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 8
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About this time information was received through a negro, that the rebels had the day before, burned the bridge at New Albany, on the T.Hahatchie, and that a rebel force was moving to intercept Smith's army.
The 24 Illinois and the 21 New Jersey were hurried forward to hold the crossing of the river. They arrived there without interruption, and found the bridge nudisturbed. The 24 and let brigades arrived and had all crossed except the 7th Indiana. A, it was about to cross, Gen Grier-on rode up, and asked for reinforcements for Col. MeCrillis, who was reported to be en- gaged with the enemy. The 7th Indiana was ordered back to
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his assistance. It soon met the Colonel's brigade, and was form- ed in a favorable position and awaited the expected attack. The 3d brigade passed by, and after remaining in its position for au hour, an order came for the regiment to fall slowly back to the river. The commanding officer could not complain that the or- der was not obeyed in its very spirit. Horses that had hal no rest, tood or drink for forty-eight hours, could not be expected . to move otherwise than slowly. It crossed on the bridge, set it on fire, to prevent pursuit, and moved on without stopping, till midnight, and then only for a short time. Near the crossing of the Tippah. the rear guard was attacked by about two hundred Guerrillas, two men were killed, one wounded, and two taken prisoners. The command formed in line of battle and awaited the attack. But none was made. This was the last annoyance from the enemy, except that occasionally a straggler was shot by " bushwhackers." The brigade crossed on the same bridge constructed on going out, and burned it and obstructed the ford. and pushed on towards Holly Springs. Marching one day and night, the Brigade reachel its off camp ground at Collierville on the evening of the 25th of Feornary. From there it march- ed to Camp Grierson, near Memphis, arriving there on the 27th. Thus ended this ill stared expedition. It was a miserable fail- ure and a disgrace to our national arms,
Some have attempted to make it appear that the expedition accomplished all it was designed to accomplish .; and having done so, retired. to Memphis. For proof of this they reter to the large amount of property destroyed. and the throng of negroes that swarmed in from the plantations, and followed the army to and from West Point. But it is poor generalship, that will fail in the accomplishment of the chief object of a catapaign, for the sake of securing results of minor importance.
That Gen. Sherman keenly felt Gen. Smith's failure, the fol- lowing extract from his memoirs will show :
"At the same time, I wanted to destroy General Forrest, who with an irregular force of cavalry, was constantly threatening
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Memphis and the river above, as well as our routes of supply in Middle Tennessee. . In this we hauled utterly, because General W. Sooy Smith did not fulfill his orders, which were clear and specific, as contained in may letter of instructions to him of Jan- mary 27th, at Memphis, and my personal explanations to him at the same time. Instead of starting at the date ordered, Febru- ary let, he did not leave Memphis till the 11th, waiting for a regiment that was ice-bound near Columbus, Kentucky; and then when he did start, he allowed General Forrest to head bim off and to defeat him with an inferior force, near West Point, be- low Okolona, on the Mobile and Ohio railroad.
We waited at Meridian till the 20th to hear from General Smith, but hearing nothing whatever, and having utterly de- stroved the railroads in and around thas junction, I ordered General MePherson to move back slowly toward Canton. With Winslow's cavalry, and Hurlbut's infantry, I turned north to Marion, and thence to a place called . Union,' whence I dispatch- ed the cavalry farther north to Philadelphia and Louisville to frel as it were tor General Smith, and then turned all the in- fantry columns toward Canton, Mississippi. On the 26th we all reached Conton. but we had not heard a word of General Smith, nor was it until some time after (at Vicksburg) that I learned the whole truth of General Smith's movement and of his failure. Of course I did not and could not approve of his conduct, and I know that he yet chafe- under thecentre. I had set so much store on his part of the project that I was disappointed, and so re- ported officially to General Grant. General Smith never re- gained my confidence as a mother, though I still regard him as a most accomplished gentleman and askilltul engineer. Since the close of the war he has appealed to me to relieve him of that censure, but I could not do it, because it would falsify history."
The facts since disclosedl. inxke it apparent that Gen. Smith could have placed himself in commanincation with Sherman. The same fighting that was done to cover his retreat, would have defeated Forrest, and driven him back into the arms of Sherman. 9
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General Sherman fulfilled to the letter his part of the cam- paign. He attacked Polk so vehemently, that he had no time to rest till he was driven across the Tombigbee, at Demopolis. He had given ont on his line of march that Mobile was his ob- jective point. Not only Polk, but also Johnson in front of Gen. Thomas, believed that that way the point he was aiming for, and the latter sent a detachment to assist the former in defending Mobile. On the 20th, the day on which Gen. Smith way driv- ing Forrest before him to West Point, Gen. Sherman was moving a part of his command northward purposely to cooperate with bim. On this day it was known, even to the private soldiers of General Smith's force, that the rebel General Polk had been driven across the Tombigbee. Gen. Smith ought to have known that Gen. Sherman would so maneuver his command as to ren- ler him all possible aid.
When Gen. Smith commenced his retreat on the morning of of the 21st, Gen. Winslow's cavalry was at Louisville, Missisip- pi, only forty-five miles distant, and Forrest's army lay betw-eu two hostile forces. The retreat was a surprise to every officer in the command.
The cavalry force under Gen. Smith was organized with great care. It was composed of picked men, mounted on fresh horses, and armed with new and improved weapons. It lett Memphis feeling it-elf invincible, but returned a demoralized
It was the cherished object, not only of Gen. Sherman, but also of Gen. Grant, to completely destroy Forrest's army. Gen. Suoy Smith was selected as the man who could and would ac- complish this great result. He failed ignominiously.
The casualties of the 7th. in this expedition were as follows:
Killed-John Elmer, of Co. D; Sergit John Rowiett, of Co. E. Privates, James M Jackson and Charle- E. Purple of Co. F; Corp'l Jacob E. Shirley, and Private William N. Cole, Co. G: Privates John II. H. M Clellan, Abraham Garber, and Albert St. John, and Corp'l John W. Burger, of Co. 1; George W. Would, Co. M .- 11.
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Wounded-First Lieut. Francis M. Way, Co. B: Second Lieut. Jacob C. Skirvin, Co. D; Privates John L. Babcock, Stillman Andrews, Berzillia Horner, and William Monseholder. Co. A: Private John F. Shirley, Co. B: Privates Levi Oliver and Na- thaniel Miller, Co. C: Privates George Frederick, John Fitch, Israel Warner. Jonathan Swisher, Co. D; Privates Dennis J. Peer, George Dudley, and David Sweigart, Co. F: Privates Jacob Miller, Isaac H. Traitt, leane Needham. Dan Desing. Henry Stewart, Co. G: Serg'ty Robert G. Smithers and James Chisim, Co. H: Serg'ts Adoniram Carr and Henry C. Clifford. Corp'l George E. Joues, and Privates Erasmns H. Chaplin, De- lancy A. Dockham, Co I; Serg't Lafayette Burket, Co. K; George Antle Co. M .- 30.
Wounded and taken Prisoner-Capt. John R. Parmelee, and First Lient. John Donch. Co. A ; First Lient. George R. Kenne. dv. Co. C: Absolem MeCarty, Co. A1; William R. Shoemaker, Co. G .- 5.
Taken Prisoners-First Serg't Cornelius O. Neal. James Fa- heart, John Johnson. Luna Maulsby. Isaac Margeston, Co. A; George D. Huffman, Co. D: Corp'l Morris Kelley, Henry Oppe. George Rush, Henry Carther, Co. C: Franklin D. Wagner, Co. D; Andrew F. Lakin, Issue Bubb, Samuel Downing, Hezekiah Stont. Co. G : James Walton, Co. H: John Tignor, Elisha Swords. Joseph Ringold. Charles A. Younce, Sylvester Michael, Samuel Whitten, Lewis Robinson. Alexander Walker, William F. Mor- rison. Brantley Ravie. William MeGathrie, Co. I: Elias Branch- ren. John MeRea. William H. Chew. Co. K : Henry C. Primar. William Felson. Co. L: Joseph Linnenweber, Edmund West, Wiseman Vest. William Ware, Co. M .-- 36. Total, 82.
The whole number of the regiment engaged in the battle of Okolona was 818. It lost over one tenth of its members. Most : the wounded were lett on the field. And unavoidable fell into the hands of the enemy. Lient Douch. of company A, was shot through the body. Ho was carried back some distance, but was Badly abandoned, as there were no means of making him along.
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Subjoined is the official report of Col. Browne, of the part taken by the 7th in the expedition to West Point, and battle of Okolana:
HEAD-QUARTERS SEVENTH INDIANA VOL. CAVALRY, ) CAMP GRIERSON. TENN, March 12. 1864. 1
Lime A. Verim, A A. A. G.
In submitting the following report of the part taken by this regiment in the late cavalry expedition made to West Point. Mississippi. I have to regret the absence of Col. J. P. C. Shanks. who was, during all the time. in command. but who is now ab- sent in consequence of illness induced by the hardships and ex- posures incident to the wuarch. Having. however, been constant. ly with the command myself, I hope to be able to give the ma- terial facts with reliable ao uragy. Nothing of interest trans pired on the warch in which this regiment was concerned, indo- pendently of the brigade, until its arrival at the first camp be- vond Okolona. On the morning of the Jerk of February. the S battalion, constring of Companies B. F. Den H. in com- mand of Mod. Shownach wa detailed to return to Okolong and destroy the rainval, depet, de at that place and north of it. Pursuant to hi- instructions be destroyed a bridge on the Mo- bile and Ohio raffred of flour Noy feet in length, five miles north of town, barned the depar taty barrels of salt, a ware- hon e containing a large quantity of Contolerate corn, and de- struved a locomotive at Okolota and after capturing about fifty bore- and wodes nojotte ! the command on that evening.
On the evening of the same dov. Cour. Elliott with companies M and A ander tructions. destroyed twenty-three large cribs. contain : Custodeat - atthe corn, which had been placed for shipment. by the ide o! the railroad near Egypt Station. The quantity of court. fale destroyed was nummertre, but I would at ventare an oponen a to the moonaber of mu-nels. On the rathe day Caut. Elliott destroyed there hodges of considerable size. on the Mobile and Ohio, ra.load between Egypt and Prat-
agence was engaged with
i Mele wis marel rapidly
, ient of The road.
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OOL BROWNE'S OFFICIAL REPORT
for the purpose of ascertaining the position of the enemy, The were reported to have been recently seen in that direction A march on the double-quick of five or six miles, brought us at dark to the place selerted for the night's bivonac, without our having discovered the enemy in force.
On the 21st, on the return to Okolona. the regiment was placed in the column of march at the rear of the Ist brigade, the 2d battalion constituting its rear guard. Toward evening the enemy appeared in considerable numbers on our right Hank and made a demonstration upon our rear guard. but two com- mnies being promptly thrown out to meet them. they retired withont attacking. At this time the regiment was ordered to the year to the assistance of the ed brigade, which had been. during much of the day, engaged. It was countermarche l. and proceeded rapidly to the rear, when the enemy was discovered upon the right, miching in a direction parallel to our column. Maj. Beck fired noon and drove in their dankers, when they retired to a sater distance, but a more vigorous attack for which we bad prepared was prevented by the character of the intervening ground. The 2nd brigade arriving in the moon- time. we were ordered to rejoin our brigade. On this day. Caps Elliott, in command of a sin ul detail of forragers, was attacked near the roadside by an equal number of the enany, when it> charged upon them with somonch soirit that be killed one. wounded two severely, captured six prisoners with their how ... Army and equipments, bringing them safely to the command ho not having lost a man.
On the 20, the regiment was again placed in the rear of the tricade and of the train of contrabands, and captured botten and mules. Upon arriving neat Okolona, the enemy .was .... overed upon the right in the open prairie moving in the edthe freation with ourselves, but keeping the embankment of the railroad between them and ns.
Br. General Grierson's ord -: the regiment moved to the rizo: teplowing company Has skirmishers, which soon became en- Bond with those of the enemy. Moving rapidly forward throwin The centre of the town to the north side it torraed in line . mitle. the enemy forming in its front to the east, and still ... avg dorely the ratroad mobankment. The first battalion but : brak skirmish of a few minutes duration with their skimman- driving them randy back upon their line. Otier r-se
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in position, and everything seemed to indicate that an engas- ment was at hand. This regiment having been withdrawn from the brigade, left the rear of the train exposed and measurably unprotected. therefore after occupying the above position for some time, we were, by Gen. Grierson's order. relieved by anoth- other regioent, and directed to resume our place in the column of march. This order was being executed. but we had moved but a few miles from Okolona before a portion of the force left in our rear, came forward in the wildest imaginable disorder and contusion, having been attacked and driven back by the enemy. The Ist battalion was immediately thrown in line across the road, the 2d and 3d forming for its support in its rear Our oficer- now used every reasonable exertion to rally and re- form the panic stricken and flying troops that came pouring un- on our lines. To accomplish this was impossible. Very soon the forces of the enemy made their appearance, and sharp skir. mishing at once ensned between them and the 1st battalion. They were held in check until we were directed to retire by order of Gen Grierson. The regiment then fell back stowir and in good order, by alternate battalions. for some destanes and then resumed its march in column. We had not proque tel far before the avalanch of stampeders again came rushing noou and past our column, when we again formed in line and again inet the enemy who was at this time presang the rear closely and in considerable force. The fighting at this time was short but brick. The command charged. drove the enemy back, but he- coming exposed to a severe tanking fire, and being nosupportel we were compelled to fall back. Here we lost several when in killed and wounded, among them Lient. G R. Kennedy of Co. (, who fell, gallantly leading the charge. He was left on the field. Here we also intheted considerable punishment upon the enemy. Falling back but a short distance. we again habe! and held our position till ordered back. Passing through the line formed in our rear by the other regiments of the ler h-iz- ade and a portion of the 2d brigade. Maj. Beck was ordered with two companies of the 1st battalion, and companies I and M hy Gen Smith. to the left to protect that dank. After gom A considerable distance and encountering no opposing force, on rejoined the regiment with his command a: Ivr Farm
It was now near sundown, and the enemy was pressing closely spon our reur. The regiment formed in line of battle, a port.or At it discounted as Iwent to the support of the Lottery of 1 ...
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4th Missouri regiment, which was in position. The dismounted men were soon afterwards ordered to their horses, and being again mounted, Gen. Smith gave the order "charge." No soo :- er had the command been given than Maj. Beck with companies A, E, and G, and Maj. Febles with companies I, K, and M. rode rapidly and gallantly forward to the very lines of the enemy. The nature of the ground prevented an effective use of the sabre, but the pistol was substituted and did most excellent service. By this charge the enemy was driven back, many men killed aud wounded and several taken prisoners. In it this command lost heavily, sustaining here the larger portion of its losses dur- ing the expedition. At this point and in this charge Lieut. John Donch of company A, Was mortally wounded [a mistake, he was not mortally wounded], and Capt. John R. Parmelee way either killed or fell a prisoner into the enemie's hands. His fate i- uot certainly known.
On the 23d we were ordered back from the crossing of the Tallahatchie to the support of the 2'nd brigade and took position, but the enemy having discontinued the attack, our services were Lut required. We quietly crossed the river, the bridge in our rear was burned and the ford obstructed. Nothing more ot in- trest occurred until the ensuing day. On this day the Ist brigade in charge of the trains marched on a different road 'rom the balance of the division, our regiment being in the rear v: the last brigade. We arrived without molestation nearly to the crossing of the Tippan river, when a small guard, thrown cut to protect the rear, was suddenly attacked by a considerable force of guerrillas. In this attack we lost one man killed, two wounded, and one taken prisoner. As soon as information of 'Ar attack reached the column, the regiment was marched back and put an position for their reception, but they made no further huile demonstration-, withdrawing quickly to the woods and the rear. The number of this force we conid not ascertain with entanty, but a captured contraband who had been the servant "i one of its offleers, put their number at 200. This ended the rx nting and interesting part of this expedition so far as this rey- ubent was concerned. From this point we marched without in- Setruption to our present camp, at which piace we arrived on the evening of the 27th of February.
Our losses in killed, wounded and missing was eighty-four, + ist of whom has already been furnished.
la conclusion allow me to say that under the most trying and
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disheartening cireninstances by which the command was sur- rounded, both officers and men behaved themselves admirabliv. To the officers both feld and line, much credit is due for the coolnes. and alaenty with which they executed every onder. Notwithstanding the disorder and contusion many times about it the regiment was at no time disorganized or demoralized. Respectfully submitted. THOS. M BROWNE. Lt. Col. Conad
CHAPTER IV.
GUNTOWN EXPEDITION.
Invasion of West Tennessee by Forrest-Gen. Grierson makes a, recognizance in force at Ruirigh. Tenn .- Skirmish and capture of color bearer - Retren to camp-Forrest concentrates at Tu- pelo. Miss-Gen. & D Sturges marches against him with eight thousand men- Reviews the regiment-Heavy skirmish- ing at Ripley-Col. Browne disindyes the rebels by a funk movement-Col Kurge en rounded on an Island in the Hutchi- ie river-Col. Browne goes to his reloj-Gen. Grierson discur- ers Forrest in position at Brices-Cross Roads-Battle commence- ed between Forrest and Greenam's caudry-Heroic conduct of Col. Browne and the ith Indiana-Holds its position for two how's, and remakes repeated attacks of the rebels-Infantry arrives and the remment withdrawn-Sturges overwhelmingly defeated-Retreat- Desperate fighting of the colored troops- Fight at Ripley-Return to Memphis-7th Indiana compli- mented by then Grierson.
The regiment on ity return from the expedition to West Point, was greatly exhausted by the fatigues and dangers it eu- dured and met. Many of the men became sick and were sent to the hospitals. The horses, from incessant marching, and tor want ot forrage on the expedition, were broken down, and scarce- ly fit tor service, and many of them died. Not more than one- fourth of the men were mounted. Those who were, were almost constantly employed on scouting duty, and in chastising the enerrillas who intested the woods and bottoms of the Nonconnah creek and the Coldwater. These pests, principally under the command of the notorious "Dick Davis, lurked about the picket posts, watching for opportunities to capture and kill the Tickets, and lay in wait in ambush for scouting parties, the country about those two streams atlording them ample facilities for that mode of warfare.
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Emboldened by his success over Gen. Soov Smith, Gen. N. B. Forrest, in March succeeding, began the invasion of West Ten- nessee, in which he attacked Fort Pillow, and put the garrison to the sword. A portion of his command approached Raleigh, a small town twelve miles north-east of Memphis.
Gen. Grierson with the Ist brigade, to which the 7th Indiana was attached, made a recognizance in force in that direction. He left camp near Memphis on the 24 of April and marched to Ra- leigh and camped for the night. On the 3d, he proceeded several miles on the road to Lagrange, Tenn .. and met the advance of the enemy. The regiments took the positions assigned them in line of battle. The 7th Indiana, under the command of Maj. Simon- son. dismounted and formed on the right of the road in a barn- yard, the log stable and corn-cribe therein, answering the purpose of block houses. A skirmish line was advanced in the field in front, and a slight fire occurred between it and a few rebel scouts. on an opposite hill. After that had ceased there was perfect quiet for a while, when unexpectedly, a body of about fifty reb- els, with yells, charged boldly down the hill into the federal line on the left of the road, took a color-sergeant and the colors he was bearing, ont ot the ranks and marched off with him. It was a cool andacions proceeding, and was so unexpected that the line attacked was taken by surprise. But the rebels were sufficiently punished for their temerity. They left on the field one man mortally wounded and carried away on their horses three others who were wounded They were permitted to ex- cape. After lingering there for an hour without seeing anything more of the enemy. the brigade hagan talling bank by regiment-, and camped on the same ground it occupied the night previons The next day it returned to camp in the vicinity of Memphis After the massacre at Fort Pillow, Forrest returned with his army to Mississippi, and in May succeeding, began massing st Tupelo, a force for some other enterprise.
General Washburn organized, at Memphis, an expedition to march against him, and placed it under the command of Briga. dier General S. D. Sturges.
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General Sturges had the usual reviews preceeding a campaign. As he won an unenviable reputation in the expedition about to be mentioned, a description of the manner in which he reviewed the 7th Indiana, and the effect it had on the men, may not be out of place Contrary to the usual custom. he reviewed it, br riding in a cab. in front of the regiment. The most that could be seen of him was his prodigious black mustache, occasional glimpses of which were had through the windows of the cab. Derisive remarks about him were made by the men. before he was scarcely out of hearing. On their return to camp, the men freely expressed their opinion, that under such a general the expedition would prove another failure.
His force consisted of nine regiments of infantry. some of them colored, twenty-four pieces of artillery, and two brigades of cav- alry, the latter under the command of Brigadier Gen. B. H. Grier- con. The entire force numbering in the aggregate eight thou- sand men.
The 7th Indiana, numbering three hundred and fifty men, that number being all that could be mounted on servicable horses, under the command of Maj. S. E. W. Simonson, joined the ex- pedition at White Station on the morning of the Ist of June. Both Col. Shanks and Lieut. Col. Browne were sick when the regiment started, and unable to go with it. The latter, however. overtook and assumed command of the regiment at Salem, Mis- wissippi.
From White Station, the army marched eastwardly along the Memphis and Charleston railroad to Lafayette, where it took a south-eastwardly direction, and passing through Lamar and Salem, arrived at Ripley, Miss., on the evening of the 7th of June.
At Ripley the 4th Towa cavalry having theadvance, encounter- ed a body of rebels, and in the skirmish that ensued, drove them through the town, and south of it two miles, where the rebels took a position on the crest of a hill, that could be reached by the road, only by crossing a bridge. covered by two pieces of artillery and a skirmish line, in close range in the woods on the hill. A heavy fire took place hewern the tek Jowa and the
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