To-day we move camp
to the widow Jackson's plantation. This evening Captain Knowlton, with Company
F, arrives from Cheatam's Landing and reports to Captain Ring. The detachment
now consists of Companies F, H and K. We are now eight miles from the headquarters
at Baily Springs, and eight miles from the Tennessee river. Orders are issued
this evening to move at two o'clock in the morning.
This morning
everything is wet, for it rained hard all night. A fine introduction to the new
recruits, though all seem cheerful. We soon move from camp; marching on the
military road leading to Florence, Alabama. We arrive at Florence in the
afternoon, capture one rebel, and one seeking to make his escape gets killed.
We go into camp close to Florence to await for transports that are expected up
the Tennessee.
We are still in camp
at Florence; no steamers have yet come up; don't look for any now; the river is
low. Our rations have run out, and we are compelled to forage from the
citizens, who are almost destitute themselves. Our pickets at the river keep up
a continual firing with the rebel pickets on the opposite shore.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib
Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
p. 227
CAPTAIN: I have the
honor to submit the following report of the operations of this brigade from
December 6, 1864, to the present date: On December 6 and 7 the command was busy
constructing a second line of works in, front of Nashville, a little to the right
of the Nolensville pike. On the morning of the 8th we took up the line of march
for Murfreesborough, having been ordered to report to General Forrest near that
place. At night-fall went into camp within eleven miles of the place. From that
time until December 15 the command did little else than destroy the railroad
between Murfreesborough and Nashville. On the 15th marched with Palmer's
brigade and a portion of the cavalry to a position considerably to the eastward
of Murfreesborough. On the next day, however, we retraced our steps, and (the
news of the disaster at Nashville reaching us that night) we immediately
started across the country for Pulaski by forced marches. The roads were in
horrible condition and the weather intensely cold, so that the sufferings of
the men, who were many of them barefooted and all poorly clad, were intense. On
arriving at Duck River it was found to be so much swollen by heavy rains as to
be impassable. We were accordingly ordered to Columbia, which place we reached late
at night on the 18th. Here we remained for three days, receiving orders to
report to Major-General Walthall as a portion of the rear guard of the army.
Early on the morning
of the 22d the enemy crossed the river in force above Columbia, and [we] commenced
our retreat. We retired slowly, forming line of battle occasionally, until we
had gotten some six or seven miles on this side of Pulaski, when the enemy
pushed us so hard that it was determined to stop and fight them. Accordingly,
the line was formed, our position being upon the extreme left of the infantry,
with Palmer's brigade upon our right, the cavalry upon our left. The enemy
approached boldly, a heavy line of skirmishers preceding them. Upon a given
signal our whole line charged, when the enemy retired in confusion after
offering but a slight resistance. We captured a number of horses and one piece
of artillery, a 12-pounder Napoleon. This was on Christmas day. On the
following day the rear guard was again attacked, but this brigade was not engaged
in the affair, nor did we again meet the enemy.
On the 28th we
recrossed the Tennessee, and on the 1st of January rejoined our division at
Corinth, from whence we marched to Tupelo.
The conduct of men
and officers in this trying retreat was admirable; they bore the hardships
forced upon them unflinchingly, and were ever ready to show a bold front on the
approach of the enemy.
I would especially
call the attention of the general commanding to the gallant conduct of Private
P. Murner, of the First Georgia, and Private A. Vicary, of the Fifty-fourth
Georgia. These men carried the colors of their respective regiments, and showed
conspicuous bravery in the charge on the 25th.
List of casualties:
1 killed, 2 wounded, 70 missing. The missing were most of them men who broke
down physically on the other side of Duck River, and are supposed to have
fallen into the hands of the enemy.
This morning we proceed to the river, find some transports and two gun-boats up. We go into camp here for the night.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 209
This morning the regiment moves down the river to a point opposite Hamburg Landing, where the three companies are ordered to report with the Second Division's equipage. Our way is a winding one over the hills and bluffs of the Tennessee. By night we arrive opposite the Landing, having captured four prisoners during the day. Here we find a transport anchored in the river, and a force stationed at Hamburg. We go into camp for the night. The Colonel obtains a skiff from the steamboat and sends a detail across the river to Hamburg to draw some rations. In the meantime the regiment kills a number of hogs. The detail sent across the river have now returned with plenty of rations. We do not hunger to-night. The three companies sent to Corinth have returned with the camp and garrison equipage. It is now raining, a cold drizzly rain. Our camp is in a low swamp by the Tennessee. We anticipate that we shall lie or stand in water ere it is morning.
It is raining this morning, but soon ceases and clears off; the sun now shines refreshingly. This evening the regiment arrives back from their scout, with thirty rebels captured at Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. All seem in fine spirits; much elated over the success of their expedition, and none more so than Colonel Rowett, who never seems more in his element than when on Charley at the head of his regiment, thundering over the hills and through the ravines of Tennessee. There is always power felt where he moves.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 207
Ere it is light the bugle is sounded, and after hastily dispatching our breakfast, we move on our way. All along the road to-day we encounter squads of rebels, scouting parties from Johnson's and Roddy's commands, all of which goes to prove that the raiders Johnson or Roddy, or both, are on the north side of the Tennessee, and in consequence we anticipate considerable opposition before we reach our destination. Sure enough, at four o'clock P. M., our advance is checked. Colonel Rowett soon dismounts the regiments and forms a battle line. Our skirmishers are advanced and firing soon commences in every direction, sounding as though we were surrounded. A scout is now seen dashing from the brush to where the Colonel stands. He informs him of our danger and the fearful odds against us; that the rebels would soon be upon us if we remained there any longer. The bugle is sounded; the men spring into their saddles. Charley is champing and neighing. The Colonel's eye seems to be everywhere. He is now dashing down the road, with the regiment closely following. On we go towards Waterloo. The rebels hover on our flanks, front and rear. There is promiscuous firing all evening. They seem loth to throw any considerable force against us; feel loth to try our steel. By nine P. M., we arrive at Waterloo, four miles from Eastport, Tennessee River. The rebels soon abandon their expected game. At Waterloo we go into camp, having traveled sixty-five miles since morning, capturing twelve rebels during the day and evening.
Bright and pleasant.
The firing was from
our gun-boats and two batteries, on Gen. Butler's canal to turn the channel of
the river.
Our fondly-cherished
visions of peace have vanished like a mirage of the desert; and there is
general despondency among the croakers.
Mr. Burt, of South
Carolina (late member of Congress), writes from Abbeville that Vice-President
A. H Stephens crossed the Savannah River, when Sherman's raiders were galloping
through the country, in great alarm. To the people near him he spoke freely on
public affairs, and criticised the President's policy severely, and the conduct
of the war generally. He said the enemy might now go where he pleased, our
strength and resources were exhausted, and that we ought to make peace. That
we could elect any one we might choose President of the United States, and
intimated that this would enable us to secure terms, etc., which was understood
to mean reconstruction of the Union.
A dispatch from Gen.
Hood, dated yesterday, says Wheeler has been forced, by superior numbers, south
of the Tennessee River; and he now proposes that he (W.) shall retreat south
along the railroad, which he is to destroy. This is the very route and the very
work I and others have been hoping would engage Wheeler's attention, for weeks.
For one, I am rejoiced that the enemy “forced” him there, else, it
seems, Sherman's communications never would have been seriously interrupted.
And he proposes sending Forrest to operate with Wheeler. Forrest is in Mobile !
Gen. Morgan's
remains are looked for this evening, and will have a great funeral. And yet I
saw a communication to the President to-day, from a friend of his in high position,
a Kentuckian, saying Morgan did not die too soon; and his reputation and
character were saved by his timely death! The charges, of course, will be
dropped. His command is reduced to 280 men; he was required to raise all his
recruits in Kentucky.
To-day the sullen roar of artillery is heard in the front, towards the Tennessee river. The troops are soon in motion. Sherman and staff are now leaving Iuka for the advance; the conjectures are that a storm is brewing down by the Tennessee. Sherman is now moving with his army to form a junction with General Rosecrans, and the probabilities are that Bragg will attempt to check him.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 201
This morning companies H and A escort the Second Michigan Battery out to the camp of the Fifty-second Illinois Infantry. Rumor has it now that the troops will all leave Iuka in the morning for Eastport, Tennessee river. All are in confusion this evening. Considerable excitement amongst sutlers and "civilians," for the order has come for the command to move to-morrow, at 7 A. M.
This morning the Seventh is aroused early. Cross in twenty minutes is now the order. We feed and proceed to the river and halt to await our time. The twenty minutes have now grown to hours. We succeed in getting across the river by noon, where we go into camp, feed, and eat our dinners. The last of the army is now across the Tennessee, moving on towards the front, the Seventh bringing up the rear. We move out about eight miles and go into camp on the side of a large hill (no other place being found where we could tie our mules.) After feeding, and eating our supper, we remove some of the larger rocks and make “our beds." We all lie down, but it is with difficulty that we maintain our position. We predict that by morning we shall be down at the foot of the hill. All is still now. Nothing is heard save the watchful sentry's quiet tramp.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 203-4
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my brigade on the north side of the Tennessee River:
Uninterruptedly I marched from Florence, Ala., to Columbia, Tenn., and remained encamped in its vicinity until the morning of the 30th of November. The enemy having evacuated the place the night before, early on that morning I crossed Duck River and commenced the line of march for Franklin, Tenn. Owing to the length of the march on the eventful day of the battle of Franklin, the division to which my brigade was attached did not arrive in time to enter the conflict. Thrown forward, however, in advance of the other two brigades of the division to relieve some of the troops which had been engaged, I occupied the enemy's first line of works. While in this position I lost 1 officer killed and 2 or 3 men wounded. I remained here until about 9 o'clock the next morning, when I was ordered into the town of Franklin to guard it. Subsequently I was removed into camp, where I remained for a short time, when I resumed the line of march toward Nashville on the Franklin and Nashville pike.
On the 2d of December I went into line of battle on Overton's Hill, in front of Nashville, when, after moving twice, I finally located on the one which I occupied until the army was retired on the night of the 15th of December. About 12 p.m. I took position near the same line from which I moved forward on the 2d instant. Notwithstanding my men had been up all night, they were placed in that position of the line previously occupied, upon which no work had been done, consequently they had no time for rest, and, in fact, were engaged upon the fortifications when the action commenced.
About 9 a.m. on the 16th the enemy planted a battery which completely enfiladed my entire front. During the whole day I was therefore subjected to a fire of artillery, both direct and on my left, quite as severe as any to which I have ever been exposed. Between 2 and 3 o'clock my line was assaulted by the enemy, and notwithstanding the works, but frail at best, had been demolished in several places, the men stood true to their colors, and with a persistency and gallantry that could not have been excelled, poured a deadly fire into the enemy's ranks, which resulted in their successful repulse. Between 3 and 4 o'clock I was informed the entire left had given way, and was ordered to remain in position and await instructions. After waiting some little time, and not receiving any orders, seeing the imminent danger of capture to which my command was subjected, it being on the extreme right of the army, I took the responsibility of moving off. This was not done, however, I should, perhaps, state, until the whole army had given way and I left alone and unsupported, with the entire force of the enemy closing in upon me It is with peculiar pleasure that I am enabled to chronicle the fact that not a man of my brigade, so far as I could see, left the works without orders, and that I was able to march them out in good order and save the battery which I supported. Not until the men saw fleeing before them the whole army did my brigade exhibit any evidences of panic; and though something of the kind was manifested for a short while, they collected promptly and were of the number that covered for two days the retreat consequent upon this great disaster.
During the day following I was engaged frequently with the enemy's cavalry, and on every occasion successfully repulsed them. In one charge my command captured between 75 and 100 prisoners, 1 stand of colors, with many horses, saddles, bridles, and such other things as constituted the outfit of a Federal cavalryman.
While my loss was comparatively slight, it is with painful regret that I am obliged to record the death of Lieut. H. M. Wylie, adjutant of the Forty-second Georgia Regiment, and at the time acting on my staff. Conspicuous for gallantry as a soldier, efficiency as an officer, urbanity as a gentleman, the loss is no less to the service than to the friends who survive him. He fell, where the brave always fall, at his post, in the manful discharge of his duty.
This morning the fallen soldier's comrades bury him in a lonely place. Thus is this land being dotted all over with the Union's noble defenders. As we stand by this soldier's last resting place we are tempted to pray to heaven that some blighting and dread malaria would settle on the godless traitors—that their widows might weep until their eyes are weary, waiting for the return of their husbands-murderers from the field of strife. The command soon moves. We are now following winding paths through the woods and swamps, hunting for the marauding bands that are infesting West Tennessee. The regiment is now divided, moving in different directions. About noon we enter Jack Creek and capture three guerrillas. We remain here waiting for the different companies and detachments to come in. The junction formed, we move in the direction of Saultilla Landing, Tennessee river. All day we have been on the trail of Colonel Newsom; at one time the scouts fired upon him fifteen or twenty shots, but they failed in their object. To-night we camp six miles from the Tennessee river.
This morning the command is again divided into detachments and directed to operate on different roads. Colonel Rowett with one detachment of the command formed from the Seventh Illinois and Seventh Kansas, moves with full speed towards Swallows Bluff to intercept a battalion of rebels said to be crossing the Tennessee at that point. Coming up, the Colonel discovers that the guerrilla leader has already succeeded in crossing all his horses and men with the exception of about thirty who were now waiting for their raft to return. As soon as Rowett and his troopers were seen above them on the bluff, they saw at once their situation, and for the first time during our raids in West Tennessee the rebels offered us battle, being well protected by the bluff and readily aided by the more lucky portion of their command on the opposite shore, who were in easy musket range. A casual observer would not have considered their resistance altogether hopeless with these advantages in position. The Colonel discovered at once that to capture them could not be accomplished without a fierce assault. The assault is made, the enemy's resistance is determined. Showers of leaden hail come rattling on the bluff from beyond the river, but they do not check the two Sevenths. Led by the gallant and fearless Rowett they charge up the bluffs, raining a shower of bullets from their superior guns into the rebels on the other bank. Some tall, and the remainder retreat back under cover. A portion of the command with their long range muskets succeed in keeping the enemy back; while the remaining portion pay their attention to the squad under the bluffs who are soon compelled to run up the white flag. Among the number captured was a Major. We soon discovered that this battalion belonged to the regular confederate army, which accounted for the stubborn resistance. In this encounter the Seventh Kansas lost one man killed and two wounded.
The entire command now forms a junction, and with our prisoners we move on about eight miles and go into camp for the night. It soon commences to rain, threatening to be a dark dreary night for the soldier, for of course we have no shelter.
This morning we move
on our way to Corinth; we get back to camp about nine o'clock, after a
fruitless scout. The four hundred rebels made good their escape across the
Tennessee with all their spoils.
This morning Dick
leads the Seventh forth again, heading for West Tennessee. Soon we are winding
through the Mississippi forests. The weather is exceedingly warm, and oh! how
dusty the roads. None can form any clear conception of the beauty of a ride in
July save those who have witnessed in this month a regiment of cavalry or
mounted infantry dashing along a Mississippi or Tennessee highway. Arriving at
Hamburg, Tennessee river, about dark, we go into camp for the night.
This morning at the first tap of the drum we are up, and soon on the move. About noon we arrive at Tuscumbia; the enemy having all retreated before the Union army's advance. This is a beautiful town in Northern Alabama, noted for its beautiful springs of water, that leap from the rocks like gushing and swelling fountains. How well do the weary soldiers love to kneel down by these flowing streams after their hard day's march, and drink of their refreshing waters. After arriving at Tuscumbia, the Seventh is ordered to South Florence on the Tennessee River, six miles distant. We arrive about four o'clock, finding Lieutenant Colonel Phillips, with his Ninth Illinois mounted infantry, occupying the place. Soon after our arrival, a flag of truce is sent across the river to Florence, demanding the surrender of the city. On its return we are informed that the rebels have all fled and that no satisfaction could be obtained relative to the surrender, the civil authorities refusing to act. We go into camp to-night on the banks of the Tennessee.
COLONEL: I received
this morning orders through Captain Lyford, ordnance officer, to send ten
32-pounder guns and carriages for two 10-inch columbiads, with ammunition. I
have sent Colonel Kappner, First Tennessee Artillery, to Columbus, to procure
the same and forward as speedily as possible. They shall be sent as soon as
they can be shipped. Major-General Parke telegraphs me from Cairo, inquiring
when first boat of Ninth Army Corps arrives. I expect them hourly. Smith has left
with his division.
I reiterate my
request that the general commanding will see to it, if possible, that
communication north by railroad be destroyed.
Hatch's cavalry is
now south of the Tallahatchee, looking after any proposed advance. Unless it is
absolutely necessary, I do not desire to move the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, and
on this await orders. The reasons are that Rosecrans is not active near the
Tennessee; that the abandonment of Jackson lays the whole country open, and
that active cavalry movements from Columbus are necessary to cover this open
line.
Colonel Hillyer
reported to me, with orders from General Grant, to assist in expediting
movements of troops. I am not aware of any assistance rendered by him, although
his society was very agreeable when time was allowed to converse with him. I am
satisfied that his forte is not in quartermaster's duty.
I have the honor to
be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. A. HURLBUT.
P. S.—I have heard
incidentally that Colonel Duff and Colonel Lagow, of your staff, have been
here. They have not reported to me.
SOURCE: The
War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and
Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 397-8
About 20
miles to-day and the latter fourth quite dusty. We did not get the main road,
and have depended mainly on hog paths. The Roanoke is the largest stream we
have crossed since leaving the Tennessee river, and is quite swift. The water
is also colder than any we have found this march. We have not pontoons enough
to reach across and will have to press ferryboats and skiffs, etc., to use as
pontoons. Presume it will take all night to get up a bridge. We pontooned the Neuse
when we crossed it the last time in one and one-half hours. As we crossed the
Raleigh and Gorton Railroad today, saw a train of cars coming kiting along.
Expect communication is open to Raleigh by this time. We are marching too hard.
It is using up lots of men. Good country today. Many fine houses and every
indication of wealth.
SOURCE:
Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 376
