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(Hatchie’s Bridge (Davis Bridge))

Hatchie’s Bridge

October 5, 1862
Also known as: Davis Bridge, Matamora
Hardeman and McNairy Counties, TN
Campaign: Bragg’s Invasion of Kentucky

Maj. Gen. Edward O.C. Ord and Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut, USA
Maj. Gen. Earl van Dorn, CSA

The Union deployed elements of its main western army against the retreating Confederate army.

Confederate losses were about 400, Union casualties roughly 500.
 
Although Earl van Dorn’s Army of West Tennessee retreated northwest from Corinth on October 4, 1862, Rosecrans did not send forces in pursuit until the next morning.  Rosecrans was usually deliberate in his movements, and his forces certainly needed some reorganization.  But the Confederates were just about as disorganized, and Rosecrans could have been chasing their rearguard.  Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Edward O.C. Ord (commanding a detachment of the Union Army of West Tennessee), was moving eastwards toward Corinth to assist Rosecrans.
Between 7:30 and 8:00 am the next morning, his force encountered Union Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut’s brigade, pushing the Confederates back.  Ord took command of the now-combined Union forces and drove Van Dorn’s advance guard back about five miles to the Hatchie River and across Davis’ Bridge.  At this stage Ord was wounded and Hurlbut assumed command.  While the advance guard was hotly engaged by Ord’s force, van Dorn’s scouts looked for and found another crossing of the Hatchie River.  Van Dorn quickly took this way out, and fell back to Holly Springs.

Ord had forced Price to retreat, but the Confederates escaped capture or destruction.  Rosecrans had the opportunity, but he’d failed to capture or destroy Van Dorn’s force between his men and Ord’s.

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(Hatchie’s Bridge (Davis Bridge))