Anson County NcArchives History .....Union General Kilpatrick's Visit 
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John Ratcliffe jratcliffe@compuserve.com  June 14, 2012, 4:31 pm

Union General Kilpatrick passes through Anson County during Civil War

HDQRS. CAVALRY COMMAND, ARMY OF INVASION,
In the Field, S.C., March 3, 1865

Maj. L.M. Dayton,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Military Division of the Mississippi:

MAJOR: The enemy appeared in a considerable force this morning from the 
direction of Monroe, on the road to Blakeny’s, and skirmished with Colonel 
Spencer’s command, which crossed that road at 10 a.m. today at a point about 
six miles north of Blakeny’s. After striking the Chesterfield and Monroe road 
I moved down to Hornsborough Post-Office, then out upon the Wadesborough road 
to within ten miles of that point, where my own headquarters now are. My 
scouts have felt the enemy all day upon the left. I think Allen’s division of 
cavalry is now on the road from White’s Store to Wadesborough. I do not know 
what other forces of the enemy may be with him. I send you a map* indicating 
my encampment and country watched by my troops. I have had a horrible road to 
march on to-day. To-morrow I shall move to the vicinity of Sneedsborough 
unless I hear from you. Five miles of this road will be red slate and firm, 
after that sandy, and of course good. I have a scouting party in Wadesborough, 
who will bring me information of the enemy in that direction. Artillery firing 
is now heard north of and near to Clay’s Creek. Spencer, an hour since, had 
passed the road coming in from Meltonsville and White’s Store, and should be 
at this moment in position, covering that road, where I directed him to encamp 
to-night. My command is all in camp, and I believe my position a good one; 
covering, however, as I do so many roads, I shall have comparatively but a 
small force to resist any determined attack upon either one. I will be massed, 
however, at an early hour to-morrow morning on Chesterfield and Wadesborough 
road, at a point just north of North Carolina line. Please inform me what 
operations you require of me to-morrow, and, if possible, for the next day.

Very respectively, your obedient servant.
J. KILPATRICK, Brevet Major-General, Commanding Cavalry

*not found
Source: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the 
Union and Confederate Armies. Published under the direction of The Hon. Daniel 
S. Lamont, Secretary of War, by Maj. George B. Davis, USA, Mr. Leslie J. 
Perry, Mr. Joseph W. Kirkley, Board of Publication. Series I--Volume XLVII--in 
three parts. Part II--Correspondence, etc. Washington: Government Printing 
Office. 1895.

More News
In reference to his (General Kilpatrick's) scouting party in Wadesboro, I 
submit the following taken from Kate Davis Moore's papers dated 16 May 1959. 
Alexander Griffin, son of William Griffin and Grandson of Thomas Griffin, jr., 
joined the Union Army in Mississippi when Sherman's Army marched from 
Vicksburg. He was with Sherman on the long, bloody march through Georgia. When 
the Confederates retreated northward from Savannah to the final surrender at 
Greensboro, Alex Griffin rode into Anson County, NC with a squad of Yankee 
skirmishers. Alex Griffin was back home. One of his boyhood friends was 
Henderson Davis, they had attended the same school, hunted and fished 
together, close friends. But when Alex Griffin rode down the main street in 
Wadesboro. NC at the head of his Yankee raiding party, Henderson Davis 
recognized him and shot him off his horse. Alex Griffin died in the street of 
his home-town wearing a Yankee uniform.


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