I find it about impossible to punish the enemy for his frequent attack on my pickets, as he withdraws his pickets and outposts at dark near to his camps and in rear of barricades, but I shall make every effort to do so and to render his attack fruitless. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. KÍLPATRICK, Brigadier-General, Commanding Third Cavalry Division. Capt. J. E. JACOBS, Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 2. Report of Capt. Edward W. Ward, Third Kentucky Cavalry. HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, Ringgold, Ga., April 29, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to report that, in pursuance to verbal orders received from you, I proceeded with a detachment of 50 men of the Third Kentucky Cavalry to Nickajack Gap, to pass over Taylor's Ridge and come down the valley beyond by a road said to run at foot of Taylor's Ridge on the east side. I left these headquarters at 1 o'clock this morning, and passed outside the pickets on the old Alabama road until I reached the last cavalry post on said road, which had fallen back from its old position at Lyle's farm to an old house this side about 1 mile. I halted my command at this place, which is about 63 miles from these headquarters, until three-quarters of an hour before day, when I directed the lieutenant in charge of the post to resume his old position at Lyle's farm, so that he could be in supporting distance of me in case I should be compelled to fall back. I moved up behind him and halted at Lyle's farm until he had resumed his position, when I moved on Nickajack Gap. I crossed the ridge without opposition, and seeing no rebel pickets at the foot of the mountain, as was reported, went on Tunnel Hill road until I arrived in front of a gap in the next ridge, about 11⁄2 miles farther on Tunnel Hill road, the place where the road turns off toward Ringgold. Here was a rebel picket; their vedettes were about 100 or 200 yards in front of the gap; their reserve was on the side of the mountain in the gap. I did not learn the strength of this last, because it could not be approached, on account of a valley of cleared land in front. There is a creek just before you get to the gap also. Seeing no chance whatever to surprise or to successfully charge this post, I showed them a part of my command and withdrew. I took the road which comes down the valley just at the foot of the hill and continues at a distance of one-quarter of a mile from Taylor's Ridge for a distance of 4 miles, where there is a fork. One of these forks goes on one side of a ridge (which suddenly rises here) and the other goes on the other. The right-hand road forks again about threequarters of a mile from where this fork is; one branch goes over to Mr. Hambright's, on the railroad, about 5 miles from Ringgold, and the other fork, the left-hand, joins the left-hand fork spoken of after passing around this sudden ridge, which is perhaps 2 miles. I took 44 R R-VOL XXXII, PT I the left-hand road, which comes right along the foot of Taylor's Ridge for some 3 miles before you arrive at the point where it is intersected by the other road. After arriving here I came to the conclusion that I was most too close to our lines, and I took a road directly east. Following a ridge for some 2 miles I went into the road going to Hambright's. About this time I heard some skirmishing to my left and front. I started as near the direction as the nature of the country would admit of, and traveled on the road leading to Hambright's some 3 miles. The country was very rough, the road running down on a backbone of a ridge for some 2 miles. On either side of the road is a precipitous descent. I traveled some 3 miles on this road, when I ran up near to a rebel picket post on ridge that first post seen was on. This post was also in a gap, and the road leading into it was completely blockaded with fallen trees. While at the gap last mentioned, after I had been in front of the rebel pickets some minutes, there seemed to be a commotion at post, and I saw a good deal moving to and fro on the ridge; also heard distinctly drums beating just inside the gap where the enemy's pickets were. I went as near to the post as I could without unnecessarily exposing my men to fire, in hopes that when they saw my numbers they would pursue. After remaining some ten minutes in front of this post, and knowing no other road by which I could come to the Stone Church, where I was ordered to report, I came immediately back the road where I had left Taylor's Ridge and came down at the foot of the ridge to Ringgold. Upon arriving at the gap I learned that you had passed in with your command, and I reported my command to these headquarters. Respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. J. KILPATRICK. E. W. WARD, Captain Third Kentucky Cavalry. No. 3. Report of Brig. Gen. Absalom Baird, U. S. Army, commanding Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, FOURTEENTH CORPS, Ringgold, Ga., April 29, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to report that having learned yesterday from General Kilpatrick that he had received from General Thomas directions to attack and harass the pickets of the enemy as much as possible, and finding him, and indeed the whole of his command, from their recent arrival here, ignorant of the country and of the position of the enemy's troops, I thought that a proposition made by him to drive down impetuously upon the direct road to Tunnel Hill, surprising the pickets and reserves, and chasing them as far as possible, even into the headquarters of General Wheeler if he could, promised more for a first attempt than anything else. I concurred in it, and to make him the more secure in case the rebels should turn upon him with very superior force, I sent Colonel Van Derveer along with four regiments and a section of artillery as a support. General Kilpatrick took out about 500 men. They came upon the enemy's pickets just before daybreak and drove them back, but immediately on reaching the woods found the road so heavily blockaded with trees that speed was impossible. Behind these fallen trees the rebels took refuge and fired upon our advance, but gradually they were driven back nearly to Terrill's house, the same obstruction in the road continuing all the way. The delay necessary to our advance permitted the rebels to collect and confront us with a force much superior to ours, including the infantry, which was up in line with the cavalry, and General Kilpatrick thought it proper to withdraw. He was not disturbed in this until he reached the open fields near Davis' house, when the rebels charged upon his rear. Quite a brisk skirmish ensued, but the enemy was driven back into the woods and our men quietly retired. The enemy then resumed his former picket-line. We have had 10 men wounded, 2 perhaps fatally, and we know that we killed at least 2 or 3 of the enemy and captured 1. We have learned the fact of the road being blockaded, and that the number of mounted men in our immediate front is still large; and above all the expedition has put increased confidence into our men. General Kilpatrick has not yet had time to make me a written report. The official reports of the affair at Nickajack were sent by Colonel Murray direct to General Elliott, and are no doubt in the possession of the major-general commanding. For this reason I have added nothing to my first report of that transaction. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, A. BAIRD, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Brig. Gen. W. D. WHIPPLE, Chief of Staff. No 4. Reports of Brig. Gen. William Y. C. Humes, C. S. Army. TUNNEL HILL, GA., April 29, 1864. The enemy are pressing us with infantry, cavalry, and artillery on the Ringgold road. W. Y. C. HUMES, Brigadier-General, Commanding. General JOHNSTON. TUNNEL HILL, April 29, 1864. Humes' brigade has A brigade of enemy's cavalry are coming through McLane's Gap, and the line of the enemy is still advancing. fallen back to within 1 miles of Tunnel Hill. opened with one battery of artillery. General J. E. JOHNSTON. W. Y. C. HUMES, Brigadier-General, Commanding. TUNNEL HILL., GA., April 29, 1864. The following sent to General Johnston: The enemy are extending their lines on our right, and indications of a strong force. I am falling back to Tunnel Hill slowly. General WHEELER. [Indorsements.] W. Y. C. HUMES. The enemy are using artillery occasionally. ALLEN. General Allen says do you want him to keep you posted. Answer. CAMP. TUNNEL HILL, April 29, 1864. GENERAL: The enemy in our immediate front have fallen back. Their advance line is now in the field near Jack's house, beyond Stone Church. Most of the force has retired through the gap. I am re-establishing the picket-line. W. Y. C. HUMES, Brigadier-General, Commanding. General MACKALL. TUNNEL HILL, April 29, 1864. The enemy from Ringgold this morning were about 1,500 infantry, 2 pieces artillery, 300 cavalry. They have withdrawn to Ringgold Gap, and our pickets have been re-established. Our loss near 20 killed, wounded, and missing. W. Y. C. HUMES, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Maj. A. P. MASON, Assistant Adjutant-General. APRIL 30, 1864.-Skirmish at Decatur, Ala. Report of Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson, U. S. Army, commanding Army of the Tennessee. HUNTSVILLE, ALA., The enemy appeared before Decatur this morning with quite a force, and opened on the place with four pieces of artillery, A brigade went out and drove them off. Colonel Phillips is following them. We lost a few men killed and wounded. The object of the enemy was doubtless to feel our position. The attack will not delay Dodge's movement. JAS. B. MCPHERSON, Major-General, Commanding, APRIL 30-MAY 9, 1864.-Expedition from Memphis, Tenn., to Ripley, Miss., and skirmish (May 2) at Bolivar, Tenn. REPORTS. No. 1.—Maj. Gen. Cadwallader C. Washburn, U. S. Ármy, commanding District of West Tennessee. No. 2.-Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis, U. S. Army, commanding expedition. No. 5.-Itinerary of the First Brigade, First Division, Sixteenth Army Corps, commanded by Col. William L. McMillen, Ninety-fifth Ohio Infantry. No. 1. Reports of Maj. Gen. Cadwallader C. Washburn, U. S. Army, commanding District of West Tennessee. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Memphis, Tenn., May 4, 1864. GENERAL: On the afternoon of the 2d instant the advance of Sturgis' cavalry, 700 strong, under Lieutenant-Colonel Kargé, Second New Jersey Cavalry, encountered a brigade of Forrest's cavalry near Bolivar, on the south side of Hatchie. The enemy were from 800 to 1,000 strong. After a severe fight of two hours the enemy retreated across the Hatchie, destroying the bridge. They retreated through Bolivar in a southeast direction. General Sturgis fears that Forrest has retreated between the Hatchie and Tennessee Rivers. He hears that the cars are running to Corinth, and that a part of General Polk's forces are below Corinth. Our losses in the action were 2 killed and 10 wounded. My latest information from General Sturgis is to 7.30 o'clock yesterday morning, when he was 16 miles west of Bolivar but expected to have a large part of his cavalry force up to Bolivar by 12 o'clock yesterday. The heavy rains had so swollen the creeks as to greatly retard his movements. I am, general, your obedient servant, C. C. WASHBURN, Major-General. Maj. Gen. S. A. HURLBUT, Comdg. Sixteenth Army Corps. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Memphis, May 6, 1864. GENERAL: On the 30th ultimo I sent from here 3,300 cavalry and 2,000 infantry in pursuit of Forrest, under General Sturgis. On the day following Forrest left Jackson, Tenn., in force, retreating south. My advance met a brigade of his in the afternoon of the 2d near Bolivar, and after a sharp engagement of two hours drove them from their intrenchments with considerable loss. They retreated across the Hatchie, destroying the bridge behind them. Our loss, 2 killed, 10 wounded. Forrest with his whole force encamped on night of 2d at Purdy. and continued his retreat the day following toward Pocahontas, He crossed the Hatchie at Pocahontas on the 4th, and Sturgis was in hot pursuit. A co-operating force which I expected from Bethel to be at Purdy on the night of 30th failed me or Î should have capt |