USA > Michigan > Annual report of the Adjutant General of the State of Michigan for the year, Vol. I > Part 4
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57 .
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
-Water; on the 19th, Black Warrior, and the Coosa at Luft's Ferry; on the 22d, reaching Talladaga. Skirmished with Gen. Hill's brigade on the 23d, losing two killed and taking one piece of artillery. Crossed a branch of the Talladaga on the 24th, and the Tallapoosa on the 25th, passing through Bowden, Ga. Crossing the Chattahoochie on the 26th, and marching, via Neroman and Forsyth, arriving, May Ist, at Macon, where it remained in Camp until July 17th, when the Regiment was broken up into detachments, which were sent to garrison .. Perry, Thomaston, Barnsville, Forsyth, and Milledgeville, two companies, with the headquarters, remaining at Macon. On the 17th of August it was mustered out of service, and ar- rived in the State August 26th, and was paid off and disbanded at Jackson.
BATTLES AND SKIRMISHES.
Point Pleasant, Mo., March 9, 1862. [Dechard, Tenn., July 4, 1863.
Tiptonville, 66 -- ,
New Madrid, 13, =
Island No. 10, 6 $ March 14, to| Anderson X Roads, Tenn., Oct., 1863,
April 7th, 1862.
Pine Hill, Miss., May 2, 1862.
Monterey, 4 3, ‘‘
Farmington, “ 1 5, 4
Siege of Corinth, Miss., May 10 to 30, 1862.
Boonville, Miss., June 1, 1862.
Blackland, “ " 5, “
Baldwin, “ -, "
Boonville, ". July 1, “
Reinzie, Aug. - , " Perryville, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862. Harodsburg, " 10, Lancaster, 16 " 12,
Rocastle River, Ky., Oct. - , 1862.
Estillville, Va., 1862.
Blountsville, Tenn., 1862. Zollicoffer,
Watanaga,
Jonesville, Va., 1862.
Bacon Creek, Ky., Dec. 24, 1862.
Glasgow, . " - "
Milton, Tenn., Feb. 18, 1863.
Chicamagua, Tenn. Sept. 18, 19, 20, 1863.
Sparta, Tenn., Dec., 1863.
Dandridge, Tenn., Dec. 24, 1863. Mossy Creek, “ ¥ 29,
Dandridge,
Jan. 17, 1864.
Pigeon River, “ " 27,
Dug Gap, Ga., May 13, 14, ~
Red Clay, “ ** 1864.
Ettowa River, Ga., May 24, 26, 27, 28, 1864.
Ackworth, Tenn., June 2, 5, 1864. Nashville, = Aug. 30,
Campbellsville, Tenn., Sept. 5, 1864. Franklin, " 27, Cypress River, Oct. 7,
Raccoon Ford,
" 30,
66
Shoal Creek,
Nov. 5, 1864.
Lawrenceburg,
" 21,
Campbellsville, "' 24,
Columbia, 6 6 " 25, 26, 27,
1864.
Spring Hill, Tenn., Nov. 29, 1864.
Bethesda Church, Tenn., Nov. 292 1864.
8
$8
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Cainesville, Tenn., Feb. 19, 1863.
Spring Hill,
“: 29, “
Columbia,
March 4, 5, 1863.
Hillsboro, 66 12,
Brontwood, 66 25,
McGarvick's Ford, Tenn., April, 1863. Priceton Yard,
Jan. 6, 1865.
Corinth, Miss., Feb., 1865.
Tuscscaloosa, Ala., April 1, 1865.
Trion, 2, “
Bridgeville,
6,
Elk River Ford, Tenn., July 2, 1863. Talladaga,
Franklin, Tenn., Nov. 30, 1864. Nashville, " Dec. 15, 16, 1864. Richland Creek, Tenn., Dec. 24, 1864. Pulaski,
" 25, . "
Sugar Creek, 66 " 26, “
Triune, Tenn., June 4, 1863.
Rover, “ 23, 4
Middletown, Tenn., June 24, 1863.
Shelbyville, “ 27,
" 23,
THIRD CAVALRY.
During the months of November, 1864, and February, 1865, this Regiment constituted the garrison of the post at Brownsville Station, on the Memphis & Little Rock Railroad, and was also occupied in scouting along the line of that road, making several expeditions as far south as Arkansas Post, on the Arkansas river, collecting large droves of cattle, and thereby furnishing nearly all the beef required for the supply of the entire army, then serving in the Department of Arkansas. At Brownsville Station the Regiment erected a complete set of winter quarters and stables, so neatly and tastefully arranged as to present the appearance of an important town, which attracted so much at- tention as to result in a change of its name from " Brownsville Station," to " Michigan City."
The very active duty of the Regiment at that time was so conducive to the health of the men, that 1,008 were daily reported present for duty, and less than three per cent. were on the sick list. Early in February the Regiment was selected to constitute part of a Division then being organized for active and important service in early spring, and was assigned to the 1st Brigade, Ist Division, 7th Army Corps, and moved to Brownsville. On the 14th of March the Brigade was transferred from the Department of Arkansas to the Military Division of West Mississippi, to join the troops under Major General Canby, designed to operate against Mo- bile, and the Regiment proceeded by steamer to New Orleans, arriving at Carrolton, La., March 23d, and embarked for Mo- bile early in April. After the fall of Mobile, it was employed on
59
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
outpost duty until the surrender of the Confederate forces Gast of the Mississippi river, when the Regiment was se- lected as the escort of Major General Canby on the oc- casion of his receiving the formal surrender of the rebel Gen- eral Taylor and his army. It left Mobile May 8, and marched across the country to Baton Rouge, La., reaching there on the 22d. When Major General Sheridan assumed the command of the Military Division of the South-west, the Regiment was selected and ordered to report to him for duty, and was im- mediately prepared to join the expedition to Texas, and left Baton Rouge for Shreveport, June 10th, and commenced its march into Texas from the latter place July 10th, traversing two-thirds the breadth of that State, arriving on the 2d of August at San Antonio. At that point the Regiment was stationed, performing garrison duty and employed in the necessary scouting for the protection of the frontier as far as the Rio Grande, on the Mexicon border, and in furnishing escorts for supply trains. The Regiment comprised a part of the 1st Brigade, Ist Cavalry Division, Military Division of the Gulf, and had its head-quarters at San Antonio until February 15th, 1866, when it was dismounted, mustered out of service, and proceeded, via Victoria, to Indianola, on foot, and thence by steamer to New Orleans and Cairo, where it took rail for Jackson, Mich., arriving there March 10th, and on the 15th was paid off and disbanded.
BATTLES AND SKIRMISHES.
New Madrid, Mo., March 13, 1862. Oxford, Mississippi, ¿Dec. 2, 1862.
Siege of Island No. 10, Mo., March Coffeeville,
4 5, “
14 to April 7, 1862.
Brownsville, Jan. 14, 1863.
Farmington, Miss., May 5, 1862.
Clifton, Feb. 10, "
Siege of Corinth," " 10 to 31, 1862.
Panola, July 20,
Spangler's Mills, Miss., July 26, 66
Grenada,
Aug. 14, 66
Iuka, 66 19,
Wyatt's Ford, 66
( 13,
Corinth, Miss., Oct. 3 and 4, 66
Ripley,,.
Nov. 29,
Hatchie, “ " 6,
68 Orizaba, 66
“ 30, 66
Holly Springs, Miss., Nov. 7,
66
Ellistown,
Dec. 3,
Hudsonville, 66 14,
Purdy,
66
22,
Lumkin's Mills, "
29,
Jack's Creek, 66
24,
66
Bay Springs, " Sept. 10,
Byhalia, 66 Oct. 12,
60
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
FOURTH CAVALRY.
At the date of last Report, Oct. 31st, 1864, this Regi- ment had been dismounted and ordered to Nashville, Tenn., and thence to Louisville, Ky., to reorganize and equip. It remained there until the latter part of December, during which time it had been remounted, fully equipped and fur- nished with new Spencer's carbines, the Regiment numbering twenty-three officers and six hundred and ninety-six enlisted men. On the 28th of December it marched from Louisville, through Mt. Washington, Bardstown, New Haven, Elizabeth- town, Sonora and Mumfordsville, crossing Green River and passing through Woodsonville, Cave City, Bowling Green and Mitchelville, arriving at Nashville, January 8tb, 1865, where it remained three days, making preparations for continuing the march. On the 12th it broke camp and commenced the march, passing through Nashville, Franklin, Spring Hill, arriving near Columbia on the 13th, and remaining there until the 18th, when it crossed the river and marched through Columbia and bivouaced. On the 19th the march was re- sumed, taking a south-westerly course at Mt. Pleasant, arriv- ing at Gravelly Springs, Alabama, on the 25th, where it com- menced building camp quarters for the men, and stables for the horses. There the men suffered for some time for want of rations, it being impossible to obtain a supply, and in conse- quence they were under the necessity of living on parched corn for several days. The Regiment remained at Gravelly Springs during the month of February and part of March, engaged in erecting huts and stables, which were completed, some of the time being employed in drill. During the early part of March preparations had been made for active service, and on the 12th the command broke camp at 12 P. M., and reached Waterloo on the 13th, crossing the Tennessee River to Eastport, Miss. It remained there until the 22d, and then commenced its march southward, over mountains, crossing rivers and creeks, and through swamps, building miles of corduroy road, reaching the Black Warrior River on the 29th, and which was that day
61
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
crossed by swimming the horses, losing one man and between thirty and forty horses. During the night the Locust was crossed in the same manner. On the 31st the command crossed Shades Creek and the Cahawba River, passing the battery over the railroad bridge, after it had been laid with ties, losing five or six mules and horses by their tumbling over the nar- row bridge and falling nearly a hundred feet, killing them in- stantly. The Brigade to which the Regiment was attached being in the rear of its Division, the 2d, the 4th Division, hav- ing the advance, became engaged with Forrest's command, and had a sharp fight on the 1st of April, near Mulberry Creek, capturing three pieces of artillery. On the same day the Reg- iment, with its Brigade, crossed the Big Mulberry, and about midnight encamped at Plantersville. On the 2d the Brigade, being in the advance, started at 4 o'clock. A. M., on the direct road to Selma, distant about twenty miles, reaching the forti- fications in front of that place at 2 P. M. on the same day. They were found to be stronger and more perfect than those at Atlanta, consisting of an inner line of redans and redoubts, mounted with 12-pdr. Howitzers and 20-pdr. Parrots. The main and outer line, which extended entirely around the city, from river to river, consisted of twenty-five redoubts, or bas- tions, connected by curtains, the parapet being about twelve feet high, and surrounded by a ditch and well built palisade, in front of which was swampy ground, partially covered with abattis. These works were defended by General Forrest, with a force estimated at nine thousand, but claimed by the enemy to be only seven thousand. The 2d Division, in which was the 4th Michigan, was ordered to assault the works on the Sum- merville road, and the 4th Division those on the Plantersville road. About the time the assault was to take place the rear of the 2d Division was attacked by Chalmer's Division of Rebel Cavalry. The 3d Ohio and 72d Indiana, with a portion of the 98th Illinois, were immediately detached to hold them in check, leaving in the 2d Division only about 1,483 men to make the assault. It however moved forward, under a terrific fire, going
62
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
at the work with a cheer, and had possession of the main line in twenty minutes, losing in that brief space of time, 324 in killed and wounded. General Long, commanding the Division, had been shot in the head shortly after the Division moved to the assault, Colonel Minty, of the 4th Michigan, assuming com- mand, leading the Division in the assault, and is reported to have been the first man to get inside the works alive. The Rebels were soon swept from the main line of works, and then the inner line of redans was carried in detail by assault, and possession had been gained of the entire inner line when the 4th Division reached the outer works. The result of this gallant affair was the capture of the city, with 25 pieces of artillery in position, besides seventy-five pieces in the Navy Yard, with a large amount of ammunition and stores, together with other property, and twenty-eight hundred prisoners. The Regiment remained at Selma until the morning of the 7th, assisting in building pontoons, when the Division crossed the Alabama River. On the night of the 12th it crossed Big Swamp Creek on pontoons, built from the planks of a house which had been pulled down for that purpose. Proceeding onward the city of Montgomery was reached, and peaceably taken possession of by the 1st Division. The Regiment, with its Brigade, marched through Columbus on the 17th, which had been assaulted and taken by the 4th Division on the previous night. Pushing for- ward towards Flint River with a view to saving the double bridges on the Macon road, marching all night, reaching there at 6.A. M. on the 18th, where a gallant sabre charge was made by one battalion of the 4th Michigan, carrying the bridges, and taking prisoner every man of the Rebel battalion which had been left to destroy them.
On the the 20th the 2d Division, to which the Regiment was attached, being in the advance, after marching twenty-seven miles, found the enemy, and driving him rapidly for eighteen miles, at about 6 P. M. the advance Regiment entered Macon at the gallop, surprising a Battalion of Rebel cavalry and receiving the unconditional surrender of Major General
63
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
Howell Cobb, with his entire" force, consisting of five general officers, three hundred and seventy-four other commissione d officers, and nineteen hundred and ninety-four men, with sixty- two pieces of artillery, together with large and important arsenals, foundries and machine shops. At that point the notice of the surrender of the Rebel Armies having been re- ceived, the further progress of the command was terminated. On the 7th of May, Lieut. Col. Pritchard was directed by Col. Minty to proceed with the Regiment as rapidly as possible to Spaulding, in Irwin Co., and picket the Ocmulgee river from Hawkinsville to the mouth of the Oconee river, for the pur- pose of preventing the escape of Jefferson Davis, who was then supposed to be making his way to the Atlantic coast, and if he got on his track to follow him wherever he went, and to capture or kill him without fail. At Abbyville he became satisfied that Davis had already crossed the Ocmulgee, and ascertained that the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry was following him closely in the direction of Irwinsville. With one hundred and fifty-three of the best mounted men of the Regiment he followed the line of the Ocmulgee for some miles, and then took a bridle path, or blind road, through the woods towards Irwinsville, and arrived at that place about 2 o'clock A. M. on the 10th, and found that Davis had not yet passed. Pretend- ing to be a part of his escort, Colonel Pritchard gained infor- mation from a Rebel citizen that Davis was encamped in the woods about three-fourths of a mile north of the town. The camp was at once surrounded, and at about 3 o'clock A. M. the force closed in and captured him and his party. Davis at- tempted to escape, disguised in his wife's traveling cloak, with a shawl thrown over his head, but private Adrian Bee, of Company "L," and Corporal Munger, of "C," espied his mili- tary boots beneath his feminine attire, and commanded him to halt. The following morning, while enroute for Macon with the captives, information was received of the proffered reward of $100,000 for his capture. On arriving at Macon, Colonel Pritchard, Captain Hudson, Lieut. Stauber and Lieutenant
.
64
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Purinton, with twenty-two men, were detailed to escort Davis to Washington, D. C. The Regiment remained at Macon until the 21st, when it was started enroute for home, feeling that in the capture of Jeff. Davis it had indeed finished its work. It passed Lovejoy's Station, where nearly twelve months be- "fore, it had, during the Kilpatrick raid, made its bloody charge; thence it passed Atlanta, Marietta, Kenesaw, Big Shanty, Noonday Creek, Alatoona, Kingston, Dalton, Chicamauga, Chattanooga, Tullahoma, Shelbyville, Murfreesboro, Stone river, and on the 17th of June reached Nashville. At all of these points, while moving, it had been engaged with the enemy. On the 1st of July the Regiment was mustered out of service and paid off at Nashville, and immediately pro- ceeded, via Louisville, to Detroit, arriving there on the 10th of July.
In addition to the information given in the foregoing sketch, relative to the capture of Jefferson Davis, the Reports of "Colonel Pritchard, with other papers in relation thereto, are hereafter inserted, giving in detail the operations of the Regiment in connection with that important affair.
BATTLES AND SKIRMISHES.
Stamford, Ky., Oct. 14, 1862.
Gallatin, Tenn:, Nov, 8,
Lebanon 9,
Rural Hill, ‘ 46 15,
Baird's Mill, " " 30, 66
Hollow Tree Gap, Tenn., Dec. 4, 1862. Wilson's Creek Road, " " 11, 66
Franklin, 66 " 12,
Rural Hill, 66 " 20, 66
Chattanooga, 66 Nov. 17,
Cleveland, 68 Dec. 12, 66
Mission Ridge, Nov. 25, ."
Tunnell Hill, Georgia, Jan. 28, 1864. Farmer's Bridge, 66 May 15,
' Stone River, Lavergne,
" Jan. 1, 1863. Kingston,
" 18,
Manchester Pike,
" 5,
Dallas, 66 " 24,
Harpeth River,
Villa Ricca, "' 26,
Cumberland Shoals,
" 12, " 13,
Chicamauga, Tenn., Sept. 19, 20, 21, 1863.
Rossville, Ga., Sept. 22, 1863.
Cotton Port, Tenn., Sept. 30, 1863. Smith's Cross Roads, Tenn., Oct. 1, 1863.
Hill Creek, Tennessee, Oct. 3, 1863. McMinnville, : 4, "
Wilson's Creek, " 21,
· Lavergne, 66 “ 26,
Jefferson's Bridge, Nashville Pike, 66 «?30,
" 27, 66
66 " 31,
Arundel Creek,
"' 16,
Lost Mountain,
"4 27,
65
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
Bradyville, Tennessee, Jan: 21, 1863. Big Shanty, Georgia, June 9, 1864.
Woodbury, " " 22,
McAffee's X Roads, " " 11,
Rover,
4 " 31, 66 Noonday Creek, 16 " 19, 66
Charlotte, " Feb. 6,
Lattimer's Mills, 16 " 20, 66
Rover,
1. 4 13,
66
Noonday Creek, 1.6 “ 23, 66
Auburn,
" 19,
Kenesaw Mountain, "
4: 27,
Liberty,
66 " 20, 66 Rosswell, 66
July 4, 66
Unionville,
" Mar. 4, 66 Lebanon Mills,
" 14,
Thompson's Station,
"' 9,
Stone Mountain, 66 " 18,
Rutherford Creek, 66 " 10,
Duck River,
66 6 11,
Flatt Rock,
“ 27,
Prosperity Church,
" April 2,
66
Flatt Rock,
Liberty,
יו
" 3,
66
Siege of Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 1 to 14, "
Snow Hill,
66
" 4,
66
Jonesboro, 66
19,
Statesville,
" 22,
66
Lovejoy's Station, " 16 20,
Alexandria,
" 23,
66
McDonough's, 66
20, 66
Wartrace,
" 29,
66
Rosswell, 66
Sept. 26,
66
Middletown,
" May 22,
66
Sweet Water,
Oct. 2, 66
Wartrace,
" June 3,
Versailles,
" 10,
66
Lost Mountain,
5,
Cherry Valley,
" 16,
New Hope Church, "
7,
Shelbyville,
" 27,
66
Stilesboro,
66
11,
66
Hickory Creek,
" July 4,
Rome,
Rome, 16
16
12,
66
11 9,
66
Selma, Ala., April 2, 1865.
Sperry's Mill,
" 17,
Double Bridges, Ga., April 18, 1865.
Smith's Cross Roads, “ 4 21,
Reed's Bridge, Ga., Sept. 18, 1863.
Capture of Jeff. Davis, Ga., May 10, 1865.
REPORTS of Colonel and Bot. Brigadier General B. D. Pritchard, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, relative to the pursuit and capture of Jefferson Davis:
ALLEGAN, Dec. 9, 1865.
GENERAL-Enclosed please find copy of my Report to the War Depart- ment, of the Jeff. Davis Capture; also a secondary statement made to Gen. Minty, at his request, supported by affidavits, which was made to meet in partithe false and unmanly charges of Col. Lagrange in his endorsement of Lt. Col. Hamden's Report.
I regret that I am not able to give you a full list of the names of all the men who participated in the capture, but it was sent up to Washington by Gen'l Minty during my absence to Washington with Davis, and I have never been"able to obtain one as yet. As soon as I do I will furnish you a copy.
9
" 28, 19,
Fair Oaks,
McMinnville,
" 21,
Moses Creek, $6
3,
12, 66
Tullahoma,
Rock Island, Sparta,
" Aug. 2,
Blue Pond,
21,
Macon, Ga., April 20, 1865.
Covington, 66 1 22,
66
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Hoping you will pardon my long delay in complying with your request, which has been occasioned by unavoidable absence, I have the honor to subscribe myself,
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) B. D. PRITCHARD.
To BRIG. GEN'L, JOHN ROBERTSON, Adit. Gen'l Michigan.
HEADQUARTERS 4TH MICH. CAV'Y DETACHMENT, Washington, D. C., May 25, 1865. ---
HON. E. M. STANTON, Sec'y of War, Washington, D. C .:
SIR-I have the honor to report that in obedience to orders received* from Col. R. H. G. Minty, Comdg. Division, I left Macon, Ga., at 8 o'clock P. M., on the 7th inst., in command of the 4th Michigan Cavalry, with a. numerical strength of 419 men and 20 officers, with directions to move- down the south bank of the Ocmulgee river, from 75 to 100 miles; to take- possession of all the ferries below Hawkinsville; picket the river as far as the strength of my regiment would permit, and to scout the country on both sides of the river, for the purpose of capturing Jeff. Davis and party, who was reported to have left Washington, Ga., on the morning of the 4th inst., traveling southwestward with an intention of crossing the Ocmulgee at some point between Hawkinsville and Jacksonville, or to capture any other Government parties, who might be fleeing from Richmond, in that direction. I marched the command all night and until 8 o'clock A. M. of the 8th inst., having marched thirty-six miles, when I halted five hours, rested and fed my command. Moving on again at 1 o'clock P. M., I marched fifteen miles further, and encamped for the night three miles below. Hawkinsville, having marched 51 miles inside of 24 hours, including all halts. At 4 o'clock A. M. of the 9th inst., I moved my command out in the- direction of Abbyville, which place I reached at 3 o'clock P. M., and where I discovered the first traces of the object of our search. Here I learned that a train of twelve wagons and two ambulances had crossed the Ocmulgee river at Brown's ferry, 12 miles above Abbyville, about 12 o'clock on the previous night; had stopped at Abbyville long enough to feed their. animals, and moved on again before daylight in the direction of Irwinsville.
I here met Lt. Col. Hamden, of the 1st Wis. Cavalry, who informed me that he, with a force of seventy men, was following on the track of the train, and that his men were from one to two hours in advance, and as Col. H. said he had ample force to contend with that supposed to be with the train, I decided not to move on the same road with him, and continued my course three miles further down the river, where I learned additional facts regarding the character of the train and the parties with it, which convinced me that it belonged to some of the parties for whom we were
1
67
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
looking; and at once determined to pursue by another road, which I had also learned of after leaving Col. H., which led into Irwinsville by a cir- cuitous route, believing that if they were hard pressed at any time, they would pass from road to road, to baffle the efforts of their pursuers, and as they were reported as doing before crossing the river. Accordingly I or- dered a detail of 128 men and seven officers, (besides myself,) of the best mounted men in the command, leaving the rest of the Regiment under command of Captain Hathaway, directing him to picket the river, scout the country, &c., in accordance with former orders.
At four o'clock I put the column in motion, moving down the river road a distance of twelve miles to a point known as Wilcox's Mills. Thence by a blind woods road, through an almost unbroken waste of pine forest, for & distance of 18 miles in a southwesterly direction, to Irwinsville, which was reached about one o'clock on the morning of the 10th inst. Here passing my command as Confederate, and inquiring for " our train," representing that we were a rear guard left to fight back the Yankees, &c., I learned from the inhabitants that a train and party meeting the description of the one re- ported to me at Abbyville, had encamped about dark, the night previous, about 12 miles out on the Abbyville road. I at once turned the head of my column in that direction, impressing a negro for a guide. After moving to within one and a half miles from the camp, I halted under cover of a slight eminence, dismounted 25 men and sent them under command of Lieut. Purinton to make the circuit of the camp, and gain a position in its rear, and thus cut off all possibility of escape, and with special directions to execute the movement if possible; without discovery but if discovered and an alarm was raised, I would immediately charge the camp from the front, when he was to operate with his command from any point which he might occupy. That if no alarm was raised I should consider that he had gained the position directed, where he was to rest until I should commence the attack from the front. I had not decided at this time whether to move upon the camp at once, or to wait until daylight; but upon further consideration, decided to delay it, as it was now after two o'clock in the morning, the moon was getting low, and the deep shadows of the forest were falling heavily, rendering it easy for persons to escape undiscovered to the woods and swamps in the darkness. After waiting an hour or more, and just as the earliest dawn appeared, I put the col- umn in motion, and was enabled to approach within four or five rods of the camp, undiscovered, when a dash was ordered, and in an instant the whole camp, with its inmates, was ours. A chain of mounted guards was imme- diately thrown around the camp, and dismounted sentries placed at the tents and wagons. The surprise was so complete, and the movement so sudden, that none of the enemy were able to make the slightest defense, or even arouse from their slumbers in time to grasp their weapons which were lying by their sides, before they were wholly in our power.
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