2, Second Proclamation of the Memphis Committee of Safety
Proclamation.
Unanimously passed by the committee of Safety of the City of Memphis.
Resolved, but the Committee of Safety of the City of Memphis, That all persons in our midst from abroad, may be assured that the whole power of this Committee will be exerted to maintain the safety of its persons and property, so long as no interference on their part be exercised against the affairs and institutions of the South.
F. Titus, Pres't.
F. W. Royster, Sec'y.
Memphis Daily Appeal, May 2, 1861.[1]
2, News from Memphis weeks before the city would fall to Federal forces
Reports of Refugees-Union Feeling at Memphis-Union Prisoners Received with Waking of Handkerchiefs-Gen. Prentiss Makes a Union Speech in Memphis.
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial.
Cairo, April 28.- There are 500 bales of cotton, 7000 hogsheads [of] sugar and 20,000 barrels [of] molasses now lying upon the levee, of which the cotton will be burned, and the sugar and molasses rolled into the river on the approach of the Union forces. The citizens and newspapers are opposed to burning the city, but soldiers and country people favor it.
The Memphis Argus is considered the exponent of Union sentiment, and not allowed to receive telegraphic despatches. The Safety Committee talk of suppressing.
On Wednesday succeeding the battle of Pittsburg, General Prentiss and two thousand three hundred and eighty-six Union prisoners pass through Memphis. The men were in good spirits, and kindly treated by the inhabitants, particularly the Irish and German women. The citizens contented themselves with waving handkerchiefs and looking the interest they dare not openly express.
Prentiss made a Union speech to his men, and the citizens cheered him. Provost Marshal E. D. McKissock bade him remain silent. Prentiss told him that he had four to one more friends in Memphis than he (McKissock), and said to the citizens, keep quiet for a few weeks, and you will have an opportunity to cheer the old flag to you hearts content. Our soldier san "The Star Spangled Banner," "Red White and Blue," "Happy Land of Canaan," and "Old John Brown," as they were starting on the cars for Tuscaloosa, Ala., where they are at present confined. There were on hundred and fourteen Union officer among the prisoners. Beauregard claims to have taken three thousand prisoners.
The Memphis and Ohio and Memphis and Charleston, and Mississippi and Tennessee Railroads are connected by union track to give greater facilities for moving rolling stock and prisoners in case of as Union attack. All the old iron and brass was being collected and forwarded below. The Confederate loss, all told, at Pittsburg Landing, was about four thousand. One thousand two hundred Rebel soldiers are in Memphis. Government machinery, Commissary and Quartermaster' stores are removed. It is though the fate of the Confederacy hangs upon the Corinth battle.
Four deserters from Fort Pillow arrived at the flotilla Sunday morning, and reported twenty-five more in the swamp opposite. A tug was sent for them. They say the Confederate army at the fort is greatly demoralized, whole companies refusing to do ordinary military duty. A large number of soldiers are in irons. Their term of enlistment had expired, and officers wish to compel them to serve two years longer. At the fort one been killed and a dozen wounded by the explosion of our shells.
Philadelphia Inquirer, May 2, 1862.
2, Skirmish[2] near Thompson's Station
MAY 2, 1863.- Skirmish near Thompson's Station, Tenn.
No circumstantial reports filed.
Excerpt from "Record of Events," Cavalry Command, Department of the Cumberland.
May 2, the First Brigade, under command of Col. A. P. Campbell, left camp at 3 a. m., on the Lewisburg pike. When about 7 miles south of Franklin, near Thompson's Station, at daylight a portion of the command made a charge into the camp of the enemy, capturing 24 prisoners and killing 2.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 23, pt. I, p. 326.
2, Camp in Murfreesboro, a description by Bliss Morse, 105th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
The boys have adorned the camp about here with cedars and looks very fine around our camps – looks like a big door yard set out with cedars. Every two men have one of those tents throughout the army. Our boys are in very good spirits and will all be paid to the 1st March. My knapsack was turned over to Quartermaster. The boys used my boots, socks, blouse, shirts and hdkf [sic]. I drew and Enfield. It is heavier than Sprin.[3] [sic] I got a letter from Jay and Jason. Sam and I went and peeled bark for a floor to our shanty. It keeps us off the ground. Our floor room is six feet square. We spread two coffee sacks and an overcoat down for bed with two blankets for us, and sleep sound, and fearless – way down here in the enemy's country. Our boys are delighted with scouting [sic] and like to get away from camp and the stench of dead animals. Around twelve hundred rebels are said to come in and lay down their arms. I have had some good pancakes for breakfast – rises with Soda which Sam made.
* * * *
Bliss Morse
Loren J. Morse, ed., comp., Civil War Diaries & Letters of Bliss Morse[4]
2, Skirmish at Bolivar
APRIL 30-MAY 9, 1864.-Expedition from Memphis, Tenn., to Ripley, Miss., and skirmish (May 2) at Bolivar, Tenn.
Reports of Maj. Gen. Cadwallader C. Washburn, U. S. Army, commanding District of West Tennessee.
HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Memphis, Tenn., May 4, 1864.
GEN.: On the afternoon of the 2d instant the advance of Sturgis' cavalry, 700 strong, under Lieut.-Col. Karge, Second New Jersey Cavalry, encountered a brigade of Forrest's cavalry near Bolivar, on the south side of Hatchie. The enemy were from 800 to 1,000 strong. After a severe fight of two hours the enemy retreated across the Hatchie, destroying the bridge. They retreated through Bolivar in a southeast direction. Gen. Sturgis fears that Forrest has retreated between the Hatchie and Tennessee Rivers. He hears that the cars are running to Corinth, and that a part of Gen. Polk's forces are below Corinth.
Our losses in the action were 2 killed and 10 wounded. My latest information from Gen. Sturgis is to 7.30 o'clock yesterday morning, whence was 16 miles west of Bolivar but expected to have a large part of his cavalry force up to Bolivar by 12 o'clock yesterday. The heavy rains had so swollen the creeks as to greatly retard his movements.
I am, general, your obedient servant,
C. C. WASHBURN, Maj.-Gen.
HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Memphis, May 6, 1864.
GEN.: On the 30th ultimo I sent from here 3,300 cavalry and 2,000 infantry in pursuit of Forrest, under Gen. Sturgis.
On the day following [May 1st] Forrest left Jackson, Tenn., in force, retreating south. My advance met a brigade of his in the afternoon of the 2d near Bolivar, and after a sharp engagement of two hours drove them from their intrenchments with considerable loss. They retreated across the Hatchie, destroying the bridge behind them. Our loss, 2 killed, 10 wounded.
Forrest with his whole force encamped on night of 2d at Purdy, and continued his retreat the day following [3d] toward Pocahontas. He crossed the Hatchie at Pocahontas on the 4th, and Sturgis was in hot pursuit. A co-operating force which I expected from Bethel to be at Purdy on the night of 30th failed me or I should have captured his whole force. The Hatchie was very high and impassable anywhere below Bolivar. I still hope to punish him severely before he gets out of reach.
C. C. WASHBURN, Maj.-Gen.
HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,
Memphis, May 8, 1864. (Received 11th, 11 a. m.)
Forrest is driven out of West Tennessee. My forces followed him as far as East Mississippi, but his swift horses rendered farther pursuit unavailing. There is no organized enemy in West Tennessee or Kentucky.
You will next hear of Forrest near Decatur, Ala.
C. C. WASHBURN, Maj.-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, pp. 693-694.
2, Telegraphic communication between Major-General R. H. Milroy and Major-General Rousseau relative to capture and punishment of guerrillas, horse-thieves and other armed outlaws.
TULLAHOMA, May 2, 1865.
Maj. B. H. POLK, Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Nashville:
Your telegram received. Am I to understand that I am directed to send flags of truce to all bands of guerrillas, horse-thieves, and other armed outlaws that may be within reach of my command? I have eighteen of these cut-throats in my stockade under charges, awaiting trial? Shall I make the proposition to them? They are not so bad as some of the armed bands who are in the brush. All will gladly go through the motions of accepting the terms offered.
R. H. MILROY, Maj.-Gen.
NASHVILLE, TENN., May 2, 1865.
Maj. Gen. R. H. MILORY, Tullahoma:
Your dispatch in reference to the order sent you yesterday has been submitted to Maj.-Gen. Thomas, who says the order intends to apply to all bands of armed men. The men already in your stockade are not included. You will make it understood that all men who refuse to cease their warfare against the Government or the citizens of the country will be regarded and treated as outlaws.
By command of Maj.-Gen. Rousseau:
B. H. POLK, Maj. and Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 570.
[1] PQCW
[2] "Expedition to Thompson's Station and Skirmish," according to Dyer's Battle Index for Tennessee.
[3] i.e., Springfield rifle.
[4] Loren J. Morse, ed., comp., Civil War Diaries & Letters of Bliss Morse [105th Ohio Volunteer Infantry], 1st ed., (n.p: privately published, 1985.) [Hereinafter cited as Diaries of Bliss Morse.]
James B. Jones, Jr.
Public Historian
Tennessee Historical Commission
2941 Lebanon Road
Nashville, TN 37214
(615)-532-1550 x115
(615)-532-1549 FAX
No comments:
Post a Comment