14-15, 1862, Expedition, protection and reconstruction duty over M&C railroad, State Line Road from Memphis to Moscow to Wolf River to Saulsbury to Bolivar
HDQRS. FIFTH DIVISION, ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, La Grange, Tenn., June 15, 1862.
Gen. LEW. WALLACE, Memphis, Tenn.:
SIR: I arrived here with my whole division yesterday, and Gen. Hurlbut is at Grand Junction to-day. I will start working parties to repair the Memphis and Charleston Railroad immediately, and would like you to examine the Somerville Branch and meet us at Moscow to-morrow with any hand cars that can be found.
I would be obliged to you if you would give me such information as you possess of the position of yours and McClernand's troops
Respectfully, your obedient servant
W. T. SHERMAN, Maj.-Gen.
HDQRS. FIFTH DIVISION, June 15, 1862
Brig.-Gen. DENVER, Comdg. Third Brigade:
SIR: You will march with your command early to-morrow morning on the State Line road to Moscow, examine into the state of damages on the Memphis and Charleston road where it crosses the valley of Wolf River, and do all things possible to restore it to a running condition as soon as possible, to which end you are authorized to call upon palters in the neighborhood for negroes, oxen, wagons, or whatever is necessary to a speedy restoration of the road.
Two companies of Dickey's cavalry will be ordered to report to you this evening for orders.
By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman
HDQRS. FIFTH DIVISION, ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, La Grange, Tenn., June 15, 1862.
Brig. Gen. STEPHEN A. HURLBUT, Comdg. Fourth Division, Grand Junction:
SIR: The chief purpose of our being here is to cover the reconstruction of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, so as to open up communication from Corinth by way of Jackson, Grand Junction, &c., to Memphis. To this end I have called on the planters here for a force to repair two pieces of trestle-work destroyed here, and to-morrow Gen. Denver will move forward to Moscow to commence the repairs there, and in anticipation of your arrival at Grand Junction I instructed Mr. Smith, and extensive planter there, to call upon his neighbors for a force adequate to repair the road up till he meets a party coming down.
I have already had a messenger at Bolivar, who reports two regiments of Lew. Wallace's command there under command of Col. Sanderson, but his information about the railroad an telegraph repairs is so scant that I wish you would send up another party on that especial business and to urge forward telegraph as rapidly as possible. I look to you to picket strongly the Ripley road to the southeast and the Holly Springs road at Davis' Mill; also at once open a direct road from your camp to La Grange, if there be not already one.
By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman:
HDQRS. RESERVE CORPS, Bethel, Tenn., June 15, 1862.
Maj. Gen. LEW WALLACE, Comdg. Third Division:
GEN.: Your dispatch dated June 12, 1862, announcing your safe arrival at Union Station, was received last evening by courier. I am directed by Gen. McClernand to say that he congratulates you on the success of your expedition and its safe arrival at a point where you can readily reach supplies, you having been advised by a previous dispatch to draw your supplies for that part of your command from Memphis as soon as it was practicable to do so. To-day we are moving our headquarters to Jackson, at which point you will communicate with me by telegraph from the nearest point. At present the telegraph is working to Bolivar.
C. T. HOTCHKISS, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
HDQRS. FIFTH DIVISION, ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, La Grange, Tenn., June 16, 1862.
Brig. Gen. STEPHEN A. HURLBUT, Grand Junction:
GEN.: Yours of this morning has been received and ready to the general, who is quite unwell and trying to keep quiet. He is glad to know that you have got through so well. Forage you must obtain by purchase from the people of the country; give receipts for the articles taken, which the owner will hand to the division quartermaster and receive vouches. We can't send you a portion of our train to furnish subsistence until communication opens.
Gen. Denver has moved his entire brigade up to Moscow, where he will attend to the repairs of the road.
* * * *
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. H. HAMMOND, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 17, pt. II, pp. 9-11.
14, 1863, A trip on the Memphis to Charleston Railroad
Dangers of the Charleston Railroad. - The following from a lady correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial, dated May 29, give a lively idea of the delights of traveling nowadays:
We left Memphis about eight o'clock yesterday morning and traveled rather slowly for some distance. We had not gone more that twenty miles before a report reached us that the track had been torn up just ahead, and a large rebel force [was] in waiting. This news was received about six miles from Germantown, form which place scouts had been sent out. More of our men were at Collierville, four miles ahead, and at this distance from the last named place, we found the track torn up truly enough. Our guard was instantly put under arms, and send forward to examine into the damage, while all on board were momentarily expecting an attack on the train. Captain S., who went forward, said he saw for our five of the guerrillas, but no more, and it was deemed advisable to repair the damage as quickly as possible and proceed on our journey.
Meanwhile the panic on board increase every moment. Several ladies were frightened half to death -- trembling, excited and in tears -- expecting to be shot or taken prisoners, and this within four miles of their husbands, who, they said, were stationed at Collierville. I endeavored to reason and calm them by saying alarm was useless, as we should retire at once to Germantown, in case the guerrillas should make their appearance; but they were too thoroughly frightened to listen to any thing; and shortly afterward a colonel who was on board, came up and advised them to go over to a house a little distance from the road, where, if we be attacked, they might be comparatively safe. Of course, this confirmed the idea at once of the impending danger, and they hastened rapidly away. I alone remained much to the surprise of all. My husband was on ahead with, the other officers and I reasoned at once that were an attack to be made and our men to [sic] week to repulse it, our first movement would be to back the cars to Germantown for more troops, which movement would leave all who had taken refuse in the house of the mercy of the rebels. In answer to their urgent requests to have me accompany them, I stated the fact, and stated that I was not alarmed in any way. I did not believe any attack would be made. From all information that we could glean from the residents of this place, there had been but thirteen rebels there, and their numbers had been greatly exaggerated in the report we received below. Indeed, after this, I felt perfectly confident there was nothing to apprehend but the delay, and indulged in in [sic] a little quiet amusement over the fright of my more nervous neighbors. They regarded me as daring and reckless; indeed, I think some of them imagined I was slightly insane, to thing of running through alone, and braving, as they termed it, the "dangers of our awful situation."
An hour or less served to repair the road, and the whistle sounded to recall men and passengers for going forward. The came in from all directions, some running, some leisurely walking back, at perfect ease. Our party from the house ran for dear life, and reached us in as great a fright almost as when they left us.
A careful run of two miles brought us within our picket lines, stationed outside of Collierville, and then they were at rest. At Collierville they got off delighted, and we proceeded, fearing nor caring for anything but the dust.
We arrived here on time (forty minutes past six) and found everything going on as usual. There were scouting parties out, and others preparing every day for like, expeditions, in which they, in which they were generally very successful.
Memphis Bulletin, June 14, 1863.
14, "I want to tell you about our milk scare….;" letter of W. C. Tripp, Co. B, 44th Tennessee (CSA), to his wife
Bedford Co Tenn June the 14 1863
Camp near Fairfield
Dear Wife I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well at this time hopin [sic] that these few lines will find you all well and doing well I have nothing of importance to rite to you every thing is still in ferment there is no talk as yet a leaving here as I no of I dont know what to rite for I hant [sic] heard from you Since you got home from up here I request to here from you all one time more is you please this is the porest [sic] letter I have rote [sic] to you I looked for some of you up hear last night but I missed seeing any one of you I request you to come up as soon as you get your wheat cut.
I want to tell you about our milk scare when we was on picket they was seventeen of us drink 96 canteens full of milk in too days and sum of the boys wish they had some more milk but I gest [sic] hit done mee [sic] more harm than good at the present time they was six of our mess our expense was twelve dollars in too days but I tell you we didnt [sic] have much meat with us to eat but we have seen little meat to eat since we came back Martha com up next Saturday we are going to have a big meeting hear I would bee glad to go with you to meeting one time more in this life tell Harris and Francis they come up and see me.
Martha you must have my shoes made as soon as you can will need them in a short time have them made number 8 and don't [sic] have them made too heavy. The boys is all well as common the helth [sic] of the regiment is as good as common Thar [sic] was a order red out at dress parade last night to discharge any wounded men from the heavy artillery I was glad of that Ask Jones to send me my knife by the first that come up if Carnes has got hit yet I must bring my few lines to a close excuse my bad riting [sic] and spelling I want you to rite every chance you have so I must quit for a while I remain your husband until death.
W.C. Tripp to Martha A. Tripp
MSCC/CWRC
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