East Tennessee Roots
Major
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2010
- Location
- Kingsport, Tennessee
An incredible wealth of information, there. I'm gonna have to read that over again tomorrow. Thank you for posting that
Report of Lieut. Henry Jordan, Seventeenth Indiana (mounted)
Infantry, of raid on the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad.
HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,
Near Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 28, 1863.
CAPT.: On the 18th instant, while in camp at Maysville, Ala., I
received orders to report the regiment under my command to Col.
Long, commanding Second Brigade, Second Cavalry Division, at
Chattanooga. Owing to the fact that many of my men were without
horses and others but poorly mounted, I was able to move, on the
following morning, with but 243 men of the 492 reported for duty.
Arrived at Stevenson at noon of the 20th, I was compelled to leave 12
of these at that point, their horses being completely exhausted. Arrived
at Bridgeport the same evening, I left 5 men for the same reason.
Leaving Bridgeport the following morning, I proceeded in the direction
of Chattanooga, reached Col. Long's headquarters about noon of the
22d, and crossed the river with the brigade that night at Brown's
Ferry.
On the 24th, with the brigade, I recrossed the river above Chattanooga
and proceeded, via Tyner's Station, to a point on the East Tennessee
railroad near Ooltewah, bivouacked for the night, and at daylight of the
25th took up the line of march for Cleveland, where I arrived at sunset.
The following morning, 26th, I was directed by Lieut.-Col.
Kitchell, commanding Ninety-eighth Illinois, to send 100 men to join an
expedition going to Charleston. I sent five companies, under command
of Capt. Anderson, and with the remainder of my command
proceeded, in obedience of orders from Col. Long, to destroy the
railroad and a rolling mill at Cleveland.
On the morning of the 27th, at 4 o'clock, I was ordered to proceed to
the north side of the town and cover the front of the First Ohio Cavalry,
while their horses were being groomed. At sunrise, under orders
received the previous evening, I took my position in the column and
took up line of march in the direction of Harrison, the enemy in the
meantime having appeared in force on the east and north sides of the
town and opened upon us a vigorous fire. Reaching and crossing
Candy's Creek, about 3 miles from town. I received an order from the
rear to return and cover the retreat of the First Ohio Cavalry, which was
being hotly pressed by the enemy with cavalry and artillery. I recrossed
the creek and returned about 1 mile to a point where the road at right
angles. Here I dismounted my command and formed line on the hill on
the north side of the road, the Ninety-eighth Illinois at the same time
continuing the line on the south side. We at once opened fire on the
enemy, while the cavalry, forming our rear guard, passed through the
gap. The enemy replied vigorously to our fire, his first volley killing 1
and wounding 6 of my men. At this juncture an officer from my left
flank announced that the enemy had passed my left and was rapidly
gaining the summit of a hill almost immediately in my rear. I at once
communicated the information to Col. Kitchell and commenced
retiring my line. I succeeded in again crossing the creek without further
loss, and remounting took my place in the column and proceeded, via
Harrison, to this place.
My loss during the entire expedition was as follows: Killed, 1;
wounded, 8; missing, 1; total, 10.
In addition to the above loss of men, I lost in the action of Friday
morning 10 horses and 5 guns and accouterments.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY JORDAN,
Lieut.-Col., Cmdg.
[Capt. WILLIAM E. CRANE,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.]
Source: Official Records
CHAP. XLIII.] THE CHATTANOOGA-RINGGOLD CAMPAIGN. PAGE 566-55
[Series I. Vol. 31. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 55.]
***************************************************************************************
Report of Col. Jacob G. Vail, Seventeenth Indiana
(Mounted) Infantry of operations April 1-2.
HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH INDIANA (MOUNTED) INFANTRY,
Selma, April 6, 1865.
SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by
my regiment in the affair near Bogue [Bogler's] Creek on April 1,
1865, and the taking of Selma on April 2, 1865:
On the 1st instant the regiment was the third in the order of march of
the brigade which was following the retreating enemy in the direction
of Selma, driving them and continually skirmishing with them. The
advance had pushed them easily until near Bogue [Bogler's] Creek,
twenty miles from Selma. Here they made a stand and offered a good
deal of resistance to our farther advance. Four companies of this
regiment, being armed with sabers (Companies C, G, H, and I), were
ordered forward by Col. A. O. Miller, commanding First Brigade,
Second Division, Cavalry Corps, to charge the enemy. Lieut.
Col. F. White took command of them and moved forward charging
the enemy, who were engaging our skirmishers, overtaking Patterson's
regiment, and running past them, sabering a number of them. Dashing
on they struck the enemy's line of battle about one mile from where the
charge commenced; charged on and cut through them under a fierce
fire, and reached the enemy's artillery (four pieces), which had been
firing on them as they advanced. Here Lieut.-Col. White,
finding another line of battle of the enemy confronting him and firing on
him, having so few men and being so far from support, turned off the
road into the woods to the left, charging on the enemy there and cutting
his way out with his command, with the exception of Capt. Taylor
and sixteen enlisted men. The captain had command of the advance
company (G), and did not hear the order to turn off the road, so he
charge on past the artillery, cutting right and left among the enemy until
shot down by them. Of the sixteen enlisted men following him 6 were
killed, 5 wounded, and 5 were taken prisoners. Lieut.-Col.
White, having to fall back with his command, could not retain or bring
off the captured artillery. When the enemy afterward fell back they left
one 12-pounder howitzer on the field, one wheel being broken by the
horses rushing against it in charging. There were about 100 of the
enemy captured, but, being unable to guard them, they escaped, with the
exception of about sixteen or twenty. The four companies that took part
in the affair numbered about 220 men. The loss was: Killed, 1
commissioned officer and 7 enlisted men; wounded, 11 enlisted men;
missing, 5 enlisted men. The enemy's loss cannot be ascertained. It
could not have been less than 50 killed and wounded, far more than that
number having been sobered. They got their killed and wounded off the
field, with the exception of 1 killed and 10 wounded, who fell into our
hands. We camped for the night near Plantersville. On the 2d instant
the march toward Selma was resumed, and we marched on the
Plantersville road until within six miles of Selma. We then moved on a
cross-road to the Summerfield road, and advanced by it. On arriving
within sight of the enemy's works that encircled Selma, we were
dismounted, by order, and formed in single rank in line of battle. The
line was changed shortly afterward and the regiment placed on the right
of the brigade. At about 5 p.m. we were ordered to commence the
attack on the works, and we advanced across an open field and swamp,
across a deep ravine and up to the enemy's works under a terrible fire
from the enemy's line behind the works. As we advanced we delivered
our fire rapidly, drove the enemy from their breast-works and, breaking
through the palisades, rushed over the works and through the
embrasures of the forts, cheering and firing. The enemy, driven back,
fought stubbornly. The enemy's batteries fired with seemingly little
effect, injuring but few of our men. The left of the regiment was
opposite to and took Forts Nos. 15 and 16, and the center and right to
Fort No. 17, and the lunette near Fort No. 18 and Fort
No. 19. The enemy having fallen back to the railroad, which
served them as a breast-work (being about three feet higher than the
adjacent ground), we reformed our line preparatory to advancing on
them. At this time, Col. Miller being wounded, I being next in rank,
assumed command of the brigade, and turned over the command of the
regiment to Lieut. Col. Frank White. Sufficient credit cannot
be given to the officers and men of the regiment for their gallantry and
for the promptitude in which every order was executed. To mention
acts of individual bravery would be to speak of every man of the
regiment engaged. Special mention, however, is due Lieut. Col.
Frank White and the officers and men of the four companies engaged on
the 1st instant for their bravery and for the gallant manner in which
they broke through the enemy's lines, ran over their artillery, and
sobered their men, and then in the face of such overwhelming numbers,
cut their way out. For the lists of killed and wounded and official
figures I respectfully refer you to [the report of] Lieut. Col. F.
White, to whom I turned over the regiment.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. G. VAIL,
Col. Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers.
Capt. O. F. BANE,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Brig., Second Div., Cavalry Corps.
-----------
Reports of Lieut. Col. Frank White, Seventeenth
Indiana (Mounted) Infantry, of operations April 2 and 20.
HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,
April 6, 1865.
SIR: On the 2d instant, the command of the regiment having been
turned over to me by Col. J. G. Vail, shortly after passing through the
enemy's works, and the enemy being in force in our front behind the
railroad embankment, and in the interior forts, I moved forward with
the regiment, charged, and drove the enemy from their position, and
followed them into town so closely that they had no time to rally. On
assuming command, the regiment, almost deployed as skirmishers, held
all the ground between the Summerfield, road on the left and the
enemy's works on the right, and in advancing into town we moved
parallel with the western line of defenses of the town and inside of
them, driving the enemy from all along the line and taking all the forts
from No. 18 to the river on the west side of town. We captured
four pieces of artillery in the works, also their caissons. We took
during the fight about 300 prisoners, including most of the First
Mississippi Regt. and a large portion of the Tenth Mississippi
Regiment, with the colonel, lieutenant-colonel, and adjutant of the
former regiment, Col. White, of the Eighth [Ninth] Mississippi, and
a number of officers of inferior rank. The prisoners were sent to the
rear, and were turned over to and picked up by various officers having
charge of prisoners. We also captured the ordnance wagons of
Armstrong's brigade (two in number), destroyed the ammunition, and
retained the wagons. We took into action 17 commissioned officers and
404 enlisted men. We lost as follows: Killed-commissioned officers,
none; enlisted men, 12; total killed, 12. Wounded-Commissioned
officers, 7; enlisted men, 73; total wounded, 80. Aggregate killed and
wounded, 92. To all the officers and men engaged I return my heartfelt
thanks for their unflinching gallantry.
Respectfully submitted.
FRANK WHITE,
Lieut. Col., Cmdg. Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers.
Capt. O. F. BANE,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Brig., Second Div., Cavalry Corps.
-----------
HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH INDIANA VOL. (MOUNTED) INFTY.,
Macon, Ga., April 21, 1865.
CAPT.; I have the honor to make the following report of this
regiment, which I commanded on the 20th instant:
On the morning of the 20th the regiment being the advance regiment of
the division (Second), the four companies with sabers were sent forward
as advance guard of the division under Maj. Weiler. I had the
remaining companies, as the regiment, in the proper order of march in
rear of the headquarters. From our camp of the preceding night, from
whence we started in the morning, it was forty-five miles to Macon.
After marching about twenty-four miles, and when near Spring Hill, the
advance guard first met a small force of the enemy and drove them off,
capturing a few. I then moved forward with the other companies and
assumed command of the advance. We rested near Spring Hill about an
hour and then moved on. Near Montpelier Springs we again met the
enemy and charged him to up to and through a strong barricade of rails
and brush across the road, charging it driving the enemy from it, and
capturing about a dozen of them, three officers, and a few horses.
Resting a minute, I again moved forward at a fast trot in order to be in
time to save the bridge over the Tobesofkee Creek, at Mimm's Mills.
Here we found the enemy in line about 300 strong, and attacked them.
The advanced charged, mounted, over the burning bridge until stopped
by the plank being torn up. They then dismounted, as did also the two
advance companies, E and H, and I double-quicked them across
the bridge, and after a sharp fight of about five minutes drove the
enemy off in confusion. In the meantime I had parts of the other
companies at work extinguishing the fire on the bridge, the men
carrying the water in their hats, caps, and everything else available. As
well drove the enemy from the bridge, I sent two companies (G and I)
across a ford below the bridge to pursue the enemy, and gave pursuit at
the same time with the dismounted men. The road after crossing the
bridge makes a bend, and the enemy had to retreated around this bend,
whilst my dismounted men double-quicking across the bend had the
enemy under fire for about 200 yards, and took good advantage of it,
firing very rapidly demoralizing the enemy, causing them to throw away
guns (over 100), blankets, haversacks, &c., and fly as for their lives.
The fire on the bridge was sufficiently suppressed in about fifteen
minutes to admit of horsemen crossing, and leaving men still at work
against the flames, I crossed the command and pushed on. About two
miles from the bridge and about thirteen from Macon I was met by a
flag of truce under the rebel Brig.-Gen. Robertson. The force
we were pursuing passed the flag of truce and thus saved themselves. I
sent word to Col. Minty, commanding Second Division, of the state
of things, and awaited orders. The flag of truce detained us about half
an hour. I then received orders from Col. Minty to give them five
minutes to get out of the way, and and then to drive everything before
me and save the bridge over Rocky Creek at Bailey's Mill. I placed
Adjt. W. E. Doyle in charge of the advance guard of fifteen men, giving
him instructions and sending him forward at a trot, supporting him
closely with the regiment. After going about two miles be came in sight
of the flag-of-truce party covering the rear of a force of about 250 men,
said to be Blount's battalion. They were moving slowly, and evidently
trying to delay us. Seeing this the adjutant, as I had instructed, him
charged them, causing the flag of truce to run into the woods, capturing
three of the officers that were with it, and driving the rebel cavalry
pell-mell along the road. They kept up a continual fire on us for some
time, but with no effect. On getting within sight of the Rocky Creek
bridge the enemy were discovered on foot attempting to fire the bridge.
The advance drove them off, however, and pursued them closely to the
palisades in the road. Before getting to the bridge the adjutant had sent
to me for a small re-enforcement, and I sent him Maj. Weiler and
Lieut. James H. McDowell with Company E. The major caught up
before getting to the bridge.
On arriving at the palisades the advance got up amongst the rebels and
some firing ensued, the rebels breaking off the road through the gardens
on the right in confusion. The advance tore down a few of the
palisades, passed through, and rode up to near the rebel works. Here
Maj. Weiler and Adjutant Doyle rode up on the works and demanded
their surrender telling them that we had two divisions of our cavalry in
their rear. The colonel commanding not being present, the men believed
that they were cut off; subordinate officers surrendered their commands,
and the soldierly threw down their arms, and as directed marched down
to the road, where Lieut. McDowell took charge of and formed
them. The major and adjutant were at this time riding along the line of
works, telling the men to throw down their arms and surrender; that
they were cut off and were our prisoners; that flight was vain and that
fighting would avail nothing, and the rebel soldiery were throwing
down their arms and hastening to the road and the officers were
following the men. I came up at this time with the regiment and found
the rebel prisoners in line along the road under Lieut. McDowell.
I ordered Adjutant Doyle to the forts on
the right of the road to receive their surrender. As soon as the regiment
got inside the line of works the entire line surrender, finding themselves
cut off from town, and Col. Cumming, who commanded the forces
(one brigade) immediately on the road, came down with about 500 men
and surrendered to me. I left two companies (G and I) in charge of
prisoners, and moved on toward town with the other companies. At the
edge of town I was met by some officers with a flag of truce from
Gen. Cobb, asking what terms I would give him if he surrendered the
city and forces. My answer was unconditional surrender and gave the
flag five minutes to get out of my way. After passing into the town the
distance of four or five squares, another flag of truce met me stating
that Gen. Cobb submitted to my terms, surrendering the city and
everything in it. I marched into two and up to Gen. Cobb's
headquarter, thus taking formal possession of the city. I placed patrols
on duty at once and camped the regiment in the court-house square and
adjoining street. We captured in the city and in the works Maj.
Gen. Howell Cobb, Brig. Gen. Gus. W. Smith,
Brig.-Gen. Mackall, and Brig.-Gen. Mercer: 3,500
prisoners, including over 300 officers of all grades below
brigadier-general; 5 stand of colors, about 60 pieces of artillery of all
calibers, and about 3,000 stand of arms. There were also large
quantities of quartermaster's, commissary medical, and ordnance stores
captured in the city. The exact estimates of the stores I have not been
able to find out. We had in the action during the day 21 commissioned
officers and 500 enlisted men. We lost 1 killed and 2 wounded. I have
to return thanks to Maj. J. J. Weiler for the efficient aid given me in
commanding the regiment, to Adjutant Doyle for the able manner in
which he handled the advance guard whilst in command, and to
Lieut. J. H. McDowell, who ably assisted the major, for his
promptitude and energy in getting the prisoners together and retaining
them. I have also to return my thanks to every officer and man in the
regiment for the cheerfulness with which they endured the hardships
incident to the march, for the alacrity with which they obeyed every
order, and for the gallant manner in which they have gone at the enemy
where they have found him since the opening of the campaign. And I
have also to return thanks to Capt. T. W. Scott and Lieut.
Culberston, of Col. Minty's staff, for the efficient aid and assistance
given me in taking the city. I had omitted to state that we captured after
getting in the city four 2-pounder breech-loading guns, known as Travis
guns, made and intended for Gen. Forrest, and a large number of
horses and mules.
I have the honor to remain, captain, respectfully, your obedient servant,
FRANK WHITE.
Cmdg. Regt.
Capt. O. F. BANE,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. First Brig., Second Div., Cav. Corps,
Military Division of the Mississippi.
ADDENDA.
HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH REGT. INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,
April 25, 1865.
Capt. T. W. SCOTT,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Division, Cavalry Corps:
SIR: I have the honor to send, in accordance with your order, four rebel
flags marked by whom captured. The large flag of the Sixth
Regt. Arkansas Volunteers was captured on a train at the railroad
depot on occupying Macon by Sergt. John W. Deen, of Company C,
Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers. The flag marked "captured by Reuben
Phillips, Company C, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers" (battle-flag), was
got at the same time and place.
The battle-flag marked "captured by First Lieut. James H.
McDowell, Company B, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers," was
surrendered to him by Col. Cumming in the rebel works on the
Columbus road, one mile and a half from Macon, Ga., on the
surrender of said works. The rebel flag marked on the flag "Worrill
Grays," was captured by Privates A. R. Hudson and J. Davis from a
battalion of militia near Culloden, Ga., after a sharp skirmish in which
a small party of the regiment ran about 200 militia. I also hold subject
to orders four 2-pounder Travis guns, breech-loading, smooth-bore,
brass. They are not mounted. They were found by Corporal Bottorff, of
Company K, boxed up and buried in the small-pox grave-yard. He
(Bottorff) was directed to them by a rebel soldier. The guns were made
for presentation to Lieut.-Gen. Forrest. I would respectfully
suggest that it has been the custom to allow regiments to retain flags
captured by them, in order that they may be sent by the regiments to
their State libraries; and I would therefore ask that the flags be returned
to the regiment to be disposed of in this manner.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN J. WEILER,
Maj., Cmdg. Regt.
-----
HDQRS. FIRST Brig., SECOND DIV., CAVALRY CORPS,
MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
Near Macon, Ga., April 26, 1865.
Capt. T. W. SCOTT,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.:
SIR: In accordance with orders, I would respectfully present the names
of Corpl. John A. Kidney and Private Lemuel B. Edwards, special
messengers at headquarters First Brigade, as being worthy of notice;
Private Edwards for great gallantry at Ebenezer Church, where he was
wounded while leading a charge (mounted), and Corporal Kidney for
coolness and daring in action at all times.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
FRANK WHITE,
Lieut.-Col., Cmdg.
Source: Official Records
WILSON'S RAID--ALABAMA AND GEORGIA. PAGE 455-103
[Series I. Vol. 49. Part I, Reports, Correspondence, Etc. Serial No. 103.]
Bringing the