Page 579-581

Major-General HURLBUT,

Memphis.

HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., CAV. DIV., 16TH ARMY CORPS, Corinth, Miss., December 15, 1863.

CAPTAIN: I herewith submit a report of the operations of the First Cavalry Brigade, in obedience to Special Orders, Numbers 296, from headquarters Sixteenth Army Corps, of November 24, 1863:

I left Corinth at daylight, on the morning of the 26th ultimo, with about 900 men, consisting of 400 from Third Michigan, 300 from Seventh Kansas, and 200 from First Alabama. Marched 31 miles and encamped 3 miles south of Blackland. Believing that no force of the enemy were nearer than Okolona, except a regiment at Chesterville, I moved through Carrollville to Ellistown. This gave me a position from which I could scout a greater number of roads leading toward points which the enemy might occupy, and securing a better line of retreat in encountering a superior force, which I had reason to expect, as the enemy were reported from 8,000 to 12,000 strong at Okolona, and vicinity, preparing to move north. At Ellistown I captured a rebel officer and 10 men engaged in conscripting. I moved 6 miles south on Chesterville road and halted to feed. Here several rebel officers and men rode unsuspectingly into my camp and were made prisoners, expressing their surprise at finding us there and reporting much of their cavalry north of us.

At this point I also learned that Lee had moved with a heavy force from Okolona to Pontotoc, on his way north. Also, capturing one of Lee's command who left him 8 miles north of Pontotoc at noon, moving toward New Albany. I therefore moved to a safer position near Molino, from which I could better watch the movements of the enemy, and remained until the morning of the 28th, when, it being necessary for me to change my position, both to keep the enemy in ignorance of my whereabouts and to obtain forage, I moved toward Dumas post-office. Soon after leaving camp, I was attacked in rear by a regiment of the enemy's cavalry, which I dispersed with a loss to them of 8 killed and 17 wounded, and no casualties in my command. Scouted the roads toward New Albany and camped for the night 5 miles south of Ripley, which place, I was satisfied, would be a point on their line of march, and also, being a central point in front of our lines, made it an excellent position for observation. Having up to this time captured 35 prisoners, which were becoming a burden, the First Alabama Cavalry, being miserably mounted and wholly unequal to expected marches, were ordered to Corinth with the prisoners.

No enemy being encountered by my scouts, I moved south on New Albany road as far as Orizaba, where I sent scouts south, southeast, and southwest, one of which captured at about noon a lieutenant and private with a pass from New Albany dated the same morning. From these prisoners and other sources I learned that the rebel Generals Forrest, Lee, Ferguson, Chalmers, and Richardson were at New Albany, with a force of 6,000, preparing six days' cooked rations for a raid north. I also learned that, on receipt of information by the enemy at New Albany of my moving north from Ellistown on Ripley road, Ferguson's brigade broke camp at midnight of the 27th and moved toward Ripley to intercept my retreat, but on reaching Orizaba he learned that I had moved from Moline east toward Blackland, and consequently returned to New Albany.

On the 28th, about 3 p. m., I moved north again to within 3 miles of Ripley, where, finding forage, I camped at Parmer's until 3 a. m. of the 30th, then moved into Ripley, taking position on the north side of town, scouting southward, so as to intersect all roads leading north from New Albany. No enemy appearing during the day, I moved north a short distance to procure forage, and encamped for the night, leaving a small force in Ripley.

December 1, moved to Ripley, continued scouting, and, having pushed the Third Illinois Cavalry (which had joined me the evening previous) well south on the New Albany road, they struck the advance of the enemy, at about 10 a. m., 5 miles south of Ripley. While the Third Illinois were falling back before the enemy, I disposed my command as follows to receive him: The Third Michigan on the Pocahontas road, the Seventh Kansas on the Middleton road, and sent instructions to the Third Illinois to fall back on the Saulsbury road to the intersection of the Middleton, where they would join the Seventh Kansas, communication to be kept up between these forces by cross-roads in rear, and so soon as the enemy relinquished the pursuit on either road this force should re-enforce the party sustaining the main attack.

The enemy struck my first position with overwhelming force, advancing in three columns, one in the road dismounted and one on either flank mounted, rendering it almost impossible for my dismounted men to regain their horses. The enemy soon gave up his pursuit on all roads save the Pocahontas, on which he massed his columns and pushed irresistibly forward, driving the Third Michigan before him, then only about 350 strong, at a rapid walk, constantly forming from one to two squadrons on selected positions, with intervals usually not to exceed 200 yards, to check him. Every available position was taken and determinedly held to the last possible moment, and a constant and scathing fire poured in upon the advancing enemy and continued, occasionally checking his advance for a moment, until within about a mile of Ruckersville, where, taking a very favorable position, his farther advance was finally checked at sunset, when the enemy retired. I consequence of the numbers of parallel and cross-roads, I thought it prudent to fall back, under cover of the night, to the vicinity of Jonesborough, and camped for the night. The enemy relinquishing the pursuit on other roads west and pursuing me so far on this one, it was believed that he designed to attack Pocahontas. At an early hour on the following morning I accordingly moved back and took up position near Ruckersville, sending a patrol forward to feel the enemy.

After waiting a reasonable time and the enemy not appearing on the main road, and hearing of him on my right flank, I moved back toward Pocahontas, near which place I received the report of my patrol informing me that the enemy had returned to the neighborhood of Ripley and moved west. The movements, advance, and all information gained of the enemy were reported from time to time to the major-general commanding Sixteenth Army Corps and to commanders along the line.

The Seventh Kansas and Third Illinois joined me at Pocahontas, where I received orders from the major-general commanding to refit my command and open communication with Colonel Hatch, supposed to be moving from La Grange to Ruckersville. Colonel Hatch with his brigade, and General Tuttle with a force of infantry, were found to be at Middleton, where I communicated to them all information I had of the enemy. On the following morning I was instructed by General Tuttle to hold Pocahontas during the temporary absence of Colonel Geddes' command, who was ordered west by rail to join General Tuttle near Saulsbury. Colonel Geddes returned at an early hour of the afternoon bringing information that the enemy had been dispersed near Saulsbury and his main force was retreating south. Upon this information coming direct from the front, I moved south to intercept him; reached the vicinity of Ripley at 11 p. m.; spent the night in examining roads, and found that no enemy had retreated in that direction. I remained until near noon to rest and feed, when, being fully satisfied that the enemy were all still north of me, moved out on Saulsbury road, camped 8 miles south of that place, and moved into La Grange on the 6th instant.

From this time I was employed in scouting along the line of the railroad, returning to camp on the 10th instant, after an absence of fifteen days.

The general result of this expedition was a thorough scouting of the entire front from Corinth to La Grange, discovering and reporting the movements and strength of the enemy, engaging him twice, killing 8 and wounding 17, capturing 50 prisoners, with a loss of 2 killed and Major Jenkins and 5 or 6 enlisted men wounded slightly.

But few horses were found in the country, which were taken to mount prisoners and were turned over to the quartermaster at Corinth; most of them were unfit for cavalry service. A triplicate list of prisoners of war has been forwarded, and I inclose herewith a list of casualties.*

All of which is respectfully submitted.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. K. MIZNER,

Colonel, Commanding First Cavalry Brigade.

Captain SAMUEL L. WOODWARD,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

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*Nominal list (omitted) shows: Third Michigan Cavalry: Killed, 2; wounded, 3; prisoner, 1; total, 6. Seventh Kansas Cavalry: Wounded, 1. Grand total, 7.

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