Passing on through
Athens, we went into camps about two miles beyond. Distance from Fayetteville,
Tennessee, to Athens, Alabama, thirty-eight miles. As it rained the night
before, the roads were still worse.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 136
Our battalion
crossed the Tennessee River on the railroad bridge at Decatur, and went into
camps about one mile west of town. The artillery and wagons of our division
(Crittenden's), being loaded about two miles from the river, were brought over
on the cars. Distance from Athens to Decatur, fourteen miles; from Murfreesboro
to Decatur, one hundred and three miles.
Crittenden's Division
remained near Decatur, in Morgan County, for several days.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 136-7
To-day one company of the Ninth Ohio Cavalry reports to Captain Ring. The remainder of Rowett's command is now deployed along the Tennessee River to intercept squads of rebels on the north side of the river, seeking to cross to their commands. Late in the evening Rowett arrives with his force at Center Star. Our rations are now out and in consequence the soldiers are making heavy requisitions upon the citizens, who no doubt before morning will come to the conclusion that they have not gained much by inviting Roddy and Johnson across the Tennessee to drive Dick Rowett and his troopers from North Alabama. How true it is "that every dog has his day." At ten o'clock P. M., we receive orders to report immediately to Athens, Alabama. We are soon in the saddle and on the road. We travel all night and cross Elk River early in the morning, and arrive and go into camp at Athens nine o'clock A. M.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 242
Bright and pleasant.
We have rumors of
heavy fighting yesterday near Staunton, but no authentic accounts.
A dispatch from Gen.
R. Taylor says Gen. Forrest had gained a victory at Athens, Ala., capturing
some 1500 prisoners, 500 horses, etc. etc.
We still hear the
thunder of artillery down the river-the two armies shelling each other, I
suppose, as yet at a safe distance. A few more days and the curtain will rise
again—Lee and Grant the principal actors in the tragedy!
The President is
making patriotic speeches in Alabama and Georgia.
Mr. Hudson, of
Alabama, proposes to deliver to the government 5,000,000 pounds of bacon for
the same number of pounds cotton, delivered at the same place.
Our cotton agent in
Mississippi is authorized by the government here to sell cotton in exposed
situations to the enemy's agents for specie, and to buy for
Confederate notes.
The funeral expenses
of Gen. Morgan the other day amounted to $1500; the Quartermaster-General
objects to paying it, and sends the bill to the Secretary for instructions.
The following is a
copy of Gen. Lee's indorsement on Lieut.Col. Moseby's report of his operations from
the 1st of March to the 11th of September, 1864:
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
September 19th, 1864.
Respectfully
forwarded to the Adjutant and Inspector-General for the information of the
department. Attention is invited to the activity and skill of Col. Moseby, 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 this report, about 1200 of the enemy, and taken
more than 1600 horses and mules, 230 beef cattle, and 85 wagons and ambulances,
without counting many smaller operations. The services rendered by Col. Moseby
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.
R. E. LEE, General.
Official:
JOHN BLAIR HOGE,
Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 293-4
