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marched from near Lafayette, Tennessee, under my command on the second instant.
This expedition was organized and fitted out under the supervision of the Major-General commanding the district of West Tennessee, and I assumed command of it on the morning of the second of June, near the town of Lafayette, Tennessee, in pursuance of Special Orders No. 38, dated Headquarters, District of West Tennessee, Memphis, May 31, 1864, and which were received by me on the first instant.
The strength of my command, in round numbers, was about eight thousand men, and composed as follows:
Cavalry.
First brigade--Colonel G. E. Waring, jr., Fourth Missouri, commanding; strength, one thousand five hundred.
Second brigade.--Colonel E. F. Winslow, Fourth Iowa, commanding; strength one thousand eight hundred, with six pieces of artillery and four mountain howitzers — the division commanded by Brigadier-General B. H. Grierson.
Infantry.
First brigade.--Colonel A. W. Wilkins, Ninth Minnesota, commanding; strength, two thousand, with six pieces of Artillery.
Second brigade.--Colonel G. B. Hoge, One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois, commanding; strength, one thousand two hundred, with four pieces of artillery.
Third brigade.--Colonel E. Benton, Fifty-ninth United States colored infantry, commanding; strength, one thousand two hundred, with two pieces of artillery.
My supply train, carrying rations for eighteen days, consisted of one hundred and eighty-one wagons, which, with the regimental wagons, made up a train of some two hundred and fifty wagons.
My intentions were substantially as follows, viz.: to proceed to Corinth, Mississippi, by way of Salem and Ruckersville, capture any force that might be there; then proceed south, destroying the Mobile and Ohio railroad to Tupelo and Okolona, and as far as possible toward Macon and Columbus, with a portion of my force; thence to Grenada and back to Memphis.
A discretion was allowed me as to the details of the movement, when circumstances might rise which could not have been anticipated in my instructions.
Owing to some misunderstanding on the part of the Quartermaster, as to the point on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad at which some forage was to have been deposited from the cars, there was some little delay occasioned in getting the column in motion.
The following incidents of the march are taken from the journal, kept from day to day, by one of my staff, Captain W. C. Ravalle, A. D. C., and A. A.. G.:
Wednesday, June 1.--Expedition started from Memphis and White's Station toward Lafavette.
Thursday, June 2.--The General and staff left Memphis on the five o'clock A. M. train, and established headquarters at Leake's house, near Lafayette, and assumed command.
Cavalry moved to the intersection of the State Line and Early Grove roads, six miles from Lafayette.
It rained, at intervals, all day and part of the night.
Friday, June 8.--Ordered the cavalry to move to within three or four miles of Salem.
Infantry marched to Lamar, eighteen miles from Lafayette.
Owing to the heavy rains during the day, and the bad condition of the roads and bridges, the train could only move to within four miles of Lamar, and did not get into park until eleven o'clock P. M., the colored brigade remaining with the train as guard.
Saturday, June 4.--Informed General Grierson that the infantry and train, under the most favorable circumstances, could only make a few miles beyond Salem, and to regulate his march accordingly.
Train arrived at Lamar about noon; issued rations to the infantry and rested the animals.
It rained heavily until one o'clock, P. M., making the roads almost impassable.
Moved headquarters to Widow Spight's house, two miles west of Salem, and Colonel Hoge's brigade of infantry to Robinson's house, four miles from Salem (west).
Sunday, June 5.--Infantry and train started at half-past 4 A. M., and joined the cavalry, two miles east of Salem, at 10 A. M.; issued rations to the cavalry, and fed the forage collected by them.
Infantry remained in camp during the day. Cavalry moved to the intersection of the LaGrange and Ripley and the Salem and Ruckersville roads. Colonel Joseph Karge's 2d New-Jersey, with four hundred men, started at six P. M., with instructions to move via Ripley to Reinza, to destroy the railroad; to proceed north, destroy bridges on the Tuscumbia, and to join General Grierson at Ruckersville.
Heavy showers during the afternoon.
Monday, June 6.--Infantry and train moved at four o'clock A. M., on the Ruckersville road; commenced raining at five A. M., and continued at intervals all day. Progress very slow.
Marched thirteen miles, and made headquarters at Widow Childers', at intersection of the Saulsbury and Ripley and the Ruckersville and the Salem roads.
Cavalry moved to Ruckersville.
The advance guard of the infantry encountered a small party of rebels about noon, and chased them toward Ripley, on the LaGrange and Ripley road.
Tuesday, June 7.--Upon information received from General Grierson that there was no enemy near Corinth, directed him to move toward Ellistown, on the direct road from Ripley, and instruct Colonel Karge to join him by way of Blackland and Carrollsville.
Infantry moved to Ripley, and cavalry encamped on New Albany road, two miles south.
Encountered a small party of rebels near Widow Childers', and drove them toward Ripley.
In Ripley met an advance of the enemy and drove them on the New Albany road.
Cavalry encountered about a regiment
This text is part of:
Van Nostrand. New York, New York. 1868.
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