We were ordered to
cook five days' rations for those in camps and those on the scout, and be ready
to march at seven next morning. The scouting party returned without any news of
interest.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 201
Promptly in the
saddle by seven Colonel Barteau moved his regiment about fifteen miles in the
direction of Iuka (on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad), thence about five
miles on the Russellville (Alabama) road, where he bivouacked for the night.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 201
Returning to the Iuka
road, thence about four miles in the direction of Iuka, we bivouacked within a
few miles of the enemy's picket.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, pp. 201-2
Colonel Barteau left
Fulton with the expectation of going on to Iuka, but the aid that he expected
not coming up, and not being willing to venture an attack with but little over
two hundred, he turned, came back by the way of Marietta and bivouacked some
four miles south on the Fulton road.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 202
The regiment
returned to camps near Fulton; had quite a dusty trip. We remained at Fulton
until [July 11, 1862.]
SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's
Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 202
We took up the line
of march, wagons and all, except a few sick that were not able to go. After a
march of about thirteen miles on the Iuka road we encamped for the night.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 202
* It had been
ordered that the man whose arms were in the best condition should have a
furlough for eight days. On inspection day (July 13th) the inspector decided in
my favor, so I was furloughed for eight days. J. W. Kennedy and I went partly
on a pleasure trip and partly after clothing and horses—to Franklin County,
Alabama; and after spending about five days very pleasantly with our relatives
and friends near Russellville, we returned to camps at Bay Springs, July 21st.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 202
Dark and rainy as
was that night Colonel Barteau attempted to capture a wagon train that was going
east between Bay Springs and Iuka, but he was too late. The train had passed before
he arrived at the place where he expected to make the capture. After burning
some cotton within six miles of Iuka the regiment returned to camps.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 202
McKnight's Company
was sent to Marietta to picket that place for some days. Colonel Barteau,
with four companies of his regiment, left camps at Bay Springs to join General
Armstrong in an expedition into North Alabama. Will speak more of this scout
when Colonel Barteau returns.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, pp. 202-3
It was reported that the Federals in large force were in ten miles of our camps. I and a few others mounted and went out about eight miles. Hearing nothing of the enemy we returned to camps a little after dark. Loading our wagons we moved back about two miles on the Fulton road, where we remained until morning. But little rest for a poor soldier that night, on account of so much rain.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 203
Parrish's Company
was sent to Marietta to relieve McKnight's. The wagons and the few men that
were left, one company and fragments of others, moved on back through, and
encamped three-fourths of a mile from, Fulton. McKnight's Company from Marietta
joined us there in the evening.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 203
Captain McKnight,
with fifteen of his company, left camps with orders to scout north of Bay
Springs. Passing by that place he bivouacked three miles beyond, on the Iuka
road.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 203
Going a few miles in
the direction of Iuka, learning nothing of interest from the Federals, we
turned back and bivouacked four miles south of Bay Springs, on the Fulton road.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 203
McKnight's squad was
re-enforced by Captain Kitchen, with about sixty-five men. We remained near Bay
Springs until [July 30, 1862.]
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 203
* General
Breckinridge had been sent to Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the latter part of
June, with a portion of Bragg's army, and perhaps some had been sent to other
points, but Bragg was now transferring the main portion of his army from
Tupelo, Mississippi, to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to confront General Buell, who,
after the battle of Shiloh, had been ordered back into Middle Tennessee.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate
Cavalry, p. 203-4
I will here relate a
little incident that occurred while we were picketing at Marietta. Captain
McKnight was informed (August 4th) that a man who had belonged to the
Confederate army, but had deserted and visited the Federals, was at home fixing
to move his family inside the Federal lines. This man lived about ten miles north.
Determined to make an effort to capture him, Captain McKnight, I and a few
others left our schoolhouse a little after dark, and awhile before day we
surrounded his house. We called at the door, as though we were some of his
neighbors. His wife answered. We told her that we wanted to see her husband,
calling him by name, as though we were well acquainted with him. She said he
was not at home, but had gone to his father's. On being asked to open the door,
she said she would as soon as she could get a light. We believed he was at
home, because she was so much excited and so long getting a light. After so
long a time she opened the door, and Captain McKnight searched the house while
I guarded the door. We noticed three ladies lying on one bed, but did not find
our man. searched other houses, and finally went to his father's, but still
failed to find him. Our trip, however, was not altogether in vain, for one Mr.
Malone gave us a splendid breakfast, his daughters made some sweet music for us,
besides we had as many melons and peaches as we could eat. Who but a soldier,
though, could appreciate such a treat as that! While at Mr. Malone's we
learned, to our surprise and chagrin, that the object of our search was, at the
time we were searching his house, between the straw and feather beds under
those three ladies. After taking a real hearty laugh over the
affair, we mounted and returned to our picket base.
While McKnight's
Company was picketing at Marietta our camps were moved from Fulton to within
two miles of Guntown. The latter place is on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, some
thirteen miles south-west from Marietta. The Federals were kind enough not to
visit Marietta while we were there, though they came within about five miles, taking
cotton, negroes, horses, etc.
I will here relate
another little incident, which, I am sure, some of McKnight's Company will
remember. A good lady who lived near Marietta had any amount of fine peaches,
but neither she nor we had any flour. So we told her to use corn meal in
making the crust, as we were bent on having a "peach cobbler." Novel
as the idea was, she made the "cobbler." And right heartily did we
eat of it. Well, it was a great deal better than no pie. We remained at
Marietta until [August 14, 1862.]
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 204-5
We had orders to
cook three days' rations, and be ready to take up the line of march by three
o'clock P. M., but as it was pay-day, and as the paymaster did not get through
by that hour, the order was countermanded, and we did not move. We were paid
for four months and twenty-two days' service, from 1st of January to the 22d of
May, 1862, one hundred and thirteen dollars and sixty cents to each private.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, pp. 199
* As I was badly
poisoned with poison oak vine I did not go on the above named scout, but
remained with the wagons, which, for safety, were moved about seven miles
nearer the railroad, where they remained until the 16th; then they were moved
back and met the regiment near the old camp, half mile west of the Tombigbee.
About this time
General Beauregard went to Bladen Springs, Alabama, on account of ill health,
leaving General Bragg in command of the army, now in the vicinity of Tupelo,
Mississippi, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, pp. 199
After moving on up
within ten miles of Jacinto (about thirty from camps) Colonel Barteau learned
that the Federals were at Marietta, in his rear. Thinking that they were
attempting to cut him off, and if possible capture his whole regiment, he
turned to the right, crossed the Tombigbee, and came down on the east side to
Fulton, where he remained for the night. Colonel Barteau thus gave the Federals
a complete dodge, and returned unmolested.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, pp. 200
The regiment crossed
the river and encamped half mile from it. They reported that the Federals
were moving east toward Chattanooga in large force.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, pp. 200
