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OFFICIAL ARMY RECORDS

1863-1

FORT PILLOW, January 1, 1863.

GENERAL: On the 27th ultimo, I received orders to destroy public property and remove the

detachment to Fort Pillow. On the 28th this was accomplished. I was much disappointed, and

feared you would be also; but the order was peremptory from General Davies, and General Fisk

informed me that General Davies had authority from you.

The detachment is now here. As far as I can see, we are of no use here. There is no artillery

here, and the works are much extended. With a few pieces the place might be held against a large

force. As it is, an attack from a largely superior force would be fatal. I know, of course, nothing

of the policy that sent me here in such haste. I do know, however, that my regiment is divided,

and that I would be pleased to have it united.

When at New Madrid and Cape Girardeau, I felt that we were in the same neighborhood;

now we are certainly not neighbors, and are embarrassed by being in two departments. It is not

my place to suggest either the when or the where, but only my wish, that, if consistent with the

public welfare, it would be remembered as a kindness could we again be brought together.

Your most obedient servant,

JOHN SCOTT,

Colonel Thirty-second Iowa Infantry.

Maj. Gen. SAMUEL R. CURTIS,

Saint Louis, Mo.

HOLLY SPRINGS, MISS, January 8, 1863.

Brig. Gen. J. B. McPHERSON, Holly Springs, Miss.:

As soon as all public stores, sick, &c., are removed from Holly Springs fall back with the

troops now occupying the place to the vicinity of La Grange, Grand Junction, or Davis' Mill.

When you arrive there, examine the railroad to the east and ascertain the practicability of

supplying troops to Pocahontas by rail and teams. If practicable, and you think it advisable,

Denver's division may be moved to that place.

The Twenty-fifth Iowa and Ninetieth Illinois, now doing railroad duty, will be added to

General Denver's division, giving him twelve regiments. By taking two regiments from the old

brigade a new one can be formed.

U.S. GRANT,

Major-General.

HDQRS. 1ST. BRIG., 8TH DIV., 16TH ARMY CORPS,

DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,

Corinth, Miss., January 20, 1863.

CAPTAIN: In accordance with orders from division headquarters I have the honor to submit

the following report of the part taken by that portion of my command recently detached from the

division while under General Sullivan's orders:

After 9 o'clock on the evening of December 18, when encamped near Oxford, Miss., I

received orders to proceed immediately with the infantry of my command by rail to Jackson,

Tenn., there to report to Brigadier-General Sullivan. About midnight the Thirty-ninth Ohio,

Colonel Noyes, left Oxford, and at 3 o'clock the following morning the Twenty-seventh Ohio,

Lieutenant-Colonel Spaulding, followed. Leaving instructions for Colonel Sprague to follow as

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soon as cars could be obtained for the transportation of his own regiment and the Forty-third

Ohio, I started for Jackson on the train conveying the Twenty-seventh Regiment.

I did not reach Jackson until nearly 4 p.m. of the 19th. Immediately on our arrival Colonel

Spaulding was ordered by General Sullivan to report with his regiment to Colonel Lawler to the

front, and I learned from General Sullivan that Colonel Noyes had been sent with his regiment in

another direction to report to General Brayman. I afterward learned that the Sixty-third and

Forty-third Regiments, upon reaching Bolivar, had been ordered by General Grant to remain

there for the defense of that place.

The following morning a General Order from General Sullivan announced that my command

would consist of the Twenty-seventh and Thirty-ninth Regiments of Ohio Infantry, and would

form the rear of the column. As soon as I could find the regiments I marched in the direction of

Lexington, overtaking the main column about 10 miles east of Jackson. While halting here

cannonading was heard in the direction of Humboldt. After an hour's halt we continued the

march until about 19 miles distant from Jackson, where we bivouacked for the night.

The next morning at 6 o'clock we returned over the same road, my command, which was in

advance, reaching Jackson between 1 and 2 p.m.

On the 27th we went by cars to Trenton, where the Sixty-third Ohio rejoined us. I reported, in

accordance with General Sullivan's order, to General Haynie, but General Sullivan arrived the

same evening and assumed command.

About 5 a.m., December 28, we marched toward Huntingdon and bivouacked near Shady

Grove. The next morning, marching through McLemoresville, we reached Huntingdon about 4

p.m.

On the 31st I marched at 5 a.m. on the road toward Lexington, leaving behind seven

companies on guard duty, which General Sullivan said would march when he was ready to start,

and would form a rear guard. Between 10 and 11 a.m., while my column was halting near

Clarksburg, Generals Sullivan and Haynie, with their respective staffs and a small escort of

cavalry, overtook us. General Sullivan ordered me to halt for an hour or an hour and a half till

the rear guard could rejoin me, and then passed on toward Clarksburg. Within ten minutes

afterward an orderly rode back at a gallop, saying that the enemy’s cavalry had got between my

command and Generals Sullivan and Haynie, and that these officers with their escort had ridden

on through Clarksburg followed by the enemy.

I moved forward, on a double-quick, instantly, and upon reaching Clarksburg learned from

an officer of the Thirty-ninth Iowa (who had been accidentally left on picket duty where Colonel

Dunham's column had bivouacked the previous night) that the enemy's force consisted of about

50 cavalry. This officer's post was to the east of Clarksburg. The enemy had approached from the

west and took the road leading south, passing before this officer had an opportunity to fire on

them. I learned also that Generals Sullivan and Haynie left the road directly after passing

Clarksburg, taking an easterly direction. The enemy upon reaching the same point probably saw

my advance, as they filed out of the road rapidly through the wood to the west.

After a halt of about ten minutes, learning nothing more, we continued our march. Soon the

sound of artillery in our front advised us that Colonel Dunham's brigade was engaging the

enemy, and we began to march in earnest. The firing was first heard to the right of the point

where the road from McLemoresville crosses that leading from Huntingdon to Lexington; in half

an hour it was directly in our front; half an hour later it was all to the left of the crossing, thereby

rendering it certain that the enemy, who approached from McLemoresville, was rapidly driving

Colonel Dunham's brigade before him. Very soon thereafter the rattle of musketry was distinct,

and thinking the hour a critical one for the small force, who were evidently fighting against odds,

I urged my men to their utmost speed. When within about 2 miles of Parker's house an orderly

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galloped to the head of the column, saying, "General Sullivan, who is coming up with the rear

guard about 3 miles behind, orders you to halt until he comes up." I directed Captain Dustan,

assistant adjutant-general of this brigade, to ride back to the general as fast as possible, to explain

the situation, and to ask that the order to halt be countermanded. Immediately after Captain

Dustan started upon this errand one of my orderlies, who had been sent to the front to

communicate with Colonel Dunham, returned. He was unable to get through, as the enemy's

position was between us and that of Colonel Dunham's brigade. From near Parker's house, where

they were in force, the enemy had fired on him. When I learned this I felt assured that General

Sullivan would, if present and in possession of the facts, countermand his order to halt, and I

therefore directed that the men instead of halting should move forward as rapidly as possible.

When the head of our column was within about 200 yards of the hill which commanded a

view of the enemy's position, and where our column was deployed, General Sullivan overtook

me. The Twenty-seventh and Sixty-third Regiments were at once formed on the left and the

Thirty-ninth Regiment on the right of the road, when we advanced upon the rear of the enemy's

artillery, which was feebly supported and abandoned (with but little fighting on his part) when

we approached. Our artillery took a position on the left (east) of the road, and directly after

opening fire two pieces followed the infantry until they occupied ground side by side with the

rebel guns, while the other piece was moved to the west side of the road, where it was effectively

used upon the rebels who were escaping by breaking to the front and right of our lines.

Some hundreds of the enemy, who had dismounted and had been fighting as infantry, had left

their horses in the orchard and yard near Parker's house. These horses were the first trophies

which fell into our hands, and more than 300 of their riders thus rendered unable to get away

surrendered themselves as prisoners. A small train of wagons which the enemy had gained

possession of was captured in the road a short distance south of Parker's house, and one, at least,

of the guns belonging to Colonel Dunham's command was retaken from the enemy in this road.

The dead bodies of our artillerists lying close to this gun attested the fidelity and bravery with

which the men of the Seventh Wisconsin Battery stood at their posts until their last round of

ammunition was expended.

Among the prisoners who surrendered were several officers of prominence. Lieutenant-

Colonel Cox, of Cox's battalion, and Major Strange (Forrest's adjutant-general), who, together

with the captain commanding Forrest's body guard, were unhorsed by a volley from the Twentyseventh

Ohio when riding off the field with their general, and Colonel Black, who afterward

escaped in citizens' clothes, with several others whose names I have forgotten.

Before referring to our subsequent march I deem it a duty I owe to the officers and men of

my command (who had marched 7 miles within an hour and a half to reach the field, and who

after this exertion rushed forward with such enthusiasm as to produce a panic in the enemy's

ranks) to claim for them the honor of capturing what was taken from the enemy at Parker's

Cross-Roads, and also of recapturing prisoners, artillery, baggage wagons, and animals which

before their arrival on the field had fallen into the hands of the enemy. When we reached the

field the enemy who, from the best evidence I could obtain, were about double the number of

Colonel Dunham's force, were in front and on both flanks of that brigade. A flag of truce, which

had not returned to General Forrest when our guns opened, had, as Colonel Dunham informed

me, demanded an unconditional surrender. Firing had ceased for some fifteen minutes prior to

our arrival, nor did the command of Colonel Dunham fire a shot at the enemy as he moved past

their flanks to their rear.

About two hours after the enemy had precipitately fled General Sullivan informed me that he

was returning and was advancing upon our left and front. By the general's direction I formed

two regiments obliquely across the road leading east from Parker's house and sent two

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companies (deployed as skirmishers) about 400 yards to the front of this line, where they

remained until daylight of the following morning.

January 1 we marched through Lexington, bivouacking about 1 mile east of that place.

The next morning Generals Sullivan and Haynie, with the brigade of Colonel Dunham,

marched toward Jackson while my command, together with a brigade which came up from

Jackson under Colonel Lawler, marched toward the Tennessee River, I having received orders to

report with my command to that officer. When 5 or 6 miles east of Lexington we met several

men who had escaped from the enemy after roaching the river. From them we learned definitely

that Forrest's command (prisoners and stragglers excepted) had already crossed the river. Taking

these men to Colonel Lawler I respectfully requested that the infantry, worn-out and half starved

as it was and without shelter, be spared so long and trying a march, and suggested that the

reconnaissance be made by the cavalry ; but Colonel Lawler informed me that he had no

discretion in the matter. He had no doubt of the correctness of these statements, he said, but the

entire force must march. That day we proceeded to within 8 or 9 miles of Clifton.

On the 3d my brigade was ordered to move toward Clifton. I was instructed to use my own

judgment as to the movement, to ascertain for myself whether the enemy had all crossed the

river, and, if I found such to be the fact, to return. Upon reaching a point where the road to the

furnace leaves that leading to Clifton I ordered two regiments and my artillery to halt. After

examining the river near the furnace, which was done by a squad of cavalry, and learning that the

last of the enemy had crossed on the night of the 1st, I sent the cavalry in advance on the Clifton

road, and directed Lieutenant-Colonel Spaulding, with the Twenty-seventh Ohio Infantry, to

follow. Directly after, however, Colonel Lawler came up and ordered my entire command to

advance. Upon reaching the river and learning that the road to Clifton ran along the stream for 2

miles, and fearing that the enemy would use his artillery from the opposite bank, I ordered all but

the cavalry and one regiment to halt here. But Colonel Lawler, who I was not then aware had

marched with the column, upon coming up countermanded the order. We found a small picket on

the road (of perhaps 15 men), who, after exchanging shots with our cavalry, rapidly retired,

crossed the river in a small flat-boat, swimming their horses. As soon as our cavalry appeared

opposite the town the enemy began to shell them from batteries on the bluff. No damage was

done, however. Soon after, the enemy placed some rifled guns on the bank farther up the stream

and opened fire on the light field battery which was attached to my command. No harm resulted,

however. The battery, which I thought too light to reply effectively, and the regiments which

were marching with it were rapidly moved back from the river out of range. A wagon loaded

with ammunition was twice struck and so disabled that we were compelled to abandon it. The

animals and ammunition, however, we brought away.

A flag of truce, accompanied by two rebel officers, crossed the river for the purpose, as

Colonel Woodward said, of making arrangements for an exchange of prisoners. They were not

permitted to pass our outposts and probably did not gain much information.

An irregular fire of musketry was kept up for an hour or two with the enemy during the

afternoon, by order of Colonel Lawler, but I did not learn of anything resulting, excepting a

wound received by Colonel Lawler's assistant adjutant-general, who was hit in the leg.

The march of this day was more severe on the men of my command than any I have

witnessed. The road was horrible, and the rain, which fell steadily, made it still more so.

On the 5th we marched toward Bethel, reaching that place on the 7th. The next day we

marched for Corinth, arriving on the afternoon of the 9th. Here, for the first time in twenty-two

days, we found shelter, full rations for the men, and shoes for at least 150, who had thatched

barefooted for 50 miles.

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The accompanying reports of commanding officers give a detailed account of the movements

of their respective regiments.

I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN W. FULLER,

Colonel Twenty-seventh Ohio Infantry, Commanding.

Capt. GEORGE E. SPENCER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS SIXTY-THIRD OHIO INFANTRY,

Corinth, Miss., January 19, 1863.

COLONEL: In pursuance of your order received this day requiring a report of the part taken

by my command in the recent campaign in Tennessee, I have the honor to state that the Sixtythird

and the Forty-third Ohio Regiments left Oxford, Miss., by cars on December 19, 1862, for

Jackson, Tenn. On arrival the same evening at Bolivar, Tenn., I received an order by telegraph

from Major-General Grant to disembark the two regiments at that place and make the best

disposition in my power to defend the railroad and public stores at and near Bolivar. General

Brayman, the commander of the post, being absent, and finding myself the senior officer, I

assumed command and at once made such disposition as I thought necessary to hold the place,

which was then threatened by cavalry and mounted infantry under Van Dorn and Jackson. For

this purpose I used the cotton found deposited there. The enemy, however, made no further

demonstrations than slight skirmishing with our pickets and vedettes.

On the evening of the 23d General Brayman returned with four pieces of artillery, and still

later Colonel Lee arrived with a large force of cavalry, and the next day easily drove the enemy

from that part of the country.

On December 27 General Brayman ordered me to proceed with the Sixty-third Ohio

Regiment to Jackson and report to Brigadier-General Sullivan. On arriving there by railroad I

was ordered to proceed to Trenton, Tenn., where we arrived the same evening, and were again

brigaded with the Twenty-seventh and Thirty-ninth Ohio Regiments under your command.

December 28 marched to Shady Grove, 16 miles.

December 29 marched to Huntingdon (county seat of Carroll County), distance 16 miles.

On December 31 marched in the direction of Lexington, Tenn. We started at daylight. About

10 o'clock a.m. cannonading was heard in front. Our march now became rapid, as it was

supposed the Second Brigade had intercepted and engaged the enemy. About 12 m. musketry

was plainly heard, and our pace was still increased so that the double-quick was taken at times.

At 1.30 p.m. we arrived at Parker's Cross-Roads, 16 miles from our starting point in the

morning. It was at this point that the Second Brigade, under Colonel Durham (consisting of the

Fiftieth Indiana, Thirty-ninth Iowa, One hundred and twenty-second Illinois, two companies of

the Eighteenth Illinois, and three guns of the Seventh Wisconsin Battery), had engaged the

enemy under General Forrest. Firing had ceased for nearly half an hour before we reached the

scene of the engagement. Emerging from the woods into large open fields the enemy were

discovered by us. Under your orders I formed my regiment in line of battle at double-quick on

the left, or easterly, side of the road and advanced at the same gait for about 200 yards, when I

received an order to move by the right flank to the right, or west, side of the road. I again moved

forward in line of battle at double-quick for a short distance and was then ordered back to the

east side of the road and to advance in line of battle on the enemy, which was done as rapidly as

possible. The ground was soft and miry, but notwithstanding this and the long and rapid march

made by my command the men responded with hearty cheers, and at a double-quick rushed

forward to engage the enemy, who seemed to be panic-stricken, They fled in the utmost

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confusion and so rapidly that we could get but a few telling shots at them. In their rout they

passed along the front and near the Second Brigade, but no fire was opened upon them by the

Second Brigade. I have not learned the cause. If the enemy had been vigorously attacked by them

a much larger number of prisoners would, in my opinion, have been taken. As it was, a large

number of the enemy passed along unharmed to our left. I then changed front to the left and

advanced some 500 or 600 yards, taking possession of a brass 8-pounder gun from which the

enemy had fled. From this point Company B, under Lieut. Charles J. McGinnis (Capt. Charles E.

Brown acting as major), and Company A, under Capt. Frank T. Gilmore, were sent to the front as

skirmishers. The latter captured a second brass 8-pounder, and farther on a caisson and some

horses which the enemy were endeavoring to take from the field. After a slight skirmish they

concluded to save themselves and leave the caisson. Captain Gilmore took possession of it,

which with the guns mentioned was brought in and delivered over to you. The enemy being

mounted were soon entirely beyond our reach (except about 300 prisoners captured) and were

safely on the road to cross the Tennessee River. Next morning we were ordered to march in

pursuit and reached a point about 2 miles south of Lexington, where we bivouacked.

On January 2 we marched to a point near Bath Springs, and again bivouacked. That night a

very heavy rain visited us, and all were thoroughly soaked.

On the morning of January 3 we again commenced the pursuit of the flying horsemen, but

scores of witnesses told us the enemy had safely crossed the river; but to see for ourselves we

marched on, under orders, to a point on the river opposite Clifton, exchanged a few shots with

the enemy across the river, and marched back again.

This day's march (18 miles) was one of the hardest I have ever witnessed. The rains had

made the roads deep with mud, in which were hidden bowlders, making the footing so uncertain

that men could be seen every moment falling on their faces in the mud and water. We arrived at

Bath Springs on our return the same evening.