HEADQUARTERS 25TH WISCONSIN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
Snyder's Bluff, Miss., July 1, 1863.
SIR: In compliance with orders dated Headquarters Department
of Tennessee, June 25, 1863, addressed to "commanding officer of
expedition against Greenville," I have the honor to report the following:
I started from Snyder's Bluff, in the afternoon of June 25,
1863, with the following troops, to wit: Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Infantry, 600
strong, four pieces Fourth Ohio Battery, and three companies Fifth Illinois
Cavalry, 200 strong, under Major Farnan, and proceeded to Young's Point. Here I
was joined by three gunboats and the John Raines, of the marine fleet, having
on board 50 infantry and 100 cavalry. The boats were detained till noon the
26th to coal, when I proceeded up the river. Arriving at the foot of Island No.
82, the cavalry disembarked and proceeded by land to Greenville. Here I disembarked,
and proceeded with the cavalry to the foot of Island No. 84, distant 21 miles
by land. Searching the country to find signs of the enemy, I arrived at
Carter's plantation June 27, evening. The transports, with the infantry and
artillery, came around by water. Not being able to find or hear of any enemy on
this side the river, I am satisfied, from information received from reliable
sources, that there has been no enemy near Greenville, on the Mississippi
shore, for nearly four weeks; previously to that time there was a small force
encamped on Deer Creek, distant 10 miles from Greenville. We found at the foot
of Island No. 83 embrasures cut in the levee for three guns, and across the
point—3 miles distant—for two guns; that a road had been cut across the point,
connecting the two places; that they were in the habit of running the guns
across the point while the boats were going round, and firing on the same boat
at the two points.
I embarked with the cavalry June 28, and proceeded across
the river to Spanish Moss Bend, on the Arkansas shore. Arriving there, all the
troops were ordered to disembark, and did so, with the exception of those on
board steamer John Raines. Major Hubbard, commanding the troops on the boat,
did not obey the order. I proceeded at 1 p.m., 28th, for Gaines' Landing, with
the infantry, artillery, and 200 cavalry. I had heard firing the night before
at Gaines' Landing, and supposed there was a force on the bend between there
and where we had landed. The distance between the point where we had landed and
Gaines' Landing is 10 miles. My object was to capture the force between us and
Gaines' Landing, on the bend. We had proceeded but 3 miles when we encountered
their pickets. We followed them, skirmishing, to Gaines' Landing, where they changed
their course, proceeding back from the river. It then being dark, and learning
from various sources that their force was largely superior to mine, having no guide
and being unable to obtain one, and there being several roads, cut through the
woods from the river, in our rear, my force not being large enough to guard the
roads and attack the enemy in front, I thought it prudent to retire to our
transports.
From what I deem reliable information, the enemy had at
Cypress Bend and Gaines' Landing, and points in the vicinity, from 4,000 to
5,000 troops, with eight pieces of artillery, to wit, two pieces 9-pounder
rifled Parrott guns, two 16-pounder rifled brass, two 12-pounder brass
howitzers, one 6-pounder rifled brass, and one 6-pounder smooth-bore. They have
no caissons with their cannon. They have two full regiments of infantry, and
the balance of the force cavalry. Their main camp is back of Lake Chicot. Said
lake, as nearly as I could ascertain, is 10 miles back and up the river from
Gaines' Landing, and so situated that the forces at Cypress Bend or other point
on the river can readily be re-enforced from this point. The distance from
Gaines' Landing to Cypress Bend, by land, is variously estimated at from 15 to
30 miles; by water, it is 50 miles. I also learned from good authority that all
the forces in Arkansas, under Generals Price, Marmaduke, and other commanders,
are ordered to the vicinity of Milliken's Bend, and that on June 27 seven
regiments passed through Monticello, Ark., about 40 miles from Gaines' Landing.
The forces on the river in vicinity of Cypress Bend are under command of
General Gorman [?] or Graham [?], and Colonels Clark and [George W.] Carter, of
Cape Girardeau notoriety.
I caused to be destroyed on Spanish Moss Bend from 12,000 to
20,000 bushels of corn, one mill and cotton-gin, used by the rebels for
grinding corn.
On the morning of the 30th, I proceeded down the river.
Hearing in the afternoon that they were fighting at Lake Providence, and needed
help, I reported myself to the general commanding, who wished me to lie over
night, fearing another attack in the morning. In the morning the cavalry
marched through to Goodrich's Landing, seeing no enemy, but noticing the
effects of what had been done the day before, the enemy having gone.
Major Farnan, commanding the cavalry, reports that the
scenes witnessed by him in marching from Lake Providence to Goodrich's Landing
were of a character never before witnessed in a civilized country, and the
rebel atrocities committed the day before were such as the pen fails to record
in proper language. They spared neither age, sex, nor condition. In some
instances the negroes were shut up in their quarters, and literally roasted
alive. The charred remains found in numerous instances testified to a degree of
fiendish atrocity such as has no parallel either in civilized or savage
warfare. Young children, only five or six years of age, were found skulking in
the canebreak pierced with wounds, while helpless women were found shot down in
the most inhuman manner. The whole country was destroyed, and every sign of
civilization was given to the flames.
The cavalry embarked at Goodrich's Landing, and the
expedition, except the marine boat, came to Chickasaw Landing. The battery was
debarked there and was ordered to join its command. The two boats, with cavalry
and infantry, came to Snyder's Bluff, and to camp. The boats were ordered to
report to master of transportation, at the landing.
Before closing this report, it is proper that I should say
that the portion of the Marine Brigade which accompanied me proved to be
entirely worthless. At no time were my orders obeyed willingly, and the officer
in command was disposed to find fault and cavil when any real service was
required of them. They failed me altogether when most wanted, and, instead of
being any assistance to me, they were, to use no harsher language, a positive
injury to the expedition.
I have the honor to be, your most obedient servant,
SAMUEL J. NASMITH,
Lieut. Col. Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Infantry, Comdg. Expedition.
Lieut. Col. JOHN A. RAWLINS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A
Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies,
Series I, Volume 24, Part 2 (Serial No. 37), p. 516-8
