VICKSBURG, MISS., January 10, 1865.
COLONEL: I have the honor to report, in obedience to your order, the part taken
by my command, consisting of five companies and numbering 260 effective men, in
the recent cavalry raid through Northern Mississippi.
At Ripley, fourteen miles east of Lamar, on the Mississippi Central Railroad, on
the 24th ultimo, by your order, I left the main column with 200 of my best
mounted men and marched twenty-five miles east to the Mobile and Ohio Railroad,
striking it about midnight between Baldwyn and Guntown Stations. After setting
fire to two bridges, tearing up as much of the track as was possible with the
tools in our possession, and cutting the telegraph wire, I took up my line of
march for Ellistown, sixteen miles distant, where I rejoined the brigade at noon
of the 25th. During this trip, which was unusually hard on the horses on account
of the excessively bad roads and the darkness of the night, we captured 7
prisoners and destroyed 24 stand of arms. At Verona, on the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad, on the 26th, I destroyed a train of 20 abandoned wagons, loaded with
provisions and clothing, and captured about 60 head of mules. We reached Egypt
Station, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, in the forenoon of the 28th, and found
the First Brigade, Colonel Kargé, commanding, engaged in a sharp fight with the
enemy, who were well protected behind stockades and the railroad embankment, and
were severely punishing our forces without loss to themselves. In obedience to
your order I moved my regiment and formed three companies--E, Captain Smith
commanding; B, Captain Merriman; and A, Lieutenant Donica commanding--in line on
the extreme right of the line formed by the First Brigade, supporting them by
the two other companies--D, Lieutenant Taylor commanding, and C, First Sergeant
Arnold commanding. Seeing at once that the enemy were securely posted out of
sight and danger behind the railroad embankment, I ordered a charge, for the
purpose of dislodging them and turning their left. Notwithstanding the soft
condition of the ground (a cultivated field), the charge was entirely
successful. The enemy were driven a distance of about 100 rods to the timber,
where a deep ditch checked our pursuit and enabled a majority of them to escape.
We, however, captured fifteen, including a lieutenant-colonel and several line
officers. Several were also killed and wounded, among them Brigadier-General
Gholson, mortally wounded. My loss was very light--2 men slightly wounded, and
17 horses killed and disabled.
On the morning of the 1st instant I sent Captain Smith with 100 men, dismounted,
from camp near Winona Station, on the Mississippi Central Railroad, to destroy
the railroad between that point and Vaiden Station, a distance of twelve miles.
This work was performed by Captain Smith with his usual energy. He burned nine
bridges and six trestle-works, and tore up much of the track, rejoining the
command a little after noon near Vaiden. In the engagement at Franklin, on the
2d instant, my regiment being in the rear did not reach the field until some
time after the fight began between the enemy and the Third United States. On
reaching the scene of action one company (E, Captain Smith commanding) was
ordered to go to the relief of Major Main, of the Third United States, who with
a detachment of his regiment was holding the enemy in check at the bridge. Two
other companies (A and B), under Captain Merriman, were ordered to move into the
field to the right, to intercept flank movements from the enemy's left.
Companies C and D remained to guard the pack train. After getting near the
timber to the right, Captain Merriman ordered Companies A and B, under the
immediate charge of Lieutenants Donica and Norton, to dismount and enter the
timber. They did so, moving up the stream and toward the bridge, near which the
enemy were concealed in log-houses and behind rail fences. Lieutenant Norton
moved his company, B, under a sharp fire from the enemy, to a position opposite
the houses and posted his men behind trees and logs. Lieutenant Donica took
position a little farther to the right and across the creek. In this position
these two companies engaged the enemy for near thirty minutes. The number of the
enemy seemed so greatly superior to my own, and the firing became so severe,
that I dispatched Lieutenant Hitt to ask for re-enforcements. He soon returned,
however, with an order from you to withdraw my men and protect the left flank of
Major Main's command, which was ordered back from the bridge. Fortunately, just
after the order was received, the enemy retreated from the log-houses and fences
in my front, or I could not have extricated my command from the position we
occupied without severe loss. In this engagement I regret to record the loss of
2 men killed and 1 wounded, not seriously. Captain Smith reports that from his
position at the bridge he saw 9 of the enemy lying dead. My regiment continued
in the rear during the day, and apprehending that we might be followed, I
ordered Captain Smith to take Companies C and E and form a strong extreme rear
guard--a precaution that proved unnecessary, as the enemy did not make his
appearance, doubtless having been too severely punished in the fight to be in a
condition to follow us.
From this time until our arrival at Vicksburg, on the evening of the 5th
instant, my regiment had no special duty to perform.
The total number of animals captured during the raid, besides the 60 mules
captured at Verona, was 38 horses and 27 mules; making a total of 125 head.
In consequence of the rapid marching in the early part of the raid some 75 or 80
of my horses became used up and had to be abandoned.
I cannot conclude, colonel, without remarking that the conduct of the officers
and men of my regiment, both at Egypt and Franklin, was unexceptionable, and
characterized by their usual bravery and willingness to meet the foe.
I remain, colonel, with sentiments of high esteem, very truly and respectfully,
yours, &c.,
A. T. SEARCH,
Captain, Commanding Fourth Regiment Illinois Cavalry.
Col. E. D. OSBAND.
Comdg. Third Brig.,
Cavalry Div., Dept. of the Mississippi.
RETURN TO FREEDOM
FIGHTERS