LOUDON, October 20, 1863. The artillery officer, when I last saw him, reported to me that [we] had fired our last round. I ordered him to follow me, and if he could not bring in his pieces to abandon them. I do not think the guns will get in. Most of the cannoneers are killed, I think. The artillery officers are here, and will report in a few minutes. About 50 of the prisoners have just come in; there will be more in soon. I am pretty sure we have from 300 to 400 of them prisoners. General BURNSIDE. ADDENDA. Return of Casualties in the Union forces engaged at Philadelphia, Tenn., Octo ber 20, 1863. WOLFORD, Colonel. Killed. Wounded. Captured or missing. Enlisted men. Officers. Enlisted men. Officers killed or mortally wounded.-Maj. Julius N. Delfosse, Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry; Capt. Comfort E. Stanley, Forty-fifth Ohio (mounted) Infantry. Aggregate. 1 3 1 13 4 1 Report of General Braxton Bragg, C. S. Army, commanding Army of Tennessee, with congratulatory orders. CHICKAMAUGA, The following dispatches received from Major-General Stevenson: CHARLESTON, TENN., The cavalry under Morrison and Dibrell attacked the enemy's cavalry in force at Philadelphia to-day, capturing about 400 prisoners, their artillery, small-arms, camp equipage, &c. Our loss nothing. They are in pursuit of the enemy, who are completely routed. CHARLESTON, TENN., The enemy were pursued to their defenses at Loudon. Arrived there after dark. The force there not known. Their loss is 700 prisoners, 50 wagons loaded with stores, 10 ambulances, 6 pieces of artillery, a lot of horses, mules, and other property. BRAXTON BRAGG. General S. COOPER. No. 193. GENERAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE, II. On the 20th instant, the cavalry under Colonels Dibrell and Morrison attacked the enemy in force at Philadelphia and captured 700 prisoners, 50 wagons loaded with stores, 6 pieces of artillery, 10 ambulances, and a lot of mules, horses, and other property. The enemy was driven to his defenses at Loudon, and is reported as completely routed. Too much praise cannot be given Colonels Dibrell and Morrison and the brave command under them for the dash and daring displayed in the expedition so completely successful. Such blows dealt the enemy in quick succession are no less honorable to our army than indicative of future success. By command of General Bragg: GEORGE WM. BRENT, Adjutant-General. No. 5. Report of Maj. Gen. Carter L. Stevenson, C. S. Army, commanding division, including skirmishes at and near Sweet Water, October 23, 26, and 27, and at Leiper's Ferry, October 28. HEADQUARTERS STEVENSON'S DIVISION, Near Tyner's Station, November 12, 1863. COLONEL Agreeably to orders received from army headquarters on the 17th ultimo, I proceeded to Charleston, Tenn., arriving there with a portion of my command about 2 p. m. on the 19th ultimo. The failure of the railroad officials to carry out the arrangements and obey the orders relative to the transportation of the troops, and the delay caused thereby, have been made the subject of a special communication to the commanding general. Immediately upon my arrival at Charleston I gave the following directions to Colonels Morrison and Dibrell, commanding brigades of cavalry: Colonel Morrison with his whole effective force, re-enforced by Colonel McKenzie's and Major Jessee's commands, will move so as to reach the rear of Philadelphia by daylight to-morrow morning and be prepared to co-operate with Colonel Dibrell, who, with his effective command, will advance so as to attack the enemy, supposed to be at that point, at daylight. Should the enemy not be found at Philadelphia the commands will seek and capture, or drive him across the Tennessee. Having routed the cavalry they will move on Loudon, and should the force of the enemy's infantry there be small, will attack and carry that place. In that event Loudon will be held by a sufficient force, and suitable scouts be sent up the river for information with regard to the enemy in that direction. Colonel Morrison will send a select force of 150 men, in command of a suitable officer, to destroy the ferry at Kingston. He will also detail from his command two companies to picket the river on our left flank. The movement directed was at once commenced, but owing to the difficulty in crossing the Hiwassee at the ford by which Colonel Morrison moved, the attack was not made until as late as 1 p. m. on the 20th ultimo. For a time the resistance was stubborn, the enemy making a gallant fight, but finally they broke and fled in the greatest confusion to their defenses at Loudon. The fact that they had there a fortified position, with an infantry support, the approach of darkness, and the exhaustion of our cavalry after their long march and severe fight, decided Colonels Morrison and Dibrell not to make an immediate attack upon Loudon. Our loss amounted to 15 killed, 82 wounded, and 3 missing. That of the enemy was greater in killed and wounded, and by capture about 700 prisoners, 6 pieces of artillery, and all their wagons, ambulances, and camp equipage. On the next morning the enemy advanced in force (infantry and cavalry) from Loudon, and Colonels Morrison and Dibrell withdrew their commands to Sweet Water, there to await the arrival of the infantry. The enemy fell back to Loudon that night. I reached the front on the morning of the 22d; moved the infantry to Mouse Creek that day, and soon afterward to Sweet Water. On the evening of October 23, the enemy advanced in considerable force and engaged the cavalry for a short time, retiring at dusk. Their loss is not known; ours was 5 wounded. The same movement was again made by them on the evening of October 26. In this affair our loss was 3 wounded and 5 missing. The enemy are known to have had 3 commissioned officers and several privates killed, and a number wounded. On October 27, I was informed that the notorious bushwhacker and robber, Bryson, had been sent with his command by Burnside to get in my rear and obtain information as to our movements and intentions. I immediately gave Brigadier-General Vaughn a detachment of about 100 men, and directed him to intercept, and, if possible, destroy the party. He succeeded in dispersing them, killing several, and taking among the prisoners a captain. During the pursuit Bryson himself was killed. On October 27, Cheatham's division, commanded during the expedition by Brigadier-General Jackson, reached Athens, and by this accession my force, before so weak as to be entirely inadequate for a decided movement against the enemy at Loudon, was strengthened to such an extent as would have enabled me to actively assume the offensive, but the enemy, informed doubtless by disloyal citizens of the arrival of these re-enforcements, evacuated Loudon on the night of the same day. On October 28, I sent Brigadier-General Vaughn, with a force of cavalry, across the Little Tennessee River at Morganton, with orders to make a demonstration upon Knoxville, and gain all the information he could of the enemy's force, movements, and intentions. He found a force at Leiper's Ferry, attacked, and drove them across the river, after quite a sharp engagement, inflicting considerable loss upon them. He also went to Lenoir's Ferry. The sudden and heavy rain that fell at this time raised the Little Tennessee so rapidly that it becane exceedingly hazardous for him to remain on that side, and he accordingly returned to Morganton. On November 3, Colonel Dibrell crossed the Little Tennessee with about 700 men, but found the enemy in too great force in his front to permit him to make any decided move. The results of these scouts in eliciting information were promptly communicated to you by telegraph. On November 4, I received orders by telegraph to send two of the brigades of Cheatham's division to Tyner's by railroad on the 5th, and the remaining two on the 6th, and immediately thereafter to send the two brigades of my own division. On the 8th instant, I received orders from the commanding general to leave Brigadier-General Cumming to bring on my division, and report in person at army headquarters as soon as possible after the arrival of Lieutenant-General Longstreet at Sweet Water. He reached that point on the night of the 9th, and, as directed, I left Sweet Water on the morning of the 10th, arriving at Tyner's upon the same day. I am, colonel, respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. GEORGE WILLIAM BRENT, Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of Tennessee. No. 6. Reports of Col. George G. Dibrell, Eighth Tennessee Cavalry (Confederate), commanding Cavalry Brigade, including skirmishes at Sweet Water, October 23 and 26. HEADQUARTERS SECOND CAVALRY BRIGADE, DEAR SIR: The colonel commanding instructs me to say that he engaged the enemy in front of this place at 1 o'clock to-day. After a sharp artillery duel of an hour or more the guns of Colonel Morrison's brigade were heard in the enemy's rear. Colonel Dibrell immediately charged into the town. The enemy was completely routed. We captured all his wagons, ambulances, tents, and cooking utensils, all his artillery, about 400 prisoners, and at least that number of small-arms. The colonel cannot speak too highly of the conduct of his officers and men. The rout is not yet over; prisoners, horses, and mules are hourly coming in. Our loss nothing. By order of Col. G. G. Dibrell, commanding Second Cavalry Brigade: Major-General STEVENSON. DIXON A. ALLISON, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS SECOND CAVALRY BRIGADE, Philadelphia, October 20, 1863—8 p. m. DEAR SIR: Our forces pursued the enemy to within sight of their camps at Loudon, when darkness ended the pursuit. It is though' they have their infantry in rifle-pits. Our victory is much more complete and decisive than was thought when you were first dispatched. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was considerable, and the number of prisoners will not fall short of 700. We captured 50 wagons loaded with stores, 10 ambulances, 6 pieces of artillery, a large lot of commissary stores and beef cattle, together with a large ot of horses and mules. Colonel Wolford, who was in command here, told the gentleman with whom he boarded this morning that General Burnside, with his whole army, left Knoxville on yesterday or Loudon. The story is not credited. We are lying in line of attle to-night, and expect to advance early to-morrow. Prisoners, tock, &c., have been sent forward toward Charleston. It is confiently hoped you will move up your forces immediately. By order of Col. G. G. Dibrell, commanding Second Cavalry Briade: Major-General STEVENSON, DIXON A. ALLISON, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. Charleston. HEADQUARTERS SECOND CAVALRY BRIGADE, 2 Miles from Sweet Water, October 21, 1863—2 p. m. The colonel commanding directs me to say the enemy is advancon us with infantry and cavalry. Their cavalry is threatening left and rear. We have a strong position here, and can hold it ess flanked. Colonel Morrison is protecting our left. We skirhed with them before retiring from Philadelphia, and sent one ment toward their rear, near up to Loudon, which we suppose checked the advance of their infantry, as it has not developed f in our front here. All the captured property has already been forward. Two regiments are still holding Philadelphia, with -uctions to fall back here if hard pressed. - order of Col. G. G. Dibrell, commanding brigade: neral STEVENSON. DIXON A. ALLISON, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS SECOND CAVALRY BRIGADE, 24 Miles from Philadelphia, October 21, 1863-6 p. m. enemy failing to advance upon us this side of Philadelphia, I ed forward our skirmishers, who drove them back through the Our advance vedettes stand just out this side of Philadelphia. k their main force has fallen back to Loudon. In the Federal aptured yesterday one letter, states that there was a division antry at Loudon to fall back on when pressed too hard. er, dated yesterday, that Burnside was advancing with his force to Loudon; that it was impossible for them to subsist in ennessee unless they held the line of the railroad through this the State. Our best information is, there were only three nts of Federal infantry out from Loudon to-day. We this forwarded to your commissary about 75 head fine Kentucky d beef cattle. If possible, we will be obliged if a few can be d for us. I have just heard from Colonel Morrison that he is ed to-night to my rear, between this and Sweet Water. s are well picketed. der of Col. G. G. Dibrell, commanding brigade: All DIXON A. ALLISON, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. -General STEVENSON. |