Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 6.
Frank Moore, Ed.

Captain : The following brief report of the engagement between the forces of my command stationed at this place, composed of parts of companies A, F, D, I, C, and H, of the Twenty-fifth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, with companies B and M, of the Fifth Ohio cavalry, and the rebels, under Major-General Van Dorn, on Saturday, the twenty-first inst., is respectfully submitted.

Information that a large rebel force was moving northward with the evident intention of capturing or otherwise disposing of the troops left as a guard along the line of the Mississippi Central Railway, as well as of destroying the Government stores and the road at various points, had been previously received.

I at once set to work to erect such defences as in my opinion would best protect my small force from injury or capture, prevent the trestle-work at this point from being destroyed, and at the same time inflict the greatest amount of damage upon the enemy.

I accordingly took possession of an old sawmill, which I converted into a block-house by means of railroad ties and cotton-bales. This is so situated as to command the entire trestle-work and the wagon-road leading to the mill from the south, crossing Wolf River by a bridge, distant only about seventy yards.

In this block-house I placed company H, of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, with a sufficient amount of ammunition and bread to last them a siege of at least forty-eight hours. Our work here was completed about dark Saturday evening, when with one half of my command, I erected an earthwork around the base of a mound, distant from the bridge over Wolf River about three hundred and fifty yards, and in such a direction as to cover the approach to, and, with the aid of the block-house, afford us a crossing on the bridge. Our circle was completed and sufficiently strong for an ordinary engagement by eleven P. M. the same night, and was then, with a sufficient amount of ammunition, [285] taken possession of by those of my men who had been up to that hour resting in camp.

At four o'clock the following morning, (Sunday the twenty-first,) all were in position prepared for an attack, but the enemy failing to make his appearance, we continued our labor on the earthwork, and were in this manner occupied until about noon.

A few minutes after twelve M. my pickets were driven in, and information was received to the effect that the enemy (variously estimated at from five to ten thousand) was approaching from the south. Tile infantry were at once ordered into and took the positions assigned them, that of companies A, F, D, I, and C, of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, being in the fort or earthwork, and the cavalry (dismounted) were divided, and a part, under the command of Capt. Henry, company M, sent to the earthwork, another division to the blockhouse as a reenforcement, and a third party under Lieut. Slade to guard the approach to the river about one fourth of a mile from and to the west of our position. This disposition of my forces had scarcely been completed when the rebels (as infantry and in large force) made their appearance, formed their line for a charge, and came rapidly forward with a loud cheer, evidently expecting to force <*>s into a surrender with little if any resistance <*> our part. Their impetuosity was checked, however, by the uneven ground, the river, and the steady and destructive fire from our defences.

For a time their ardor appeared to have diminished, but their numbers being largely increased, an effort was made to force a passage over the bridge; and for this purpose their forces were massed and a desperate attempt made to secure a footing on our side, but after a most obstinate attempt on their part, and an equally determined resistance on ours for some minutes' duration, they were compelled to fall back with considerable loss. During this time their forces had been gradually and rapidly augmenting, and their line extended from and even beyond the railroad on their left to a distance of three or four hundred yards to the right, from which they poured upon us an almost continuous shower of leaden hail. Efforts were also made at several points to effect a crossing over the river, but these were unsuccessful. In a short time indications of a second attempt to cross the bridge were apparent, and deep masses, with banners flying, urged on by their officers, advanced only to be again driven back in confusion and dismay. The firing was by this time very heavy along their whole line, and concentrated upon our little earthwork and block-house; but nothing daunted, and now firm in the belief that we could hold them at bay, my gallant little band poured in upon them volley after volley in rapid succession.

Soon a third and similar attempt to cross was made, but met with a like defeat. A few of them, however, succeeded in crossing, but these hastily took refuge under the bridge.

After a most incessant firing of three and a half hours duration the enemy withdrew, leaving a part of their dead and such of the wounded as they were unable to carry off the field in our hands. Those who had shielded themselves under the bridge, not being able to make their escape with the main force, exhibited the usual token of surrender, and were ordered to and took shelter within our works. Several attempts were made to fire the trestle-work by means of cotton-balls saturated with turpentine. The fire from the blockhouse was poured in upon them with such excellent precision and rapidity that they were compelled to abandon the enterprise. Some few shielded themselves from the fire by means of the trestle-work, and when the retreat was ordered were unable to get out of their position without great danger, and very wisely hoisted the white flag and presented themselves as prisoners.

Shortly after the retreat, the bearer of a flag of truce appeared with a verbal message from the General commanding, desiring to know if a surrender on our part was in contemplation or had been decided upon. A respectful but decided negative was returned in reply. I am firmly impressed with the belief that such a thought had not even been entertained for a single moment by any officer or private of my command, although the enemy far outnumbered us. From the best information, I am of the opinion that the rebel force was not much less than six thousand, while my force numbered only two hundred infantry and fifty cavalry.

With such discrepancies it cannot but be said that all are entitled to great credit for their gallant defence on that day, which will be ever bright in the memory of the Twenty-fifth Indiana. The enemy left in our hands twenty-two dead, thirty wounded, and twenty prisoners, together with one hundred stand of arms. Thirty wounded were deposited by them in a house near a church, about three quarters of a mile to the rear. These were left in the care of a surgeon, and from him I learn that between two and three hundred wounded were taken off in ambulances and on horseback.

Our loss was but three slightly wounded and none killed.

The other four companies of the Twenty-fifth Indiana were at Lamar and along the line of the railroad, under the command of Capt. E. C. Hastings of company C. His line extended from Cold Water to within three miles south of this point, and was there joined by pickets from here. Of these last, sixteen men were captured and paroled, but not without a very creditable resistance.

To Major Walker, Adjutant Walker, and Capt. Larkin, of the Twenty-fifth Indiana; Capt. Henry, company M, Sixth Ohio cavalry, and the other officers and men of both arms, am I much indebted for their skill and the assistance rendered me in preparing our defences; but to single out particular officers and men as being more worthy of an honorable mention than others who were present and took part in the engagement of the twenty-first of December, 1862, would certainly be doing an injustice.

Our Senior Assistant-Surgeon, Dr. C. L. Thomas, for the skill displayed and the kind and humane [286] mane treatment rendered the enemy's wounded, is deserving of mention.

Each and every one did his duty, and, if our defence and conduct during those trying hours meets with the approval of our General, we shall feel that we have received our reward.

We respectfully ask, however, that along with the names of “Donelson,” “Shiloh,” and “Metamora,” “Davis's Mills” may be inscribed upon our banner.

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

This place, on Sunday, the twenty-first of December, was the scene of one of the most animated and gallant struggles of the war.

The conflict was between Col. William H. Morgan, of the Twenty fifth regiment of Indiana volunteers, with two hundred and fifty men, and Lieut.-Gen. Van Dorn, with thousands of rebel cavalry.

Morgan was victorious ; the confident and high-ranking Van Dorn forced to retire from the field, leaving dead and wounded and some prisoners behind.

I will give you an account of this heroic achievement, in which the resolute, determined bravery and military skill displayed by Colonel Morgan, stands forth in striking and brilliant contrast to the shameful and cowardly conduct of the Colonel commanding at Holly Springs. But, in order to convey a correct idea of the achievement, a short description of the field will be necessary.

Davis's Mills are situated on Wolf River, six miles south of Grand Junction, and twenty miles north of Holly Springs. Wolf River is a narrow but deep stream, bounded on either side by wide cypress swamps, into which, at rare intervals, the elevated land extends to the main stream, thus affording natural advantages for roads, bridges, mill-sites, etc. At one of these points, and on the east side of the river, is the site of Davis's Mills.

Here also the railroad and wagon-road cross the river, the former on a trestle structure about three hundred yards in length ; the latter on a bridge built upon the mill-dam, in fact the bridge is the dam, formed of logs and earth, with a wasteway in the middle, and is fifty yards in length.

The bridges are near one hundred and sixty yards apart, and between them are two mills, a saw-mill and a flouring-mill.

The ground on the west side of the stream, for an extent of half a mile, is low and thickly wooded on both sides of the road, with the exception of a few rods near the bridge.

On the east side, is a large corn-field, which rises very gradually for a distance of three hundred yards from the river, where it again declines toward the east, thus forming a low ridge. On the top of this ridge, and exactly facing the road bridge, is a most beautiful and symmetrical Indian mound, with a circumference at its base of one hundred yards, and an altitude of twenty feet.

On Saturday morning, December twentieth, word reached here, that Van Dorn, with a force of seven thousand cavalry, had made a dash on Holly Springs, capturing the entire infantry force at that place, numbering about one thousand five hundred men, and burning the Government stores.

When Col. Morgan heard this news he felt confident that if Van Dorn moved further north, this would be the next point of attack, and notwithstanding the smallness of his force, he determined to defend the post to the last extremity.

His whole available force consisted of two hundred of his own men, and companies B and M, Captains Traunstine and Henry, of the Fifth Ohio cavalry. After a careful examination of the position, Col. Morgan determined to dispute the passage of the road bridge, and defend the railroad bridge from two points, the saw-mill and the Indian mound. The saw-mill is distant about eighty yards from either bridge, and so situated as to command both by a diagonal fire.

This was, on Saturday afternoon, converted into a block-house, by means of two rows of cotton bales, one upon the other, placed in the ends, while the sides were walled up with bridge timber. And on Saturday night a breastwork of earth, about three feet in height, was thrown up around the base of the mound, and the arrangements were complete, as far as time would allow, for giving Van Dorn a warm and gallant reception, such an one as his high rank justly entitled him.

There were two reasons for expecting a fight on the twenty-first. In the first place, the enemy would by then have had time enough to complete his work at Holly Springs and reach this point. And in the second place, it would be the Sabbath-day. Accordingly on Sunday morning Col. Morgan sent out cavalry scouts, under command of Capt. Traunstine, and Lieutenant Slade, Fifth Ohio cavalry, on the two roads leading to Holly Springs, who were to act as committees of reception and herald the coming, should they meet the valiant knight of the C. S. A.

Sufficient ammunition and provision to stand a siege of twenty-four hours was placed in the little forts; the Indian mound, soon perhaps to be baptized in blood, christened by the men Fort Morgan, and the saw-mill, the redan. The small band of determined men, ready to take the places assigned them, company H, Twenty-fifth Indiana, with a few dismounted cavalry-men, the redan; the remainder, Fort Morgan. I shall use the terms Fort Morgan and redan in this letter merely as a matter of convenience.

Thus we remained, expectant, until half-past 12 o'clock P. M., when two heralds in quick succession dashed up to the Colonel's tent, and reported that Lieutenant Slade had met the enemy and been driven into the picket-lines, and that the rebels were dismounting, and forming in line of battle by thousands, on a large plantation about a mile from the river. The men, eager for tile conflict, were soon at their posts, with the command to reserve fire till the rebels reached the bridge. In a short time the pickets were driven [287] in by the advancing enemy, who came down the road and through the woods in line of battle, with banners flying, and making the forest ring with their loud and confident cheers. When they came in sight of the bridge, and evidently not observing the yet quiet redan, they started on double-quick, reached the river and the bridge, with thundering tread of thousands, when, in the twinkling of an eye, from either fort there went up a cloud of smoke, and that living, moving mass was hurled back upon itself, as if by the invisible hand that created it, and the moans of the wounded and dying mingled with the terrible roar that followed the smoky cloud above. It required but a short time for them to recover from their surprise and confusion, when on they rushed again, with determined and obstinate bravery, but the deadly shower of leaden hail, that fell upon them from the concentrated fire of both forts, again sent them reeling and staggering back, some of the wounded falling into the river, the dead stretched upon the bridge. All this time a constant fire from thousands of rebels along the river and behind the levee of the dam was directed against our positions, to which our men as constantly replied.

Soon they formed again, and urged on by their officers, and goaded to madness by their former disastrous failure, they once more sprang for the bridge, yelling like Indians, and once more that concentrated fire from two hundred guns swept them back. And thus the contest raged till four P. M., when the enemy retired, leaving twenty dead, twenty-eight very badly wounded, and twenty prisoners.

Some attempts were made to cross on the railroad bridge, but were speedily abandoned. An attempt was also made at a point a half-mile lower down, where a bridge had been torn up the night before, by order of Col. Morgan. But here also they were doomed to disappointment, for there they met Lieut. Slade of the Fifth Ohio cavalry, with a squad of his men, who had been ordered by Col. Morgan to that point, early in the fight.

A few shots from the new carbines of the Fifth Ohio boys, convinced them that there was no fun going on in that particular locality, or at least, if there was, their chances for seeing it were very small, and every moment grew alarmingly less; so they beat a hasty retreat, and we saw no more of Van Dorn, with his seven thousand (minus sixty-eight) followers.

During the successive attempts to cross the bridge, a few of the more determined succeeded in gaining our side of the river. Among these was a color-bearer, whose sublime indifference to every thing but the faithful performance of his duty elicited the admiration of the brave men whose duty it was to slay him. He fell beneath his flag — that accursed flag of treason — his head pierced with two balls.

Fort Morgan presented a scene during the fight never witnessed but once in a lifetime. It is but faint praise to say that every man did his duty; and if I say that every man did the work of two, I only multiply words, and utterly fail to convey an adequate conception of the bravery and determination of every man in the fort. Those who were not engaged with guns carried cartridges to those who were, breaking open box after box with picks and axes, until Col. Morgan feared the supply might not be sufficient, and sent for more.

Some of the men took positions on top of the mound and acted as sharp-shooters; and, strange to say, not a man in the fort was hurt.

There we stood--

Woundless and well, may Heaven's high name be blessed for't, As erst, ere treason raised a hand against us.

It would be but a repetition of the above, were I to speak of the conduct of the men in the redan. Much nearer the enemy, they received a large share of his attention, and three of them were slightly wounded.

General Hamilton remarked, while speaking of the fight a few days ago, that: “The Twenty-fifth Indiana was not only an honor to its commander, but to the State of Indiana, and the whole army; and that had it not been for the victory of Davis's Mills, both Lagrange and Grand Junction would have fallen into the hands of the rebels.”

And General Grant's father, now at Lagrange, remarked that General Grant said: “The fight at Davis's Mills was the most brilliant of the war.”

Colonel Morgan deserves the highest praise, not only for standing his ground, and successfully defending the position, but also for the skilful manner in which he did it. The determination to resist the triumphant advance of seven thousand men, with so small a force, may well be styled the climax of bravery. But when it is known that Col. Morgan not only determined to hold his ground, but actually did hold it, defeating the enemy, and had so formed his plans and arranged his defences, and with so little time, as not to lose a man, it should entitle him to a high rank among the true military men of the army.

Most commanders are brave; not all show method in their bravery.

After leaving Holly Springs, Van Dorn's raid was a disastrous failure. After his defeat, he crossed Wolf River, ten miles west of La Grange, took a look at Bolivar, broke out of our lines at Middleburg, and was gone, with our cavalry after him.

Yours, respectfully,