Aot - 1865

[larry_cockerham]

CONFIDENTIAL. CORINTH, January 2, 1865.

Lieutenant-General STEWART:

As soon as you can cook three days' bread rations continue the march of your troops to Tupelo, but send all your wheels that can be spared from your troops, including those of your artillery, direct to Columbus, Miss. Let a staff officer move with them, and report to Major-General Elzey upon arriving at Columbus. When you get to Tupelo you will probably move to West Point.

J. B. HOOD,
General.

CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS STEWART'S CORPS,

Burnsville, Miss., January 2, 1865.

All of the wagons of the corps, except cook wagons, ambulances, and enough of those of the supply train to transport what remains of the subsistence stores-four day's rations-now on hand, after issuing three day's rations, will proceed to Columbus, Miss., following the artillery on the road to Fulton. A quartermaster from each division will be placed in charge of the train of each division, and will report to Lieutenant-Colonel Williams, commanding artillery. Three days' cooked rations of bread, from 4th to 6th inclusive, will be prepared during the day to-morrow and issued to the troops. Three day's cooked rations will be prepared as soon as possible and issued to the barefooted men, who will then be sent, under suitable officers, to Tupelo, starting in time to reach Jacinto to-morrow night. Lieutenant-Colonel Williams will take charge of the train and report to Major-General Elzey, at Columbus, Miss.

By command of Lieutenant-General Stewart:

W. D. GALE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
HEADQUARTERS,
Corinth, Miss., January 2, 1865.

[larry_cockerham]

Major General C. L. STEVENSON,
Commanding Lee's Corps:

General Hood directs that you will continue your march to Tupelo, sending all your wheels that can possibly be spared from the troops at once to Columbus, Miss. The troops can obtain rations from the railroad, but the men that go with the wheels must take bread at least to last them to Columbus. When you reach Tupelo you will receive there orders to move to West Point or Columbus. Send the carriages of your artillery, and those of General Cheatham's also, to Columbus, and not to Tupelo, as directed in my note on the cars, written this morning. The officer in charge of your wheels will report to Major-General Elzey on arriving at Columbus.

A. P. MASON,
Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

[larry_cockerham]

(Copy to General Stewart, dated January 3
CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS LEE'S CORPS,

In the Field, January 2, 1865.

The corps will be in readiness to continue its march in the direction of Booneville at 9 a.m. to-morrow, in the following order: Deas, Clayton, Pettus. One-half of the brigade ordnance wagons, such ambulances as h ave serviceable animals, the cook wagon, such of the supply train as will be designated by the chief of subsistence of the corps, the headquarters wagons, with such baggage only as may be indispensably necessary on the march, one tool wagon, with select tools, one forge to a division, and the medical wagon, lightly loaded, of divisions, will accompany the troops, moving habitually in front of and assisted forward by their respective divisions; all other wheels, including the artillery of this corps, and such of Cheatham's as may be at this point (the guns being left in charge of an officer of each corps), and a suitable guard at the depot (to be shipped by rail), will be collected by the chief of the departments of divisions and battalions to which they respectively belong, not later than 9.30 a.m. to-morrow, near the depot; there to be organized into a train, under the charge of an officer who will be ordered from these headquarters. One regiment from each division, commanded by an officer below the grade of lieutenant-colonel, will be selected by the division commander, to report to the commander of the train at the depot at 8.30 a.m. to-morrow, as guard to the train; an engineer officer, and one company of prisoners, to be selected by the chief engineer officer, will accompany the train. The pioneer companies of the corps will at once be increased temporarily, until further orders, to thirty-five men. No one not assigned to any of the regiments or battalions with the train will be permitted to accompany it, without special permission from the officer in charge. The troops with the train will be furnished with not less than eight days of breadstuff and a fair proportion of the cooking utensils, the latter from the commands to which they belong.

By command of Major General C. L. Stevenson:
J. W. RATCHFORD,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[larry_cockerham]

HEADQUARTERS FORREST'S CAVALRY CORPS,
Corinth, Miss., January 2, 1865.

Lieutenant General R. TAYLOR,
Commanding Department:

GENERAL:

I have the honor to state that I have just had an interview with General Hood, and am informed by him that the Army of Tennessee is ordered to Augusta, and that I will be left to defend as well as can be done this section of the country. I regret to say that the means at my disposal are not adequate to the task devolving upon me. My command is greatly reduced in numbers and efficiency by losses in battle and in the worn-down and unserviceable condition of animals. The Army of Tennessee was badly defeated and is greatly demoralized, and to save it during the retreat from Nashville I was compelled almost to sacrifice my command. Aside from the killed, wounded, and captured of my command, many were sent to the rear with barefooted, lame, and unserviceable horses, who have taken advantage of all the confusion and disorder attending the hasty retreat of a beaten army, and are now scattered through the country or have gone to their homes. The enemy have about 10,000 cavalry, finely equipped and recently mounted on the best of horses, and I ask that you will send McCulloch's brigade to me at once, with any other cavalry you can possibly spare. I am also greatly in need of artillery horses. I have four batteries of four guns each, but have not a sufficiency one third of a ration of corn per day (say four pounds to the horse), and if they remain much longer upon that allowance they will be worthless; in fact, from the hard service performed and want of forage, it will require at least six weeks to put them in condition for active service in the field. I shall remain in General Hood's rear until he moves off from here, and if the railroad can not supply me with forage in a short time will be compelled to leave a small force here and follow him down to the prairies and save my stock, if possible to do so. Our mules are also worn down and many of them unfit for service, and unless recruited will prove a total loss.

I assure you, general, that any assistance you may have it in your power to give me in fitting up my transportation and artillery will be appreciated, and, if in your power to do so, would be glad to see you up here, or have the privilege of visiting you myself, as I am anxious to see you personally in regard to changes, &c., in the cavalry of my command.

Many regiments are greatly reduced, and it is absolutely necessary to reorganize it. As soon as the Army of Tennessee gets away, I will forward you full reports, giving the effective of reorganizing the cavalry, and never having visited Richmond, I would like much to visit the capital and urge upon the Department the adoption of such measures as will increase its efficiency and bring it under proper control and discipline. I am confident the trip would prove beneficial to the service and a recreation to myself, and the latter is much needed, as I have had no rest or relief from duty since, I came into this department, and, whenever circumstances will allow it, I respectfully ask that Major-General Gardner or some other competent officer be placed in command of my troops and permission given me to make the visit proposed.

There is a column of the enemy at Courtland and a large force of cavalry on the north bank of the river, with six gun-boats and seven transports in the Tennessee River between Eastport and Florence. My scouts also report thirty transports below Savannah, and I fear they will cross the river and follow up General Hood's army, or with their heavy force of cavalry cross at Decatur or Bainbridge and move on Selma. Should they move on us here, I shall (after the departure of General Hood's army) be compelled to fall back before them, as my force is not sufficient to meet and defeat them.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

N. B. FORREST,
Major-General.

[samgrant]

Originally Posted by larry_cockerham

HEADQUARTERS FORREST'S CAVALRY CORPS,
Corinth, Miss., January 2, 1865.

Lieutenant General R. TAYLOR,
Commanding Department:

GENERAL:

I have the honor to state that I have just had an interview with General Hood, and am informed by him that the Army of Tennessee is ordered to Augusta, and that I will be left to defend as well as can be done this section of the country. I regret to say that the means at my disposal are not adequate to the task devolving upon me. My command is greatly reduced in numbers and efficiency by losses in battle and in the worn-down and unserviceable condition of animals. The Army of Tennessee was badly defeated and is greatly demoralized, and to save it during the retreat from Nashville I was compelled almost to sacrifice my command. Aside from the killed, wounded, and captured of my command, many were sent to the rear with barefooted, lame, and unserviceable horses, who have taken advantage of all the confusion and disorder attending the hasty retreat of a beaten army, and are now scattered through the country or have gone to their homes. The enemy have about 10,000 cavalry, finely equipped and recently mounted on the best of horses, and I ask that you will send McCulloch's brigade to me at once, with any other cavalry you can possibly spare. I am also greatly in need of artillery horses. I have four batteries of four guns each, but have not a sufficiency one third of a ration of corn per day (say four pounds to the horse), and if they remain much longer upon that allowance they will be worthless; in fact, from the hard service performed and want of forage, it will require at least six weeks to put them in condition for active service in the field. I shall remain in General Hood's rear until he moves off from here, and if the railroad can not supply me with forage in a short time will be compelled to leave a small force here and follow him down to the prairies and save my stock, if possible to do so. Our mules are also worn down and many of them unfit for service, and unless recruited will prove a total loss.

I assure you, general, that any assistance you may have it in your power to give me in fitting up my transportation and artillery will be appreciated, and, if in your power to do so, would be glad to see you up here, or have the privilege of visiting you myself, as I am anxious to see you personally in regard to changes, &c., in the cavalry of my command.

Many regiments are greatly reduced, and it is absolutely necessary to reorganize it. As soon as the Army of Tennessee gets away, I will forward you full reports, giving the effective of reorganizing the cavalry, and never having visited Richmond, I would like much to visit the capital and urge upon the Department the adoption of such measures as will increase its efficiency and bring it under proper control and discipline. I am confident the trip would prove beneficial to the service and a recreation to myself, and the latter is much needed, as I have had no rest or relief from duty since, I came into this department, and, whenever circumstances will allow it, I respectfully ask that Major-General Gardner or some other competent officer be placed in command of my troops and permission given me to make the visit proposed.

There is a column of the enemy at Courtland and a large force of cavalry on the north bank of the river, with six gun-boats and seven transports in the Tennessee River between Eastport and Florence. My scouts also report thirty transports below Savannah, and I fear they will cross the river and follow up General Hood's army, or with their heavy force of cavalry cross at Decatur or Bainbridge and move on Selma. Should they move on us here, I shall (after the departure of General Hood's army) be compelled to fall back before them, as my force is not sufficient to meet and defeat them.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

N. B. FORREST,
Major-General.

Looks like the wheels are just about all off the wagon.

-

[larry_cockerham]

Yes, Sam, the challenge between Major General James Harrison Wilson and Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest was about to reach a new level of conflict. The might of the United States Army was about to fall on Alabama. Forrest was ill-equiped to resist with any great success. As for the AOT, their sights were once again on Sherman in Georgia, where they should have remained instead of the winter trek into Tennessee.

[larry_cockerham]

January 3, 1865

Lee's and Stewart's corps ordered to continue the march to Tupelo, Mississippi from their respective bivouacs, Rienzi and Burnsville, all wheels not necessary with the troops and artillery carriages to be sent to Columbus, to report upon arrival to Major-General Elzey.

No rest for the weary. Time to find save haven and organize for the next effort. These guys were beaten, but not done.

[larry_cockerham]

January 4, 1865

No further orders regulating movements of the troops. Finally, rest was possible for the moment. Scare rations were being distributed and clothing was being hastily assembled with any material and means available. Fires were finally possible though wood was scarce. Winter was not kind to the AOT.

Federal Artillery was at Huntsville. The hunt was still on.

[larry_cockerham]

January 5, 1865

Army of Tennessee headquarters established at Tupelo, Mississippi. Tupelo was the largest town in the area and was situated on the north-south railroad that led to *******n and Mobile. [I guess M*E*R*I*D*I*A*N must be a four-letter word? Silly censor.]

General Wood’s Union Corps arrived at Huntsville this same day. Huntsville, abandoned by the AOT, still had supplies and shelter. The Union Army, though better equipped than their adversaries, were still in need of protection from the brutal weather.

[RLQ1]

Larry,

Thank you very much for sharing the information about Ben Tilley. I'm from Fannin County, and am very familiar with the Tilley Bend Baptist Church. Now it is surrounded by US Forest Service land. Based on the cemeteries that I've visited in the county, Morganton, (former county seat) was occupied by mostly pro confederate citizens, where people around the Noontootla district, near where Ben lived were primarily unionists. If I am not mistaken, the fellow by the name of Long served in the 5th TN Mounted Infantry, US.

Now, my great, great, great uncle, Pvt. Andrew J. Hughes entered Confederate Service in Co. B 65th GA Infantry in 1863. If I am not mistaken, the 65th GA was in the same brigade with the 63rd VA at the Battle of Chickamauga.

Sorry to get sidetracked off of the topic. You've posted great information!