Statewide County TN Archives Military Records.....Chapter XVIII Civilwar 1st TN Cavalry (Union) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 13, 2007, 10:39 pm Chapter XVIII CHAPTER XVIII. THE PURSUIT CONTINUED-ENGAGEMENT AT LYNNVHXE- CHRISTMAS EVE-PURSUIT ENDS-ORDERED TO WATERLOO -WINTER QUARTERS-THE MOVE INTO MISSISSIPPI-RETURN TO THE OLD CAMP. Hood made some show of resistance at Columbia and hoped to maintain a defensive line on the south side of Duck River, but the deplorable condition of his army did not warrant him in making the attempt, so he abandoned that idea and moved south. The weather was cold, and Hood's troops, who were thinly clad and poorly fed, suffered terribly as they toiled painfully on over the frozen ground with swollen and bruised feet and empty haversacks. In order to end this barefooted march in mid-winter, hundreds threw away their guns and surrendered, thinking this would be the quickest way to end their sufferings. But under all these great trials and misfortunes, Hood displayed great pluck, and now realized that the only way to avoid capture before reaching the Tennessee River was by placing a heavy force in the rear of his retreating army. He placed Walthall, of Stewart's corps, one of his youngest and bravest division commanders, in charge of eight brigades of infantry, whose effective strength was nineteen hundred men. This force was further stregthened by the divisions of Buford, Jackson and Chalmers, of Forrest's command, numbering not far from six thousand men, the whole under that intrepid leader, General N. B. Forrest. With this large and well-selected body of men Hood expected Forrest to cover the retreat of his army and save it from rout and destruction if possible. On the 22nd, Wood's Fourth Corps crossed over, followed on the morning of the 23rd by Wilson's cavalry. The two days' delay of Thomas's army at Columbia waiting for the pontoons to reach the front was wisely improved upon by Hood, who kept his army moving south, so that when the rear guard was pressed it would have a clear road and could fall back rapidly. With the exception of his rear guard, his army was badly demoralized, half of whom were unarmed and barefooted. On the morning of the 24th, Wilson's cavalry continued the pursuit toward Pulaski, with Wood's Fourth Corps following. Croxton's brigade was in the advance, and after moving a short distance began skirmishing with the rear guard of Hood's army. The enemy fell back as we advanced and when Croxton's brigade had reached Lynnville, a point about half way between Columbia and Pulaski, Croxton found the enemy in line and ready for a fight. Croxton formed his brigade in line and at once moved forward and boldly attacked Chalmers' division. After some pretty sharp fighting Chalmers was routed and driven in disorder from the field. The pursuit was continued to Buford Station, near Richland Creek. Here Forrest made a desperate effort to hold Wilson's troops in check in order that Hood's weary soldiers might get a little rest. His position was well chosen, and with the aid of six pieces of artillery and all of his cavalry, he was able to offer considerable resistance. Forrest placed his artillery on the turnpike and opened fire on our advancing troops. The Union guns were sent to the front and responded with great vigor, dealing out shot and shell in great profusion. After a severe artillery duel, Wilson sent the divisions of Hatch and Harrison to the support of Croxton, who was hotly engaged. The whole of Wilson's cavalry moved froward, striking Forrest in front and flank. The rout was complete and the enemy fled in confusion across Richland Creek. This engagement for a while was quite severe. One flag and several prisoners fell into our hands and General Buford, one of Forrest's division commanders, was wounded. The army bivouacked on the field for the night. The casualties in the First Tennessee were as follows: Killed-Company C, James L. Smith; Company H, Sergeant James P. Churchman. Wounded-Company A, James H. Smith; Company C, Sergeant James E. Skeen, severely wounded in right arm; Company L, William T. Hall. In this engagement Corporal Harrison Collins, Company A, captured General Chalmers' headquarters flag. The brave corporal saw the flag, dashed into the enemy's ranks, and in a personal encounter killed the color-bearer and secured the flag. After the engagement Corporal Collins, by order of Colonel Dyer, took the captured flag to General Croxton's headquarters, where he was highly complimented by his general for conspicuous bravery. He was ordered to Washington, where he was awarded a medal of honor for heroic conduct on the field. The writer was in Washington a few years ago and made an effort to find this trophy, but by an act of Congress all captured flags are stored away and no one is permitted to see them. The following complimentary notice was made at the time by our brigade commander: HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, FIRST CAVAERY DIVISION, Near Richland. Creek, December 25, 1864. LIEUT. COE. A. J. ALEXANDER, Chief of Staff, Cavalry Corps: COLONEL: I have the honor to forward herewith a rebel battle-flag captured from Chalmers' division yesterday evening. The capture was made by Corporal Harrison Collins, Company A, First Tennessee Cavalry. The corporal saw the rebel standard-bearer, under the direction of a rebel major, trying to rally his men. He determined to have the flag, led a charge, killed the major, routed his men, and secured the flag. I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN T. CROXTON, Brigadier-General Commanding. During the night the enemy retreated to Pulaski. General Forrest makes the following mention of this engagement in his official report of the Hood campaign: "On the morning of the 24th I ordered the infantry back toward Pulaski on the main pike and my cavalry on the right and left flanks. After advancing about three miles the enemy was met, where a severe engagement occurred and the enemy was held in check for two hours. I retreated two miles, where I took position at Richland Creek. Brigadier-General Armstrong was thrown forward in front and General Ross on the right flank. Chalmers and Buford formed a junction, and were ordered on the left flank. Brigadier-General Armstrong was ordered to the support of six pieces of my artillery, which were placed in position immediately on the main pike and on a line with Buford's and Chalmers' divisions and Ross' brigade of Jackson's division. After severe artillery firing on both sides, two pieces of the enemy's artillery were dismounted. The enemy then flanked to the right and left . and crossed Richland Creek on my right, with the view. of gaining my rear. I immediately ordered Armstrong and Ross, of Jackson's division, to cross the bridge on the main pike and move around and engage the enemy, who were crossing the creek. Both Buford and Chalmers were heavily pressed on the left, and after an engagement of two hours I ordered them to fall back across Richland Creek. * * * Brigadier-General Buford was wounded in this engagement, and I ordered Brigadier-General Chalmers to assume command of Brigadier-General Buford's division, together with his own." We had no artillery dismounted, as reported by Forrest. This was our third Christmas eve spent around the lonely camp-fire, and which was made memorable by the day's struggle and the loss of dear comrades. The First Tennessee had marched thousands of miles during the year, and as we gathered around the camp-fire and talked over the year's work and the great loss of life during that time, many eyes were moistened and tears could be seen trickling down the bronzed faces of these hardy veterans. It seemed that there was no rest for the First Tennessee, but we all knew that from the "rapid strides" made during the past year the end was near at hand; besides, we had almost destroyed the largest army in the southwest. About one month before, we were falling back toward Nashville before the same army we were pursuing. Hood's veterans, which one month before were marching north with a quick step, with "high hopes, good rations and big pay," were now fleeing south in great confusion, with ranks badly shattered and broken. On Christmas morning Wilson continued the pursuit toward Pulaski, pressing the enemy's rear guard with unusual vigor and audacity, the line of retreat still showing signs of haste and confusion. Trains, wagons and ammunition were destroyed to prevent capture. Forrest was driven rapidly through Pulaski, closely followed by Harrison's and Hammond's brigades. The enemy were pursued so rapidly that the bridge over Richland Creek, a short distance south of Pulaski, was saved. This was a most fortunate thing, as it enabled Wilson to continue the pursuit without delay. Forrest was not permitted to rest, but was pushed south faster than he really wanted to go. In Forrest's hasty evacuation of Pulaski he was compelled to destroy a locomotive and several cars loaded with arms and ammunition. He threw four cannon into Richland Creek. Wilson pursued on, finding on the way abandoned artillery, ammunition and baggage-wagons, guns and equipments. Seven miles south of Pulaski, Forrest was compelled to make a stand in order that Hood's wagon train might be saved as Wilson had driven his rear guard close upon it. Forrest took up a position on Anthony's Hill, which he fortified and awaited the approach of Wilson's cavalry. This position was admirably selected, being hidden from view by heavy timber. The road at this point ran through a deep ravine and along the sides and at the head Forrest and Walthall threw up works. About 2 p. m. the brigades of Harrison and Hammond, who were in the advance, began skirmishing. Harrison dismounted his brigade and forming it in line of battle moved forward at once to the attack. The enemy opened with artillery, but Hammond's men moved on toward the works. And here, for the first time since the battle of Nashville,, Walthall's infantry sprang over the works and drove back Harrison's men and captured one gun of Smith's Battery I, Fourth United States Artillery. Wilson immediately ordered up Croxton's brigade and Hatch's division to the support of Harrison and Hammond. Croxton, Hatch and Hammond moved on the flanks, while Harrison renewed the struggle in front. This move caused Forrest to abandon his position in haste, leaving about fifty prisoners in our hands. Late in the afternoon Forrest withdrew from his position and fell back to Sugar Creek, and during the night built a. temporary line of works. Early on the morning of the 26th, the pursuit was continued, with Hammond's brigade in the advance. The line of retreat still indicated haste, as the road was lined with abandoned wagons, muskets, equipments and stragglers who had fallen out, some from exhaustion, others for the purpose of being captured. To Hood's poor, hungry, half-clad and. down-hearted soldiers the picture must have been a sad one,. and the future dark, as they toiled on with bowed heads and decimated ranks. Wilson still pressed the enemy with increased determination and untiring energy, but the resistance-during the morning was light. As Hammond approached Sugar Creek he encountered the advance of Ross' brigade, and after a sharp skirmish drove it back upon the main force. Hammond pursued the retreating enemy to his wrorks,, where he was attacked by infantry and cavalry and driven back some distance. Hammond rallied his brigade and drove the enemy back to his works, holding the position until the arrival of the remainder of Wilson's troops. In the afternoon the enemy's position was shelled vigorously, after which they fell back to Shoal Creek. Here Walthall formed his infantry in line to guard the crossing while Forrest's cavalry moved on to the Tennessee River. In the engagement at Sugar Creek the Second and Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, of Hammond's brigade, sustained their already brilliant reputation. Here the pursuit practically ended. Hood, with the advance of his army, reached Bainbridge on the 25th, and on the 26th laid his pontoon and began crossing his army. On the 28th, Walthall's infantry, which had covered Hood's retreat so well, crossed to the south side and the pontoon was taken up. Hood moved the remnant of his army to Tupelo, Mississippi, by slow and easy march, and on the 23rd of January, 1865, at his own request, was relieved of his command. A small force of cavalry under Colonel Palmer crossed Tennessee River and overtook and destroyed Hood's pontoon train, consisting of two hundred wagons and seventy-eight pontoon-boats. Thus ended one of the most successful campaigns of the war. Let us now turn and briefly read the account of this well-known retreat from the able pen of Major D. W. Sanders, assistant adjutant-general, French's division, Stewart's corps: "General Hood, in a campaign of thirty-eight days on the north side of the Tennessee River, fought the battles of Franklin and Nashville and wrecked his army. No damage of any consequence had been inflicted upon the enemy. Thomas, at Nashville, confronted him with a powerful and well-appointed army, fully equipped in all the arms of the service, and when he moved on him overwhelmed and routed him. At Columbia, it appeared as though Thomas would crush and capture the army. The pursuit of his mounted force under the command of General Wilson was fierce and relentless. The march of the rear guard from Columbia to Bainbridge, with the incessant assaults made upon it, is the most famous in the late war. The courage of this small body of troops was admirable; the hardships endured by them were terrible; and their endurance a lasting tribute to the devotion of the volunteer soldier. Their brigade commanders were men of high and marked character, who had distinguished themselves on many fields in great battles. The escape of Hood's army was committed to their valor, and on them rested the hope of the army to reach the Tennessee River and to cross it in safety." On the 30th, General Thomas announced to his army the completion of the campaign and gave orders for the disposition of his troops. A portion of Wilson's cavalry was sent to Huntsville, Alabama, and one division to Eastport, Mississippi. Croxton's brigade was ordered to Waterloo, Alabama. This was the last time the old "Volunteer State" was invaded by the enemy. In Hood's army were thousands of Tennesseans, a great many of whom never left the State on the retreat. In no battle of the war were there so many Tennessee troops engaged on the Union side as at Nashville. The following organizations were present and took part in that memorable struggle: First, Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Tenth and Twelfth Cavalry; Third, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Infantry; Batteries C and D, First Tennessee Light Artillery. In this short campaign of only thirty-eight days, Hood lost by capture thirteen thousand, one hundred and eighty-nine men, besides hundreds who slipped away and never reported for duty again, and two thousand by desertion. He lost seventy-two pieces of artillery, besides large quantities of small arms, wagons and accoutrements and seventy stands of colors. If to the desertions and prisoners we add his loss in battle it is safe to say that not much more than one-half of his army recrossed the Tennessee River. General Thomas lost during the campaign, in all forms of casualties, less than seven thousand men, and as the most of the wounds inflicted upon his troops were light, they soon returned to duty. General Wilson reported his loss during the campaign from all causes to be nine hundred and two. Wilson's loss is included in General Thomas's report. Hood's army was completely wrecked and demoralized and no damage of any consequence had been inflicted upon the Union army. Thomas's army had been hastily gathered together from different points to meet Hood's invasion, but demonstrated the fact that the unyielding patriotism of the Western men, under such a leader as Thomas, could not be doubted, and probably no army was ever more skilfully handled. Thomas had manifested his military ability early in 1861-2, and for the first time during the war was so large a Confederate army destroyed on the field of battle and on its retreat. The battles of Franklin and Nashville rank with those of Shiloh, Stone River and Chickamauga, and one remarkable feature is the small loss in killed, wounded and captured on the Union side. There seems to be but one way to account for it, and that is the skilful manner in which Thomas handled his troops. The following dispatches will show the estimation in which General Thomas and his brave soldiers were held by the ruler of a great nation: HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OE THE CUMBERLAND, Near Nashville, Tenn., December 16, 1864. GENERAL ORDERS NO. 167. The Major-General commanding, with pride and pleasure, publishes the following dispatches to the army, and adds thereto his own thanks to the troops for the unsurpassed gallantry and good conduct displayed by them in the battles of yesterday and to-day. A few more examples of devotion and courage like these, and the rebel army of the West, which you have been fighting for three years, will be no more, and you may reasonably expect an early and honorable peace: WASHINGTON, D. C, December 15, 1864-11:30 A. M. MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS: Please accept for yourself, officers and men the Nation's thanks for your good work of yesterday. You made a magnificent beginning. A grand consummation is within your easy reach; do not let it slip. A. LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, D. C, December 15, 1864-Midnight. MAJOR- GENERAL THOMAS: I rejoice in tendering to you and the gallant officers and soldiers of your command the thanks of the Department for the brilliant achievements of this day, and hope that it is the harbinger of a decisive victory, and will crown you and your army with honor and do much toward closing the war. We shall give you an hundred guns in the morning. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. WASHINGTON, D. C, December 15, 1864.-11:45 P. M. MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS: Your dispatch of this evening just received. I congratulate you and the army under your command for to-day's operations, and feel a conviction that to-morrow will add more fruits to your victory. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERALS OFFICE, Washington, March 11, 1865. GENERAL ORDERS No. 33. The following resolution is published for the information of all concerned: PUBLIC RESOLUTION-NO. 24. Joint Resolution of Thanks to Major-General George H. Thomas and the army under his command. BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the thanks of Congress are due, and are hereby tendered, to Major-General George H. Thomas and the officers and soldiers under his command, for their skill and dauntless courage by which the rebel army under General Hood was signally defeated and driven from the State of Tennessee. Approved March 3, 1865. By order of Secretary of War. E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Pulaski, Tenn., December 29, 1864. GENERAL ORDERS No. 169. SOLDIERS: The Major-General commanding announces to you that the rear guard of the flying and dispirited enemy was driven across the Tennessee River on the night of the 27th instant. The impassable state of the roads and consequent impossibility to supply the army compels a closing of the campaign for the present. Although short, it has been brilliant in its achievements and unsurpassed in its results by any other of this war, and is one of which all who participated therein may be justly proud. That veteran rebel army which, though driven from position to position, opposed a stubborn resistance to much superior numbers during the whole of the Atlanta campaign, taking advantage of the absence of the largest portion of the army which had been opposed to it in Georgia, invaded Tennessee, buoyant with hope, expecting Nashville, Murfreesboro, and the whole of Tennessee and Kentucky to fall into its power an easy prey, and scarcely fixing a limit to its conquests, after having received the most terrible check at Franklin on the 30th of November that any army has received during this war, and later met with signal repulse from the brave garrison of Murfreesboro in its attempt to capture that place, was finally attacked at Nashville, and although your forces were inferior to it in numbers, it was hurled back from the coveted prize upon which it had only been permitted to look from a distance, and finally sent flying, dismayed and disordered, whence it came, impelled by the instinct of self-preservation, and thinking only how it could relieve itself for short intervals from your persistent and harrassing pursuit, by burning the bridges over the swollen streams as it passed them, until finally it had placed the broad waters of the Tennessee River between you and its shattered, diminished and discomfited columns, leaving its artillery and battle-flags in your victorious hands, lasting trophies of your noble daring and lasting mementoes of the enemy's disgrace and defeat. You have diminished the forces of the rebel army, since it crossed the Tennessee River to invade the State, at the least estimate, 15,000 men, among whom were killed, wounded or captured eighteen general officers. Your captures from the enemy, as far as reported, amount to sixty-eight pieces of artillery, 10,000 prisoners, as many stands of small arms, several thousand of which have been gathered in and the remainder strew the route of the enemy's retreat, and between thirty and forty flags, besides compelling him to destroy much ammunition and abandon many wagons, and unless he is mad, he must forever relinquish all hope of bringing Tennessee again within the lines of the accursed rebellion. A short time will now be given you to prepare to continue the work so nobly begun. By command of Major-General THOMAS. WM. D. WHIPPLE, Assistant Adjutant-General. BLUE WATER, December 30, 1864. SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS NO. 16. It gives the brevet major-general great pleasure to transmit the following complimentary notice of the operations of the cavalry corps, and to assure the officers and soldiers of his command that he fully endorses the declaration of Major-General Thomas: HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Pulaski, Tenn., December 29, 1864. MAJOR-GENERAL J. H. WILSON, Commanding Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Mississippi: GENERAL: The major-general commanding tenders his thanks to yourself, officers and men for the vigor, skill, bravery and endurance displayed by your corps in this long and toilsome pursuit of the retreating rebel army. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. D. WHIPPLE, Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff. By order of Brevet Major-General WILSON: E. B. BEAUMONT, Major and Assistant Adjutant-General. General Wilson's cavalry captured during the campaign eighty-six officers and three thousand, one hundred and forty-nine enlisted men, twelve flags, seventeen pieces of artillery and eleven caissons, two thousand, three hundred and eighty-six small arms, three locomotives, one hundred and eighty-four wagons, eight ambulances, one hundred and twenty-five pontoon wagons and seventy-eight boats, and one thousand, three hundred and forty-eight mules and horses. When the pursuit ended, General Thomas gave orders for his army to build winter quarters. This was something new to the First Tennessee, and the boys went about the work with a will and soon had their "log cabins" ready for the plasterers. This was the only time during our service that such an opportunity had been given us to build comfortable quarters. We were beginning to congratulate ourselves on the solid comfort that we expected to get out of our cabins and the great improvement over the "dog-tent" when orders came to move. General Grant issued an order for the renewal of the campaign against the enemy. After a rest of two weeks the First Tennessee left its splendid quarters at Waterloo and plunged into the swamps of Mississippi with the remainder of the brigade. Croxton crossed the Tennessee River without opposition and moved through Eastport, then, turning southwest, marched his brigade to Iuka, on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. From this place Croxton marched his command on through Burnsville to Corinth, skirmishing lightly on the way and picking up a few prisoners. Iuka and Corinth had both been made historic by the desperate fighting between the forces of Grant, Van Dorn and Price in September and October, 1862. There was ample evidence that contending armies had struggled in and around these old Mississippi towns. The engagement at Corinth was exceedingly fierce and bloody. It was in this fierce and sanguinary struggle that the gallant and intrepid soldier, General A. P. Hackleman, was killed and General R. J. Oglesby severely wounded on the Union side, while the brave General Rogers, leading his Texas brigade, fell in front of Battery Robinette. At Iuka, General Little was killed and General Whitfield wounded on the enemy's side. From Corinth Croxton moved east to Farmington and after a short rest marched back to Iuka. This part of Mississippi is exceedingly low and flat and during dry weather is very nice, but when thoroughly wet by protracted rains might very properly be denominated a swamp. But the soil is as easily affected by the drought as by rains. Corinth is built upon low land and is situated at the junction of the Memphis & Charleston and the Mobile & Ohio Railroads. After resting for one day at Iuka, Croxton moved his brigade back through Eastport to the old camp-ground at Waterloo, Alabama, where it remained for a month. "We're tenting to-night on the old camp-ground, Give us a song to cheer Our weary hearts-a song of home And friends we love so dear! Many are the hearts that are weary to-night, Wishing for the war to cease; Many are the hearts looking for the right, To see the dawn of peace. Tenting to-night, tenting to-night, Tenting on the old camp-ground." This movement of Croxton's brigade into Mississippi was for the purpose of watching the movements of Hood and finding out the route his retreating army had taken. From this place numerous scouts were made in all directions. The last man wounded in the First Tennessee was James H. Blakely, private Company A, who was shot by "bushwhackers" on one of these scouts, February, 1865. The last of January the Second and Third Brigades of McCook's division arrived at our camp at Waterloo. These brigades, by order of General Wilson, left Nashville on the 11th day of December, 1864, for the purpose of checking General Lyon, who was reported to be moving on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. After doing considerable damage, he was driven out of Kentucky with a loss of three-fourths of his command. By order of General Wilson, the Third Brigade, commanded by General Watkins, was broken up, the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry being assigned to Croxton's brigade and the Fourth and Seventh Kentucky to La Grange's brigade. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT OF Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry IN THE GREAT WAR OF THE REBELLION, WITH THE ARMIES OF THE OHIO AND CUMBERLAND, UNDER GENERALS MORGAN, ROSECRANS, THOMAS, STANLEY AND WILSON. 1862-1865. BY W. R. CARTER, COMPANY C. ILLUSTRATED. KNOXVILLE, TENN.: GAUT-OGDEN CO., PRINTERS AND BINDERS. 1902. Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1896, by W. R. CARTER, in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. TO THE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE FIRST TENNESSEE CAVALRY; TO THE MEMORY OF OUR DECEASED COMRADES AND THEIR KINDRED; TO THE MARTYRED PATRIOTS OF EAST TENNESSEE WHO DIED ON THE GALLOWS AND IN PRISON, AND TO THE LOYAL AND PATRIOTIC PEOPLE WHO SYMPATHIZED WITH THEM, THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, IN FRATERNITY, CHARITY AND LOYALTY, BY THE AUTHOR. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/statewide/military/civilwar/other/u1sttncav334nmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/tnfiles/ File size: 29.5 Kb