[704]
P. M., and travelled fifteen miles against one o'clock A. M.
Fifteenth.
It rained a shower and made the roads very muddy; made fourteen miles.
Sixteenth.
Made twenty-eight miles.
Seventeenth.
Arrived at Columbus three P. M., making ten miles; passed on four miles.
Eighteenth.
Travelled from three o'clock A. M., to nine o'clock P. M., forty-two miles; roads good.
Nineteenth.
Travelled fifteen miles.
Twentieth.
Travelled twenty five miles, roads good and solid.
Twenty-first.
Travelled eleven miles to within four of Macon.
Twenty-second.
Moved into Macon, Georgia, having travelled from Selma, Alabama, to Macon, Georgia, the distance of about two hundred and forty miles, and laid one pontoon bridge, in nine days. Average per day twenty-six and two-thirds miles. Mules in good condition.
Hoping the above may prove satisfactory, I am, Major, very respectfully your obedient servant,
J. M. Hubbard, Major Commanding Pontoniers C. C.
History of the Campaign of the Cavalry Corps, M. D. M., in Alabama and Georgia, from the twenty-second of March to April twentieth, 1865.
The First, Second, and Fourth divisions, together with the Fourth United States cavalry, all under command of Brevet Major-General Wilson, composed the troops engaged in this campaign.
The First division, under Brigadier General Edward McCook, numbered four thousand and ninety-six men.
The Second division numbered five thousand one hundred and twenty-seven men, under command of Brigadier-General Eli Long.
Brevet Major-General Upton commanded the Fourth division, containing three thousand nine hundred and twenty-three men.
The Fourth United States cavalry were on duty as headquarter guard, and were three hundred and thirty-four in number.
There were thus engaged in the expedition in all, thirteen thousand four hundred and eighty men.
The chief medical officers of the command were Surgeon Francis Salter, U. S. V., Medical Director; Assistant-Surgeon William J. Okey, U. S. A., Medical Inspector; Surgeons Benjamin McCluer, Francis Green, and Frederick Crofe, chief surgeons of the First, Fourth, and Second divisions.
There were altogether fifty medical officers on duty with the command.
Orders were given to march early on the morning of March twenty-second.
The several divisions moved out on parallel roads, in a south-easterly direction, the First division forming the right, the Second division the centre, and the Fourth the left.
The roads all led to the south-east, passing through Russelville and Jasper.
The weather was pleasant, and the roads, though rough, were nevertheless very firm and passable.
Corps headquarters passed through Cherokee station at twelve M., and at five o'clock P. M., after a march of eighteen miles, camped within a mile from Barton's station.
March twenty-third.
March began at an early hour; weather fine, country similar in appearance to that passed over on the day before, being hilly and rough.
The soil is here sandy and barren, and the population small.
General Wilson and staff marched twenty-four miles, and at twelve M. arrived at the dilapidated village of Russelville, county-seat of Franklin county.
It has been a place of some local importance, with a population of two thousand inhabitants.
It has, however, suffered severely from the ravages of war. Camped there for the night.
March twenty-fourth.
Weather pleasant; march began at eight o'clock, but after reaching a point three miles distant, corps headquarters went again into camp, in order to await the arrival of the pontoon and wagon trains, which had been delayed on the march.
General Long, with the Second division, passed by in the morning at nine o'clock; General McCook and headquarters arrived in the evening at six.
March twenty-fifth.
Reveille at five o'clock A. M. Marched at six, weather very pleasant, roads good though occasionally rough.
Crossed Big Bear river at Bell's factory at three o'clock P. M. Travelled twenty-one miles and camped on a branch of the Buttahachie river; General Upton with the Fourth division was a considerable distance in advance.
General McCook guarded the rear.
March twenty-sixth.
Started at an early hour and marched twenty-five miles to Blackwater creek; weather continued to be pleasant.
The country like all yet passed over is barren.
The soil is sandy and supports a forest of pines; water good, forage found in sufficient quantity for the necessities of the command.
Camped for the night; during the night a bridge was constructed over the Blackwater.
March twenty-seventh.
Reveille at four P. M.; marched at half-past 5 A. M., on road to Jasper; General Upton on the left led the advance.
General Long held the centre with the Second division, and General McCook with the First division the rear; weather mild with indications of rain; road to Jasper was found, except in one or two places, to be in good condition ; arrived there after a march of seventeen miles, at half after eleven o'clock A. M.; we heard news to the effect that Forrest was fortifying the road from Montevallo to Tuscaloosa, with a force of ten thousand men. Orders were given to General Upton to push rapidly forward, leaving the wagon trains to take care of themselves.
Similar orders were also issued to Generals Long and McCook. General McCook entered Jasper with the First division at two P. M.; at five o'clock P. M. General Wilson and staff arrived on the banks of the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior river, eight and one half miles distant from 