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Major General R. J. OGLESBY, Jackson, Tenn.

CORINTH, MISS., May 5, 1863.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the expedition up the Tuscumbia Valley to Courtland, Ala. The intention and plan of the movements was to cover a raid by Colonel Straight, of Major-General Rosecrans' command, into Georgia, to break up the Atlanta and Chattanooga Railroad. Colonel Straight was to meet me with his brigade at Eastport, on Thursday, April 16.

I moved from Corinth with the Second Division, Sixteenth Army Corps, Wednesday, April 15. Camped at Burnsville. The next day moved to Cook's, 2 1\2 miles west of Great Bear Creek, and made my preparations to cross, the rebels holding the opposite side.

Friday morning, April 17, I made a feint at Jackson and Bailings' Fords, and, under the cover of my artillery, threw the most of my force across at Steminine's Ford.

The cavalry, under Colonel Cornyn, and mounted infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips, made the crossing and pushed forward. My instructions were for them to go forward 3 1\2 miles, and await my coming. Colonel Cornyn, meeting the enemy about a mile out, commenced fighting them, they falling back rapidly. Hearing of Colonel Roddey commanding a force of the enemy on my left flank, I sent orders forward for the command to halt; but before the messenger got to him, Colonel Roddey had got between the cavalry and infantry. The Third Brigade being in advance, commanded by Colonel Bane, who, ascertaining this fact, pushed forward and fell upon their rear, but not until Colonel Roddey had taken two pieces of artillery, 22 men, and one company of mounted infantry, who were guarding it, which, through neglect, had been allowed to fall 3 miles in the rear of the advance.

Colonel Cornyn hearing firing in the rear, immediately fell back, and, with the First Alabama Cavalry, charged the rebels and retook the artillery and caissons, with the exception of one gun, which the enemy succeeded in getting off with.

The charge of the alabamians with muskets only, and those of loaded, is creditable, especially as they are all new recruits and poorly drilled. In this charge, captain Cameron, the commanding officer of the Alabama cavalry, a deserving and much lamented officer, was killed.

Colonel Bane, on his arrival, disposed of his troops admirably. Colonel Cornyn advance with his cavalry as a feint, and the rebels advanced to meet him. He fell back to the rear of the infantry, which was posted under cover and out of sight on both flanks of the cavalry. On the appearance of the enemy, the infantry opened a heavy and destructive fire, which caused the rebels to fall back in confusion, utterly routed.

This day's work brought us 13 miles in advance of the main force.

Colonel Straight not arriving, I fell back with the advance to Great Bear Creek, where the rest of the command was posted, to await his coming.

Sunday afternoon, Colonel Straight commenced landing his force at Eastport, but came poorly prepared for his contemplated movement. He had 2,000 infantry and about 1,000 mules. At least 400 of them were unserviceable, and in unloading them, through the carelessness of one of his officers, 200 strayed away. He was under the impression that he would find plenty of stock in the valley to mount the rest and replace those broken down.

During Monday and Tuesday we scoured the country, and gathered all we could.

Tuesday night, Colonel Fuller's brigade, from Corinth, joined me.

Wednesday morning, I advance with all the force, and came up with the enemy at Rock Cut, 5 miles west of Tuscumbia; planted my batteries and drove them out of it, taking the line of Little Bear Creek that night. The enemy's position was a very strong one, and there was but one way to flank it. The enemy fell back as soon as I brought the infantry to bear upon them.

Thursday we moved, crossing at three places, throwing my cavalry, by the Frankfort and Tuscumbia road, into the enemy's rear; but during the night, anticipating this movement, the enemy fullback. We reached tuscumbia about noon, and, after slight skirmishing, took possession of the city. I immediately dispatched Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips, with two squadron of the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, and a section of Welker's battery, to take Florence. They refused to surrender, when Colonel Phillips immediately opened on the town. A few shell brought them to terms, and we occupied the place. At the same time I ordered Colonel Cornyn forward toward Courtland, to feel the enemy. He came up with their rear some 2 miles beyond Leighton. The Command consisted on our part of the Tenth Missouri and Seventh Kansas Cavalry, about 800 in all, driving the enemy 8 miles. The rebel force was 3,500, beside one battery. The fighting of the cavalry against such odds is beyond all praise.

The next morning cavalry fell back to Tuscumbia, to await the advance of the main column.

Finding it impossible to obtain stock to mount Colonel Straight's command, I took horses and mules from my teams and mounted infantry, and furnished him some 600 head, mounting all but 200 of his men. I also turned over all my hard bread, some 10,000 rations, and he left me at midnight on the 26th instant, with the intention of going through Russellville, Moulton, and Blountsville to Gadsden, then divide, one force to strike Rome and the other Etowah Bridge.

I moved forward Monday morning, and drove the enemy across Town Creek that night, and ascertained that they were in force, under Forrest, on the opposite bank. That night I communicated with Colonel Straight, at Mount Hope, and ascertained that he was all right.

Tuesday morning, the creek rose 10 feet, and the current was so swift that neither horse nor man could cross. I immediately made disposition to cross at three points, to cover the railroad bridge and throw across foot bridges.

The resistance of the enemy was very strong, and their sharpshooters very annoying. The artillery duel was very fine, parts of Welker's, Tannrath's, Richardson's, and Robinson's batteries taking part in it. The practice on both sides was excellent. The Parrott guns drove the enemy away from their pieces, disabling and keeping them away for two hours, but the fact of my being unable to cross infantry prevented our securing them.

About noon I crossed the railroad bridge with the Eighty-first Ohio and Ninth Illinois Infantry, and soon after crossed the rest of my force, except the artillery, on foot bridges, and drove the enemy within 3 miles of Courtland, when they, hearing of the force at Moulton, fled to Decatur. I followed up, and then returned to camp at Town Creek that night, being unable to cross any of my artillery.

Colonel Straight reached Moulton Tuesday night, and commenced crossing the mountains Wednesday, having got nearly two day's start of them. They supposed he was making for Decatur, and only discovered Wednesday that he was crossing the mountains toward Georgia.

Having accomplished fully the object of the expedition, and drove the enemy, which was 5,500 strong, to Decatur, and having ene on half rations for a week, I fell back to Tuscumbia, in order to communicate with transports, to obtain rations and ammunition. On arriving there, I received information that the gunboats had gone down the river, taking the transports with them, a part of Van Dorn's force having made their appearance on the north side of the Tennessee River, and shelled South Florence that day at 4 p. m. They also planted a battery at Savannah and Duck River; but my precaution in destroying all means of crossing the river on my advance, prevented him getting in my rear, and the gunboats, to save the transports,left the day before, having a short engagement at Savannah and Duck River. Van Dorn's force then moved toward Decatur. That was the last we heard of them.

On my return, I burned all provisions, produce, and forage, all mills and tan-yards, and destroyed everything that would in any way aid the enemy. I took stock of all kinds that I could find, and rendered the valley so destitute that it cannot be occupied by the Confederates, except provisions and forage are transported to them. I also destroyed telegraph and railroad between Tuscumbia and Decatur, and all the ferries between Savannah and Courtland.

I have no doubt but that Colonel Straight would have succeeded had he been properly equipped, and joined me at the time agreed upon. The great delay in an enemy's country necessary to fit him out gave them time to throw a large force in our front. Although Colonel Straight had two days' start, they can harass him, and perhaps check his movements long enough for them to secure all their important bridges. If he could have started from Bear Creek the day I arrived there, then my movements would have been so quick and strong that the enemy could not have got their forces together.

The animals furnished him were very poor at the start. Four hundred of them were used up before leaving me, and those furnished him by me were about all the serviceable stock he had, though I hear he got 200 good mules the day he left me, in Moulton Valley.

On my return, I sent Colonel Cornyn, with the Tenth Missouri, Seventh Kansas, and Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, and Ninth Illinois Mounted Infantry, to attack the force congregated at Tupelo and Okolona. He came up with the enemy on Wednesday, and immediately attacked them, they being some 3,000 strong, under Major-General [S. J.] Gholson and Brigadier-General Ruggles. Brigadier-General Chalmers, with 3,500 men, was at Pontotoc, but failed to come to Gholson's aid, though ordered to.

Colonel Cornyn fought so determinedly and so fast that he soon routed the force in his front, driving them in all directions, killing and wounding a large number and taking 100 prisoners, including some 7 officers;also a large number of arms and 150 horses, saddles, &c.

The enemy fled toward Okolona and Pontotoc, and Colonel Cornyn returned to Corinth.

The expedition, so far, can be summed up as having accomplished the object for which it started, the infantry having marched 250 miles and the cavalry some 400, and fought six successful engagements, driving the enemy, 3,000 strong, from Bear Creek to Decatur, taking the towns of Tuscumbia and Florence, with a loss not to exceed 100, including 3 officers. Destroyed 1,500,000 bushels of corn, besides large quantities of oats, 1,000 head of horses and mules, and an equal number of cattle, hogs, and sheep; also 100 bales of cotton, besides keeping the whole command in meat for three weeks. Destroyed the railroad from Tuscumbia to Decatur; also some 60 flat-boats and ferries in the Tennessee River, thereby preventing Van Dorn, in his move, form crossing to my rear; also destroyed five tan-yards and six flouring mills.

It has rendered desolate one of the best granaries of the South, preventing them from raising another crop this year, and taking away from them some 1,500 negroes.

We found large quantities of shelled corn, all ready for shipment, also bacon, and gave it to the flames.

I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of the officers and troops under my command. They were guilty of but one disobedience of orders-in burning some houses between Town Creek and Tuscumbia; on the discovery of which I issued orders to shoot any man detected in the act. After that nothing was burned except by my order.

The fighting of the cavalry was excellent. The Tenth Missouri, Seventh Kansas, Fifteenth Illinois, and First Alabama all did themselves credit; they invariably drove the enemy, no matter what their force.

The disposition of the troops at Lundy's Lane, by Colonel Bane, Fiftieth Illinois, was very creditable, and the management of the right, by General Sweeny, at the Rock Cut, also deserves mention. Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips's handling his men in action drew the commendation of all. Colonel Cornyn, of the cavalry brigade, made some fine charges, and his fighting cannot be excelled. His advance on the first day was injudicious, and against my instructions, and came very near causing trouble; otherwise he managed his command very creditably.

The Pioneer Corps, under Captain [D. F.] Tiedemann, built two bridges across Bear Creek, and also several minor ones. Their long marches and night work deserve to be mentioned.

To my staff I am indebted for valuable service. Captain [G. E.] Spencer, assistant adjutant-general; Captain [O. J.] Dodds, acting assistant quartermaster; Captain [C. C.] Carpenter, commissary of subsistence; Captain [W.] Barnes, aide-de-camp, and Dr. [W. R.] Marsh, medical director, all accompanied me.

Reports of killed and wounded have already been forwarded.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. M. DODGE,

Brigadier-General.

Captain S. Wait,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Left Wing, Sixteenth Corps.

[Indorsement.]

HDQRS. LEFT WING, SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Jackson, Tenn., May 28, 1863.

The within report of Brigadier General G. M. Dodge is respectfully transmitted. Having heretofore made report of this expedition, based upon dispatches from Brigadier-General Dodge, I send this forward without further remark, and ask attention to the names of officers favorably mentioned by him.

R. J. OGLESBY,

Major-General.

CORINTH, May 6, 1863.

GENERAL: Cornyn came up with the enemy near Blackland, and gave them a thorough whipping, taking several prisoners and considerable stock. He pushed on. Major [J. C.] Smith, Fifth Ohio Cavalry, fell upon them, considerably scattered, yesterday, killing 1, wounding 10, and brought in 1 captain and 11 privates prisoners; also 11 horses, 3 mule, &c. I sent the Alabamians to strike Pikeville, Marion Country, and get the stock run into that place.

G. M. DODGE,

Brigadier-General.

Major General R. J. OGLESBY, Jackson, Tenn.