USA > Illinois > History of the Fourth Illinois cavalry regiment > Part 8
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Just then some more of our men came in sight. Now Hyde said "Don't you see you are surrounded. Give me that gun, " at the same time reaching for it and getting it in his hands, saying "Throw down your guns 'everyone of you." They obeyed and the tables were turned again.
The two that left to save themselves ran into our column that had advanced past there while this was going on. They were taken prisoners also. I got this personally from Lieutenant Hyde. I was on the right.
At one place we came onto an open field. There were three of us keeping our intervales of about thirty yards. On the further side of the field we saw three cavalrymen in blue. We took them for our men but they dismounted directly and got down behind the fence. That excited our suspicions but we kept right on toward them on a walk.
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Finally when we got sufficiently near they fired at us, each of us hearing a bullet "zip" over our heads.
They were rebels and had taken a rest through the fence and singled us out. We admired their marksmanship as we were the targets. We charged after them immediately but they jumped on their horses and ran but we gave them a parting shot as they went.
We camped at Water Valley that night, eighteen miles south of Oxford. The next day the command moved out early, our regiment taking the rear according to custom, advance today, rear tomorrow.
We met with but little resistance till we got within about a mile of Coffeeville, which is about twelve miles south of Water Valley. Here we found the rebels posted and in a fighting humor.
Colonel Hatch's Brigade joined us here, making our force about two thousand cavalry and two pieces of artillery. But in a dismounted engagement, like the one fought here, but three-fourths of the men were effective the other one-fourth having to hold horses.
Companies C and I of our regiment was sent out in advance to hold the road while the balance of the command were getting into position. Company I was under Lieutenant Hyde and Company C under Captain Townsend. Company C was in the advance going out. We were there but a short time before the rebels came for us on a double quick.
We were started back at fours right-about which brought us left in front. Our horses could not walk fast enough to keep out of their way. Bullets went "zipping" over our heads at a lively rate of speed but they went too high to hurt anyone
We found our command all dismounted and in three lines, excepting the balance of our regiment. They were kept mounted to guard the flanks. Our first line with the two pieces of artillery were posted at the edge of an open field. A large force of the enemy's infantry charged across this field. They received a warm reception from
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our carbines and artillery which caused scores of the rebels to "bite the dust."
After we got past our lines we were ordered to dismount and fall in by a fence by the side of the road.
The officers of Company I went to the rear with the lead horses. We fought the best we could, with no one in command of us. At first we were altogether, then when a new line was formed we fell in with the other troops and were mixed up with them. We formed a new line twice in this way. The last time we formed, at a bend in the road, we were about the last to get there. The boys, I believe, all squeezed in the line somewhere, but I took a position behind a small tree a little in front of the extreme right of the line where I had command of the road. My attention was taken in my immediate front. I could not see that the enemy were advancing and heard no order to fall back and did not know the line had retreated until I heard Elliott Hyde say, "Avery you had better get out of here, the rebels are flanking us." I turned around and saw him standing facing me a rod or two in the rear. And not another blue coat in sight that I could see. The instant my eyes caught Elliott's he threw up his hands and fell over backwards-shot through the brain. The ball entered the left eye, he didn't utter a word.
The rebel skirmish line was about two hundred yards off and I was now the only blue coat in sight. I think I came as near beating Flora Temple's time for a few minutes, getting out of there, as any man ever did.
I cannot begin to describe the shower of lead that I passed through. Suffice it to say that I took the fire of the whole rebel skirmish line in my front. Every shot was fired at me. I expected every minute to catch a bullet but providentially I escaped without a scratch. I found quite a lot of the boys over the knoll that had not mounted their horses yet.
It was now getting quite dark. There was now a call for volunteers to go back toward the front and form
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another line. About fifty of us went. The rebels advanced no further.
Shortly afterwards everything was on the move to the rear and we were called in and mounted. Our regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Mccullough commanding, was to be rear guard and was just moving out when they ran into a force of the enemy's infantry that had been sent up along our flank and had got across our road between the column and the rear guard. The rebels fired into the head of our column, killing Lieutenant Colonel Mccullough and wounding several others. John Lansing of Company I, who was the Colonel's orderly, is crippled for life by a fall from his horse. Wm. Stillhamer, another orderly from Company G, was shot in both thighs. I took the latter off the field on my horse and after going several miles in this way I got him into an ambulance.
We fell back to Water Valley that night. We might state here that rebel General Pemberton was in our front with an army of ten thousand men. He turned on us here and of course all we could do was to save ourselves the best way we could. The balance of the army was mostly back near Oxford so we had no support nearer than eighteen miles.
The body of Colonel Mccullough was brought in on the eleventh and Lieutenant Hyde started north with it.
We staid around here for some time, scouting nearly every day without incident worthy of note until Dec. 20th when the whole effective force was sent back to Holly Springs in pursuit of rebel General VanDorn who took that place and burned it together with a vast amount of army stores. I did not go with that expedition. Nine days later we again joined this force at Holly Springs. The army moved back.
Below is Colonel Dickey's report of the operations of the Cavalry on this expedition, all of which was under his command. Also his report of an expedition to Tupelo and Pontotoc, referred to in General Grant's report of Dec. 5, 1862, berewith subjoined:
Headquarters of United States forces, Cavalry
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Division Thirteenth Army Corps, camped near the Yockema river, Mississippi, Dec. 7, 1862. Report of Colonel T. Lyle Dickey to Colonel Rawlins, Assistant Adjutant General:
In obedience to the order of the Major General commanding I have the honor to report that at ten p. m., Dec. 1st, while at the headquarters of Major General McPherson near Old Waterford and five miles north of the Tallahatchie river a communication was received from Major Goneral Grant advising me that the enemy had left his works at the river. That part of our cavalry had crossed and others were crossing and ordered me to push on at daylight and take command of all the cavalry and follow the enemy, if retreating, as long as any results are likely to follow.
At daylight on Tuesday, Dec. 2d, attended by Lieutenant J. W. Wilson, topographical engineer, acting as my assisting adjutant general and by Lieutenant G. P. Davis of the Eleventh Illinois Infantry, my acting division quartermaster and an escort of ten troopers, Seventh Illinois Cavalry under command of Sergeant Taylor, I pushed rapidly to the front, gathering my command on the march.
On Tuesday morning when the pursuit began the Second Cavalry Brigade commanded by Colonel Hatch, consisting of eight companies of the Second Iowa Cavalry under Major Coon, the Seventh Illinois Cavalry under Lieutenant Colonel Prince, and a battalion of the Fifth Ohio Cavalry under Major Ricker were near Old Waterford.
The First Cavalry Brigade commanded by Colonel A. L. Lee, comprising the Fourth Illinois Cavalry under Lieutenant Colonel Mccullough, the Seventh Kansas under Lieutenant Colonel Herrick, and one battalion of the Second Iowa under Major Love with the Third Michigan Cavalry commanded by Major Moyers, being part of the Third Brigade, temporarily attached to General Lee's command were at the Tallahatchie river near Abbeyville and the Sixth Illinois Cavalry under Colonel Grierson was
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on the north side of the Tallahatchie near Wyatt's Ferry, about eight miles from Abbeyville, with orders from General Sherman to join me at Oxford, some thirteen miles south of the Tallahatchie.
Finding the road obstructed by the march of General Logan's Division, Colonel Hatch was ordered to take his brigade to the crossing of the Tallahatchie by a literal route to the right and march to the front as rapidly as possible. I pushed rapidly forward and overtook Colonel Lee at Abbeyville. He had sent the Third Michigan Cavalry under Major Moyers on a route towards Oxford west of the railroad and his own brigade under Lieutenant Colonel Mccullough of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry on the main Oxford road, Colonel Lee himself being at the time somewhat unwell and riding in an ambulance.
I overtook Colonel McCullough four miles beyond Abbeyville and sent Captain Wardlaw of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry with his company across the railroad three-fourths of a mile distance where a party of rebels were destroying some trestle work. In forty minutes he returned having captured the entire party, twenty-eight prisoners with horses and arms and wounding one of the enemy.
Moving on to the head of the column I found Colonel Lee had arrived and was skirmishing sharply near Oxford where the enemy were resisting with cavalry, infantry and artillery.
After considerable fighting the enemy, at 4:20 p. m., was driven from the town and Colonel Lee's column occupied the place for the night.
At about a mile from Oxford, while Lee was fighting, sharp firing was heard on the hill to the right which afterwards proved to be the Third Michigan Cavalry engaging the enemy on that route. An effort was made to communicate by a detachment sent to the right, but this failed owing to the lateness of the hour and the impassable character of the country.
At six o'clock p. m. Colonel Hatch reported his command in camp five miles to the rear of the main road.
Wm. Mccullough enlisted in the Fourth Regiment Illinois Cavalry, August 20, 1861, being mustered as major. On October 3, 1861, he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel. He was killed in battle December, 1862.
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A courier having crossed by way of Colonel Hatch's camp at ten p. m. brought information that the Third Michigan was camped about opposite Hatch and west of the railroad, after having fought the ene ny until nearly dark and then fallen back.
A detachment sent from Oxford that night found the road to the camp of the Third Michigan free from the enemy.
On Wednesday morning Colonel Hatch's brigade was ordered forward in pursuit on the Coffeeville road. Colonel Lee's brigade advanced on the route east of the main road.
Colonel Meisner of the Third Michigan, having reported for duty, was ordered to take command of his brigade, consisting of the Third Michigan Cavalry and the Sixth Illinois Cavalry under Colonel Grierson which had reported that morning from Major General Sherman's wing of the army.
Colonel Meisner was ordered to send the Sixth Illinois Cavalry to scour the country to the west as far as the Tallahatchie, reporting by courier directly to Major General Grant, and to hold the Third Michigan in Oxford ready to support at a moments notice either Colonel Lee or Colonel Hatch. Having made this disposition of my command I remained in Oxford in communication with both columns.
Very soon after Lee's brigade left town, Colonel Hatch reported that he had overtaken the enemy three miles from Oxford and was skirmishing with the rear guard advancing steadily. At once a courier was dispatched to Colonel Lee advising him of the fact and directing him to move cautiously and guard well his right flank. This courier lost his way and was taken prisoner.
About the same time a note enjoining caution and ordering me to push the enemy as far as possible, was received .
At nine p. m. on Dec. 3d couriers brought advises that Lee had crossed the Yockney on the Parish road about eight miles due south of Oxford, having driven the enemy
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from a burning bridge and repaired it. About the same time a dispatch from Hatch reported that the enemy had burned a bridge on the main Coffeeville road and had then successfully resisted his attempts to cross, that he had been skirmishing most of the day and was at the Yockney and the enemy in considerable force was on opposite bank. At once orders were sent to Lee to move cautiously bearing to his right down the river and to co-operate with Hatch in effecting a crossing and not to advance until the south side of the river was cleared of the enemy and Hatch communicated with.
And to Hatch that if he failed to effect a crossing in the morning he should turn up the river to some point where he could cross and that he should approach or join Lee's column at the crossing and both, having communicated, should move on towards Coffeeville.
Before daylight on the 4th couriers reported that Hatch had crossed the Yockney at Profits bridge, some eighteen miles from Oxford and seven miles from Water Valley and about the same distance from the burned bridge. Again couriers were dispatched ordering Lee and Hatch to communicate before advancing and then pursue the enemy hotly.
At eight a. m. on Dec. 4th Colonel Meisner was sent with the Third Michigan Cavalry and one piece of artillery to join and co-operate with Hatch while I proceeded on Colonel Lee's route with another piece of artillery escorted by a detachment of cavalry.
Major General McPherson, at my request, had sent me two pieces of artillery. I overtook Lee near Water Valley which he was reconnoitering before entering. Here Colonel Hatch came up with his command and the two brigades entered the town about the same time.
The enemy had crossed the Otuckalofa and burned the wagon bridge about a mile from town. It had turned out that Lee and Hatch had failed to communicate with each other, that Hatch on the morning of the 4th pushed directly for Water Valley, entering the town before noon, skirmishing sharply with the rear of that part of the
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enemy that had crossed the Yockney at and below the railroad crossing and the burned bridge, drove them through the town and across the Otuckalofa.
About this time he discovered a strong rebel force approaching from the northeast upon his left and rear and withdrew his main force back through the villiage to a strong position facing the road upon which the approaching force was advancing.
The enemy attacked with determined vigor, with a force of cavalry estimated at eight regiments, but after a fierce fight was worsted and driven back with considerable loss. Another detachment of the enemy at this moment threatened the rear of Colonel Hatch's command, leaving Lieutenant Colonel Prince with the Seventh Illinois Cavalry to hold the ground.
Colonel Hatch went with the rest of his command on to the rear on the route he had advanced over. At this juncture Colonel Lee's command made its appearance from the northeast. Colonel Prince, supposing it to be another detachment of the enemy, thought it prudent to withdraw to the northwest of the road upon which he had advanced. The former, approaching, learned from prisoners that Colonel Hatch had been in Water Valley and had had a fight and afterwards fell back. Inferring that Colonel Hatch had been beaten he advanced with great caution, waiting to communicate with Hatch.
The country, being hilly and densly wooded, it took some time to establish communications. By this chapter of accidents the enemy found time to escape across the Otuckalofa and burned the bridge near the railroad, but we arrived in time to save it. We then bivouacked on the north side of the river.
Colonel Meisner's command, with one piece of artillery, was ordered to take the advance on Friday morning, followed by Lee's brigade and that by Colonel Hatch's.
Considerable delay occured in getting across the river and Colonel Lee, having found a bridge near his camp, reached the main road on the south side of the Otuckalofa
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before the advance of Colonel Meisner's command. To avoid delay he was ordered to take the advance, which he did, followed by Colonel Meisner's command and his (Colonel Meisner) by that of Colonel Hatch. Thus the entire command was concentrated and from the absence of parallel roads were compelled to move on the same road.
At about two o'clock the head of the column came up with the rear of the enemy and pressed him sharply. Having discovered a small party of rebel cavalry on our right, carefully watching our movements, a detachment was sent to dislodge it and an order was sent to Colonel Lee at the head of the column to move cautiously, throw out strong flankers and show a wide front.
Colonels Hatch and Meisner were also directed to throw out flankers at the head of each of their commands.
Riding rapidly to the front I found one piece of artillery moving cautiously forward and throwing now and then shells beyond our skirmishers as they steadily advanced. At about one mile from Coffeeville a few shells were thrown to the front when suddenly the enemy opened at short range upon our position with shells, using, I think, four pieces of artillery and perhaps six. At the same time with infantry in line they opened upon our advanced dismounted skirmishers with rapid volleys while heavy skirmishing was in progress on both flanks.
From all this it was quite evident that we had encountered a heavier force than we were able to combat, under the jaded condition of our men and horses. Colonel Lee was ordered to fall back steadily in the center and strong parties were at once sent to the support of our skirmishers on the right of their flanks.
The column was faced to the rear and Colonels Meisner and Hatch were ordered to form successive supporting lines of detachments upon each side of the road to cover the retreat of our skirmishers and check the advance of the enemy upon the main road. The enemy pressing hard upon our retiring forces, the moving back of the lead horses of dismounted men and the reversal of wagons and
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ambulances occasioned confusion, though no indications of a panic were at any time perceptible.
Our flanks were repeatedly attacked by the enemy's infantry but our flankers as often succeeded in repulsing them. The column was steadily withdrawn about one and one-half miles to the rear of an open field and the fighting ceased. Night having come on in the meantime, the column halted.
At this point a strong rear guard was sent back to watch the enemy and check its pursuit if attempted, while suitable parties were detached to watch the approaches on the right and left flanks of the rear.
Having waited about an hour to enable our dismounted men to find and mount their horses, the division was marched back to the camp which it had occupied the night before, arriving there about eleven p. m.
The command was moved early on the morning of the 6th to Yockney river, crossing at Profits bridge.
In the action near Coffeeville, as well as during the entire pursuit, the men and officers behaved in the most gallant manner, cheerfully bearing every hardship in order to inflict injury upon the enemy.
Lieutenant Colonel Mccullough of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry fell while covering the retreat of our column with the mounted companies of his regiments. A better or braver man never fought or fell. He died with his face to the foe at the head of his command, thus nobly sacrificing his life for the safety of his fellow men. His loss is a severe one to the country and the service.
Lieutenant Wookburn of the Seventh Kansas, fell mortally wounded at the first volley of the enemy. Captain Townsend of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, Lieutenant Hurlbut of the Seventh Kansas, Captain Eystra and Lieutenants Reed, Bud and Herrington of the Second Iowa and Captain Halwell of the Third Michigan Cavalry received honorable wounds in this action.
Sergeant Baylor of my escort was wounded by my side
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near the close of the action. The horse Colonel Lee rode was wounded and that of Colonel Hatch killed.
As to the troops, they fought well without exception. The Seventh Illinois and the battalion of the Fifth Ohio, which had until very lately been illy armed, have proven themselves, with good arms in their hands, as effective in the face of the enemy as their most noted companions in the field.
This action was fought under peculiar difficulties. The road was narrow and extremely muddy, lined nearly all the way on both sides by a dense and almost impenetrable growth of oak trees and underbrush, running over a broken and impracticable country or through river bottoms of a miry character. It was impossible to see the enemy's position or note his strength until we were upon him. It was equally difficult to show a strong front or properly dispose of the wagons, the ambulances and the horses of the dismounted men.
In this pursuit over rough and muddy roads, the almost incessant rains, in a country destitute of forage for horses and without rations for men, the enemy was followed four succesive days, skirmishing daily, almost hourly, and chased as far as Coffeeville, a distance of about fifty miles. After fighting him at that point for several hours and engaging his artillery and infantry, I withdrew my command steadily, and fell back to a place of security where I could give the troops the rest they so much needed.
In the expedition we captured 1150 prisoners and nearly 200 horses and mules, also five railroad cars, four wagons loaded with supplies, $7000 worth of confederate money in the hands of a rebel quartermaster, compelled the enemy to burn several hundred tents and to abandon and destroy several hundred stand of small arms, saved from destruction all the railroad bridges on the route and and most of the trestle work and obtained a correct map of the country though the assistance of the topographical engineer who accompanied me.
We had ten killed, sixty-three wounded and fourty-one
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captured. Of the enemy at least seventy were killed, 250 wounded and 750 taken prisoners. His loss in deserters and stragglers and on the retreat is probably 600 or 700 more. Respectfully your obedient servant,
T. L. DICKEY,
Colonel and Chief of Staff Commanding Division.
The following is General VanDorn's report of the above engagement to Lieutenant General Pemberton, Jackson, Tennessee:
Coffeeville, Dec. 5, 1862 :- Enemy came up to within two miles of town this evening. Infantry attacked them and drove them back two miles. Firing just ceased. Night put a stop to pursuit. He will be careful how he comes up again. EARL VAN DORN,
Major General.
The following is the report of General U. S. Grant to Major General Halleck, Commander in Chief.
Oxford Miss, Dec. 5, 1862, 1 p. m .: Roads have become too impassable to leave railroad any great distance. Streams are high. The railroad is now completed to Holly Springs and will be to Tallahatchie by Monday. From the Tallahatchie to the Yockney river the enemy were followed so closely that they could not destroy the railroad or the telegraph. The cavalry, under Colonel Dickey, are still out. If practicable we will tap the Mobile road before returning. If the Helena troops were at my command I think it practicable to send Sherman to take them and the Memphis troops south of the mouth of the Yazoo river and thus secure Vicksburg and the state of Mississippi. U. S. GRANT.
The following is the report of General U. S. Grant to Major General H. W. Halleck, Commander in Chief.
Oxford, Miss, Dec. 5, 1862, 4 p. m .:- Cavalry still in pursuit of retreating enemy. Have captured and killed
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many and forced them to destroy much property, including cars. Cavalry will be near Coffeeville tonight.
U. S. GRANT,
Major General Commanding.
Report of General U. S. Grant to Major General H. W. Halleck, Commander in Chief:
Oxford, Mississippi, Dec. 8, 1862, 9 a. m .:- The cavalry under Colonel Dickey have now drawn off haveing followed the enemy to Coffeeville. Our loss is nine killed, fifty-six wounded and fifty-six missing. We have captured about 700 of the enemy but can make no estimate of their killed and wounded. The enemy were forced to burn their stores, some cars and camp equipage.
U. S. GRANT, Major General.
Report of General U. S. Grant to J. C. Kelton, Washington, D. C .:
Headquarters department of Tennessee, Dec. 25, 1862 :- I am just sending a large wagon train to Memphis after supplies and avail myself of the opportunity to communicate with the authorities at Washington.
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