March 13 - Tennessee Civil War Notes

13, Destruction of Beach Creek Bridge, Mobile & Ohio RR 
Report of Maj. Charles S. Hayes, Fifth Ohio Cavalry.
HDQRS. THIRD BATTALION FIFTH OHIO CAVALRY, March 14, 1862.
SIR: Pursuant to orders received on the evening of the 12th instant I proceeded with my command at 2 o'clock yesterday morning, the 13th instant, and at 10 o'clock a.m. arrived at a point on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad between Bethel and Brown Station, and proceeded at once to destroy the bridge at that place crossing Beach Creek, it being of 50 feet span, with 50 feet of trestle-work on either bank, making 150 feet in all, which I so effectually crippled as to entirely preclude the passage of trains until the whole structure is taken down and rebuilt. I also tore up a small portion of the track on either side of the bridge and trestle, bent the rails, and threw them into the river, or creek. Farther down a small trestle was destroyed. While accomplishing this work a party of rebel horsemen, afterwards ascertained to be a portion of a body known as Robertson's Cavalry Company, came in sight, when, chase being given, two of them were captured, whom I now hold subject to order.
I also have their horses.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
CHAS. S. HAYES, Cmdg. Third Battalion Fifth Ohio Cavalry.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 10, pt. I, p. 10.

 

 

 13, Report o­n food supplies for Army of Tennessee
CHATTANOOGA, TENN., March 13, 1863.
Col. B. S. EWELL, Asst. Adjt. Gen. and Chief of Staff:
COL.: Under instructions from Gen. Johnston, I have been for some days past prosecuting an inquiry into the probable prospect of supplying the army of Gen. Bragg with salt meat from the country adjacent to that command, the object of this being mainly, as I understand, to protect the reserve supplies at Atlanta and elsewhere, in the event of a contingency. I hasten to communicate the result of this investigation, so far as I have been able to make it.
Taking the testimony of gentleman of character and credibility, who are familiar with the resources of the country, I should say that in the tier of counties lying to the right and left of the railroad to Shelbyville, from Stevenson, there were supplies sufficient, if energetically collected, to subsist Gen. Bragg's command for certainly two months. The counties of Lincoln, Giles, and Maury are particularly mentioned, Maj. V. K. Stevenson, president of Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, venturing the opinion that the former county alone has a surplus of 800,000 pounds of salt meat. It is suggested that Capt. Moses Cruse, a quartermaster, formerly a sheriff of Lincoln County, would be the most efficient person to sent to that immediate locality. He is said to be a person of high character and great industry, and to enjoy a large share of popular confidence. I would respectfully recommend that he be ordered to report to Maj. [J. J.] Walker, Gen. Bragg's chief commissary, for special commissary duty in that section.
It is proper to add that Maj. Cummings, in charge of the subsistence depot at Atlanta, presents rather a gloomy view of his resources. Among other discouraging items, he informed me that he was compelled to make a weekly shipment of 500,000 pounds of meat for the eastern army. Hence it becomes a matter of most serious concern to gather assiduously all the supplies in the immediate front and o­n the flanks of Gen. Bragg's army. I shall leave to-morrow to prosecute a further inquiry into the prospects of beef-cattle in Central Alabama.
Very respectfully,
A. D. BANKS, Maj. and Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 23, pt. II, pp. 688-689.

 

 

March 13, 1864 - 
Removal of Dead Horses from the Streets; the Federal Army's battle for Public Health in Nashville
Provost Orders, No. 52
Office Provost Marshal
Nashville, Tenn., March 13, 1864
The practice of deposing the carcasses of dead horses and mules within the limits of the city, is in violation of all sanitary regulations, and is strictly prohibited.
All such dead animals will be hauled to a point o­n the river bank, below the Government corrals, and thrown into the river.
Any soldier, citizen, or Government employee leaving such dead carcass within the city limits, or within o­ne half mile of the same, or any owner of such dead animal neglecting to have it hauled away, will be arrested and imprisoned.
By order of Brig. Gen R. S. Garner
John W. Horner, Lieut. Col and Pro. Mar.
Nashville Dispatch, March 19, 1863