Saturday, June 25, 2011

June 24 - Tennessee Civil War Notes

Tuesday June 24th 1862
This morning heard that Richmond has been taken though it is not generally believed. Pa sent word back to Cousin Ann that Will Wilkinson would call out & get a bundle she wanted to send out to Mr. Ewing's. Bettie & I fearing he might call for us left home, as I don't want to see people who have taken the oath. We went up to see Mollie Crockett, met old Mr. Crockett there whom I had not seen for months. She (Mollie) said her husband Mr. Robt. Crockett & Tom Tucker sent their love to me. I hope it is true about the exchange of prisoners. Poor fellows, they have had a hard time of it. It was rumored they were to pass here today, but it proved a mistake. Mollie told me that Aunt Judy said she thought Bill Spence was blamed too much in town, & she did not think him such a bad person as everybody thought him. I would not be surprised the next thing I heard that Uncle Ephe had come home, & that cousin Mary & Mary Spence were very intimate. I think policy can be carried entirely too far. We drove by Mrs. Winship's to see how she was & by Aunt Nancy's to hear the news. No news, but very cheerful. We stopped by a few moments to hear how Mrs. Wm. Anderson's little child was, that has been quite sick for several days. Mr. Wilkinson had not been out, neither did he come this evening, which I was glad of. Heard that Holly Springs, Miss. had been taken. I should like to know where Dr. Wilson & Sister Mary are, they were to spend the summer here, provided they could get up here. I wish she was here, though I wouldn't have him take the oath for anything. Poor Brother John hasn't been permitted yet to come. It is reported that a large battle will be fought near Shelbyville soon. A Regt. from here went up to the assistance of the Yankees today although Old Gen. Mitchell & Buel are both there. Kate Avent is still with Rosa. Buck Alexander has taken the oath & come home. I'm glad I'm not acquainted with him, hope I never will be. Who can we trust. A Yankee Capt. died at Mrs. Maney's yesterday. I don't care how many die.
Kate Carney Diary
April 15, 1861-July 31, 1862
http://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/carney/carney.html

 

24, "…the sun shown brightly on the moving hosts, the arms glittered gaily in the bright light and all was life and animation." The initiation of the Tullahoma Campaign, as recorded by Sergeant Charles Alley, 5th Iowa Cavalry

Left early this morning and found the whole army [of the Cumberland] in motion. Everywhere were [sic] to be seen large bodies of men moving southward. Cavalry, artillery and infantry – the sun shown brightly on the moving hosts, the arms glittered gaily in the bright light and all was life and animation. We moved forward on the Woodbury Pike. Soon the fine morning passed away clouds rapidly rose. Thunders [sic] uttered their voices and lightnings [sic] flashed and we marched on through a pouring rain for about 8 miles when we were halted and had the pleasure of sitting an hour or two in the rain, when we were countermarched and came back to M. and then went out on the Salem Pike where it was said the Rebels were driving our men. All the way we could hear the cannonading – but in the afternoon it seemed to be getting farther off – we marched seven or eight miles on this latter pike then took across the road and went on a few miles farther to the left and bivouacked. I was rather a dreary time everything in damp. However, I spread my rubber blanket on the ground, my saddle blanket on that and lay down. After awhile it began to rain again when I drew my talma over my blanket and defied it.

Alley Diary

 

 

24, Skirmish* at Christiana
HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, In Camp, Manchester, Tenn., June 28, 1863.
COL.: In accordance with orders of this date, I have the honor to submit the following summary of the operations of my division during the past five days:
By direction of Maj. Gen. G. Granger, commanding Reserve Corps, I advanced from Triune, Tenn., at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 1863, by the Nolensville pike, to within 1 mile of Harpeth River, and thence striking across to the Manchester pike, by way of Winslow's Camp Ground, I arrived at Salem at 6 p.m., and encamped for the night.
At 7 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, I advanced of the Twentieth Army Corps. I remained at Christiana until relieved, in turn, by Gen. Baird's division of the Reserve Corps, when I advanced 2 miles in the direction of Millersburg, and encamped for the night on Ross' farm, at Henry's Creek. At Christiana my pickets encountered those of the rebels, and kept up a brisk skirmish during my stay at that point, the rebels occasionally bringing a 6-pounder gun to bear upon us, without, however, doing us any injury.
On Thursday, June 25, I was relived from duty with the Reserve Corps, and ordered to report to the corps proper of the division. I, however, remained at the Ross farm, at the request of Gen. McCook, commanding on my immediate left, until 11 a.m. that day, when I advanced to Hoover's Mill and encamped for the night.
During the 24th and 25th it rained incessantly, rendering the dirt roads over which I was frequently obliged to travel exceedingly difficult for the passage of artillery and wagons. I, however, succeeded in bringing my train through with comparatively little damage.
On Friday, June 26, I reported, according to orders, to Maj.-Gen. Rousseau, and, in conjunction with his division, effected the passage of Hoover's Gap (an Official report of the action attending which I have already forwarded), and encamped that night on the south side of Scott's Branch of Garrison Creek.
On Saturday, June 27, I advanced to Manchester, via Fairfield, striking the Manchester pike at Powell's farm, and encamped there, under the direction of the major-general commanding the corps.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. M. BRANNAN,
Brig.-Gen., Cmdg. Division.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 23, pt. I, p. 420.
* Ed. note - Oftentimes the existence of a skirmish is chronicled not in a separate report, but in a report encompassing several days or weeks of activities, such as the Tullahoma Campaign. The skirmish at Christiana (Rutherford County) is an example. It was mentioned as part of five days of fighting during the campaign and aside from the fact that it is documented, was a small fight.

 

 

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