July 13th 1862
How to begin, I know not. I was aroused early this morning by firing. It has surely been an eventful day. I knew the firing must come from our own brave boys. Sprang from my bed, rushed to the window, called to cousin Ann & Bettie, we dressed hurriedly, not knowing what moment our house & yard would be full to overflowing with either our men or the frightened Yankees. The blue coats began to make a bee line through our yard & front yard, asking Pa to protect them, but he told them to push on, & acting on his advice they kept moving. It was amusing to see how frightened they were, although it was such a serious time, I prayed for victory, while I hissed the frightened Yankees on, expecting every minute to received a parting shot from some of them. Just think, only the day before they were our masters, I thought what would be our fate, if our poor fellows were whipped. The engagement grew general in a few moments. Persons dared not venture out on the square, if they did a report & a vacant saddle would be seen as the horse would dash by, carry their fate to their comrades. Our boys, after forming behind some one story buildings, made a bold rush gaining the court house, but many fell ere they reached the door, and although the Yankees had every advantage they were forced to surrender, & our prisoners turned out to seek their families & friends. Two of them stopped on their way home out here, Mr. Peyton & Mr. Brothers. They looked so happy but who did not except the dusky forms that hovered around our front steps. The gentlemen were afraid to venture up town, as they were firing from the houses, so much it was dangerous to go on the street. In the meanwhile they had attacked the camp down by the river where the battery was stationed, & on the approach of our men threw themselves into a hollow square with their artillery, pointed to resist a determined attack, and as our men had nothing but shot guns they could not get in range & were compelled to fall back three times. But later in the day a flag of truce was sent, & in a few minutes they consulted, surrendered 15,000 men including sick & wounded, including cannons, Camp equipage, which was mostly burnt, & small arms. This is one of the greatest victories of the war considering the number engaged. Gen. Forrest reports 17,000 men consisting of his men & Texas Rangers. (a number were Georgians) With a single piece of artillery besides being the attacking party, I'm sure the hand of Providence guided & directed our boys, for without a higher power that handful of men could never have succeeded against such odds. Our Great Father saw our suffering & travails. Gen. Duffield was wounded early in the engagement, & taken to Maj. Maney's. Gen. Crittenden surrendered to Mrs. Hagen, the lady with whom he was boarding. He was the man that came up to have several of our men hung tomorrow. Some say that was why the attack was hurried. Yes old Gen. Crittenden said we had not a right to the air we breathed (just yesterday). I would like to have asked him who had a right now. Two Genl's, four Col's & ever so many Lt's, Capt's and others [were captured]. A glorious haul. Gen. Duffield was paroled with a number of others that could not be taken away on account of their wounds. When Col. Lester went up on the square, he asked where is the army that took us, & Gen. Forrest proudly answered here they are, pointing to our handful of dirty & worn down by travel boys that stood by. A nobler set never breathed than those rough looking fellows. Nobler hearts never beat. The poor fellows that were waiting for the Yankees decision about surrendering, went fast to sleep so fatigued were they [by] forced marches & no rest. The Yankee Col. awoke our officer by saying "we surrender, we surrender." That gave the Yankees some idea how independent our boys were. We saw a Texas Ranger ride hastily over to Mrs. Laws, & Ma thinking he needed something made us run over and ask [if] we could do anything for him or any of the rest of his comrades. He was introduced as Mr. Dodd of Ky. (though now a Ranger), thanked us, [but said] he had been provided for by the kind ladies up town. Found him quite nice. Saw a Mr. McKa come riding up kissing his hand & we all rushed out to shake his hand. Pa asked if he had ever met him before, but he said no but I'm a Confederate soldier. Very proudly he replied. We insisted so, he had to get down, come in & get breakfast, but would take nothing to drink, which made me think all the more of him. Said he never drank anything. While he was breakfasting we trimmed his hat off beautifully with flowers, not knowing then & until sometime afterwards that he was a single man. He had heard that two stray horses were here, & thought one of them might be his, but neither were, but sent us word by cousin William Tilford this afternoon that he found his, & many thanks for our kindness. That morning as our soldiers were starting to attack the camp by Maj. Maney's, we saw two of our men coming toward our house. We insisted on them getting down & having something to eat. They said as they were about to charge the enemy they didn't have time, but finally said they would take a strong cup of coffee, & while they were drinking it the Yanks surrendered without any trouble. We had gone up into the garret to see the fight, but everything was very quiet. In the evening those two Rangers returned & ate supper with us. Lieut. Fort & AJG Robinson. When they got here not a servant was on the place, and we had to take their places until their return. The Yankee Provost Marshall was found hid between two feather beds, in Miss Corean's bed. The cover spread up & pillows upon it. It was at Mrs. Reeves' that he was captured. Mrs. Reeves & the girl treated our men shamefully. Said they didn't permit such ragged men to come to their house. Our men permitted Col. Parkhurst to go by and tell Josephine goodbye. Our men did better than the Yankees for they never allowed our boys to say goodbye to either mother or sister, much less sweetheart. They pressed Mrs. Reeves' carriage into service to take one of the wounded soldiers off, & when it was returned they cut up considerable, said they would never again ride in it. As if the Yankees had not time & again took our carriage, horses & everything else they could lay their hands on.
Kate Carney Diary
April 15, 1861-July 31, 1862
July 13, 1863. Battle of Jackson, Tennessee
MEMPHIS, TENN., July 15, 1863.
Lieut. Col. JOHN A. RAWLINS, A. A. G., Dept. of the Tenn.:
SIR:.
* * * *
The evident intention of the enemy is to occupy West Tennessee with cavalry, and conscript until they can raise force enough to threaten the railroad or the river posts. Col. Forrest's regular cavalry, 700 strong, with revolving rifles, are at or near Jackson, and, united with Biffle's and other bands, gave a severe fight to Col. Hatch on the 13th at that place. They were defeated, with loss on our side of 30 to pursuing them toward Trenton.
* * * *
S. A. HURLBUT.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 24, pt. III, p. 515.
MEMPHIS, TENN., July 15, 1863.
Brig.-Gen. ASBOTH, Columbus:
GEN.: Hatch, with his cavalry, met the enemy at Jackson on the 13th. Captured 40 prisoners; killed and wounded many. Drove them out of Jackson by a charge, and was following them toward Trenton. If they are driven across the Obion, you must co-operate with him. In the meanwhile, enjoin and enforce the most rigid discipline and preparation at all your posts. I expect Kimball's division soon, when I shall send you three regiments.
S. A. HURLBUT.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 24, pt. III, p. 515.
BATTLE AT JACKSON, TENNESSEE.
Colonel Hatch Triumphant.
Two Rebel Companies Captured.
It is known to our readers that for several days past the Confederates, under various leaders, have been making themselves as troublesome as possible to the people of West Tennessee. Col. Ed. Hatch, who has done such excellent service heretofore in punishing the rebels in North Mississippi, started from Lagrange last Sunday [12th] morning, to look after the Confederates, then in Jackson, Tennessee. His force numbered about 1300 men, and on reaching Jackson about noon Monday [13th], he found Col. Jesse Forrest in possession of the town, with about 2000 or 2500 men. Immediately he gave battle, and a most desperate fight occurred, lasting for about three hours. Finally Col. Hatch led a desperate charge with sabers and pistols, driving the rebels in and through the town, and capturing two entire companies. Col. Hatch's loss was 40 to 50 killed and wounded, that of the enemy estimated at three times that number. At last accounts, Col. Hatch had left a garrison in Jackson, and was in full pursuit of Forrest and his retreating forces.
We trust that we shall speedily have the gratification of announcing that every armed rebel and guerrilla has been driven out of West Tennessee."
Memphis Daily Bulletin, July 16, 1863.
The Capture of Jackson, Tenn.
The following authentic details of the taking of Jackson, Tenn., by Col. Hatch, of the 6th Iowa volunteers, gives further particulars of that gallant affair than any we had previously received:
The 2d Iowa and 3d Michigan regiments were led by Col. Edward Hatch against the rebels, who held the place, under command of Gen. Forrest. These regiments stormed the fortifications and, after one of the sharpest cavalry fights of the war, in which the enemy's cavalry fought better than the attacking party had ever before known them to do, a complete victory was gained and the proud flag of the Union floated above the fortifications at Jackson. The enemy's cavalry were fiercely attacked by General Hatch, and his men rode them down like nine-pins, putting them completely to flight. The enenmy acknowledge that they had a large superiority of numbers, and that they were whipped; this stamps the battle as a gallant affair.
The 9th Illinois infantry, under Col Phillips, charged one of the forts, and in spite of an obstinate defense, gallantry took it. The force of the enemy consisted of the 9th Tennessee rifles, and the troops under Cox, Newsome, Nealy, and some guerrilla leaders. Their prisoners confessed that not less than twenty-five hundred of their troops were present in the engagement.
The enemy had one hundred and seventy eight men killed and wounded, including ten commissioned officers. One hundred and fifty prisoners, regular troops, were taken; four hundred conscripts were allowed to go. Among the material captured were three hundred stand of arms.
Memphis Daily Bulletin, July 21, 1863.
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