McClellan's and
Branner's Battalions returned to their camps at Beech Grove. Our battalion
recrossed the river and went into camps near Mr. West's, where we left our
wagon train the 25th.
At nine P. M.,
Colonel T. E. Bramlette (First Kentucky Infantry), who was at that time in
command of General Boyle's Brigade at Columbia, wrote as follows to General
Thomas:
The
enemy is at Jamestown, eighteen miles from here, some three thousand strong.
He
has ascertained the strength and position of Colonel Wolford's camp, and
threatens to destroy that before moving further. He has one thousand seven
hundred mounted men, armed mostly as infantry.
I
would not be surprised if the whole of Zollicoffer's forces were to be on us in
two or three days.
We
will, however, strike a blow, even if left to ourselves, that shall terrify the
rebel hell-hounds wherever they hear of us. Retreat we will not, and if they
come upon us we will fight the fight of desperation to win.1
Notwithstanding
McNairy did not go so far down the river as Zollicoffer had instructed him to
go, yet it would seem from the above communication that the object of the
expedition, at least to some extent, had been accomplished. That is to say, the
attention of the Federals had been attracted from the river, and Colonel
Bramlette was now holding his brigade in readiness at Columbia, awaiting
an attack from Zollicoffer.
The long looked for
“reserves” are coming in at last. Colonel William B. Wood, with a battalion of
his regiment (Sixteenth Alabama), and Captain H. L. W. McClung, with his
battery of artillery (six guns), have arrived. Colonel Samuel Powell's Regiment
will be here soon, having started from Knoxville the 24th instant, Colonel
Moses White's Regiment, of General Carroll's Brigade, is also on the way from
Knoxville.
1 Rebellion
Records, Vol. VII., P: 517.
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