Lieut. Ellis went on
a scout. I went with him. Ten men detail went down on Wilson pike, turned off
to left and staid all night with Mr. Smith, a clever man, nice family,
daughters, etc.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby
Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's Texas Rangers, p. 3
Six companies of the Seventh, and six companies of the Fiftieth Illinois Infantry, under the command of Colonel Rowett, leave Rome on a scout. We march about nine miles out on the Kingston road and go into camp for the night. Hogs, chickens, roasting-ears and fruit abound in abundance. We live high to-night. After all is quiet in camp, scouts are sent out to see if they cannot discover something hostile said to be threatening these parts.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 249
To-day companies D, H and I, leave Tunnel Hill on the cars for Tilton, where we arrive late in the night. We remain here guarding the railroad, scouting and running after guerrillas until July 8th, when we take the cars for Rome, Georgia, to join our division and brigade stationed there. Arriving at Kingston we change cars for Rome, where we arrive on the evening of the 9th. We immediately cross the Etawah river and go into camp one-half mile from the city.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 247
This morning a squad
of twenty men, under the command of Lieutenant Fergus, is sent out on a scout
to Eastport, Tennessee river, and another squad, under the command of a
noncommissioned officer, is sent to Cheatam's Landing, seventeen miles from Raw
Hide. e make the point by noon; find Company F, Captain Knowlton, in camp here.
Returning, we bring through a prisoner captured by Company F, who reports
Forrest in Memphis and Longstreet in Knoxville.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib
Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
p. 230
The details are now
very heavy patroling, foraging, scouting, &c.—but we live sumptuously upon
what little fat of the land yet remains.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib
Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
p. 230
A cold north wind is blowing all day. This evening the regiment comes in from its expedition—cold and hungry, but we see success beaming from every face, and soon we are told that the regiment met and routed the famous guerrilla Moorland and his band. Killed ten and left them on the field, wounded about thirty, and captured forty prisoners, and strange to say without the loss of a man from the regiment. This can be accounted for from the fact of the superiority of our guns over those of the guerrillas at a long 'range. The boys are all in a glee over their scout, relating many incidents worthy of record. But we will only record one. Close by where our regiment encountered Moorland, two rebels entered a house to obtain their dinners, and in this house dwelt a young lady whose love for the old Union no one ever questioned. Though against her will, their dinners were prepared, and while eating, the young lady walks to the door and down the road she beholds the old Union's flag come flying. She immediately turns, seizes both guns and with one kills one of the rebels and with the other gun takes the other rebel prisoner, turning him over to our men when they advanced. Tell me not that woman is not performing her part in this war. Reader, will you believe me when I tell you that the world in all its knightly history, never produced brighter examples of heroism than have been produced in this southland during these years of terrible strife. The daughters of the south who love the bonny stars and stripes, deal with weapons of death ; stemming war's wild current, braving what men have ever dared to brave, lending a helping hand to those who would perpetuate this union and save liberty from its final grave. We see her walking the battle field at the midnight hour where the messengers from the cannon's mouth have done their fearful work; we see her at the hospital where the angel of death lingers at the threshold waiting for life's brittle thread to break, when it could upon its wings bear the hero-spirits home to an approving God. We see her at the warrior's tomb, see her tears sparkle and her flowers fall on their silent mission of love and peace. Flowers of many hues from many hands, and tears from many heart fountains may fall there, but no brighter treasure, no holier tribute will ever be offered, than noble woman has already offered on the fallen soldier's hallowed tomb.
All still to-day; a dull monotony in camp. The Seventh are now making shelter out of rails and their oil cloths, and what few boards they can gather up; no tents; on duty every day, scouting and running everywhere. This evening a call is made upon the different companies for twenty volunteers to carry dispatches one hundred miles across the country to Eastport, Tennessee River. To be relieved from the camp's dull life, we conclude to be one of the number. The remaining nineteen soon report. About nine o'clock p, M., we leave Pulaski under the command of Lieutenant Roberts, of Company C. We travel until four o'clock in the morning, when we halt at a plantation, feed and get our breakfast, prepared by the negroes. At daylight we move on, pass through Waynesboro, and go as far as Pin Hook, where we go into camp for the night.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 212
COLONEL; I have the honor to submit, for the information of the commanding general, the following brief report of the operations of this command since the 1st day March last.
On March 10,1 with a detachment of about 40 men, I defeated a superior force of the enemy's cavalry near Greenwich, severely wounding 3, and capturing 9 prisoners, 10 horses, arms, &c. On the same day Lieut. A. E. Richards, with another detachment of about 30 men, surprised an outpost of the enemy near Charlestown, killed the major commanding and a lieutenant, several privates, and brought off 21 prisoners with their horses, arms, &c. In neither engagement did my command sustain any loss.
During the months of March and April but few opportunities were offered for making any successful attacks on the enemy, the continual annoyances to which they had been subjected during the winter causing them to exert great vigilance in guarding against surprises and interruptions of their communications. During most of these months I was myself engaged in scouting in the enemy's rear for Major-General Stuart and collecting information, which was regularly transmitted to his headquarters, concerning the movements, numbers, and distribution of the enemy's forces both east and west of the Blue Ridge. During this time my men were mostly employed in collecting forage from the country bordering on the Potomac.
About April 15 Captain Richards routed a marauding party of the enemy's cavalry at Waterford, killing and wounding 5 or 6, and bringing off 6 or 8 prisoners, 15 horses, arms, &c.
About April 25 I attacked an outpost near Hunter's Mills, in Fairfax, capturing 5 prisoners and 18 horses. The prisoners and horses were sent back under charge of Lieutenant Hunter, while I went off on a scout in another direction. The enemy pursued and captured the lieutenant and 6 of the horses.
* * * * * * * * * *
Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant and Inspector General, for the information of the Department.
Attention is invited to the activity and skill of Colonel Mosby, and the intelligence and courage of the officers and men of his command, as displayed in this report. With the loss of little more than 20 men, he has killed, wounded, and captured during the period embraced in the report about 1,200 of the enemy, and taken more than 1,600 horses and mules, 230 beef-cattle, and 85 wagons and ambulances, without counting many smaller operations. The services rendered by Colonel Mosby and his command in watching and reporting the enemy's movements have also been of great value. His operations have been highly creditable to himself and his command.
* March 9, See p. 236.
Zollicoffer's infantry was now busily engaged blockading the gaps in Cumberland Mountain, near Jacksborough, under the direction of his engineer, Captain V. Sheliha, while his cavalry was picketing, scouting, watching the by-ways by which the tories would be likely to attempt to pass into Kentucky, aiding in putting down the rebellion, of which we have been speaking, and seizing all the arms that could be found in possession of Union citizens. And thus the brigade was employed for about seven days after the above date.
SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 80
The swamps and bottoms along the Tuscumbia and the Hatchie rivers are now being thoroughly scouted. The guerrillas are finding their favorite haunts hot quarters. Go in whatever direction we may, and scouting parties from the Seventh can be seen.
This morning Captain Ring proceeds with a detachment on a scout towards the Hatchie river, but nothing hostile being discovered, he returns in the evening.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 198
Last night Captain Johnson with part of the command started on a scouting expedition-has not returned yet. This evening he returns, after giving the notorious guerrilla, Captain Smith, a chase, capturing six of his horses, but owing to the dense undergrowth of the woods, Smith and his band made good their escape.
This morning we receive orders to get ready for a scout; to start at four, P. M. At the appointed time our regiment, a detachment of the Third Tennessee Cavalry, and one company of the Tenth Missouri Cavalry, under the command of Major Estabrook, move from Corinth in the direction of Adamsville. It is soon dark; we travel all night; at midnight our advance is halted by a squad of rebel soldiers. Their character is demanded; they reply, “A detachment from Forrest's command.” “All right, advance one." The one is captured, the remainder make their escape. About three o'clock A. M., we halt and lie down to rest, weary and sleepy.
