Editors Appeal: . . . We are now arming men with a weapon new in this war and in modern warfare generally, but a most effective weapon, as it will compel the southern soldier to his best fighting points and throw the northerner on his worst, to wit: hand to hand fighting. This weapon is the pike; a large number having been, and still being manufactured, under the appropriation of the State Legislature. The Alabama pike consists of a keen two-edged steel head, like a large bowie-knife blade, near a foot and a half long, with a sickle like hook, very sharp, bending back from near the socket. This is intended for cutting the bridles of cavalrymen or pulling them off their horses, or catching hold of the enemy when they are running away. This head is mounted on a shaft of tough wood about eight feet long. A gleaming row of these fearful implements of slaughter, beaming down upon them at the pas de charge, would strike the terror of ten thousand deaths to the apprehensive souls of Butler's Yankees. It can scarcely be doubted that we would have won more, and more decided victories than we have, had there not been an ounce of gun powder, except for artillery use, in the Confederacy. Then the southrons must have come to close quarters, and their superior physical prowess and nerve would have made their victories deadly and decisive. I would mention that all our uniformed companies have good fire-arms, as also the regiments of the army hereabouts have. The mere militia have pikes, in part, and all who have pikes have the additional accoutrement of a bowie-knife of ferocious dimensions. The "web-foots" of Mobile laugh at Abe's blockade. To them it is begun to be a good joke and a profitable one withal. None of them have been caught, and they are constantly slipping out and in with their light-heeled clippers. I would like to give you more particular information, but the blockade breakers would not thank me for heralding their successes. Few of these achievements find their way into print, but I assure you that some of these daring adventures make their trips to Havana with almost the regularity of a mail steamer in times of peace. All quite at Pensacola—and dull, very dull, say the valiant spirits there, who chafe in inglorious repose. Anon.
MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL, January 19, 1862
16, Lost Sword
The Captain who took a sword from the Conductor claiming it as his, on the arrival of the cars from Tullahoma at this place on Saturday evening the 7th inst., will please return it to the REBEL [sic] office, as it was mine. The gentleman is an officer in the army, and is known by sight to the Conductor. If the sword is not returned, the proper steps will be taken to expose the officer.[1]
WM. C. GORMAN, Capt., 4th Fla. Regt.
Chattanooga Daily Rebel, February 12, 1863.
[1] It is not known if the sword was returned, or if "the proper steps" were taken.
16, Engagement near Dandridge at Fain's Factory
Report of Col. Archibald P. Campbell, Second Michigan Cavalry, commanding First Cavalry Division, Department of the Cumberland.
DANDRIDGE, TENN., January 16, 1864.
CAPT.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of to-day of the First Cavalry Division. During the illness of Col. McCook I assumed command of the division, and in obedience to orders from the general commanding moved my command, with Col. H. La Grange's (Second) brigade in advance, on the Morristown road to support Col. Garrard, commanding Cavalry Division, Army of the Ohio. After I had proceeded about 5 miles in the direction of Kimbrough's Cross-Roads, I received a dispatch from Col. Garrard stating that he had come In contact with a large force of the enemy, and was being driven back. I immediately commenced forming my command in order to receive the enemy and cover the retreat of Col. Garrard, when I was ordered by the general commanding to withdraw my command from the Morristown road [and] hasten to the support of Col. Wolford on the Chucky road. Col. Jordan, commanding First Brigade, being in rear of Col. La Grange's brigade, was hurried back in the direction of Dandridge until he arrived at a road communicating with the Chucky road from the Morristown road. Upon his arrival at this point, about 1 1/2 miles from Dandridge, it was found that the enemy had driven Wolford's division back in disorder nearly to Fain's Factory, within 1 mile of Dandridge, and that the command was cut off from Dandridge, by the right of the enemy's line. Col. Jordan immediately disposed of his brigade, and placed in position one section of Capt. Lilly's Eighteenth Indiana Battery and attacked the enemy vigorously on the flank, and by the time the Second Brigade got into position cleared the Dandridge road and established communications with Col. Wolford again. The entire command now moved forward under a heavy fire from the enemy, who had secured a strong position on a wooded hill, and Col.'s La Grange and Jordan, leading in person their dismounted men, cleared the hill at a charge, driving the enemy full a mile and completely turning his right flank. Col. Wolford's command on the Chucky road not advancing, and night setting in, and my orders being in the outset merely to establish communications with Col. Wolford and maintain my position, it was deemed imprudent to further expose my right flank by lengthening the gap between my advancing line and that of Col. Wolford's, who was not advancing.
To Col.'s Jordan and La Grange I am under many obligations for the consummate skill displayed in managing their commands and the example set to their men.
I am also indebted to the members of Col. McCook's (division) staff for their activity and energy during the engagement.
* * * *
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. P. CAMPBELL, Col., Cmdg.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, pp. 85-86.
16, Twelfth U.S. Colored Infantry ordered to guard N&NW RR
HDQRS. DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE, Nashville, Tenn., January 16, 1865.
Col. C. R. THOMPSON, Cmdg., Brigade U. S. Colored Troops:
COL.: The major-general commanding directs that the Twelfth U. S. Colored Infantry proceed without delay and take post on the Northwestern Railroad. They will be so placed as to afford protection to the construction parties on that road, and give aid, as much as possible, toward the rapid completion of it. They will move out with the advance parties of workmen.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
B. H. POLK, Maj. and Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 45, pt. II, p. 601.
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