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This event happened when Colonel Harding was commandant of the garrison post at Dover Tennessee.
On February 3, 1863 the post was attacked at 2 p.m. by Wheeler's Cavalry along with Gen. Forrest and Gen. Wharton. At that time a fleet of transports with six gunboats, Lexington, Fairplay, St. Clair, Brilliant, Robb, and Silver Lake as convoy were steaming up the Cumberland River toward Nashville for resupply from Smithfield Kentucky. Receiving a message from the Wildcat about the attack from Col. Harding, Lt. Commander Leroy Fitch quickly pushed ahead with his gunboats and arrived off Dover about 8 p.m.
Col. Harding's force had run out of ammunition for their cannon, and all they had left was the firepower of musketry and rifles. By 8 p.m. they were surrounded by the larger confederate force of 8 guns and 4000 men, but by 2 a.m. the Federal report claimed that 200 enemy were dead, with their own force suffering 8 dead and 30 wounded out of 800 men. The confederates had fled. So what happened?
Earlier that day, Wheeler states that after considering the affairs, they decided nothing could be lost by attacking Dover. They marched by two roads and says they arrived at 2 p.m. General Forrest attacked on the east side and General Wharton from the west and southwest sides. Wheeler claims he personally positioned Forrest and his troops, then went to Wharton and pressed him into action.
He says Forrest was fooled into believing the Federal troops were withdrawing from the post, so Forrest immediately attacked them on horseback, having remounted his men. He was repulsed and had to retire. Dismounting again his men advanced on foot and occupied some of the houses in Dover on the east side of the town. When the Federals moved out a second time to the river, Forrest's men were fooled into believing the horses were about to be captured. They thus abandoned their favorable position where they had good range against the Federals, and ran to reclaim their horses, and just as a surrender was to be had. Upon reclamation, Wheeler says Forrest then withdrew and discontinued the action.
Wheeler now claims that after carefully surveying the situation of that moment, he and Wharton (?) concluded the Federals were too strongly posted to continue any attack that night. Also his guards had been attacked by reinforcements and 5000 more were heading by transport at that very moment to make a landing. So at 8 p.m. he says they decided to retire, and the enemy had ceased firing an hour before (??). He says they moved off without a gun being fired. After they had mounted and moved slowly off from Dover, the gunboats opened up a heavy fire, "without any effect whatever and without causing a man to increase his gait from a slow walk." [Official Records, Navy, Series 1, Vol. 24, page 29]. Wheeler made no claim for dead, wounded, or missing.
The Federal report of Lt. Commander Fitch states:
The confederates had not expected gunboats, and had posted the main body of his army in line of battle in the graveyard at the west end of the town (Wheeler and Wharton). His left wing rested in a ravine leading down to the river, offering up a chance to throw a raking fire along the lines. They opened fire taking the confederates by surprise, so much so that the confederates never fired a shot but retreated. They shelled along the river for two hours, and ended the affair by burying 140 dead. [ibid. page 26].
@diane and @Nathanb1, and @DixieRifles and @7th Mississippi Infantry you may want to move this to the Forrest Forum, please.
Thanks,
Lubliner.
On February 3, 1863 the post was attacked at 2 p.m. by Wheeler's Cavalry along with Gen. Forrest and Gen. Wharton. At that time a fleet of transports with six gunboats, Lexington, Fairplay, St. Clair, Brilliant, Robb, and Silver Lake as convoy were steaming up the Cumberland River toward Nashville for resupply from Smithfield Kentucky. Receiving a message from the Wildcat about the attack from Col. Harding, Lt. Commander Leroy Fitch quickly pushed ahead with his gunboats and arrived off Dover about 8 p.m.
Col. Harding's force had run out of ammunition for their cannon, and all they had left was the firepower of musketry and rifles. By 8 p.m. they were surrounded by the larger confederate force of 8 guns and 4000 men, but by 2 a.m. the Federal report claimed that 200 enemy were dead, with their own force suffering 8 dead and 30 wounded out of 800 men. The confederates had fled. So what happened?
Earlier that day, Wheeler states that after considering the affairs, they decided nothing could be lost by attacking Dover. They marched by two roads and says they arrived at 2 p.m. General Forrest attacked on the east side and General Wharton from the west and southwest sides. Wheeler claims he personally positioned Forrest and his troops, then went to Wharton and pressed him into action.
He says Forrest was fooled into believing the Federal troops were withdrawing from the post, so Forrest immediately attacked them on horseback, having remounted his men. He was repulsed and had to retire. Dismounting again his men advanced on foot and occupied some of the houses in Dover on the east side of the town. When the Federals moved out a second time to the river, Forrest's men were fooled into believing the horses were about to be captured. They thus abandoned their favorable position where they had good range against the Federals, and ran to reclaim their horses, and just as a surrender was to be had. Upon reclamation, Wheeler says Forrest then withdrew and discontinued the action.
Wheeler now claims that after carefully surveying the situation of that moment, he and Wharton (?) concluded the Federals were too strongly posted to continue any attack that night. Also his guards had been attacked by reinforcements and 5000 more were heading by transport at that very moment to make a landing. So at 8 p.m. he says they decided to retire, and the enemy had ceased firing an hour before (??). He says they moved off without a gun being fired. After they had mounted and moved slowly off from Dover, the gunboats opened up a heavy fire, "without any effect whatever and without causing a man to increase his gait from a slow walk." [Official Records, Navy, Series 1, Vol. 24, page 29]. Wheeler made no claim for dead, wounded, or missing.
The Federal report of Lt. Commander Fitch states:
The confederates had not expected gunboats, and had posted the main body of his army in line of battle in the graveyard at the west end of the town (Wheeler and Wharton). His left wing rested in a ravine leading down to the river, offering up a chance to throw a raking fire along the lines. They opened fire taking the confederates by surprise, so much so that the confederates never fired a shot but retreated. They shelled along the river for two hours, and ended the affair by burying 140 dead. [ibid. page 26].
@diane and @Nathanb1, and @DixieRifles and @7th Mississippi Infantry you may want to move this to the Forrest Forum, please.
Thanks,
Lubliner.
Bringing the