June 13 - Notes on the Civil War in Tennessee

13, Scout on Manchester Pike
JUNE 13, 1863.--Scout on the Manchester Pike, Tenn.
REPORTS.
No. 1.--Brig. Gen. John B. Turchin, U. S. Army.
No. 2.--Lieut. Col. William B. Sipes, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry.
No. 1.
Report of Brig. Gen. John B. Turchin, U. S. Army.
MURFREESBOROUGH, TENN., June 13, 1863.
SIR: I respectfully report that at 7 a. m. this day, Lieut.-Col. Sipes, with 260 men of the Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, 105 men of the Third Indiana Cavalry, and one section of Stokes' battery, moved out on the Manchester pike. When 10 miles out, he met the enemy's pickets and drove them in, pursuing them 2 miles. The country being unfavorable for cavalry movements, he then withdrew and returned to camp. The pickets were reported by a citizen to belong to the Texas Rangers, of Hardee's corps. At the same hour, Col. Nicholas moved with his regiment (the Second Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry) on the Wartrace road. At 12 miles out he met two squads of rebel cavalry, each about 30 strong, and dispersed them, after firing a few shots. He moved about half a mile farther forward, and then returned to camp. He could not learn that any force of the rebels had encamped or appeared in any way on the Wartrace road for a week past. Two brigades of infantry are reported to be at Liberty Gap.
In accordance with instructions received from you this p. m., no patrols will be sent to-morrow.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. B. TURCHIN, Brig.-Gen., Cmdg. Second Cavalry Division.

No. 2.
Report of Lieut. Col. William B. Sipes, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry.
HDQRS. SEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY, Camp Stanley, June 13, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to orders, I this morning moved out the Manchester turnpike a distance of about 12 miles, with a force consisting of 260 men of the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, 105 men of the Third Indiana Cavalry, and one section of Stokes' battery.
When 10 miles out, the advance guard came upon the enemy's pickets and drove them back. Col. Long, with a detachment of the Third Indiana, pursued them about 2 miles, when I deemed it prudent to order a halt, the country being ill adapted to cavalry movements and the strength of the enemy entirely unknown. The object of the expedition being accomplished by ascertaining the exact position of the enemy on this road, and not wishing to sacrifice any of my men in a profitless pursuit of a retreating foe, we returned to camp, arriving there a little after 2 p. m.
The pickets we encountered were reported by citizens to belong to Texas Rangers, attached to Hardee's corps of the rebel army. I have no casualties to report.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. B. SIPES, Lieut. Col. Seventh Pennsylvania Vol. Cavalry,
Cmdg. Expedition.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 23, pt. I, pp. 380-381.

 

 

13, President Andrew Johnson declares the rebellion over in Tennessee
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, it has been the desire of the Gen. Government of the United States to restore unrestricted commercial intercourse between and in the several States, as soon as the same could be safely done in view of resistance to the authority of the United States by combinations of armed insurgents:
*  *  *  *
*  *  *  *
And I hereby also proclaim and declare that the insurrection, so far it relates to and within the State of Tennessee, and the inhabitants of the said State of Tennessee as recognized and constituted under their recently adopted constitution and reorganization, and accepted by them, is suppressed; and therefore, also, that all the disabilities and disqualifications attaching to said State and the inhabitants thereof consequent upon any proclamations issued by virtue of the fifth section of the act entitled "An act further to provide for the collection of duties o­n imports, and for other purposes," approved the thirteenth day of July, o­ne thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, are removed.
But nothing herein contained shall be considered or construed as in any wise changing or impairing any of the penalties and forfeitures for treason heretofore incurred under the laws of the United States, or any of the provisions, restrictions, or disabilities set forth in my proclamation bearing date the twenty-ninth day of May, o­ne thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, or as impairing existing regulations for the suspension of the habeas corpus, and the exercise of military law in cases where it shall be necessary for the general public safety and welfare during the existing insurrection; nor shall his proclamation affect, or in any way impair, any laws heretofore passed by Congress, and duly approved by the President, or any proclamations or orders issued by him during the aforesaid insurrection, abolishing slavery, or in any way affecting the relations of slavery, whether of persons or [of] property; but, o­n the contrary, all such laws and proclamations heretofore made or issued are expressly saved and declared to be in full force in virtue.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington this thirteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord o­ne thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-ninth.
[L. S.]
ANDREW JOHNSON.
By the President:
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.
OR, Ser. III, Vol. 5, pp. 104-105.