23, 1861 - Confederate March against Unionists in Doe River Cove and Occupation of Elizabethton
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["] The expedition which entered Carter county on Saturday [23rd] last, under Maj. Ledbeter, of Stoval's Georgia regiment, on marching to Doe River Cove found no enemy, the insurgents having disbanded. They had camped at that point several days, and their wooden tents were still standing. They were burned, a pen of corn taken possession of, and a few other eatables, when they returned to the line of the insurgents, Capt. McCellan's cavalry company being determined to take possession of and occupy Elizabethton, the county seat. This he performed without opposition, and he is at that point. A few prisoners have been taken and sent to Knoxville on various charges.["]
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Memphis Daily Appeal, November 29, 1861. [1]
23, 1863 - "I was on Raccoon Mountain yesterday at the signal station which is marked from there you have a grand view of both Armies." Observations of a Michigan cavalryman from an excerpt of his letter to his father
Camp near Chattanooga
Monday November 23rd 1863
Dear Father
….Our communication must be made good at all hazards, that is the first important step. At present we run up rations by river to within about 8 miles of Chattanooga. From there by wagon Train crossing the river twice on Pontoons. The rebels hold the point of Lookout Mountain, which runs to the river. I have made a sort of a map by which you can form an idea of our lines and also the rebels. You will see the road our supplies have to come over by water to the jenny then by train the rest of the way. Crossing the river twice by pontoons. I was on Raccoon Mountain yesterday at the signal station which is marked from there you have a grand view of both Armies. You can see the rebel tents and earthworks plain. It is about 2½ miles air line [sic] from the top of Raccoon to Lookout Mt with a glass you can see the rebs [sic] quite plain. They kept up a cannonading all day yesterday [22nd]. You would see the smoke from our Batteries fifteen seconds before you heard the report. Amelia can you figure how far off? Sound travels 1142 feet per second. The rebels have a very large Army. We could not see all of it. A part being hid behind Lookout and Missionary Range. Sherman was crossing the river all last night with his Corps. We are encamped opposite Chattanooga a mile from the river. I will mark it. The view from the signal Station was the grandest sight I ever saw. You can see the mountains of North Carolina and north to near Cumberland Gap, Kentucky. Then to have spread below you the two great armies in the world, seemingly within reach of each other. You can imagine I cannot tell you anything about it but I must close….
Potter Correspondence.
23-25, 1863 - Battle at Chattanooga
23, 1864 - Confederate foraging in Carroll County
Yesterday and today General Lyons command Confederates [sic] had my wagon and oxen and two load of corn from me. The foraging soldiers wanted to press my wagon to haul corn from Joshua Springers. I would not let my wagon go on such business and sent it loaded with my own corn, the two loads would make about 33 or 34 bushels. Very few men in this neighborhood have furnished any forage up to this time to the Confederate Army. They manage somehow to keep from furnishing any thing [sic]. It is really disgusting to see how little and low some people can act, and some of them members of the Church of Christ! I can number between 20 and 30 men who are pretending to farm in this neighborhood, within two and a half miles, who I am confident, never furnished one bushel of corn to the Confederates, nor, I may add, to the Federal army. The foraging companies invariably get dinner and feed their horses with me, for which I don't receive anything. Their wagons are broken, their teams are of no account, and they themselves are sick. These are the excuses made. But when the block is raised at Paducah, they can make out a team sufficient to go to Paducah. God pity such deceitful liars.
"Younger Diary."
23, Death of Refugee Children in Nashville
We understand that four children of some refugee family died night before last at the Chattanooga depot from cold, hunger, and exposure. It is a terrible thing that in our midst persons are dying by inches from suffering, while thousands of our citizens have an abundance of the comforts of life. We entreat our city authorities to inquire into this matter and not let human beings in this city die, neglected and unnoticed as if they were brutes.
Nashville Daily Union, November 23, 1864.[2]
23, 1864 - Skirmish at Fouche Springs, Victory for N. B. Forrest
No circumstantial reports filed.
Excerpt from the Report of Maj. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest, C. S. Army, commanding cavalry, of operations November 16, 1864--January 23, 1865 relative to the skirmish at Fouche Springs, November 23, 1864
HDQRS. FORREST'S CAVALRY CORPS, Verona, Miss., January 24, 1864.
COL.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the troops under my command during the recent movements in Middle Tennessee:
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....At Fouche Springs the enemy made another stand. I ordered Gen. Chalmers to throw forward Rucker's brigade and to keep up a slight skirmish with the enemy until I could gain his rear. I ordered Lieut.-Col. Kelley to move by the left flank and join me in rear of the enemy. Taking my escort with me I moved rapidly to the rear. Lieut.-Col. Kelley being prevented from joining me as I had expected, I made the charge upon the enemy with my escort alone, producing a perfect stampede, capturing about 50 prisoners, 20 horses, and 1 ambulance. It was not near night, and I placed my escort in ambush. Col. Rucker pressed upon the enemy, and as they rushed into the ambuscade my escort fired into them, producing the wildest confusion....
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OR, Ser. I, Vol. 45, pt. I, p. 752.
[1] As cited in PQCW. Cited in neither OR nor Dyer's Compendium.
[2] As cited in: http://www.uttyl.edu/vbetts.
James B. Jones, Jr.
Public Historian
Tennessee Historical Commission
2941 Lebanon Road
Nashville, TN 37214
(615)-532-1550 x115
(615)-532-1549 FAX
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