Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 7.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[390] to countermarch with the Ninth cavalry and the Eleventh battery to Danville, which place we reached at four o'clock P. M. of the sixth, making the march without halt, except for wood and water.

At Danville, Colonel W. P. Saunders, Fifth Kentucky cavalry, took command of the whole force, constituting the Eighth and Ninth Michigan cavalry brigade.

At half-past 12 o'clock A. M. of the seventh we took up our line of march for Lawrenceburgh, Ky., forty-three miles distant from Danville. Halting at Harrodsburgh for breakfast, feed, and water, we pushed on, reaching Lawrenceburgh at four o'clock P. M.

From Lawrenceburgh I sent out Lieutenant J. E. Babbitt, with fifty men, to scout between the Kentucky and Salt Rivers. On the Salt River, near Salvisa, Lieutenant Babbitt came upon Captain Alexander's company, of Morgan's division, and captured thirty, killing fourteen.

The command remained at Lawrenceburgh awaiting orders until nine o'clock P. M. on the eleventh instant, when we took up our line of march for Westport via Eminence and Lagrange, reaching Westport at twelve o'clock at midnight, having marched seventy-three miles over a very rough and hilly road, with but four hours halt at Eminence for rest, feed, and water.

At Westport, Charles Laturner, private, company G, was accidentally shot through the body, and was left at that place under proper care.

Morgan having crossed the Ohio River into Indiana, we took transports on Sunday morning, the twelfth instant, for Madison, Indiana, in order to cut him off, leaving behind company I, of my command, a portion of the Ninth, with all our extra baggage, wagons, etc., in command of Colonel David, not having transportation sufficient for the entire command. At Madison we found Morgan had got ahead of us, so we moved on to Lawrenceburgh, Indiana, where Major Mix was sent out to reconnoitre the enemy, learn his force, etc. He proceeded to Guilford, ten miles, and reported again in three hours to the entire satisfaction of General Manson, commanding forces on transports. From Lawrenceburgh we moved on to Cincinnati, reaching that city at half-past 5 o'clock P. M., on the thirteenth instant.

At Cincinnati, Major Edgerly was sent out with his battalion by Colonel Saunders, on a scout, joining us again at Batavia, Ohio, on the fifteenth, having accomplished his mission with success. Lieutenant Babbitt was also sent out two miles from the city to guard a bridge. I have not heard from him since that time.

At four o'clock P. M., the fourteenth, Colonel Saunders, with the balance of his command, moved out to Evandale, three miles from the city, remaining there until half-past 3 o'clock P. M. of the same day, when he received orders to join Brigadier-General Hobson's command in pursuit of Morgan, which command we reached sixteen miles north of Cincinnati. From this time we continued the pursuit with but short halts for feed and rest for our horses, until Sunday morning, the nineteenth instant. After marching all the previous night, we came upon the enemy at Buffington Island Ford, near Portland, Ohio, some two hundred and fifty miles east of Cincinnati. On coming upon the enemy, the Second and Seventh Ohio cavalry being in our front, were dismounted and deployed as skirmishers. Our brigade then came up, when Colonel Saunders ordered the Eleventh Michigan battery to open upon the rebels, and the Eighth and Ninth to charge. This was done with alacrity and spirit, when the enemy, already slowly retiring, took to flight in great disorder, strewing the ground over which they fled with the plunder which they had accumulated all along their line of march. On reaching the woods, I deployed Major Edgerly, with his battalion, to the right, and Major Mix to the left. The pursuit was continued until the horses were worn down, when we returned to Buffington. Major Edgerly's command took one hundred and forty-seven prisoners, Major Mix seventy, making two hundred and seventeen prisoners, with their horses and equipments. Not any of my command were killed, and but two wounded, namely, E. A. Kesler, Sergeant company A, and Jas. Reed, Corporal company A. First Sergeant G. Warner, company A, received a severe wound in the leg, by the accidental discharge of his pistol, while on the march.

I cannot speak in terms of too strong praise of my command since breaking camp at Hickman. During the long, tedious march of five hundred and seventy-three miles, which took sixteen days, much of the time night and day, and that with short rations, they have endured it as Michigan soldiers through this ungodly war have done, without complaint. With cheerfulness and alacrity have my orders been responded to by both officers and men. I was obliged to leave several along the line of march, either sick or worn out, some on account of their horses giving out, with no fresh ones to be procured at the time.

Our arms — the Spencer rifle — proved, as before, a terror to the rebels. They thought us in much stronger force than we were, when each man could pour seven shots into them so rapidly. This is the first instance during the war, I think, where the proportion of killed was greater than the wounded. As far as reports have come in, it is, at least, three killed to one wounded, and this fact is owing to the terrible execution of our rifles.

We remain here a short time to gather up captured property, arms, etc., and then expect to be ordered back to Hickman.

Captain S. Wells, Lieutenant Tubbs, and Lieutenant W. B. Smith represent my command on Colonel Saunders's staff.

With much respect,

By order of Colonel Benjamin B. Runkle, commanding