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[668] towards Columbus, from which he found it impossible to rejoin the command, and conducted his small command safely to Decatur, capturing prisoners nearly double in number to his detachment. To Captain Baker, A. A. I. G., Captain Walden, Provost Marshal, and Lieutenants Lusk and Kelly, aides-de-camp, I am under obligations for their zeal, activity, and efficiency in the execution of my orders.

To Quartermaster Sergeant Walker, and Commissary Sergeant Wentworth, I am indebted for invaluable services performed by them for the brigade, in the absence of the officers of those departments of the staff.

I have the honor, very respectfully your obedient servant,

John T. Croxton, Brigadier-General U. S. Volunteers.

headquarters First division, C. C. M. D. M., Macon, Ga., May 23, 1865.
Major — I have the honor to recommend the following named officers for promotion as a reward for gallantry and meritorious service in the field during the late campaign:

Colonel O. H. La Grange, First Wisconsin cavalry, commanding Second brigade, to be Brigadier-General of volunteers.

Lieutenant-Colonel Wm. W. Bradley, commanding Seventh Kentucky cavalry, to be Colonel by brevet.

Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Harnden, commanding First Wisconsin cavalry, to be Colonel by brevet.

Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas W. Johnston, commanding Second Michigan cavalry, to be Colonel by brevet.

Major W. H. Fraler, commanding Sixth Kentucky cavalry, to be Lieutenant-Colonel by brevet.

Captain R. S. Hill, commanding Second Indiana cavalry, to be Major.

Captain Jas. M. McCown, Sixth Kentucky cavalry, to be Major by brevet.

Captain Edmund Penn, Sixth Kentucky cavalry, to be Major by brevet.

Captain Walter Whittemore, Sixth Kentucky cavalry, to be Major by brevet.

I am, Major, very respectfully your obedient servant,

John T. Croxton, Brigadier-General, U. S. V. Major E. B. Beaumont, A. A. General, Cavalry Corps, M. D. M.


Colonel La Grange's report.

headquarters Second brigade, First cavalry division, M. D. M., Macon, Ga., May 4, 1865.
Major — I respectfully submit the following report of the operations of this brigade since leaving Chickasaw, March twenty-second, 1865.

No incident occurred to break the monotony of marching and foraging until April first, when the brigade marched through Randolph via Centreville to Scottsville, a distance of thirty-eight miles, for the purpose of uniting with the First brigade, which had previously been ordered to Tuscaloosa.

A battalion of the First Wisconsin, under Major Shipman, was moved at a trot from Randolph to Centreville, made the march of fifteen miles in two hours, drove out a rebel force of one hundred and fifty, captured fifteen prisoners, and secured the bridge which he was left to guard with his battalion. Information received from prisoners captured between Scottsville and Trion, led the General Commanding to believe that the First brigade, after a sharp skirmish, had fallen back towards Elyton, and convinced him that the rebel force near Trion was more than double that of the Second brigade. For these reasons he determined to order the brigade back via Centreville to rejoin the main column. A demonstration made on the morning of the second by the Second and Fourth Indiana, caused the enemy to display force which could not have been less than three thousand, while the brigade having nine companies detached, only numbered twelve hundred men. In this skirmish the Second Indiana behaved handsomely, and from a strong position punished the enemy severely, with a loss of only one man killed and eight wounded, six of whom fell into the hands of the enemy. Captain R. S. Hill, commanding battalion, behaved with his usual gallantry, and though severely wounded in the early part of the engagement, refused to leave the saddle until the fight was over.

Lieutenants Moulton and Chase, of my staff, merit commendation for their conduct in this affair.

After destroying the factory, mill, bridge, and nitre works, the brigade marched to Centreville, crossed, and burned the bridge over the Cahawba, after a skirmish with a body of the enemy which attempted to cross.

It moved thence via Plantersville to within eleven miles of Selma, where an order was received to return and bring in the wagon train, which was met near Randolph and escorted to Selma, arriving on the evening of the sixth.

On the seventh, the Fourth Kentucky was sent in the direction of Tuscaloosa to communicate with the First brigade, and made a forced march to Centreville, where it was overtaken by a party sent twelve hours later, from the Second Indiana, and ordered to return. Both detachments reached Selma on the evening of the ninth, after a march of ninety miles. On the tenth the command left Selma and marched thirty miles, skirmishing a portion of the way with Clanton's brigade. On the eleventh marched twenty-six miles, and built two large bridges, skirmishing constantly with Clanton's brigade.

On the morning of the twelfth the brigade entered Montgomery. The Fourth Kentucky, Colonel Cooper, having taken possession at daylight after a single skirmish with the enemy's rear guard, Colonel Cooper was placed in command of the post, and deserves high commendation for the manner in which he discharged


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