Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 11.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[661] way, and regard them worthy of the highest honor their country can bestow.

For many interesting details and special mention of subordinate officers, I respectfully refer to the reports herewith submitted. The accompanying maps and plans were prepared under the direction of Lieutenant Heywood of my staff, and will materially assist in understanding the foregoing narrative of the campaign.

I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Major — I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this division since March twenty-second, 1865, when it broke camp at Chickasaw, Alabama, and marched via Buzzard Roost, Russeville, and Jasper to Elyton, which point was reached on the thirtieth, after a march of nine days over the worst roads I ever saw, and with but little forage. At this place, in obedience to orders from the Brevet Major-General commanding, the corps — my First brigade, Brigadier-General Croxton, commanding — was detached, and ordered to proceed to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, destroy all public property there, and rejoin the command in the vicinity of Selma as soon as practicable. At the same time orders were sent to Captain Kings-cott, A. A. Q. M., to move his train as rapidly as possible to Elyton, and report to Captain Brown, Chief Quartermaster of the corps, with the Second brigade and Eighteenth Indiana battery. I marched via Cahawba railroad bridge and Montevallo, reaching Randolph April first, where information was received that General Croxton was confronted by a superior force under General Jackson, near Trion. I was ordered to march rapidly via Centreville and Scottsville, with La Grange's brigade, and form a junction, if possible, with Croxton.One battalion was sent in advance to secure the bridge over Cahawba river at Centreville, and the command pushed rapidly forward, reaching Scottsville at five P. M. Here information was received that Jackson's command of three thousand five hundred to four thousand men was between me and Croxton's command, and couriers were at once despatched to communicate with him, but without success.

At daylight on the second instant two regiments were ordered out on the Trion road to feel the enemy, and found them occupying a strong position and prepared for battle. A short and severe skirmish ensued, when my forces were withdrawn. In the mean time I learned from prisoners that Croxton had moved toward Elyton twenty-four hours before. I could hope to accomplish nothing by making a serious attack on a force three times my numbers, unless it was rendered absolutely necessary in order to prevent a junction between Jackson and the rest of Forrest's command, consequently I drew back slowly toward the Cahawba, hoping the enemy would follow. They did so in full force, and when the head of their column reached the river I burned the bridge, destroying the only means of crossing, thus cutting off the larger part of Forrest's command from joining their leader. I destroyed all boats up and down the river, and as this was the only bridge on the stream, Jackson was never able to cross any portion of his command in time to interfere with the operations of the main body of General Wilson's corps, then moving against Selma. The Second brigade of my command arrived at Selma on the sixth, and crossed the Alabama river at ten P. M. April ninth, and on the twelfth reached Montgomery, skirmished all the way, and meeting very decided resistance at several points.

Montgomery was surrendered, and all public property destroyed; the amount will be found included in a summary at the close of my report. The rebels had burned about ninety thousand bales of cotton the night before my command entered the city. On the sixteenth Colonel La Grange, with his brigade, appeared before West Point, and carried that strong position by assault; it was desperately defended and gallantly won. The results of this capture were most important, securing to us the crossing of the Chattahoochie, and placing in our hands all the rolling stock of the Montgomery and West Point railroad.

We marched into Macon on the twentieth, and on the twenty-ninth Croxton's lost brigade made its appearance, after having made one of the most extraordinary marches on record.

The route taken by Croxton's brigade, after leaving Elyton, Alabama, March thirtieth, encamped same night eight miles south of Elyton, marched next day to Trion, and returned ten miles on Elyton road, thence to Johnson's Ferry, forty miles above Tuscaloosa. April third, moved to Northport, and on the fifth marched twenty-five miles on Columbus road to King's store; sixth, moved on Pleasant Ridge road twelve miles to Lanier's mill, from there returned to Northport, and remained until the eleventh instant. On the eleventh marched to Windham Springs; twelfth and thirteenth marched around head of Wolf Creek; fourteenth to Comack's mills, on Blackwater, thence to Sipsey Fork, off Black Warrior, and crossed during sixteenth. On the seventeenth marched via Arkadelphia to Mulberry Fork, crossing at Hanley's mills; eighteenth, marched to and crossed Little Warrior, at Menters Ferry ; nineteenth, moved to Mount Pinson, fourteen miles north of Elyton; twentieth, moved via Trussville and Cedar Grove, and arrived at Talladega on the twenty-second. On the twenty-third moved to Munford's Station; twenty-fourth marched via Oxford and Davistown to Blue