Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Thursday, December 12, 1861

Our battalion returned to Camp Hall, and the detachment that went down the north side of the river returned with eleven prisoners. They reported that three of the enemy were killed, and that one of our men was drowned in attempting to cross the river.

When the news reached Columbia last night that the Confederates were at Rowena, General Boyle ordered a part of Wolford's and a part of Haggard's cavalry to Rowena and Creelsborough.¹ The latter place is between Rowena and Burkesville. Wolford followed as far as Jamestown, and reported that our men left that place between midnight and daylight this morning,² but Colonel Haggard reported thus:

Creelsborough, December 13, 1861, 1 A. M.

General Boyle:

DEAR SIR: We reached this place at dark, expecting an attack. every moment since our arrival. I placed pickets out upon every road reaching this place.

Our pickets from the Rowena road have just come in, bringing us information that is reliable that three hundred men had crossed the river at that point this evening, and a large force on the opposite bank were crossing (said to be three thousand at least).

D. R. HAGGARD,        

Colonel Cavalry.³

Our men had all returned to their camps several hours before Colonel Haggard penned the above "reliable information.”

On the 12th General Boyle wrote to General Thomas thus:

The rebel cavalry who crossed the Cumberland into Russell County (at Rowena) have, it is reported, killed fifty or sixty of the loyal and defenseless citizens.⁴

Though he wrote as follows to Thomas the next day:

The people, even the good Union people, circulate the most devilish lies in regard to the enemy, and our own scouts, without they are selected with care, are not reliable.

The rebels were at Rowena and shot two or three men, but killed none.⁵

_______________

¹ Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., p. 494.

² Ibid., p. 498.

³ Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., p. 497.

⁴ Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., p. 494.

⁵ Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., p. 498.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 96-7

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General John Boyle to Brigadier-General George H. Thomas, December 12, 1861

HDQRS. ELEVENTH BRIGADE, U.S. VOLUNTEERS,        

Columbia, Ky., December 12, 1861.

Brigadier-General THOMAS,

        Commanding First Division:

GENERAL: General Boyle directs me to say your dispatch and order of 11th instant is just received and acted upon. A force is detailed to commence the work immediately.

The general further directs me to say that reliable information, obtained from various sources, reports the enemy's cavalry, 500 strong, on this side the Cumberland River, at Creelsborough and Rowena. They have seized many citizens and one sick soldier of Colonel Wolford's command.

On receipt of the news last night the general ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Letcher, with a portion of Colonel Wolford's cavalry remaining here and a portion of Haggard's regiment, to march to Creelsborough and Rowena. Colonel Wolford, who had advanced to Williams', according to your orders, was sent down to co-operate with Letcher, and Colonel Haggard, who was conveying a large party of Tennesseeans from Burkesville to this place, was also ordered in that direction.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN BOYLE,        

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 7 (Serial No. 7), p. 494

Colonel David R. Haggard to Brigadier-General Jeremiah T. Boyle, December 13, 1861—1 a.m.

CREELSBOROUGH, December 13, 1861—1 a.m.        

(Received December 13, 1861.)

General BOYLE:

DEAR SIR: We reached this place at dark, expecting an attack every moment since our arrival. I placed pickets out upon every road reaching this place.

Our pickets from the Rowena road have just come in, bringing us information that is reliable that 300 men had crossed the river at that point this evening and a large force on the opposite bank were crossing (said to be 3,000 at least). Their pickets came in the hearing of ours and returned towards Rowena.

Had you not better send us all the cavalry under your command in Columbia? They have killed several persons at that point and robbed the citizens of the town. Write me immediately what to do.

D. R. HAGGARD,        

Colonel Cavalry.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 7 (Serial No. 7), p. 497