Showing posts with label 16th IL CAV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 16th IL CAV. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 202. — Report of Maj. J. Morris Young, Fifth Iowa Cavalry, of operations November 28, 1864.

No. 202.

Report of Maj. J. Morris Young, Fifth Iowa Cavalry, of operations November 28, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH IOWA CAVALRY,        
Near Nashville, Tenn., December 3, 1864.

I have the honor to report the following action of my regiment and others temporarily under my command during the evening and night of November 28, 1864:

The Fifth Iowa Cavalry, under my command, was disposed, by order of Colonel Capron, commanding the First Brigade of the Sixth Division, Cavalry Command, in different positions on the north side of Duck River, above and below the crossing of the turnpike running from Franklin to Lewisburg, to guard the fords and prevent the enemy from crossing to this side, which was successfully performed in my command and front. At 5 p.m. my patrols and pickets reported the enemy in force in my rear and Colonel Capron, commanding the brigade, gone. Hastily withdrawing my regiment, except Company A, which was posted four miles above, with the enemy between us, I formed the Fifth Iowa in charging column on the pike, and was in the act of giving the command "forward," when the other regiments of the brigade, consisting of the Eighth Michigan, Fourteenth and Sixteenth Illinois, came in successively, much to my surprise, for I had supposed them gone out with Colonel Capron, and reported the enemy closing in in [sic] all directions.

I made the following disposition of my new forces as hastily as possible (see also plat attached*): The Eighth Michigan in line dismounted, to the left of and perpendicular to the head of the Fifth Iowa column; the Sixteenth Illinois disposed in like manner on the right; the led horses of both regiments to follow up at a safe distance in their respective rears; the Fourteenth Illinois was placed in column of fours, to the left and rear of the Eighth Michigan and parallel to the Fifth Iowa, which was in column on the turnpike. The left was the most exposed to a counter charge by the enemy, who were known to be in heavy force on that flank. As soon as the enemy's fire was drawn the dismounted men were to immediately fall back, mount, and follow out the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, which was to go through with sabers. In fifteen minutes, these dispositions being completed, the command was given, "forward." In fifteen minutes more we struck the enemy in line, barricaded and posted in the outhouses and buildings just evacuated by Colonel Capron. We received their fire and instantly sounded the "charge," riding them down and scattering them in all directions. At 10 p.m. I reported the brigade entire to Major-General Wilson.

In this charge, which was most gallantly executed, reflecting great credit on all the troops engaged, I do not think our entire loss, out of over 1,500 brought through safe, was more than thirty killed, wounded, and missing. Having been superseded in command immediately by Colonel Capron, who had preceded me some two hours, I have no means of ascertaining definitely our loss. The injury inflicted upon the enemy must have been considerable. The groans and cries of their wounded, as we rode, cut, or shot them down, could be heard distinctly above the noise and din of the charge.

Permit me to add in closing the fact of the growing confidence amongst our troops that good cavalry never can be captured.

J. MORRIS YOUNG,        
Major, Commanding Fifth Iowa Cavalry.
Capt. E. T. WELLS,
        Asst. Adjt. Gen., Sixth Cavalry Division.
­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_______________

* See p. 605.



SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 604-5

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 201. — Report of Col. Thomas J. Harrison, Eighth Indiana Cavalry, commanding First Brigade, of operations December 25, 1864.

No. 201.

Report of Col. Thomas J. Harrison, Eighth Indiana Cavalry,
commanding First Brigade, of operations December 25, 1864.

HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., SIXTH DIV., CAVALRY CORPS,                
MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,        
Near Sugar Creek, Tenn., December 27, 1864.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that on the 25th instant this brigade had the advance in pursuit of the enemy, moving out of camp ten miles north of Pulaski at 5 a.m. The enemy's rear guard was struck about two miles from the camp, when active skirmishing commenced. The Fifth Iowa Cavalry was in advance, drove the enemy from every position, and when near Pulaski charged gallantly through the town, saving the covered bridge across Richland Creek, which the enemy had fired, and which he was attempting to hold with a heavy force until destroyed. I immediately ordered two guns in position and deployed a force along the creek, obliging the enemy to withdraw. Crossing the bridge I followed up the pursuit rapidly, dislodging the enemy from strong positions, until reaching the head of a narrow gorge, some seven miles from Pulaski, where the enemy had taken position on a high hill behind strong barricades. His position was admirably selected, being hidden from view by heavy timber until within a few feet of it. Supposing that the enemy would retire from this position, as he had from others on a flank movement from us, I deployed the Seventh Ohio Cavalry on the right and the Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry on the left of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, all dismounted. These regiments moved upon the enemy most gallantly, when suddenly he opened from a masked battery of three guns and charged over his works, in two lines of infantry with a column of cavalry, down the main road. Before this overpowering force my men were obliged to fall back about half a mile, when we checked the enemy, and, receiving support, drove him back.

I regret to state that Company I, Fourth U.S. Artillery, were obliged to abandon one gun and limber at this time. The battery had been placed in position by General Wilson's order. The stand made by the enemy at this point was to save his train, as we had driven his rear guard sharp upon it. From prisoners I learn that this rear guard consisted of seven brigades of infantry and one division—Jackson's—of cavalry, all under General Forrest. In the hasty evacuation of Pulaski the enemy threw two cannon into the creek, burned a locomotive and train of five cars loaded with arms and ammunition, and it is reported he left near town two locomotives in good order. For six miles below Pulaski the road was strewn with abandoned artillery ammunition, and burning and abandoned wagons. I think he saved some twenty wagons entire.

We captured during the day 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, and some 50 or 60 men, also some 150 wounded at Pulaski.

Our casualties, mostly from the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, consisted of 3 killed, 18 wounded, and 5 missing. In charging the bridge at Pulaski the Fifth Iowa Cavalry lost 3 killed and 3 wounded.

Brevet Major-General Wilson expressed himself much pleased with the operations of the brigade during the day. The officers and men of the brigade behaved admirably; they are men who can be relied upon.

T. J. HARRISON,        
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.
Capt. E. T. WELLS,
        Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 603

Monday, March 21, 2011

Schambeck's Independent Cavalry Comp'y.

Organized at Chicago, Ills., July 8, 1861. Ordered to West Virginia and attached to 2nd Brigade, Army of Occupation, West Virginia, July to September, 1861. McCook's Brigade, District of the Kanawha, West Virginia, to October, 1861. 2nd Brigade, District of the Kanawha, to March, 1862. (Company assigned to Thielman's Cavalry Battalion as Company "C," December 9, 1861, and to 16th Illinois Cavalry as Company "C" December 25, 1862, but served detached from both these organizations during entire term.) 4th Brigade, Kanawha District, West Virginia, to August, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Kanawha Division, 9th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to October, 1862. Kanawha Division, District of West Virginia, Dept. Ohio, to March, 1863. Averill's 4th Separate Brigade, 8th Army Corps, Middle Department, to June, 1863. Averill's 4th Separate Brigade, West Virginia, to December, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, West Virginia, to April, 1864. Reserve Division West Virginia to July, 1864.

SERVICE.--At New Creek, W. Va., till August, 1861. Battle of Carnifex Ferry, W. Va., September 10. Moved to Camp Lookout and Big Sewell Mountain September 15-23, thence to Camp Anderson October 6-9. Operations in Kanawha Valley and New River Region October 19-November 16. New River October 19-21. Moved to Gauley and duty there till May, 1862. Advance on Virginia and Tennessee R. R. May 10. Princeton May 11, 16, 17. Wolf Creek May 15. At Flat Top Mountain till August. Flat Top Mountain July 15. Blue Stone August 13-14. Movement to Washington, D.C., August 15-24. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Frederick City, Md., September 12. South Mountain September 14. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. March to Clear Springs October 8, thence to Hancock October 9. March to the Kanawha Valley October 14-November 17. Duty in the Kanawha Valley till April, 1863. Scouting in Boone, Wyoming and Logan Counties December 1-10,1862. At Buckhannon April, 1863. Operations against Imboden's Raid in West Virginia April 20-May 14. At Buckhannon, Bulltown, Clarksburg, Parkersburg and Weston May to July. Moved to Beverly July 2-7 and duty there till November. Beverly July 14. Shanghai July 16. Martinsburg July 18-19. Averill's Raid through Hardy, Pendleton, Highland, Bath, Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties August 5-31, Rocky Gap, near White Sulphur Springs, August 25-26. Salt Lick Bridge October 14. Averill's Raid from Beverly to Lewisburg and Virginia and Tennessee R. R., November 1-17. Mill Point November 5. Droop Mountain November 6. Elk Mountain, near Hillsborough, November 10. Averill's Raid on Virginia and Tennessee R. R. December 8-25. March through Elk Mountain Pass to Beverly, December 13-17, and duty at Beverly till April, 1864, and at Harper's Ferry and on Baltimore R. R. till July. Baltimore and Ohio R. R., between Bloomfield and Piedmont, May 5, 1864. Mustered out July 16, 1864.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1034

Saturday, March 12, 2011

McClernand's Body Guard

Organized January 21 to April 16, 1863. Assigned to 16th Illinois Cavalry as Companies "I," "K" and "L," April, 1863.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1034

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

16th Illinois Cavalry

Organized at Camp Butler, near Springfield, Ills., January to April, 1863, by assignment of Thielman's Independent Cavalry Battalion as Companies "A" and "B." Schambeck's Independent Cavalry Company as Company "C." Company "D" organized March 27, 1863. Company "E," originally organized for 17th Illinois Cavalry, assigned as Company "E." Company "F," organized January 2, 1863. Company "G," organized May 21, 1863. Company "H" organized February 17, 1863. McClellan's Body Guard, organized January 21 to April 16, 1863, assigned as Companies "I," "K" and "L." Company "M" organized May 19, 1863. Duty at Camp Butler, near Springfield, Ills., till October, 1863. (Cos. "A" and "B," Thielman's Battalion, and Co. "C," Schambeck's Company, served detached. For history, see these organizations.) Ordered to Covington, Ky., October 16, 1863, thence to Knoxville, Tenn. Attached to Cumberland Gap, Tenn., Left Wing forces, Dept. of Ohio, to January, 1864. District of the Clinch, Dept. Ohio, to February, 1864. Camp Nelson, Ky., 23rd Army Corps, Dept. of Ohio, to April, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division Cavalry Corps, Dept. Ohio, to May, 1864. 1st Brigade, Stoneman's Cavalry Division, 23rd Army Corps, Army Ohio, to June, 1864. Detached Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Division, 23rd Army Corps, to August, 1864. Dismounted Cavalry Brigade, Cavalry Division, 23rd Army Corps, to September, 1864. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, 23rd Army Corps, to November, 1864. 1st Brigade, 6th Division Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to August, 1865.

SERVICE.--Moved to Cumberland Gap, Tenn., and garrison duty there till February, 1864. Actions at Jonesville, Va., December 13, 1863, and January 3, 1864. Near Stickleyville, Powell Run, December 13, 1863 (Co. "E"). At Camp Nelson, Ky., February to April, 1864. Moved to Red Clay, Ga., April 28-May 10. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign, May to September. Action at Varnell Station May 12. Battle of Resaca May 13-15. Advance on Dallas May 18-25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills, May 25-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Muddy Creek June 17. Noyes Creek June 19. Cheyney's Farm June 27. Olley's Creek June 26. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. (Assigned to 3rd Division, 23rd Army Corps, June 21.) Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Chattahoochie River July 6-17. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Detached as Provost Guard 23rd Army Corps, August 16. At Decatur till September 14. Ordered to Nicholasville, Ky., September 14, to refit. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., October 22, thence moved to Pulaski, Fayetteville and Waynesboro. Nashville Campaign November-December. Henrysville and Mt. Pleasant November 23. Columbia, Duck River, November 24-27. Maury's Mills and crossing of Duck River November 28. Battle of Franklin November 30. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28. Franklin and West Harpeth River December 17. Spring Hill December 18. Rutherford Creek December 19, Anthony's Gap, near Pulaski, December 25-26. At Pulaski till March, 1865, and at Springfield till May. Duty at Pulaski, Holton, Courtland and Decatur, Ala., till August. Mustered out August 19, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 30 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 228 Enlisted men by disease. Total 262.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1031-2