USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania volunteer cavalry which was recruited and known as the Anderson cavalry in the rebellion of 1861-1865; > Part 56
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The deserter from Forrest's escort is known to one of my old guides, who thinks he is reliable. .
Respectfully,
W. J. PALMER, Colonel Commanding.
P. S .- It is about sixteen miles from here to Stevens' Gap by the right-hand road of the two which fork here. The left goes to Lafayette, thirteen miles distant. None of the infantry or cavalry took the right- hand road, although it would be possible to go to Stevens' Gap by tak- ing a road to the right, five miles from here, on the Lafayette road. The people have not heard cannonading in the direction of Stevens' Gap, or any other direction, before it began since I got here this P.M. There has been no cannonading for fifteen minutes at Stevens' Gap.
W. J. PALMER, Colonel Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS ANDERSON CAVALRY, September II, 1863, 12 midnight.
LIEUT .- COL. C. GODDARD,
Asst. Adjutant General, Headquarters Dept. of the Cumberland.
Colonel,-I have the honor to report my arrival with the detachment of this Regiment from Gordon's Mills at the hour above stated. I came across the ridges and up the Chattanooga Valley, intersecting the main cove road at Macauley's, seven miles from Chattanooga. By the route I came the distance was sixteen miles.
On leaving Gordon's Mills, which I did a little before dark, by the road down the Chickamauga, I encountered two of the enemy's pickets, who fired three shots and then ran back far enough to enable our column to reach, without further molestation, the intersecting road by which we returned, which starts off one mile below the mills. The cannonading toward Stevens' Gap was not afterward heard. At the time I left Colonel Harker was just going into camp. He was expecting General Wood in the course of the night. This rebel cavalry had been all along the road we returned by during the day. We saw none, however. Their picket fires were seen everywhere as we came along. We crossed Missionary Ridge and Dry Valley Ridgc.
I delivered the deserters, six in number, to Colonel Harker, except the
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one on General Forrest's escort, whom I brought along and now have in camp.
I am, Colonel, your obedient servant,
WM. J. PALMER, Colonel Commanding.
CHATTANOOGA, TENN., September 29, 1863. COL. W. J. PALMER.
Colonel,-In obedience to your request I have the honor to report that an abundance of forage exists in the Sequatchie (Hog Trough) Valley, there not having been any forage trains in that section previous to the twenty-sixth day of September, when I reached there with my train. The inhabitants living on the ridge (Walden's) and in the valley (Sequatchie) report that corn is plentiful for a distance of thirty-six miles in length and two miles in breadth, the valley averaging four miles wide. As in most cases, the people living on the ridge are Union, . but in the valley rebel sympathizers are found. About seven miles from Chattanooga there is a gap in the mountain through which wagon trains pass in going to Bridgeport (over the Anderson road). At this place I determined to cross, but in consequence of the large number of wagon trains crossing I discovered that I would be likely to be de- tained for a long time, and therefore proceeded farther on to another gap (commonly called Poe's road), eight miles distant. It is a difficult road to ascend, the grades are very steep, and in many places large rocks project from the earth, which jar the wagons; the distance from the foot to the top of the ridge being one mile. On the top the road is good and level. The people are nearly all Union, but poor, and all prayerfully hope for an early termination of the war. But little forage exists on the mountain, and farm pursuits are greatly neglected. In descending the mountain into the valley (Sequatchie) the road is fully as steep as the one leading into the Tennessee Valley, but smooth, and less difficulty is experienced in ascending or descending, it being one and one-half miles from the top of the ridge to its foot, where lives one Mr. Henson, a wealthy man and a rebel. Out of his abundant corn fields we loaded our wagons. Along the entire route water is plentiful and springs are everywhere abundant. It is sixteen miles from Chattanooga to Poe's Gap (or Poe's Tavern), and eleven miles from the foot of the ridge on one side to the foot of the ridge on the other, making in all twenty- seven miles from Chattanooga to the foot of the mountain on Poe's road in Sequatchie Valley. The distance from Chattanooga to the top of Walden's Ridge (eighteen and one-quarter miles) can be made in one day. From this point (the eastern brow) wagons can go down, load up and return over the mountain to Poe's Tavern, at the eastern foot, in another day, and from Poe's Tavern they can return to Chattanooga in five hours, making for the round trip two and one-half days.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. S. CLARK, Capt. Co. E, Fifteenth Pa. Cav.
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WALDEN'S RIDGE, (Eastern brow, on Anderson road. eight miles from Chattanooga) October 3, 1863, I A.M.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL GARFIELD,
Chief of Staff.
General,-I find here the Colonel of the Twenty-first Kentucky with two of his companies that were left here this morning, and fragments . of all his remaining companies which were dispersed at the time of the attack by the rebel cavalry at 9 A.M. at Anderson's. He says his regiment was ordered to proceed to Anderson's to help trains up the mountain ; that he had hardly got there yesterday morning when he heard of the rebels in the valley; that he hurried down the mountain, but found the attacking party too large for him. He estimated it at two brigades, under Wheeler. He has taken several prisoners, all of whom state that there were two divisions present; also that Wharton's cavalry had gone over to McMinnville.
The Colonel estimates the entire loss of wagons at 300, being trains of General Rousseau, General Sheridan, the Anderson cavalry, and a small ammunition train of General Thomas' Corps. The rebels burned most of the wagons, and at about 10 A.M. left, taking the direction of Jasper. Negley's train, he says, passed over safely just before the attack. He has since learned and believes that Colonel McCook's cavalry arrived at Anderson's not long after the destruction of the wagons, and that they drove the rebels back up the valley. As this is confirmed by two of Colonel McCook's men who have just passed here on their way to Chattanooga, I take its truth for granted, and have concluded that it is unnecessary for me to go on farther on this road. I shall therefore return immediately to the foot of the mountain, and go on to the Poe road, in which direction I have already sent three companies.
Colonel Mitchell's brigade of Steadman's division has just arrived at this point, and expects to go on toward Anderson's in the morning. The Colonel of the Twenty-first Kentucky thinks a considerable number of his missing will turn up.
I am, General, yours respectfully,
WM. J. PALMER, Colonel Commanding Anderson Cavalry.
POE ROAD, (On western brow of Walden's Ridge, overlooking Sequatchie Valley, twenty- six miles from Chattanooga) October 3, 1863, 7 P.M.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL GARFIELD,
Chief of Staff, Headquarters Department of the Cumberland.
General,-I have just reached here by the Poe road, after picketing the eastern foot of the mountain at the several roads and bridle paths. I
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thought it possible the rebels, being hemmed in, in the Sequatchie Valley, near Dunlap, by General Crook's division above and Colonel McCook's below them, might attempt to break across to the Tennessee Valley by the Poe road or some of the adjacent bridle paths. But I find on arriv- ing here that the fight which took place between the rebel cavalry and Colonel McCook's yesterday evening was between Anderson's and Ther- man, and that the result was so much of a defeat to the enemy that they fled to the Cumberland Mountains by the Therman road and Hill road, leaving a considerable number of scattered parties cut off in the Sequatchie Valley, who are still wandering about there this afternoon.
The rebels were followed by our cavalry, and the fight was renewed on the Savage road, on the Cumberland Mountains, at daybreak this morning, and lasted with great severity for two hours, the cannonading at the close appearing, to be more distant than at first. The above is derived from the son of Squire Roberts, of Mclemore's Cove, whom we met on the road, he having come from the valley above Dunlap this morning.
A man named Welsh, a Union man in the valley, who saw them all pass his house, says the rebels numbered 8000. The statements in regard to the result of the fighting last evening, and of its renewal this morning at daybreak on the Cumberland Mountains, have been verified by the report of several other parties.
None of our troops are opposite this point in the Sequatchie Valley, all the cavalry having gone on in pursuit of the enemy. I shall start down the mountain into the Sequatchie Valley at daybreak to-morrow, by the Aleck's Gap road, the Poe road having been blockaded by fallen trees about half way down. The Aleck's Gap trace is three miles above this.
Twenty-two wagons of the Pioneer brigade are here waiting to go down after forage. Their escort will remove the obstructions early in the morning. If the above reports are true, this road should now be used by trains from Bridgeport to Chattanooga, as it is a much better road.
I am, General, yours respectfully,
WM. J. PALMER, Colonel Commanding Anderson Cavalry.
HEADQUARTERS ANDERSON CAVALRY, (At Roberson's, on Pikeville road, two miles north of Henson's or foot of mountain at Poe road)
October 4, 1863, 5 P.M.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL GARFIELD, Chief of Staff.
General,-I have my men picketing and guarding the two roads in the Sequatchie Valley, at points north of the Poe road and the trails lead- ing up the Cumberland Mountains, between the Roberson trail (nine miles north of Dunlap), which was taken by General Crook's division and
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Wilder's command, and the Hill road (opposite Dunlap), taken by General Mitchell with Colonel McCook and Colonel Campbell.
I caught up with General Mitchell on the last-named road on top of the mountain, two miles from the brow, at two P.M. to-day. He had just reached that point with the head of his column, the rebels having over a day the start. The rebels began going up the same road at three P.M. on Friday after the fight, near Anderson's, and kept going all night. At daybreak the next morning Colonel McCook caught up with them on top of the mountain, and, after a slight skirmish, recaptured 200 mules. The pursuit was not continued, and our men returned. Some of the rebels took the Therman road. General Crook went up the Roberson trace, evening before last, so that he should have headed off Wheeler's party that destroyed the trains.
I do not think over 2000 came down the Sequatchie Valley; they had no cannon. General Mitchell thinks Forrest went with the rest over the mountain from Pikeville toward McMinnville.
The loss of the rebels in the fight near Anderson's on Friday after- noon was 120 killed and wounded (sixty killed, chiefly with saber) and eighty-seven prisoners, including Wheeler's Assistant Adjutant General and some eight other officers.
The Second Indiana and First Wisconsin were the only regiments up at that time, and they charged them boldly with the saber.
The obstructions to the Poe road have been removed, and, I think, half the wagons should be sent around by this route to save time.
From Roberson's northward, on both sides of the river, there is abundant forage; none south of it in this valley. The rebel cavalry had not time to feed their horses while in it.
Colonel McCook recaptured in all 300 mules. The rebels got very drunk on the liquor they captured; some of them must be clothed entirely in our uniform now. I saw lids of boxes on the mountain marked "uniform, trousers," etc.
I shall remain at Roberson's for the present, and as we have no wagons left to haul forage, would it not be best for the Regiment to be stationed here until the deficiency can be supplied? Please answer. My men have no subsistence, but are living on the country. We had but one day's rations in Chattanooga when ordered out, and could not take three, as directed.
I have a Lieutenant and twenty men in the Tennessee Valley, at and near Poe's Tavern.
I am, General, yours, etc.,
WM. J. PALMER, Colonel Commanding.
Addenda. 657
HEADQUARTERS ANDERSON CAVALRY, (Roberson's plantation, eight miles above Anderson's) SEQUATCHIE VALLEY, October 12, 1863.
LIEUT .- COL. C. GODDARD,
Asst. Adjutant General, Headquarters Dept. of the Cumberland.
Colonel,-I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of October II, directing me to establish communication by courier from your (my) camp to Poe's Tavern, and thence to Anderson's Crossroads. I already have a courier post at Henson's, at the foot of the mountain in Sequatchie Valley, on Poe road, and one at Poe's Tavern, which is at foot of mountain in the Tennessee Valley, and I am informed by Colonel Tillson (through one of my officers just from Anderson's) that he has a courier line in operation between Anderson's and Chattanooga.
I have sent some men to establish a courier post at Reynolds', on the mountain, about half way across, and the only convenient place for water. This will complete the line from Poe's Tavern to my camp. I have also established a post half way between Henson's and Anderson's, in this valley, which completes a line from Poe's Tavern to Anderson's via Poe road. Will you please inform me after looking at the enclosed sketch, whether I have interpreted the order aright?
One of my squadrons has collected eighty head of cattle in the last two days, below this in the valley, and has sent them to Chattanooga by General Wagner's escort. There are more cattle here, but to a great extent in the hands of Union people, who have very little else left.
I am, Colonel, your obedient servant,
WM. J. PALMER, Colonel Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS ANDERSON CAVALRY, ROBERSON'S, October 15, 1863.
COL. JOHN TILLSON,
Commanding Brigade.
Colonel,-I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 13th,
I understand from it that you have five regiments of infantry stretched across the valley from the east mountain (Walden's Ridge) to the Sequatchie River.
There is, as you are aware, a main road extending the whole length of the valley on the west side of the Sequatchie River. I have all the roads and trails leading from this main road over the Cumberland Mountains picketed from Dunlap to Lamb trail, nine miles above it in the valley. But there are several trails over the Cumberland Ridge, south of Dunlap, that I cannot picket. It would seem that some force should be at Therman, and that the mountain trails between Therman and Dunlap should be picketed, or the main valley road connecting them
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be frequently patrolled. The propriety of withdrawing the courier line across the mountain at Anderson's and making the connection with your camp by the Poe road has been discussed, I understand, at head- quarters. This should by no means be done, as it is five miles nearer from my camp to Chattanooga by way of Anderson's than by Poe's Tavern, and it will be greatly out of the way to send from Chattanooga to you by way of Poe's Tavern. Would it not be well for you to repre- sent this fact to headquarters? General Spears sent me word yesterday from his camp on Sale Creek that Colonel Byrd, the advance of Burn- side's army, has his brigade at Post Oak Springs, on this side of the river in Roane County, and that his pickets extend down the river as far as Cotton Port (where Wheeler's Cavalry recently crossed). Scouts just returned from the south side of the river report the enemy's strength, between Harrison and the Hiwassee River, at 1000 to 1500. The courier line from Chattanooga to Washington was expected to be extended through to Burnside's command yesterday. Can you tell me whether the Little Sequatchie River is past fording above Jasper on the road from Dunlap down the valley? I have a train out by that route for subsistence.
Do you have any communication with Jasper or Battle Creek? We have an excellent bridge across the Big Sequatchie River, near here at Therman. I shall be pleased to hear from you. What is going on below or at Chattanooga?
Yours, etc., WM. J. PALMER, Colonel Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS ANDERSON CAVALRY, (Roberson's Plantation ) SEQUATCHIE VALLEY, October 23, 1863.
LIEUT .- COL. C. GODDARD,
Asst. Adjutant General, Headquarters Dept. of the Cumberland.
Colonel,-Having returned last evening from a scout with a small de- tachment of my Regiment through the upper part of the Sequatchie Valley and the coves in the mountains dividing this valley from the Ten- nessee Valley at Post Oak Springs, near Kingston, I deem it proper to report that I consider it practicable to obtain, with proper energy, a sufficient number of cattle and sheep in that belt of the country to feed the army at Chattanooga for several weeks. And I would suggest, in case the wants of the army render it necessary, a small mounted force be sent there, with directions to seize and receipt for all sheep and cattle fit for meat, excepting yoke cattle and milch cows. If recessary, I can furnish from my Regiment the mounted force necessary to do this. I also think that a considerable amount of wheat might be seized in the same region and ground, at the numerous mills in this valley, into flour for the use of the army; and if the corn is more necessary for subsistence than forage, it might be made into meal. Country ox-teams could be used to haul the wheat to the mill.
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Lieutenant Window, of the Seventy-third Illinois regiment, Sheri- dan's division, has in four days collected in this valley in a few miles above and below Pikeville (a country which had already been foraged over), 350 head of cattle and over 100 head of sheep, with a force of but fifteen men. He has exhibited so much energy, and has been so success- ful, that in case the scarcity of meat still exists at Chattanooga, he should be detailed to obtain fresh beef for the army from this country. If the several division commanders send out their detachments for this purpose, the distribution will not be as equal throughout the army as it should be. I have ventured to make these suggestions, without being aware that such an urgency exists as to render it necessary to adopt them, resulting, as such adoption would, in nearly stripping the country of the means of subsistence for the citizens.
I am, Colonel, your obedient servant,
WM. J. PALMER, Colonel Commanding. -
CAMP ON NORTH SIDE OF TENNESSEE RIVER, NEAR LOUDON, December 6, 1863.
MAJOR-GENERAL REYNOLDS,
Chief of Staff, Headquarters Department of the Cumberland.
General,-I learn that the steamboats that were coming up from Chattanooga have returned, finding a difficulty in getting over White's Creek Shoals, fifteen to twenty miles below Kingston, where there is but three feet of water. Would it not be advisable, as these steamboats are of so much importance to General Sherman's command, to have their supplies, which have been unloaded, I believe, on this side at the foot, hauled (by pressed teams) to a point above the shoals, and the lightest- draught boats at Chattanooga to return, crossing the shoals empty, and load up with stores and proceed up the river, in which there is no further obstruction of importance? I make this suggestion not knowing what action has been already taken in this matter.
I reached Loudon with my command last night; found no troops there, General Sherman having left at 10 P.M. Friday night, and General Granger's force on Saturday morning. Granger crossed to this side and went up to Knoxville. Sherman crossed the Little Tennessee at Davis' Ford, eight miles above Loudon, and I presume is now in Knoxville or beyond. I understand that a portion of this force has gone toward the North Carolina mountains to catch a train of several hundred wagons. I have just received an order to push on to Knoxville, all the mounted troops being required to pursue Longstreet, who is making his way toward Virginia between Knoxville and Cumberland Gap. I shall start immediately. The rebel cavalry reported at 1000, that was between Loudon and Kingston night before last, has all disappeared, and is now all believed to be beyond Knoxville. I have ventured to communicate these facts and suggestions to you because I have an opportunity to do
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so by courier just starting, and General Sherman's communications with you are no doubt very uncertain.
I am, General, your obedient servant,
WM. J. PALMER, Colonel Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS ANDERSON CAVALRY, TROTTER'S BRIDGE, December 11, 1863.
MAJOR GENERAL BURNSIDE :
General,-I have the honor to report that on yesterday morning a little after daybreak I reached Gatlinburg, fifteen miles from Sevierville, on the Smoky Mountains road, with 150 men, having approached from a point on the same road, three miles in the rear of Gatlinburg, which point I reached by a circuitous and almost impassable trail from Weir's Cove.
At the same time Lieut .- Col. C. B. Lamborn with about fifty men reached Gatlinburg from the north by the Sevierville road, which he intersected at Trotter's Bridge, seven miles north of Gatlinburg, by a road leading from Weir's Cove, where our forces had divided.
Capt. H. McAllister with the remainder of our force, consisting chiefly of men whose horses were unshod or unfit to travel over the rough mountain trails, had been sent the previous afternoon to Sevier- ville from Chandler's, eighteen miles from Knoxville, where I turned off to go to Weir's Cove. His instructions were to picket the roads out to Sevierville, preventing anyone from leaving the place, in order that information of our movements might not reach the enemy.
Lieutenant-Colonel Lamborn and I reached Gatlinburg from op- posite directions at about the same moment, both finding pickets posted, who immediately fired, thereby alarming the enemy's camp, which we found situated on a steep, wooded ridge commanding both roads and intercepting communication between us.
It being impossible to make a dash upon them, we were obliged to dismount our men and deploy them as skirmishers. We drove them from their position, which was a strong one, in about an hour, but, un- fortunately the steep, wooded ridge on which they had their camp jutted onto the mountain on the east, and it was impracticable to prevent the rebels, on retreating, from taking up this mountain where we could not reach them, and where they continued firing from behind the thick cover for several hours. They finally retreated, scattering over the ridges to the Great Smoky Mountains.
From all the information I could get, I estimate their force at about 200, of which 150 were Indians and the remainder white men, the whole under the command of Colonel Thomas, an old Indian agent.
We captured their camp with one prisoner, sixteen horses, eighteen muskets, two boxes of ammunition, several bushels of salt, meal, dried fruit, etc., and a large quantity of blankets, old clothing, etc. A number of squaws had reached them the previous evening, and they had evidently
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intended remaining at Gatlinburg for the winter, as their declarations to the citizens in the vicinity proved.
We destroyed the log huts and frame buildings composing their camp, and have returned most of the horses to their loyal owners. Colonel Thomas was evidently taken by surprise, as he had not time to get his hat from his quarters at the foot of the ridge, which one of our men cap- tured.
I regret to report that two of my officers and a Sergeant were wounded in the skirmish, Captain Clark seriously in the knee. Captain Betts received a painful flesh wound in the arm. The Sergeant's wound was trivial. The loss of the enemy is not known. If any were killed they carried them off when they retreated.
Colonel Thomas has most probably taken his men back to Qualla- town, in North Carolina, but I have sent a scouting party out this morning to ascertain.
I very much regret that we were not more successful. We rode all night over a footpath that many of the citizens considered impracticable ; and while I cannot see that we could have done better under the circum- stances than we did, yet I can now see from my knowledge of the ground (which was entirely unknown to us before) how I might have captured most of the party by making certain dispositions before reach- ing Gatlinburg.
I start this morning for Evans' Ford, on French Broad, nine miles from Sevierville, and between that place and Dandridge, where I learn 100 rebel cavalry crossed last night.
I am, General, yours respectfully,
WM. J. PALMER, Colonel.
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