December 30
My infantry moved to Courtland and went into camp on the south side of the town, on Big Nance Creek, the cavalry pushing on as far as Leighton, thirteen miles west of Courtland.
At five o'lock P. M. I received a despatch from Colonel Palmer, written at Leighton, asking my permission to pursue, capture, and destroy Hood's pontoon train.
I immediately gave him permission to exercise his own judgment in the matter.
He decided to pursue, and in the most splendid manner not only accomplished all he proposed — the destruction of the pontoon train — but pursued, captured, and destroyed a supply train of one hundred and ten wagons.
Colonel Palmer's command, in this enterprising and daring expedition, captured and destroyed upwards of three hundred wagons, nearly one thousand stand of arms, a large number of mules and oxen, and captured and turned over two pieces of artillery two hundred prisoners, including thirteen commissioned officers, and one hundred and seventy serviceable mules.
To support the movement of Colonel Palmer, I advanced two brigades of infantry, under command
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of Colonel Thompson, to Town Creek, seven miles west of Courtland, and one brigade, under command of Colonel Salm, to Leighton.
General Cruft's division, with the artillery, remained at Courtland.This text is part of:
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Van Nostrand. New York, New York. 1868.
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