The History of the 12th Indiana Cavalry Continued:
Page 2 of 4
Forrest, after the capture of Athens, moved with his whole force upon
Sulphur Trestle apparently to continue his goal of cutting supply and
communication lines. On September 28, Gen. Sherman at Atlanta sent a message to
Gen. R. S. Granger at Decatur saying that he should drive any squads of
Forrest's men across the Elk and threaten the fords at Lamb's and Elkton. Also
Sherman ordered that he not repair roads or occupy any position, except those
that don't take many men, and to keep surplus men so as to move quick and to
strike Forrest's line of retreat or communication. General Granger answered
Sherman that after leaving minimum guards at garrisons and blockhouses, he would
have only 300 cavalry and 500 infantry to operate against Forrest and that
General Rousseau has nearly all the available force at the upper end of the road
(railroad). He claims that this will leave Decatur (Ala.) without a single
mounted man.
Maj. Gen. Geo. H. Thomas then wires Gen. Granger to report his whole strength
immediately. Thomas tells him that he could keep Wheeler or any other rebel
raider from crossing the Tennessee River with the force he has now, assisted by
the gunboats, but Athens must be recovered. To assist him in doing that he will
send troops as soon as possible. Granger answered Thomas also on Sept. 28 that
he is repairing the road to Athens, and will reoccupy the place as soon as he
has a disposable force. Granger then lists the effective force at his command
which totaled 2,582 infantry. He indicates his infantry is much diminished by
sickness, particularly his best regiments, after service on or near the river.
He has infantry garrisons at Decatur, Huntsville, and 25 blockhouses and
stations on the railroad to Stevenson. "The abandonment of any would insure the
burning of bridge in twenty four hours by Johnson or Mead." Granger then
estimates the enemy strength at 5500 and says his estimate is much below
everybody else. He says; "I have not the least apprehension but I can hold any
position taken, but our difficulty is to know where to hold, when we have only
infantry to hold so large a body of cavalry. Our infantry are not only eager,
but mad, because they cannot get a fight. Our cavalry force: Second Tennessee,
300; Twelfth Indiana 170; total, 470. Nothing heard from Forrest since 4 o'clock
day before yesterday."
Granger then sends Thomas a message that he has sent 300 men to reoccupy
Athens. He has remaining 300 cavalry and 500 infantry; this will leave minimum
garrisons at stations and blockhouses. Complaining again that General Rousseau
has all his available force at the upper end of road, he reiterates that this
will not leave a single mounted man at Decatur.
On the 27th of September it had been ascertained that Wheeler with his entire
force had withdrawn from the vicinity of Decatur. On the 29th, Granger moved
from Decatur to Huntsville along with the 13th Wisconsin and 11th Indiana. He
also sent there a section of artillery from Decatur under the escort of a
detachment of the 12th Indiana Cavalry. The Twelfth Indiana was also involved in
action near Lynchburg, Tennessee on September 29, but it probably was a
detachment that had moved to Tullahoma. We have this report to the adjutant from
Major-General Milroy: "I learned on the 28th that the rebel forces under Forrest
were moving east from Pulaski in the direction of this railroad. I kept cavalry
scouting parties well out on the various roads leading west, to ascertain at
what point he aimed to strike. On the night of the 28th, a small scouting party
of rebels cut the telegraph wire, tore up and burned the railroad track to a
small extent three miles north of this place. I sent out a construction train
early next morning of the 29th with a guard, and soon repaired the break in the
track and wire. In the afternoon of the same day a scouting party of the 12th
Indiana Cavalry met Forrest's advance eleven miles out, a short distance from
Lynchburg, and had a sharp skirmish with them. Forrest turned back immediately
after the skirmish and this railroad has not since been disturbed."
On the 30th of September the following memo was sent under a flag of truce to
the post at Huntsville by the Confederate General Buford: COLONEL: I am here in
command of the advance of General Forrest's army, with instructions to demand
the surrender of the city, the fort and garrison. An answer to this demand must
be made before night-fall. If refused, the citizens must leave at once. Certain
conditions will attend the surrender, which conditions Colonel Kelley, the
bearer, will acquaint you with. I am, colonel, very respectfully, A. BUFORD
To which Granger makes this reply: GENERAL: General Granger directs me to say
that he has assumed command of the forces in this city. He also directs me to
say that he will not surrender the fort or the city on any terms. You can come
and take it as soon as you get ready. The inhabitants of this city are mostly
citizens of the Southern Confederacy. He would suppose that you would give them
more than a couple of hours to leave. You can, of course, in this act your own
pleasure. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, SAM. M. KNEELAND
General Granger sent another message about two hours later in which he
proposed that both sides agree that neither would occupy the city, confining the
battle to the area of the fort, for the protection of the citizens.
To these propositions Major-General Forrest replied in the following
communication: GENERAL: Your communication addressed to Brigadier-General
Buford, concerning the positions to be assumed by the two belligerent parties,
has this moment been referred to me. I respectfully decline acceding to them. I
expect to attack you tomorrow morning from every rock, house, tree, and shrub in
the vicinity, and feeling confident of my ability to succeed in my anticipated
attempt, now bid you prepare yourself for the fray. I, however, cheerfully
accept the proposition you made to Brigadier-General Buford, namely, to allow
two hours of daylight tomorrow morning for the purpose of allowing
non-combatants to remove beyond the lines. At the expiration of the third hour
of the coming day I shall commence offensive operations, unless another
communication is received from you before that time. I am, general, with great
respect, N. B. FORREST
General Granger reported that the garrison at Huntsville consisted of
detachments of the 11th Indiana, 400 strong: the 13th Indiana, 700 strong and a
small detachment of the 12th Indiana Cavalry: in all, 1,200. (He had previously
reported the 12th Ind. Cav. at 170 and considering that it was three companies;
C, D, and H, a higher figure seems more appropriate.) At about 8 a.m. on the 1st
of October 1864, the enemy displayed a force of 2,000 cavalry two miles north of
the city. He continued to demonstrate with this force, and deployed it across
several roads. Granger reports that our small force of cavalry skirmished with
them and shells from the fort were fired wounding 2 of the enemy. Charles Harper
of Company D wrote home that Forrest came near with 1500 men but left after a
few shots were fired. It appears that the former slave trader, Forrest, was not
shy about the use of a bluff.
On the morning of October 2, General Buford demanded the surrender of the
fort at Athens which this time is refused. After a siege lasting only till 9
a.m. of the same day Buford withdrew. The author Shelby Foote indicates that
Buford had orders to return to the Tennessee River by way of Huntsville, which
he was to capture, and tear up track on the Memphis & Charleston. He simply
states that Buford found Huntsville too stoutly garrisoned to be taken.
According to Foote's account both Buford and Forrest crossed to south of the
Tennessee River about the same time. According to one account a second attack
was made on Huntsville by Buford on October 18 but it was not mentioned in the
other histories and is probably erroneous.
September action in other parts of the country centered around the siege at
Petersburg Va. and the continued battle of Jonesborough south of Atlanta. John
Hunt Morgan, the famed Confederate cavalry raider who had invaded Indiana, was
killed during September. He was ambushed by a Federal raiding party who had
duplicated Morgan's own tactics. Elsewhere this month there were the battles of
Fisher's Hill, Peebles' Farm, Fort Harrison and a third battle of Winchester,
all in Virginia. At Atlanta, Sherman ordered the evacuation of civilians amid
outcries of inhumanity for making the people homeless. In answer to Hood who
made the protest "in the name of God", Sherman replied that "God will judge us
in due time whether it be more humane to fight with a town full of women and
families at our backs or to remove them to places of safety among their
friends."
Another sidelight in September is that President Lincoln urged Sherman to
allow the Indiana troops to go home for the coming election as long as they
could not vote in the field. Indiana was a pivotal state to Lincoln and the
Republicans. Apparently most did not go home to vote according to one of
Harper's letters. After the election in November he wrote home that several
officers of the regiment were discharged because of politics. (Presumably for
too vigorously supporting their former general, McClellan.) John Henderson of
Company E, Marshall County was one of those who went home, he states: "Oct 4th
(illegible number) of our reg. leave on furlough for home. Oct 9th arrive at
Plymouth three cheers for home. We return to our reg. in small squads where we
are greeted by cheers & thousands questions of home & friends by those
that remained behind."
In northern Alabama we have General Granger's report covering operations from
October 12 to the 29th, 1864. General Hood had left General Sherman's front and
was moving northward for the purpose of destroying Sherman's communications.
Expecting that Hood's crossing of the Tennessee River might be in his district,
Granger relates in detail what defensive measures he took in preparation for the
attack. In his typical reporting style he emphasizes the huge size of the enemy
forces and points out his own meager numbers, using an over abundance of the
words "I" and "my". In the listing of his forces he places parts of the 12th
Indiana Cavalry as on the line of railroad from Athens to Stevenson. He states:
"I was able from these scattered forces to gather only 300 men to reinforce
Decatur, giving me here not to exceed 1,800 men. With this small force I was
obliged to man a works with a continuous front of 1,600 yards, exclusive of the
river." On the 24th of October it was reported that 15,000 of General Hood's
army were 20 miles from the river and were intending to cross at different
points between Decatur and Paint Rock, Alabama. At this point Granger requests
that he immediately be sent strong reinforcements.
The other events of October had not shown much change. The siege at
Petersburg wore on. Hood's troops were trying to sever Sherman's lengthy supply
line from Chattanooga to Atlanta. Hood hoped to force Sherman to pull his army
back to Tennessee. Meanwhile, Forrest kept on operating against the railroads in
north Alabama and Tennessee also in an attempt to get Sherman to withdraw troops
from Georgia. The Confederate Price was active in Missouri and out east things
were quiet in the Shenandoah campaign except for skirmishes. Sherman's troops
fought an engagement at Allatoona, Ga. In Indiana Oliver P. Morton was reelected
governor. War came to Vermont in the form of a confederate raider who robbed
three banks and planned to burn and loot several towns.
In early November election fever occupied the spotlight. The Lincoln and
Andrew Johnson ticket received 2,330,552 popular votes to 1,835,985 for
McClellan and Pendleton, with the electoral vote at 212 to 21 respectively. On
November 16 General William Tecumseh Sherman cut his communication with the rear
and began his march to the sea, leaving the desolate and smoking city of Atlanta
behind him. Perhaps in retaliation, on November 25th confederate agents
attempted to burn New York City and about 10 hotels along with Barnum's museum
were fired but with little effect.
At this time during November, 1864, the 12th Indiana Cavalry in northern
Alabama was involved in a skirmish of which we have the report of Major
Williams: "Marched from this place (Whitesburg) on the 16th instant, with forty
men of the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry- eighteen from Company D, the remainder from
my own company (C)-to Huntsville, where I received a reinforcement" (Part of the
Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry) "From thence we marched to Brownsborough, Ala.,
where we arrived at sunset, and were joined by thirty men of Company H of the
Twelfth Indiana Cavalry under command of Captain DaHuff." They were also joined
by 30 of the Eleventh Indiana Cavalry and 250 men of the Fourth Michigan
Infantry, making a total of 390 men. "We remained at Brownsborough until 3 a.m.
of the 17th, when, under the command of Colonel Hall (4th Michigan), we marched
in the the direction of New Market. When two miles out, and at the small town of
Maysville, our advance met rebel pickets and drove them back. After marching six
miles farther, and at about 7 a.m., we halted, breakfasted, and fed our horses,
after which we started in pursuit of the enemy, meeting them, under command of
Russell, Johnson, and Mead, supposed to be 500 strong, all mounted and in line
of battle, which we soon broke, driving them from their ground in confusion, our
men pursuing them. We followed them until night, driving them nine miles, they
rallying five times, but were handsomely repulsed and driven back each time.
Night coming on, and our horses and men being considerably fatigued, we ceased
fighting in the vicinity of New Market, and encamped at that place for the
night. The enemy is known to have lost 9 killed and 3 wounded, while we lost not
a man. At 3 a.m. of the following day (Nov 19) the railroad track was torn up
six miles east of Brownsborough, and the command sent in pursuit of the
marauders, the result of which will be otherwise reported."
Colonel Hall's report of the same action adds detail to that of Major
Williams and includes "the pursuit of the marauders" mentioned above. Hall
assumed command of the force assembled at Brownsborough which numbered 394 men,
including 145 mounted of which 30 were from Company H of the Twelfth Indiana
Cavalry. After being fired upon by pickets at Maysville, "I then proceeded to
within four miles of New Market, and took the road leading over the mountains to
Jones Cove, where I was informed the enemy were encamped the day previous.
Arrived at Mr. Sandsley's plantation at 8:30 a.m., and being informed that the
enemy 500 strong were three miles in advance, I halted the command for dinner.
(Breakfast?) I then set the column in motion, and after ten minutes march came
upon the enemy (He must have been less than a mile away when they stopped to
eat) in line of battle on the side of the mountain, and advanced upon him with a
strong line of skirmishers, from which he retreated. It then became a running
fight. As fast as the infantry could march I drove him around and over the
mountains, up Hurricane Branch five miles beyond New Market, killing 9 and
wounding 3 or 4, including 1 commissioned officer, which he took with him or
secreted in such a manner that we could not find them. It being dark I returned
to New Market in order to have possession of the different roads. The following
morning being cloudy and rainy, and the roads becoming bad, and the infantry
having marched 21 miles the day before, I decided that it was impossible to keep
up with Russell, as he ran too fast even for our mounted force. I then returned
to Brownsborough, which I reached before dark."
At Brownsborough Major Williams was sick and received permission to go back
to Huntsville. It should be mentioned here that the reluctance of Federals to
quickly follow up an offensive advantage was not unusual. On the morning of the
19th Hall learned that the railroad track had been torn up. "A train being at
hand I took all the infantry forces then at Brownsborough and proceeded to the
place of destruction, leaving orders for Captain Givens to move with the mounted
force to that point as soon as possible. The force under him, numbering 124 men,
reached there at 11:45 a.m. I then proceeded on Russell's track, coming up with
him at dusk at Duckett's plantation, near Paint Rock River. Dismounting all the
Enfield rifles I moved on him at a double-quick, using the dismounted men on the
mountain on the right and the cavalry on the left of the road which runs along
at the foot of the mountain. The enemy here made a more stubborn resistance then
at any time previous, and I was in hopes that he would stand long enough for us
to get within short range, but I was soon invited to another race, as he showed
his heels as usual; it was then dark and impossible to come up with him again."
"I captured his camp, rations for the men and oats and corn for the horses,
also several horses, saddles, bridles, forage, and haversacks, blankets, and
canteens, which were mostly filled with whisky." Colonel Hall then says about
thirty horses were captured in all and eight or ten head of cattle. "Some twenty
stand of arms were captured, including rifles, carbines, and shotguns; they were
given to the home guards, as they were mostly without arms."
"Much of the property captured at the camp was of considerable loss to the
enemy, but of very little use to us. I ordered it burned and otherwise
destroyed. I occupied the enemy's camp the night of the 19th, and the next
morning at daylight took his track, but soon ascertained that he was too far in
advance for me to overtake him, and as it had been raining all night and the
streams rising rapidly, I did not think it prudent to follow him, and therefore
returned with the command to Brownsborough, where I arrived at dark, that being
the only point where I could get to the railroad on account of high water. Two
of my command were slightly wounded. I lost 2 horses drowned and 3 or 4
abandoned."
The three mounted companies of the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry (C, D, and H) that
had defended Huntsville against Forrest in October subsequently joined with the
rest of the regiment at Tullahoma between November 20 and November 25.
Regimental histories indicate that upon the evacuation of Tullahoma, November
26, 1864 the regiment proceeded to Murfreesboro and took part in the battles of
Wilkinson's Pike and Overall's Creek.. (Henderson's diary indicates they left
Tullahoma November 30.) Not too far away near Columbia Tennessee the armies of
the North and South gathered which would soon culminate in the battles at Spring
hill and Franklin Tennessee. On November 30 at Franklin some of the bloodiest
fighting occurred in which the confederates lost eight generals. The Federals
withdrew to their defense lines around Nashville. Both sides were dug in on
December 5th when Hood sent Forrest's cavalry and a division of infantry from
Nashville toward Murfreesboro.
Henderson's diary has the following account of events at that time: "Nov 30th
we leave Tullahoma for Murfreesboro 29 miles. After a hard & muddy march we
arrive Dec 2nd & a fight is expected soon. 4th we can hear the cannonading
at Nashville. Dec 6th Forrest & his imps are gathering in close & heavy
or sharp skirmishing commences with our picket lines. 7th Skirmishing is renewed
early this morning. 2 pm the battle has commenced in earnest. The artillery
opens lively. 8 pm the battle is over the rebs drove 10 miles but Cap Sherwood
is wounded in the leg & carried off the field."
According to his discharge paper, Malachi Pool participated in the Battle of
Wilkinson Pike on December 7, 1864 The Wilkinson Pike leads west from the
Nashville Pike a little northwest of Murfreesboro. Describing the action are
three reports by officers: That of General R. H. Milroy to the Commander of the
District of Tennessee, one from Colonel Edward Anderson, Commanding Second
Brigade, and that of Lieut. Col. Reed, Commanding Twelfth Indiana Cavalry.
The following is a summary of those reports: The action began from the post
at Murfreesboro, Fortress Rosecrans, and was by order of Major-General Rousseau,
commanding District of Tennessee, to "make a reconnaissance and feel the enemy
in the vicinity of this post." General Milroy, leading the union troops, divided
his force in two brigades with the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry being in the 2nd
Brigade. Milroy was no doubt aware of a large enemy force nearby since they left
from the fortress with infantry, artillery, and cavalry totaling 3,325 men. The
Murfreesboro and Stone's River area was the scene of a large battle two years
before on December 30th, 1862 to January 3rd, 1863; which was probably on the
minds of the soldiers this day. In that former battle the Confederates were led
by General Bragg and the Federals by General Rosecrans after whom the present
fort was named. Fortress Rosecrans mounted 57 guns and enclosed 200 acres of the
ground where Bragg had come to grief two years earlier.
On the morning of December 7th 1864, Milroy's brigades started down the Salem
Pike heading southwest toward Stone's River. Less than a half mile out they had
a skirmish with enemy cavalry which fell back rapidly before the Federal
advance. Upon arriving at Stone's River two miles out they spotted about 300
rebel cavalry across the river. Artillery was brought up and after a few minutes
of shelling the enemy quickly retreated. The union forces crossed the bridge and
continued their march. In General Milroy's own words: "Upon arriving at Mr.
Spence's fine residence, four miles out, I learned from his accomplished lady
that there were two brigades of rebel cavalry, under Generals Jackson and
Armstrong, at Salem, a mile farther out, and that Generals Forrest and Bate,
with a large force of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, were north of me on the
Wilkinson Pike, three miles from Fortress Rosecrans. I deemed it best to turn my
attention in that direction, but before doing so I detailed a company and sent
them back with a drove of sixty fine, fat hogs, belonging to Mr. Spence."
(Perhaps the general was not only a chow hound but he just wanted to keep the
pork from falling into the hands of those plundering rebels.)
Milroy's troops proceeded north to within a half mile of Wilkinson Pike when
his skirmish line encountered the enemy at Overall's Creek. With in a few
minutes the reb's opened rapid fire with an artillery battery of six guns which
were located in the edge of a woods on the opposite side of a field to the front
of the Federals. Milroy promptly ordered up his own artillery to return the fire
but exhausted his supply of shell and solid shot in about 30 minutes. Colonel
Anderson remarked about the artillery duel that they were "exposed to a terrible
succession of shots from the enemy's battery." The enemy was positioned with the
left of his line extending parallel with the Wilkinson Pike and was as near
Fortress Rosecrans as the right of the Federal line. Not knowing the full
strength of the rebel force and not wanting to engage them without having the
fortress in the rear, the feds fell back through the forest until out of sight
of the enemy. They then moved by the right flank in a northeasterly direction
until their lines were partially across the Wilkinson Pike. After sending the
artillery back to the fortress for more ammunition, Milroy formed the troops in
two lines of battle. Colonel Thomas' brigade formed the 1st line and the 2nd
line was formed by the brigade of Colonel Anderson whose troops included the
Twelfth Indiana Cavalry. The two lines then advanced upon the enemy "through
brush, cedars, rocks, and logs under a heavy fire of artillery." Without
artillery of their own to reply the union troops were under a serious
disadvantage, however they continued to advance driving the rebels before them
for about one mile. Coming to a cotton field, they found the enemy strongly
fortified in a wood on the other side behind a line of works made of logs.
General Milroy reports "The enemy's fire of small arms here became so strong
that my skirmishers withdrew to the flanks of my line of battle, opened on the
enemy a terrible fire, while it still advanced in good order to the middle of
the field, when the line halted and the fire from both sides was most furious
and destructive for about ten minutes, when I ordered an advance, and the front
line moved forward into the edge of the wood, where for a few minutes the roar
and fire of musketry was like the thunder of a volcano, and the line wavered as
if moving against a hurricane." At this point Milroy ordered Colonel Anderson to
advance the 178th Ohio to the front. The 1st Brigade, seeing themselves
supported, rushed with a yell and darted over the rebel's fortifications. They
took many prisoners and put the enemy to flight. According to Shelby Foote's
account General Forrest rode among his rattled troops, appealing to them to
stand and fight, then cursing them for refusing to do so. "He stood in the
stirrups, eyes blazing, face gone red with rage" and began whacking the backs of
his fleeing troops with the flat of his saber.
Colonel Anderson reported: "Sharp firing along the line showed that the
general had not been mistaken in supposing it necessary to protect the right
flank. Major-General Milroy took the 178th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and,
marching it left in front, led it to the extreme left and conducted it
personally into battle." Anderson then relates how he has no doubt of the
gallantry of the regiment "as the almost reckless daring of the general cannot
be other than infectious." Anderson's report continues: "The Twelfth Indiana
Cavalry was pushed forward on the right of the pike over a cotton field, where
it lay under a hot musketry fire till it was ordered forward into the woods as
the enemy retired." The reb's were pursued for about a half mile resulting in
the capture of many more prisoners, a battle flag, and two artillery pieces
(12-pounder Napoleons) with their caissons. Milroy's own artillery got back from
the fortress with a dispatch that he should return to the fortress since a large
enemy force was reported to the north. As the two brigades returned the Twelfth
Indiana Cavalry formed the rear guard to ward off any rebel advance.
General Milroy listed his casualties as 208 of whom 22 were killed. The
losses of the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry in this action were 1 killed and 11
wounded according to Lt. Col. Reed's report. Milroy stated that the number of
dead and wounded of the enemy indicated their loss was greater than his based on
personal observation. He mentioned seeing among the dead two rebel
lieutenant-colonels. They took 197 prisoners including 21 commissioned officers.
The rebels were commanded by Generals Forrest and Bates and were about 5,000
strong.
In addition to the battle of Wilkinson Pike, listed on the discharge paper of
Malachi Pool is the battle of Shelbyville Pike on December 14 about which no
other detail has been located. The Shelbyville Pike ran due south out of
Murfreesboro and was a likely place to meet the enemy as it is certain that the
Confederates continued to be in the area and harass the town. Also listed on
this discharge is the Siege of Murfreesboro, December 1864.
The regimental history shows the Siege of Murfreesboro as Dec. 5 - 12th and
other actions near there on the 14th and 15th. John Henderson writes that while
out foraging on the 14th, they were attacked by the Rebs in larger numbers. They
fought on the defensive until reinforced from the fort when they put the Rebs on
the run. According to Chapman's History of St. Joseph County, Emerson Woodbury
of Company H, was killed in action at Murfreesboro on December 20.
Continued: Page 3
Please address any comments to:
ripoole@michiana.org
|
