USA > Kentucky > History of the 3d, 7th, 8th and l2th Kentucky C.S.A > Part 13
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BATTLE OF HARRISBURG, MISS.
and the next morning (Friday, the 15th of July) I was ordered to attack the enemy on his left flank on the Verona road. I moved against him with Bell's and Crossland's brigades, and drove him back about one mile, to the cover of timber, upon his mine line. I then halted, threw out a line of skirmishers to hold the enemy in check, and rested my division, who were exhausted from hard fighting, the ex- cessive heat and want of water. I had eighty men carried off the field that morning perfectly exhausted, most of whom were insensible. About 2 in the afternoon I received orders to move up, as the enemy was evidently retreating on the road to Ellistown, and to pursue him vigorously. I marched on the Harrisburg and Ellistown road, Bell's brigade in advance, and commenced the pursuit. Rice's battery was also ordered to report to me. I overtook the enemy's rear at Old Town creek, five miles from Tupelo. I ordered Rice's battery im- mediately in position on elevated ground, which commanded the bot- tom and crossing of the creek, and opened on the retiring enemy. I formed Bell's and Crossland's brigades on either side of the road and moved forward. From casualties of action, from exhaustion and from broken-down horses, my division, now composed of those two brig- ades (Mabry's having been sent on another road), was reduced to less than a thousand. I drove the enemy's rear before me to the creek bottom, with considerable loss. Rice's battery did good execution. The enemy, finding himself pushed in the rear, immediately rein- forced his rear guard with two brigades of infantry, whom I fought for thirty minutes. The support I was expecting not arriving, and the force of the enemy being so much superior to my own, I was forced to withdraw. Colonel McCulloch came up soon afterward with his brigade, engaged the enemy, and was driven back. The division was then, by order, withdrawn from the pursuit, and returned to camp near Harrisburg.
"Words are inadequate to express the daring action, the impertur- able bravery, the indomitable endurance exhibited by both officers and men. The country has rarely witnessed such boldness of execution as was performed by the troops of the division. They attacked with precision and earnestness, determined not to give up the struggle until the enemy was driven from the field. The long list of dead and wounded echo the history of their actions."
Colonel Edward Crossland, who commanded the Kentuckians, said in his report, after giving the preliminaries of the engagement and the advance of his brigade :
"Believing that they were strongly supported both on the right and left, raising a shout they charged forward on the enemy's line, keeping up a constant and destructive fire. Arriving within two hun- dred yards of the enemy's line, exposed during the whole time in an open field to a most terrific fire of artillery and small arms from a force greatly superior to their own, and strongly intrenched, the enemy suddenly opened an enfilading fire from both flanks. The fire was most destructive to my line. Roddey's division had for some cause not ad- vanced with my brigade. The enemy, perceiving this, turned his bat-
108
HISTORY OF THE 3D, 7TH, 8TH AND 12TH KENTUCKY.
teríes (planted in Roddey's front) upon my advancing line. His in- fantry also opened a cross-fire. The failure of Roddey's division to advance, and thus draw the fire of the enemy on my right flank, was fatal to my men. The line wavered for a moment, but they seemed endued with fresh vigor, and again charged forward, intent upon carrying the enemy's works and driving him before them; but the fire was too galling. The ranks were decimated, but they were literally mowed down. Some of my best officers were either killed or wounded. The brigade was compelled to fall back; not, however, until it had reached the enemy's line. Some of my brave men fell within the enemy's works, some within a few feet of them, and Colonel Faulkner had his horse killed under him in a few yards of the enemy, and he himself severely wounded. The troops fell back to the road in confu- sion, being subjected to the same direct and oblique fire in retreating for a distance of over five hundred yards. It was soon rallied, but my men were exhausted ; the heat was most intense. For an hour they had been under a terrific fire, and after re-forming I was ordered to rest. I soon received an order to move with the brigade on the road leading from Verona to Tupelo, and guard against any advance the enemy might make on the former place. I did so, but no movement was made by the enemy.
"On the morning of the 15th I was ordered to move forward toward Tupelo. When within two miles and a half thereof the brigade was dismounted and formed in line, Bell's brigade being on my left, and Rucker's on my right. I moved forward against the position of the enemy (his left flank) and drove his skirmishers upon his main line. Still advancing, I soon encountered his main force and fought him over one hour, doing good execution and driving him back into the woods. The firing then ceased on both sides except skirmishing. After a short interval I was ordered to remount and follow Bell's brigade, as the enemy were retreating on the Ellistown road rapidly moving. At Old Town creek I found Bell's brigade engaging the enemy. The Third Brigade was quickly dismounted and placed in position and then moved forward to the attack. Here I was seriously wounded and compelled to retire from the field, the command devolv- ing on Lieutenant-Colonel A. R. Shacklett, Eighth Kentucky Regiment. Here fell the modest and gallant Lieutenant-Colonel L. J. Sherrill, Seventh Kentucky, than whom the country had no braver defender. He fell in the front rank, and fills a Christian soldier's grave. The heroic Major Hale, Seventh Kentucky, was also severely wounded at this place. This regiment was thus deprived of its field officers. Col- onel Holt, Third Kentucky, had been prostrated by sun-stroke and re- moved from the field, and the Third Kentucky was without a field officer.
"The action on the 14th was the most severe and destructive ever encountered by the troops of this brigade, who are veterans in the service. Their loss was unprecedented. Nobly each man did his duty ; none failed to respond to the charge; there was no laggard there, no
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BATTLE OF HARRISBURG, MISS.
coward. Every one was alive to the interest he had personally in our great contest for freedom and the measure required at his hands. "I would mention as worthy of all commendation for their activity, their bravery, and the manner in which they maneuvered their com- mands, Colonel W. W. Faulkner ; Lieutenant-Colonel A. R. Shacklett, Eighth Kentucky; Colonel G. A. C. Holt, Third Kentucky; Major H. S. Hale, Seventh Kentucky, and Major T. S. Tate, Faulkner's Ken- tucky Regiment. This mention is no mere customary adulation. These officers deserve the highest credit for their actions, and should re- ceive the most honorable notice at the hands of their superiors and their government. A braver, more active, more untiring set of line officers than those of the several regiments of the Third Brigade are not to be found in the army. Where one and all are true heroes it is invidious to draw distinctions.
"My loss was two hundred and ninety-seven killed and wounded in less than eight hundred. A list is herewith appended.
"To the officers on my staff, Captain C. L. Randle, Company A, Seventh Kentucky; Lieutenant James A. Turk, acting assistant in- spector-general; Major J. R. Smith, commissary of subsistence, and Lieutenant Galbraith, acting aide-de-camp, my thanks are due for their activity, obedience and gallantry in conveying all orders.
"I would mention the very valuable assistance afforded me dur- ing the second day's fight by Major Hale, of the Seventh Kentucky. This officer has few superiors in the service, and is entitled to special mention for his distinguished bravery.
"I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
"ED. CROSSLAND,
"Colonel Seventh Kentucky, Commanding Third Brigade."
Captain H. A. Tyler, of the Twelfth Kentucky, who rendered con- spicuous service with a detached command before and during the en- gagement, made an interesting report in regard to the movements of the enemy, which I insert here :
Report of Captain H. A. Tyler, Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry :
"HEADQUARTERS COMPANY A, "FAULKNER'S (KENTUCKY) REGIMENT, "Near Pikeville, Miss., July 20, 1864.
"Captain : Having been, by orders from division headquarters, placed in command of a detachment of one hundred men of the First Kentucky Regiment, Third Brigade, to operate upon the rear flanks of the enemy's column in their recent raid into North Mississippi, I here- by respectfully submit an official report of the operations of the said detachment :
"On the morning of the 10th instant I moved out from Pontotoc, Miss., northward, taking the King's Ferry road, leading in a parallel direction and two miles and a half west of the Pontotoc and Ripley road, upon which road the enemy were moving southward upon Pon-
IIO
HISTORY OF THE 3D, 7TH, 8TH AND 12TH KENTUCKY.
totoc. During the day I met two marauding parties of the enemy. I drove them very promptly back upon the main column.
"At 4 p.m. of the IIth I moved on and took position on Pontotoc and Ripley road, one mile north of and in rear of the enemy's en- campment on Cherry creek. After sunrise I moved down said road, coming up with the enemy's rear guard five miles north of Pontotoc. After skirmishing with them briskly thirty minutes, and failing to make an impression, I moved across two miles east into the Tuscumbia and Pontotoc road, down which General Frierson, with the main col- umn of cavalry, was moving. When within three miles of Pontotoc on said road I met a scout of the enemy, one hundred and fifty strong, which I repulsed and drove back, losing one man killed and one slightly wounded. From thence I moved across into the Pontotoc and Tupelo road. Finding this road totally abandoned by our forces, not even a scout remaining, I took position six miles east of Pontotoc on said road and encamped during the night of the 11th.
"On the 12th I remained in camp until 3 in the afternoon, when I made a reconnoissance of the enemy's position, driving in his pickets on Tupelo and Chesterville road. Finding his entire force at Pontotoc I fell back to my camp.
"About 4 a.m. of the 13th I started to make another reconnois- sance of Pontotoc. At daylight I met advance of the enemy five miles east of Pontotoc, moving out on Tupelo. I promptly ordered the men in line and engaged the enemy, not knowing whether it was a move- ment in force or a foraging party. After a brisk engagement of twenty-five minutes, the enemy threw a heavy column of cavalry around both my flanks and advanced their infantry immediately on my front. I then fell back in order, having had one man killed, the men moving off cooly and steadily, taking position again one mile to the rear, and skirmishing with their advance as they came up, and then continued a running fight until I reached the forks of the road, twelve miles east of Pontotoc. Here I took the Verona road, the enemy the Tupelo road. Finding that they were going to Tupelo, I moved rapidly on to Verona. Stopping there an hour, I moved up toward Tupelo. One mile north of Verona, met and repulsed a scout of two hundred moving to that place. They retreated rapidly to Tupelo. I camped at Verona that night, extending my pickets in front on Tupelo road and on rail- road.
"At four in the a.m. of the 14th, in connection with Moreland's battalion, of General Roddey's division, Major George commanding, I moved in the direction of Tupelo to make a forced reconnoissance of the enemy's position. Two miles and a half south of Tupelo, found enemy's pickets. Hastily dismounting my detachment, I advanced at double-quick, driving pickets back a half mile upon a large body of the enemy posted in the houses and behind the fences on Mr. Thomas' place. Here, posting my men behind crest of hill three hundred yards in front of the enemy's position, they opened a heavy fire, warmly re- sponded to by the foe. Major George failing, and, when by me re- quested, positively refusing, to bring his regiment or battalion into
III
BATTLE OF HARRISBURG, MISS.
action, but keeping them full six hundred yards in my rear, mounted, I deemed it imprudent to advance farther or charge the enemy's posi- tion with so small a force as my command. Receiving a dispatch from Lieutenant-General Lee to watch the enemy's movements closely east- ward, I fell back to Verona, having had one man killed and two wounded. From thence I moved across (Old) Town creek, two miles east of Verona, and moved up to levee opposite Tupelo. After a brisk little engagement I gained possession of all the bridges except the slough bridge next to town; that the enemy fired. I here made all the display possible with my little force so as to deceive the enemy as to my numbers, with, I think, complete success, as they immedi- ately burned the slough bridge and massed a heavy force (fully a brigade) along its banks to prevent my crossing into town. Re- mained on levee all day of the 15th until 3 p.m., when, learning that the enemy were moving northward on Ripley or Birmingham road, I moved off on the enemy's left flank, taking position at the Yarngby creek bridge, on Birmingham road, one mile from where it forks from Ripley road. Remained there until 10 a.m. of the 16th, when I moved off parallel with enemy two miles from his flank, taking position late in the evening on Ellistown and Ripley road, via Kelly's Mill.
"On the morning of the 17th the enemy moved out from Ellis- town on Albany road. Learning that the division was not in pursuit, and my horses being much jaded, I returned to the brigade.
"In the series of skirmishes I lost three killed, one severely and two slightly wounded. Enemy's loss could not be well ascertained, but I know it was much heavier.
"Great credit and praise is due to all the subordinate officers and men of my detachment for their coolness and calm courage under the many trying positions we were placed.
"I have the honor, Captain, to be your obedient servant,
"H. A. TYLER,
"Captain, Commanding Detachment Faulkner's Kentucky Regiment."
I feel that I will run no risk of being criticised by asserting that but few troops during the war suffered more than the Kentuckians did in this engagement, and none did their part with more real soldier courage.
CHAPTER XII.
Operations about Oxford and Memphis.
In our last chapter we left the Federals, under Smith, falling back from Harrisburg in the direction of Memphis, with a detachment of Forrest's command pursuing them. On his return to Memphis General Smith made a report that he nad gained a great victory over Lee and Forrest, but the report did not seem to satisfy General Sher- man. He could not understand why Smith should be in such a hurry to return to Memphis immediately on gaining such a signal victory, and he insisted on Smith being sent out again to engage Forrest as soon as favorable. For a long while Sherman was constantly appre- hensive that Forrest would commence operating in his rear and was, therefore, all the while urging the Federal commanders at Memphis to exert every energy possible to keep Forrest engaged in Mississippi and West Tennessee.
Somewhere from the Ist to the 5th of August General Smith was fitted up with a much larger army than he had hitherto commanded ; but fearing to cut himself loose from his base any more, he com- menced moving slowly and cautiously south along the line of the Mississippi Central Railroad, repairing the road as he advanced. Gen- eral Chalmers, with his command was on that line of railroad north of Oxford. On learning of the advance of the Federals, Forrest directed Chalmers to place his command in front of them and retard their prog- ress as much as possible. In the meantime, he started with Buford's division, from Verona, on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, to join Chal- mers. On the 10th of August, the Kentucky brigade reached Chal- mers' command some ten or twelve miles north of Oxford, at Harrison creek, where they assisted in holding the enemy in check until the 13th, at which time the Federals brought a heavy force around the flank of the Confederates and forced them to fall back to Oxford. The force that General Forrest was contending with at this time was at least three times as large as his own, and he knew perfectly well that it was a hopeless undertaking to attempt to prevent the enemy from marching south, and that it would be folly to engage him in battle with such unequal numbers, and if his progress was arrested at all it must be by strategy. The writer remembers at this time to have made a ride to the rear of the enemy with a detachment of picked men, commanded by Captain H. A. Tyler. With a small command of not more than one hundred and fifty men, the dashing captain rode boldly around the Federal flank and succeeded in reaching his rear, burned bridges, tore up railroad tracks and drove the Federal outposts back on their main command and created consternation in the minds of the Federal officers, and materially interrupting their transportation. It was at this critical time that General Forrest determined to execute a previously contemplated raid into Memphis, believing that to be the only means, at his command, to check Smith's advance into the interior of Mississippi.
"In preparing for the movement, the general selected about fifteen hundred men from Bell's and Neely's brigades and a section of Mor-
II3
OPERATIONS ABOUT OXFORD AND MEMPHIS.
ton's artillery, under Lieutenant Gale. Both men and horses were carefully inspected before the movement commenced. Generals Chal- mers and Buford were left in front of Smith, with instruction to hold him in check as much as possible until Forrest could execute his con- templated movement into Memphis. No part of the Kentucky brigade accompanied Forrest on this, the most remarkable raid of the war.
The writer, not being an eye witness to anything that occurred on that movement, must, therefore, rely upon others to tell the events of that thrilling raid.
Manuscript from General H. A. Tyler :
"August. 1864, when Forrest went into Memphis, there is an incident not mentioned in Wyeth's book or any other life or history of Forrest's operations that I think you should mention. I think you were with me ; I know Captain Randle was. He commanded the picked fifty men of the Seventh Kentucky. I took with me Lieutenant John Jarrett and fifty of the Third, Captain Merriweather, the picked eighty from the Twelfth Kentucky, and then my own seventy of Company A, Twelfth Kentucky. The enemy, twenty-five thousand strong, had come out from Memphis with orders to drive Forrest out of Missis- sippi. We had only five thousand with which to oppose them. They rebuilt the railroad as they came and had cars running from Memphis to Oxford, Miss. General Forrest selected fifteen hundred men with which to attack and surprise the enemy in Memphis. Before start- ing he sent Colonel D. C. Kelley with his own regiment and Colonel W. F. Taylor with the Seventh Tennessee Regiment, in all seven hundred men, to the rear of the enemy to destroy the railroad, at least temporarily, so that they could not send any of their troops back to Memphis to oppose him, should they learn of his plans. Kelley reached old Lamar Station, some eight miles north of Holly Springs, about 10 o'clock in the night, where he was met and driven back.
"When the news reached Generals Buford and Chalmers south of Oxford of Kelley's failure, General Forrest was well on his way to Memphis. These generals were demoralized. For well they knew that if the road was left in operation that the Federals could and would combine and crush him. They called for me and explained the situa- tion and informed me that I was to take a command and destroy the road. I asked how many men they would give me. I said, "Kelley had seven hundred and failed; how many are you going to give me?" General Buford said I had to cut the road and keep it cut, and, if I needed them, I could take the whole Kentucky brigade. I said, "Let me pick them and I will take two hundred and fifty." They con- sented, and I rode down the line and picked them as above enumerated. We started in less than an hour, at II o'clock a.m., and by II a.m. next day had reached Walls, a sixteen-span trestle four miles north of Holly Springs, and burned it to the ground. We then went north and burned some four or five other small trestles, passing through Lamar, where Kelley had failed. We then withdrew and went into camp, where we remained three days."
II4
HISTORY OF THE 3D, 7TH, 8TH AND 12TH KENTUCKY.
GENERAL FORREST'S RAID INTO MEMPHIS.
"The force, scarcely equal in numbers to a brigade, moved promptly at 5 o'clock of the evening of the day of its organization (the 18th), and nothwithstanding the muddy, slushy roads, consequent upon the heavy rains of that and several days previous, marching all night it reached Panola at 7 o'clock the next morning. Here another inspection of men and horses was made, which resulted in some of the artillery and one hundred men and horses being sent rearward to Grenada. Resuming the march the same day at 10 o'clock, over roads knee-deep with mud and water, and by the time the command reached Senatobia, twenty-three miles north of Panola, Forrest saw that his animals were so distressed it was prudent to go no farther that day.
"Refreshed by rest, the column took up the line of march on the morning of the 20th, crossing Hickahala creek and Cold Water River on improvised pontoon bridges, and reached Hernando, twenty-five miles from Memphis, before nightfall. Forrest was here met by some of his scouts, who had left Memphis that morning with accurate in- formation as to the position and strength of the Federal troops in and around the city, where all was quiet and without the least expecta- tion of the impending attack. Halting at Hernando but a few mo- ments, the column took the direct road to Memphis; but so deep was the mud and so great the fatigue of the animals that it was quite 3 o'clock on Sunday morning the 21st, before the advance had arrived at the outskirts of the city. Directing his force to be closed up, and summoning his field officers to the front, General Forrest gave to each definite and comprehensive instructions as to what he expected of, and the duty assigned, them, and at the same time the necessary guides were distributed. The most rigid silence was enjoined until the heart of the town was reached and the surprise had been accomplished.
"To a company commanded by Captain William H. Forrest was given the advance, with the duty of surprising, if possible, the pickets ; after which, without being diverted for any other purpose, he was to dash forward into the city, by the most direct route, to the Gayoso House, to capture such Federal officers as might be quartered there. Colonel Neely was directed to attack, by an impetuous charge, the en- campment of the one hundred day men across the road on the out- skirts of Memphis, with a command composed of the Second Missouri, Lieutenant-Colonel McCulloch ; the Fourteenth Tennessee, Lieutenant- Colonel White; and the Eighteenth Mississippi, Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmers. Lieutenant-Colonel Logwood was to press rapidly after Captain Forrest to the Gayoso House, with the Twelfth and Fifteenth Tennessee Regiments, placing, however, detachments to hold the junc- tion respectively of Main and Beal, and Shelby and Beal streets, and to establish another detachment at the steamboat landing at the foot of Union street. Lieutenant-Colonel Jesse Forrest was ordered to move rapidly down to De Soto street to Union, and thence leftward along that street to the headquarters of General Washburn, the Fed- eral commander, whose capture it was his special duty to make. At
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OPERATIONS ABOUT OXFORD AND MEMPHIS.
the same time, Colonel Bell held in reserve, with Newsom's and Rus- sell's regiments, and the Second Tennessee, under Lieutenant-Colonel Morton, with Sale's section of artillery, was to cover the movement. These dispositions and orders having been made, the several detach- ment commanders re-joined their troops, formed them immediately in columns of four, and at about quarter-past 3 a.m., Captain Forrest be- gan the movement. It was still very dark; the night having been sultry and damp, a dense fog had been generated, which enshrouded the whole country to such a degree that neither man nor horse could be distinguished at the distance of thirty paces, as Captain Forrest moved slowly and noiselessly across the bridge at Cane creek. But, anxious that no misconception of orders should mar the success of the operation, the Confederate general halted his column, after it had moved about half a mile, and dispatched his aide-de-camp, Captain Anderson, to see that each officer understood precisely and clearly the duty that had been specially intrusted to him for execution, and to ascertain, moreover, whether each command was well closed up. That efficient staff officer, not long absent, making a satisfactory report, Gen- eral Forrest gave orders for the movement to be resumed at a slow walk."
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