigadier-General. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, Near Mossy Creek, December 27, 1863–7.30 p. m. We attacked the enemy this afternoon at this place, and drove him from every position back to within a short distance of Talbott's |