USA > Mississippi > History of the Seventh Indiana cavalry volunteers, and the expeditions, campaigns, raids, marches, and battles of the armies with which it was connected. with biographical sketches of Brevet Major General John P. C. Shanks, and of Brever Brig. Gen. Thomas M. Browne, and other officers of the regiment; with an account of the burning of the steamer Sultana on the Mississippi river, and of the capture, trial conviction and execution fo Dick Davis, the Guerrilla > Part 10
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J. H. Ethott, Capt. Co. M, in lett lung and shoulder severely. James Sloan, Ist Lieut. Co. E, in right side and shoulder severely.
Company A-Killed, Serg't John Marsh, Private Lvmta Temple.
Company B-Killed, Edward Gray, George W. Gray. Miss- ing. George W. Smith.
Cowpany C-Killed, Corp. Josh MeCann. Wounded, Geo. W. Knapp in arm. Seth S. Heaton, sughtiy. Missing. Ferdi- nand Santz, Philander Under wood.
Company D -Wounded. Thomas Starkey in leg severely Compriny E-Kille 1. Daniel Vancamp. Wounded, Hum- phrey Davis slightly. Missing, Thomas J Updide. Company F-Missing, Corp. Win H. Fink. Comouny G-Killed, Timothy Kelley. Wounded. Adam Nelson slightly, Andrew Lakin severely. Missing, Seigt leg. W. Kennedy.
Company H-Wounded. John P. Baker. Missing. Wm. Win. beld.
Company I-Killed, Gideon Wing, orderly to Lt. Col. T. M. Browne. Wounded, Lom- Gerevan. Missing, James Cherry Company K-Killed, Valentine Becker. Misang. Joue J Collins, Uriah G. Harley, Julius Oppero, James H. Lewis.
Company L-Wounded. Sergt R M Beatly in thigh -- verely, Corp. Vance Mo Mangel m side severely, Calvin Griton in thigh slightly. Missing. Henry K Zook.
Company M-Missing. Joseph Walker, Olney N Ratts, Rolin W Drake, Asbury Longer.
There was only a detachment of some 840 of the regiment in the engagement, the balance being unable to accompany the ex- pedition for want of horses. We succeeded in getting most of our wounded off the field. Capt. Elhort was soseverely wound- ed that we were compelled to leave him some twenty-five ide: back, but he will be sent tor ated brought in under a Hag of truce
Very Respectfully, JOHN Q. REED. Lieut. and Acting Adj't.
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COL. BROWNE'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
The official report of Lieut. Col. Browne is here given : HEAD.QUARTERS SEVENTH INDIANA CAVALRY, ) CAMP AT WHITE STATION, June 16, 1864, L. Lieut. A. Vezin, A. A. A. G:
I herewith respectfully submit the following report of the 7th Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, as to the part taken by it in the L.te expedition of Gen. Sturges to Brices Cross-Roads, Miss., and che engagement that ensued at that place :
The regiment, 350 strong, in command of Maj. S. E. W. Si- maouson, joined the expedition at this camp on the morning of she Ist inst. It proceeded without serious interruption to St- lem, Miss .. at which place I overtook the command, on the after- noon of the fourth ( 4th) inst.
Nothing occurred of particular interest beyond the usual inci- denty of scouting and torraging until our arrival at Ripley. on the evening of the 7th inst .. at which place the advance of Gen. Sturges was fired upou by a small party of rebels. but being charged, ded precipitately through the town. and some two, Lnles to the south of it, where securing an advantageous position a the crest of a hill, which could only be opproacbed by pass- wy over a narrow causway. they made a stand, and for a short the obstinately contested a further advance. A portion of the AL Iowa cavalry having engaged thema in a spirited skirmish : an hour's duration, and having failed to drive the enemy, this regiment was ordered forward from the rear of the cavalry .Avision to the front. We moved forward at once, but met the demounted horses of the lowa regiment on the bridge coming io the rear, which fact delayed for a few moments our advance Arriving on the ground we were ordered to take a position on Se lett of the road and to move from thence forward and carry the hill. The ground upou the lett was of such a character bom marshes and ditches that it wasimpossible to maneuver the wghaent mounted. The regiment was at once formed in line. 'te men dismounted land moved forward to the hill, occupying it, the Betty retiring at our approach without firing upon us. It way ow dark. I ent tien. Grierson information of the situation of ASairs, and by his orders retired.
On the sth in-t., we proceeded with the Ich Mo. cavalry to Ruckerville to the reliet of Col. Karge. Meeniny the Color-i with his command a short distance beyond that place we return. 1. rejoining our forces on the same day at Kapley, where we camped tor the night.
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SEVENTH INDIANA CAVALRY.
On the 10th inet. at Brices-cross roads, Captains Branka aud Shoemaker were sent forward, by Col. Waring'y order, with fifty men, on the Tupelo road, to ascertain if possible, the where- abouts of the enemy. While they were absent the enemy were discovered in force in position but a short distance from us on the left hand road. The cavalry forces were moved into posi- tion. This regiment was placed by direction of Col. Waring, on the right of the road, supporting the battery of the 4th Mo. cat - alry, which was upon our immediate left. The position was well selected, being in the edge of a grove on elevated ground in the rear of a tence and having a large opon field! between us an I the enemy. Over this open space the enemy would have to pues to attack no. The regiment was dismounted and played in the rear of the fence and skirmishers thrown out into the open held in front. The enemy occupied a strong position on a wood- , el hill, immediately in front of which was a swamp, so that to nave attacked them with a cavalry force only. would have been Tastrona. We awaited them in our position, our skirmishre - and hartory, in the mean time, keeping up a very lively the. Fol Waring instructed me to hold the prison occupied by t- to the last extremity. The men were directed to lay close : the fence and reserve their tive until the event should be -bort range. While this was taking place, que ta demonstre. Bien was made by the energy upon the extreme lett, and by or- day of the Colonel Commanding Capr. John M. More, with ' li of this regiment was ordered mthat point. Soon after the E N. J. cavalry, which were np in our nete, was moved to other position leave this pin wand on the extreme right of .... ist brigade. At hal atter one meinek, p. m. and after we bert Leid this position some two bonrs and a half, the enemy ap- Broached our front and right in heavy tores. They had two lines of skirmishers and a line of infintry sporting them. In a moment, I discovered that il - nation could not be long he !! of me athout ceinturesmente, as they could overwhelm us with humhere. At the- time my command on'y numbered about tw . hundred and rights men, or worth of whom were holding I disparei ed an orderis to the Col. commanding. stany that a torce bo sent to tar right. but was itormed th reply that he had already disposent of every available man in the brigade, and that to give mne assistance was impossible. .
By this time the ruemy were advancing rapidly ....! su-tapting to turn our right. The regiment was rallied to the
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COL. BROWNE'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
right and soon the conflict became lesperair. But a few var.1: intervened between their line and ours, and indeed so close did they approach ns, that onr men in a few instances emplovel the bitts of their carbines in resisting their advance. At this point the enemy suffered severely as we conll see many of them fall before our five. It som became evident that we were being flanked on the right and that to hold our position much longer would be impossible. We had maintained our ground for noar three hours and the onemy's fire at such short range became murderous.
As our infantry were coming up and going into position, we were ordered to fall back, which we did in tan Wie gler.
While this was transpiring on the right, the more of Cars. Moore which had been sent to the len was by no means idls. He was constantly engaged skirmishing with the enemy until he rejoined the regiment near the wayou-train in the Year of the Press-ropls.
Upon leaving the Reid at the crossroads feeling too weak in or, finne longer in commutat, I turned it over to Maj. Spgono ...
please plement, coolness and bravery. both on the field and ..
n the epicengent retreat. I am meerly indebted.
Cren filling back on the Ripley road. Maj. Simonson a: I to take the regiment nel rejoin - is brigade at th- Arrivingat the brigade b. C.d. Maria's order, two batterie under the command of Cepts. Wright and Hubbard l the wh Sommerd in line on the crest of a E.l. « retaining bist thon in conmi to scadmed tothe left to hell the enemy to che! come to change to our rear. in t- the us antly Kindishing for about a
1 I met "to horse" under a beaver ..- it rc: alami one male to the rear, and again ; orier w Generat firierson, on the left. It remmirs; in tamil the intentry came up when it was of ere! sur bank. It then took of the march in the year of the
With the readthe of our torres .
wy at Colletvi ...
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SEVENTH INDIANA CAVALRY.
conduct of the embers and men of this command in the regiment. To name some when all did their duty so wel would be uninst. . Or the line officers Capt. Elliott of Co. "M.' and Lien't James Sloan of Co. "E." were seriously wounded while gallantly engaging the enemy. I regret deeply that we were unable to bring Capt. Elhott back to camp, but hope 1. may yet be brought sately to the command.
Our lo.s is as follows: killed, S: wounded, 16: missing. 17 .- a list of whom I have heretofore forwarded.
Very Respectfully your Obedient Servant. THOS. M. BROWNF. Lt .- Col. Com'd'2.
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CHAPTER V
EXPEDITION TO FORT GIBSON.
The Regiment goes to Vicksburg by Steamboat- Then Marche to the Big Block-Skirmish of Utien-Rebels Driven through Part Gibson-ith Indiana has a. Running Fight to Bagoa Pierce- Wirt Adams Repulsed at Grund Gulf-Ramen Returns to Memphis.
About the Ist of July, 1864, Gen. A. J. Smith organized an expedition to march against Forrest, at Tupelo, Mississippi. On the 14th, he encountered the rebels under Forrest at that place, and defeated them.
As a co-operative movement, the let Brigade, including the Tth Indiana Cavalry, was sent down the Mississippi river in transports to Vick-bing. and from there marched against Wirt Adams in the neighborhood of Port Gibson.
At twelve o'clock on the 4th of July. the regiment branco camp at. White Station and marched to M. mphis, where it embarked on steamboats.
On the morning of the 5th. the expedition started down :ho Mississippi. On the evening of the 7th, the command Misma- harked at Vicksburg and immediately started for the Big Box River, where it camped at midnight. The next day, the ent ra force under Gen. Sheum, crossed the Big Black. marchal to Paymond, and trom there to Utica, where the advance ancoy :- tored and drove a small body of rebels through the town, so I where the rest of the force arrived and camped for the night. The next day about two hundred rebels attached the packet hnes, and a spirited skirman of about an hour's duration resulted, when the rebels were pat to flight, loving several
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SEVENTH INDIANA CAVALRY.
to Fort Gibson. defeated a small force of rebels, and went into ramp near the town.
The next day Gen. Slocum, leaving the Tth Indiana and the 2d New Jersey Cavalry regiments under the command of Url. Shanks, as a rear guard, marched with the remainder of lus force to Grand Gulf.
About ten o'clock in the morning, the rebels attacked the picket lines, and a skirmish lasting for near an hour took place. Col. Shanks withdrew his force through the town, and hal scarcely quitted it, when the rebels were informed of his departure by the ringing of the church bells. Soon after, rio rebel cavalry were seen marching through the town in pursuit. The 7th Indiana Cavalry was placed in the rear, and slowly retreated by companies. When the rebels approached near enough, the company in the rear would fire a volley into them and retire, the next company would form face to the roar. and in like manner deliver a fire at the rebels when they pres !! too closely.
In this manner, the retreat was conlneed for several mnts: to Bayon Pierce, without the slightest diorder in the rint .. At the Bayou. the rebels, hoping to cut off the rear companies and capture them, elenged with yells apou the aro. All .. command had crossed the Bayon, except autority S.F. . ... Tth Juliana. It was formed year the body of the NET: Bed to the rear, so when the reds :. Br rip. . around a bend in the road, and a volter inta chan chuch. range, which caused them to halt. Jaghen gros of the .... and the regiment proceeded to Grand God end samedi.
After the 7th had crossed the Rayon, a regiment of valores troops were formed in an arabosende, into which the retri ra losing several in killed and wounded. The next merah a. ti. rebels attacked and dove in the packets, but were soon met ist the Fire: Briga le of Cavalry, and after losing thirty killed a .. 1 wounded, and a number of prisoners, withdrew. The prisoner
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'EXPEDITION TO PORT GIBSON.
force had departed for Vicksburg, determined to attack and capture the remainder at Grand Gulf. Contrary to his ex- je tations, Gen, Slocum was present with his entire force, and Adams was compelled to hastily retreat. The regiment, with the rest of the command, embarked on transports and went to Vocksburg.
From Vicksburg, the regiment went up the Mississippi, to Memphis, where it disembarked, and marched to its old comp at White Station, arriving there on the 24th of July.
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CHAPTER VI.
Fight at Tallahatchie river-Gen. Hatch pursues the rebel Gen. Chalmers to Oxford and returns to the Tallahatchie-Ist brug- ude of cavalry returns to Holly Springs-Capt. Skelton with thirty men attacks six hundred rebels at Lamar Station, in the night, and runs them through the town-Forrest's raid into Memphis-Gen. Washburn barely escapes capture.
In a few days after the return of the regiment from Vicky- burg, Gen. A. J. Smith, with ten thousand meu, consisting of in- fantry, cavalry and artillery, started once more in search of For- rest. He marched to Holly Springs and camped three or four days, while a detachment pushed ou to the Tallahatchie river, on the Oxford road, to repair the railroad bridge at that point The rebel Gen. Chalmers was there with his brigade, and inter- rupted the work on the bridge with a battery planted ou the south side of the river.
The 7th Indiana cavalry with the Ist brigade marched rapid !; from Holly Springs to the river. When several miles distant the boom of cannon was brand, and it was expected that an en- gagement would take place at the river. The regiment arrived there in the middle of the afternoon. Two companies, F and another, its letter the author is not able to recall, immediately crossed to the south side, and forming in skirmish line, advanced cautiously, and compelled the rebel sharp-shooters to take post- tion further from the river, where they could not to effectually annoy the pioneers at work on the bridge.
A lively skiriaish was kept up all the afternoon. But not withstanding, the work on the bridge progressed rapidly, and, by night, it was so far completed that troupe could cross on it. During a continuous fre troth the rebels, directed at the pio Leets, only two were slightly wounded. The skirmish was of 1
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EXPEDITION TO OXFORD.
comical character. A rebel sharp-shooter would fire at the men on the bridge, and exclaim, "How is that Yank?" The pio- neers would defiantly retort, " You have got to do better than that !" The skirmishers would watch for the smoke from the gun of a sharp-shooter, posted in a tree, and fire at it, and shout, "How do you like that, Reb?" The rebels, if no damage was done, would rejoin, "Oh, what shooting!" However, a sharp- shooter was seen to descend from a tree as if a ball had passed uncomfortably near. The rebels then withdrew to a safer dis- tance, and the serio-comic fight was ended. The companies of . the 7th Indiana recrossed the river and went into camp with the main army on the north bank.
Early the next morning, the cavalry, under the command of Gen. Hatch, crossed the river and started in pursuit of Chalmers. The latter was posted at Abbeyville, a small town two miles from the river. On the approach of the cavalry, the rebels opened fire with their artillery, and after a brief skirmish, aban- doned their position and retreated on the road to Oxford.
Occasionally through the day, when their rear was hotly pressed, the rebels faced about with their artillery and opened fire, but soon limbered up, and galloped off the field, on discov- ering preparations for a charge.
In the evening about an hour before sunset, one milefrom Ox- ford, the rebels posted their cannon on a hill, opened a brisk fire, and seemed determined to oppose the entrance of Gen. Hatch into the city. The 7th Indiana cavalry was ordered to the front and formed for a charge, but the rebels did not wait tor it, but hastily limbering up, lett Oxford to their left and started south. The '7th Indiana and another regiment passed through Oxford, and two miles south of it, but discovering noth- ing of the rebels, returned to the main column and birounced for the night.
Further pursuit of Chalmers was abandoned, and the next day Gen. Hatch returned to the Tallahatchie river. The 7th India- na, with the Ist cavalry brigade returned to Holly Springs. 13
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SEVENTH IVDIANA CAVALRY.
From there, Capt. Wright of company D, with a battalion of the Tth Indiana cavalry, was sent north on the railroad to recognoi- ter, and to disperse any Guerrilla parties that might interfere with the railroad. Capt. Wright marched to Hudsonville, where he halted, but sent Capt. Skelton with company F to Lamar Station on the railroad.
Capt. Skelton with but thirty men, arrived at Lamar about sundown, and bivouaced half a mile north of the town in a grove of young oaks. About ten o'clock that night, a scout, sent out by Capt. Skelton, discovered a body of rebels entering the town, and conveyed the intelligence to the Captain. Capt. Skelton, believing it to be a Guerrilla party, mounted his men, and started in pursuit. He encountered them at the railroad crossing at the edge of the town, and charged them so vigorous- ly and unexpectedly, that the entire force, numbering six hun- dred, was put to flight and driven pell-mell through the town and a short distance beyond it. This rebel force was Gen. For- rast's oll regiment, that he recruited and commanded when Colonel, and was composed of picked men. It was always relied upon by Forrest in a dangerous enterprise. Col. Kelley was in command of it. It was afterwards learned that this force was in- tended to dash into Memphis, ant at the time of its surprise. was on its way there; thus, Capt. Skelton had the honor of de- teating, for a time, the plan of Forrest to capture that place. The Captain lost the Author, wounded and taken prisoner, and another man wounded. The rebels lost several killed anl wounded, and at one time nearly one hundred prisoners were taken; but the rebels rallying, Capt. Skelton was compelled to retire and let them escape. The full particulars of this daring enterprise will be given in the sketch of Major Skelton.
Col. Kelley retreated to Okolona, Miss. Gen. Smith, with the grenier part of his army was at the Tallahatchie river, wait- ing for the repair of the railroad bridge and for the arrival of supplies, after which he marched to Oxford.
While at Oxford, Forrest, by a dextrous movement, slippe!
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bis army to the rear of Smith and suddenly appeared at Memphis, dashed into the city, killed a few soldiers and captured 200 prisoners. His stay was very brief-about twenty minutes. The federal troops, soon recovering from their surprise, rallied and Trove him from the city as rapidly as he entered it. Colonel Browne was in the city at the time and in a letter to a friend, gives the following faretious account of it: "I was in the city when Forrest took it, saw the whole affair, was shot at and had to vacate my position to sive my ' bacon.' I was quietly sleep- ing in our court room on my cot, when I heard the Sting com- mence. I put on my clothes and harried into the street to see what was up. I had gone but two squares before I discovered rebel cavalry charging on almost every street. It was just at day-break, and they got quite near me before I discovered who they were. Having on my uniforin and being unarmed, I thought 'distance would lend enchantment to the view' and I mizzled, but not until a few stray bullets admonished me that I occupied a position, that in a military sense, was wholly untena- Me. One bullet took out a window pane a few feet from me. The rebels just then were being kept very busy. Oar guards Were rallying in every part of the city and sending volley after volley into them. Our officers, who were in the city temporarily, wese cracking at them from the windows of the buildinga. Dead horses and men were soon visible on every street. The rebs did not stay long; they took some two hundred prisoners, killed shout ten of our men in town, and took two hundred horses, robbed a cigar stand at the Gayoso House and then run like the levil. There were probibly eight hundred rebs in town, an ! from two thousand to three thousand at the outskirts. Our forces soon rallied and pursued, and a very spirited fight took Place from three to five miles from the city. The rebs were "topped with a loss of fitty or sixty killed and an equal mother " prisoners. Teine it all together. they d: ! Lo? make msn.b soLey in the operation, and well prob.blv not try another rel a Memphis soon. Our feb. were really all way und ..
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Smith, and our Generals were taken by surprise. Washburn (Gen. Washburn) came very near being captured. He had to run to Fort Pickering minus his breeches."
There remained at White Station, when this expedition start - ed, and were there at the time of the capture of Memphis, a part of the 7th Indiana cavalry and of some other regiments, and would have fallen an easy prey to Forrest, if he had turned his attention to them. The fact that they were not molested shows the haste Forrest was in to get away from Memphis.
Aside from the complete surprise, this dash of Forrest's was devoid of any military results; while it must be conceded that a practicable joke was played ou Gen. Washburn, by compelling him to flee the city Jishabille, yet the langh comes in against Gen. Forrest, who was compelled to quit the city in equally as undignified haste, without tune to eat his dinner at the Gayoso House, where he registered his name. Gen. Smith received in- telligence at Oxford of the capture of Memphis, and began his return by forced marches. On the 20th of August the cavalry arrived, and, two days later, the infantry and artillery.
CHAPTER VII.
MISSOURI CAMPAIGN.
March to Brownsville, Arkansas, thence to Cape Girardam. Missouri, up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, into the Interior of Missouri, Chase of Price-Attack on the Rebel Rear-guard at Ind pendence-Seventh Indiana Fights for the Possession of a Corn field, at Big Blue, and Wins-Battle of the Little Orage. Brilliant Subre Charge-Pursuit of Price to the Marmiton, Attacked and Driven Across the River. Retreats to the Arkansas River-Cavalry Returns to St. Louis.
The junction of the rebel forces, under Gen. Price and Gon. Shelby, at Batesville, Arkansas, about the middle of September, 1864, threatened both Little Rock, held by the federal Gen. Steele, and the State of Missouri. It is probable that the anthorities at Memphis, believed Little Rock was the objective point of Price, for on the return of Gen. Smith to Memphis, the cavalry was ordered to Brownsville, Arkansas, and before it arrived there, Price revealed his intentions by starting north- ward toward Missouri.
With an army of about fourteen thousand men, and a good supply of artillery, he entered the State of Missouri about the 22 of September, on his last invasion, that proved disastrous both to his army and the rebel cause in Missouri. He marched to Bloomfield, thence to Pilot Knob. On the 20th of September. he failed to carry the latter place by assault, but, by occupying Shepherd Mountain, he compelled Gen. Ewing to evacuate Fort Ironton, near Pilot Knob. Gen. Ewing retreated to Harris Station, followed by Price. After marching to Richwood's, and Threatening St. Louis, Price started toward Jefferson City the State capitol.
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SEVENTH INDIANA CAVALRY.
A division of infantry under Gen. Mower, and the cavalry under Gen. Winslow, of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry, crossed the Mississippi near Memphis, and began their march for Browns- ville, Arkansas.
Five hundred men of the Seventh Indiana Cavalry, under the command of Maj. S. E. W. Simonson, joined this expedition. The men supposed they were going on a five days' scout toward Little Rock, but they did not return to camp at Memphis, until they had marched over the greater part of Missouri, and into the Indian Territory in pursuit of Price.
On the second day's march from the Mississippi, the com- mand crossed Black Fish Lake, on an old ferry, and birounced on its west shore. This lake is about a mile in width and very deep. Col. Karge, in his hurry to cross his cominand, over- loaded the boat with men of the Second New Jersey, and when near the centre of the lake, the boat sunk, and twelve men and horses were drowned. Proceeding on the march, the command reached St. Francis river, where it expected to meet transports with supplies, but the river being low, they had not arrived. The supply of rations being nearly exhausted. the command pushed on rapidly. The march for the next two days was through a desolate country, that yielded nothing in the way of food for the men. At White river, some cattle that had been picked up on the line of march, were slaughtered and dis- tributed to the men, who had to eat the meat withont salt. The command crossed the river at Clarendon in a steamboat, and marched to Brownsville, twenty-five miles from Little Rock, where it formed a junction with the army under Gen. Steele. and got supplies of rations and clothing. Gen. Stoele, thus reinforced, started north in pursuit of Price.
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