Forum Host- Joined
- Mar 18, 2011
- Location
- Clinton, Mississippi
I saw the post about Henderson's Scouts, and thought I would share this letter from the collections of the Mississippi Department of Archives & History:
In Camp Near Davis Mill
10 O'clock P.M., Sept. 19th, 1862
Maj. Genl. Van Dorn
Dear Sir:
One of our scouts has just returned who saw a lady that left Bolivar this morning. She reports as others heretofore that only Hurlbut's division is there numbering between four & five thousand. Also that every thing seems to indicate that they are going to evacuate. Their movements are being made at night. Some cannon recently sent off on the rail road.
A young man a member of our company is just through from near Purdy, Tenn. He left Monday night last and reports that several long trains loaded with soldiers had left Corinth going north. The Yankees & Union men in the vicinity of Bethel report that Eleven Thousand have left Corinth going north. They have also sent off all their sick from that place. The say their drilled troops are going into Kentucky and their new levies are coming to take their places. They have three small regiments at Bethel on Mobile & Ohio R.R., twenty miles north of Corinth. They are constructing temporary fortifications there. The general impression amongst the people is that they are preparing to evacuate the whole country west of Tenn. River. In obedience to your order I have sent scouts to Fort Pillow & Corinth and will send or bring their report immediately on their return. I send you the latest Memphis paper.
Yours Respectfully,
W.M. McConnell, Lieut.
Henderson's Scouts
[The letter is addressed to "Maj. Genl. Van Dorn, Holly Springs, Miss.]
Written on the back is: "Camp near Davis Mill, Sept. 19, 1862. W.M. McConnell, Henderson's Scouts. Reports information from the enemy near Bolivar, Tenn."
Original letter is located in the J.L. Power collection, Z/0100.000/S, Box 8, Folder 119.
In Camp Near Davis Mill
10 O'clock P.M., Sept. 19th, 1862
Maj. Genl. Van Dorn
Dear Sir:
One of our scouts has just returned who saw a lady that left Bolivar this morning. She reports as others heretofore that only Hurlbut's division is there numbering between four & five thousand. Also that every thing seems to indicate that they are going to evacuate. Their movements are being made at night. Some cannon recently sent off on the rail road.
A young man a member of our company is just through from near Purdy, Tenn. He left Monday night last and reports that several long trains loaded with soldiers had left Corinth going north. The Yankees & Union men in the vicinity of Bethel report that Eleven Thousand have left Corinth going north. They have also sent off all their sick from that place. The say their drilled troops are going into Kentucky and their new levies are coming to take their places. They have three small regiments at Bethel on Mobile & Ohio R.R., twenty miles north of Corinth. They are constructing temporary fortifications there. The general impression amongst the people is that they are preparing to evacuate the whole country west of Tenn. River. In obedience to your order I have sent scouts to Fort Pillow & Corinth and will send or bring their report immediately on their return. I send you the latest Memphis paper.
Yours Respectfully,
W.M. McConnell, Lieut.
Henderson's Scouts
[The letter is addressed to "Maj. Genl. Van Dorn, Holly Springs, Miss.]
Written on the back is: "Camp near Davis Mill, Sept. 19, 1862. W.M. McConnell, Henderson's Scouts. Reports information from the enemy near Bolivar, Tenn."
Original letter is located in the J.L. Power collection, Z/0100.000/S, Box 8, Folder 119.
Bringing the