[Inclosure.]

Report of casualties in Lee's cavalry command in the several engagements with the enemy from February 3 to March 27, 1864.

Command.

Report of Brig. Gen. William H. Jackson, C. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Division, of operations against expedition to Meridian.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION,

Benton, Miss., March 21, 1864. MAJOR: In compliance with orders from the major-general commanding, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my command, consisting of three brigades, commanded, respectively, by Brig. Gens. Wirt Adams, L. S. Ross, and Col. P. B. Starke, during the late advance of Sherman's army from Big Black to Meridian and its return to Vicksburg:

The enemy commenced crossing Big Black the afternoon of February 3. Were met by Colonel Wood's regiment, Adams' brigade, near Champion's Hill, the morning of the 4th. At the same time Starke's brigade was resisting one corps of the enemy on the Messinger's Ferry road. The entire force of the enemy was about 30,000 infantry and 1,200 cavalry. Heavy skirmishing was kept up until the enemy reached Jackson on the 5th. Ross' Texas brigade had been left on the Yazoo River to defend that country.

The behavior of officers and men of Adams' and Starke's brigades in resisting the advance was excellent.

On arriving at Jackson, my command moved out 10 miles on the Canton road and remained there until the enemy commenced crossing Pearl River, moving in the direction of Brandon.

On February 7, I moved with Starke's brigade to the rear of enemy near Brandon. Adams' brigade accompanied Major-General Lee on the flank of enemy. There was but little opportunity to accomplish much in rear, except to skirmish heavily with rear guard, pick up stragglers, &c. The enemy moved in good order, well closed up, with wagon train of each brigade in rear of their respective brigades.

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At Decatur Wood's and Dumonteil's regiments, Adams' brigade, made a dash on a wagon train and succeeded in killing a number of men and mules, but were compelled to abandon the wagons captured, as enemy had force of infantry in front and rear of train. The command fought the enemy at Meridian, where the brigade of General Ross joined my command from the Yazoo country, which it had well protected, having fought three times their number and repulsed enemy on land, the men using their six-shooters, on foot, at the distance of 25 paces. At the same time the section of King's (Missouri) battery, commanded by Lieutenant Moore, drove back the gunboats.

All praise is due the fighting Texans and King's battery and their gallant leader, General Ross, for their noble defense of the Yazoo country.

At Meridian Adams' brigade was assigned temporarily to Ferguson's division.

On the 16th, I moved with two brigades toward Columbus, Miss., to re-enforce General Forrest, and arrived at Starkville on the 23d. The raiding party from the north, under General Smith, retired the day before upon hearing of the approach of Major-General Lee's command.

On the 24th, in compliance with orders, I moved my division in pursuit of Sherman's army, on way to Canton. I detached Ross' brigade at Kosciusko to proceed to and protect the Mississippi Central Railroad and Yazoo country.

February 27, we reached Sharon, Miss., where Starke's brigade encountered the enemy and fought them in gallant style, capturing a number of horses, mules, and wagons. The enemy were scattered in parties of 30 and 40, foraging and pillaging through the country. I therefore adopted the plan of detaching regiments to operate against them. This succeeded admirably, Colonel Pinson, with his regiment (First Mississippi), being very successful-captured a number of enemy, killed and wounded many, and brought off nine wagons and teams.

The officers and men of Croft's and King's batteries deserve great praise for their promptness in the execution of orders and gallant behavior in presence of the enemy.

The enemy remained about Canton three days, my command skirmishing with them daily, killing and capturing many, striking principally at their foraging parties, my object being to confine the enemy as far as possible to their lines and prevent in a great measure their destruction of the country. In this I was successful.

'On the 28th, having previously assumed command of Ferguson's division, consisting of his own brigade, commanded by Colonel Earle, and Adams' brigade, I made the following disposition of the command, viz: Adams' brigade on the left flank of enemy, Starke's on the right, and Ferguson's in rear. In this manner they pursued the enemy to within a short distance of Big Black, capturing 15 wagons and teams and 150 prisoners; killed and wounded numbers; also captured 50 cavalry horses and equipments, notwithstanding the enemy was aware of our presence and moved in fine order with no straggling. The effect was to confine them closely to the road on which they were moving.

I beg leave to call the attention of Major-General Lee to the part performed by Lieutenant Harvey and his gallant band of 40 scouts. He was everywhere doing good service; killed and captured of the enemy four times his own number. His daring, coolness, and judg

ment eminently fit him for promotion and much larger command. I commend him to the notice of the major-general commanding.

The loss in my division during the campaign was 225 killed, wounded, and missing; that of the enemy about 400 prisoners and as many killed, with a large number of mules, horses, wagons, arms, and equipments captured. I am informed by my staff officers (just returned from Vicksburg on flag of truce) that Federal officers admit a loss of 3,000 missing. The number of their killed will never be known, as a great many were killed while out from the main body plundering and burning houses.

Troops never behaved more gallantly or soldierly than those of my command during the entire campaign, and I think everything that could possibly have been executed was done by the command of Major-General Lee.

My thanks are due General Ferguson for his gallantry, energy, and prompt compliance with all orders while temporarily under my command.

To my brigade commanders-General Adams, General Ross, and Colonel Starke-my thanks are especially due for efficiency and zealous discharge of every duty and their noble bearing on the field. Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the heroic spirits who follow them.

I respectfully refer to the detailed reports of the brigade commanders for the losses, captures, &c. I would call the attention of the major-general commanding especially to that portion of General Ross' report referring to capture of Yazoo City, which I consider a perfect success.

My thanks are also due the members of my staff-Capt. George Moorman, assistant adjutant-general; Capt. Thomas B. Sykes, assistant inspector-general; Maj. W. P. Paul, quartermaster; Maj. A. P.. Glover, commissary of subsistence; Maj. J. F. Simmons, paymaster-for gallantry and efficiency on the field.

My aide-de-camp, Lieut. James R. Crump, was killed while gallantly leading my escort company in a successful charge against a party of marauding Yankees near Sharon, Miss., February 27, 1864. He was a brave and noble officer.

Very respectfully,

W. H. JACKSON, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Assistant Adjutant and Inspector General.

No. 67.

Report of Brig. Gen. Wirt Adams, C. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Brigade, of operations against expedition to Meridian.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE,

March 12, 1864.

CAPTAIN: In obedience to orders from division headquarters, requiring a report of the operations of my brigade during the recent advance of the enemy from Big Black to Meridian, I have the honor to submit the following:

My command having just returned from East Louisiana, whither it repaired under orders of Lieutenant-General Polk, directing me

to threaten Baton Rouge or Manchac, reached by two days' forced marches the vicinity of Raymond on the afternoon of January 28. I was there met by orders from division headquarters to watch closely all the ferries and approaches in the direction of Big Black south of the railroad bridge, in anticipation of the expected advance of the enemy, and, in case he crossed, to advance and oppose him, offering all the resistance and at points as near the river as possible.

On the evening of February 3, at 6 p. m., I received intelligence from my scouts that the enemy was crossing in force at the railroad bridge and advancing toward Bolton. I immediately mounted my command, consisting of 800 men and a rifled section of King's battery, and moved beyond Raymond, on Edwards' Depot road.

Halting until 4 o'clock next morning, I again put my command in motion, marching rapidly toward Bolton, I mile beyond which I took position, sending Colonel Wood's regiment forward to reconnoiter and ascertain certainly whether the enemy was moving on the Raymond or Bolton road. Near Champion's Hill Colonel Wood encountered a dismounted cavalry force, which after a brief skirmish was gallantly charged by Captain Muldrow's squadron, killing and wounding a number and capturing 8 prisoners. Colonel Wood reported to me that the enemy's cavalry force was on the Raymond road and consequently moving on my left flank. I at once detached Colonel Dumonteil and instructed him to move his regiment (Fourteenth Confederate) down the road on which I had come to the junction of the two roads and hold the enemy in check, reporting to me his numbers, movements, &c. With this force he soon became engaged, skirmishing briskly for several hours. I also sent Major Stockdale directly across a field to the same road to take the enemy in flank, but he encountered an infantry and artillery force, from which he was compelled to retire, bringing off several prisoners. The main infantry column of the enemy soon afterward advanced upon the Bolton road, deploying a strong line of skirmishers and using one piece of artillery. He was held in check for several hours at this point by Wood's regiment and Stockdale's battalion, dismounted. Nothing could surpass the unflinching courage and steadiness of these commands, eliciting at the time the commendation of the major-general commanding.

About 3 p. m. the greatly superior force of the enemy having failed to dislodge them, a brigade of infantry, marching in column, was pushed across the creek on my extreme left and moved rapidly toward some buildings which crowned an eminence near my left. At the same time he advanced in line of battle directly against my front. The position being no longer tenable, I was ordered to withdraw my command across Baker's Creek bridge, half a mile in my rear, and send two squadrons of Colonel Wood's regiment to check the enemy's advance on my left.

Leaving Major Akin, Ninth Tennessee Battalion, to cover the withdrawal of the command across the bridge, I removed the remainder as promptly as practicable. Major Bridges, with two escort companies, supported by Captain Muldrow's squadron, of Wood's regiment, soon became warmly engaged with the enemy on the left, driving him from the building on the hill; but strong re-enforcements coming up he was obliged to relinquish them soon afterward. At this point fell Major Bridges, Lieutenant Wilson, and 8 men. next took position on the Bolton and Clinton road, 1 mile from that

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just relinquished. The enemy advanced in four lines of battle across the field I had just left, but did not advance beyond Baker's Creek that evening. Throwing out a strong picket and numerous scouts on my front and flanks, I withdrew my command 1 mile to Mr. Thomas' plantation, where I fed my horses and encamped for the night.

Before daylight on the morning of February 5, I resumed my position, directing Captain King to train his rifled pieces on the bridge over Baker's Creek, 800 yards in my front, and posted Colonel Griffith's [Eleventh] Arkansas Regiment on the right and Major Stockdale's battalion on the left, both dismounted, as supports for the artillery. I held Colonels Wood and Dumonteil in reserve, the former dismounted and forming a second line; the latter mounted and in column in the road.

At 7 a. m. the enemy advanced in column across the bridge in my front, when I directed Captain King to open fire with his two rifled pieces, which did not, however, check the enemy. He pressed steadily forward, deploying to the right and left in the open field. A rapid artillery fire was maintained for some time, and when within range Colonel Griffith and Major Stockdale engaged his whole line, offering the most determined and stubborn resistance and maintaining their position to the last moment, Colonel Griffith and Major Stockdale, as usual, distinguishing themselves by their gallant and fearless bearing. After offering all the resistance possible to the largely superior force of the enemy, I withdrew Colonel Griffith's and Major Stockdale's commands, ordering Colonel Wood to cover the movement. Colonel Wood was relieved by Colonel Dumonteil and Major Akin successively as the command retired in perfect order along the Clinton road. When near Clinton I was ordered by the major-general commanding to hold the enemy in check until Colonel Starke's brigade, coming in on the Queen's Hill road, could pass through the town. After the passage of this command I moved through Clinton, taking the Jackson road beyond. Two miles east of Clinton I again took position on the eastern limit of an extended, open field, and was joined by a section of Croft's and a section of Waties' (South Carolina) battery. The enemy soon showed himself in my front, but advanced cautiously. His line of skirmishers was promptly driven back .by the artillery, the practice of which was excellent.

After the lapse of two hours and a careful reconnaissance he moved an infantry column out of view by a road 1 mile to my right and falling into the Jackson road 2 miles in my rear. Advancing a 6-gun battery at the same time with a strong infantry support to a commanding elevation on my front and left and two 20-pounder Parrotts in my front, he opened a rapid and vigorous fire of artillery, pushing forward at the same time a strong line of skirmishers under cover of a wood from the column moving past my right. As the enemy showed no inclination to advance in my front, and my artillery was seriously endangered by the column turning my position, I ordered the artillery and supports to withdraw, following with the remainder of the command. In passing the point where the road on my right entered the Jackson road, the enemy poured a severe volley into Major Stockdale's battalion, acting as rear guard. Colonel Wood's regiment was immediately moved back to his support, but the enemy was so posted as to prevent any effective movement against him.