OR4/25/63

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=95 BGCOLOR="#000033" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="0db005f0ddtham.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFF33" FACE="Arial" ><B>They Were the 114th O.V.I.</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="They Were the 114th O.V.I."><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div>                                                   </div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="0dc622d3.png"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="507aaa90.jpg" border=0 width="170" height="169" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=385 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="0dd622d3.png"> <bR> <div> <I><B>Official report of actions April 25-29, 1863  Dyer's Compendium</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I>BIG BLACK RIVER BRIDGE, MISS.,</I></div> <div> <I>May 30, 1863. </I></div> <div> <I> CAPTAIN:  </I></div> <div> <I>I have the honor to submit the following report:</I></div> <div> <I>     On April 24, I received orders to be in readiness to command a detachment of the Ninth Division, for the purpose of making a reconnaissance on the Lake Saint Joseph road to a point opposite the mouth of Bayou Pierre, for the purpose of ascertaining whether a practicable road could be found at or near that point that would let us in position on the flank or in rear of Grand Gulf; also for the purpose of capturing or dispersing the command of Major [I. F.] Harrison, which was on this road.</I></div> <div> <I>     On the morning of the 25th, at 6 o'clock, I left camp at Perkins' plantation, La. The detachment consisted of the Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Thornton commanding; One hundred and fourteenth Ohio, Colonel Cradlebaugh; a detachment of the Second Illinois Cavalry, Major Bush commanding, and one section of Captain Lanphere's Michigan battery, Lieutenant Stillman commanding. We moved on the Lake Saint Joseph road about 4 miles; we came to Holt's Bayou, and found that the rebels had burned the bridge. I detailed 100 men from each of the infantry regiments to assist Lieutenant-Colonel Beekman, of the One hundred and twentieth Ohio Infantry, who had been sent with us for the purpose of building bridges.</I></div> <div> <I>     We soon had our men at work, and in a few hours had a bridge across the bayou, which was about 80 feet wide. I moved the cannon across and marched about 1 mile, and came to Durossette Bayou, which is about 120 feet wide, and was bank-full, with a stiff current. The bridge having been burned by the rebels a few days before, I detailed Lieut. James Fullyard, of the Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, to superintend the building of the bridge, which I found would have to be well built, on account of the strength of the current and width of the stream, and by the skillful management and industry of Lieutenant Fullyard and his men he completed the bridge that night and had all things ready for us to cross next morning.</I></div> <div> <I>At 5 o'clock on the morning of the 26th, we crossed the bridge and moved on. I left a guard of 1 sergeant and 10 men at each bridge to prevent any small party of the rebels from destroying them. We marched about 5 miles over a beautiful road, and came in sight of Phelps' Bayou, where we found the bridge had just been burned, and a rebel picket standing on the opposite side of the bayou, and between this and Clark's Bayou, which was only about 400 yards distant, on the opposite side of which I discovered Major Harrison's command, consisting of about 400 cavalry and four pieces of artillery. My advance guard fired a few shots at the rebel pickets, which drove them from the neck of land between the two bayous. I ordered my artillery forward, and threw a few shells into the rebel camp, which caused them to saddle up and leave in the greatest confusion. They left a few dismounted men under the cover of a hedge near the bank of the bayou, who kept up a fire on us until I sent two companies of infantry across to drive them away, which caused quite  a skirmish, lasting about one hour. The two companies of infantry finally succeeded in driving them from their cover, with a loss, on the part of the rebels, of I man.</I></div> <div> <I>     As soon as the skirmishers were over, I immediately prepared to build the two bridges, which I found would take a great deal longer than it had to build the two former ones, as the bayous were much wider and current much stronger. I detailed Captain Peckinpaugh, of the Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, to superintend the building of these bridges, and I must compliment him for the good judgment displayed in working his men to the best advantage. We were not so well supplied with tools as we should have been for the task, and had not a rope or anything necessary for building the bridges after they were put in the stream. I detailed a few men from the cavalry, who in a short time, from their experience in foraging, had a supply of ropes and tools. It required all of the 26th and 27th to complete these two bridges.</I></div> <div> <I>     I sent Major Hawhe, with two companies of the Forty-ninth Indiana and two from the One hundred and fourteenth Ohio, to cross Clark's Bayou and make a reconnaissance a few miles in our front, which he did in a successful manner. He found that Harrison had left the road to Hard Times Landing and crossed Choctaw Bayou, which empties into Lake Bruin about 2 miles from the road that we were to march on the next day.</I></div> <div> <I>We completed the bridges on the 27th, and I received orders from you to be at Hard Times Landing early the next day.</I></div> <div> <I>     I left our bivouac on the morning of the 28th, leaving a sergeant and 10 men at each of the bridges as a guard. I sent two companies of cavalry, under command of Major Marsh, to leave the road and find out whether Harrison was still in the position he held the evening previous. I soon received word from him that he had found the enemy, and that he could not move him from the point he held. I immediately sent Major Bush in that direction. He had not been gone but a short time until I heard artillery firing. 1 left the road with my command, determined to drive him from the point he held, for I was fearful that as soon as we passed he would recross the bayou and destroy the bridges we had just built. I moved on, and soon came in sight of my cavalry, which were held at bay by the enemy's artillery. I halted my command, and went forward to reconnoiter and find out the position of the enemy, and found he had his four pieces of artillery in position. I found that Choctaw Bayou was a small stream about 60 feet wide. On the point of land into the angle where the bayou connected with Lake Bruin he had four pieces of artillery in battery. The only approach I had to the point was over a field that was open, and without stump or tree that would cover my skirmishers, with Lake Bruin on my left and the backwater from the bayou on my right, which left a strip of land about 500 yards wide and narrowing down to about 200 yards at the point and on the opposite side from the enemy's battery. His battery was supported on the right and left by his cavalry, which made quite a formidable appearance. I found that I could not use my infantry or cavalry to any advantage. At first I had my doubts whether with my two pieces I had that I could move him from his position. I formed my two regiments of infantry in column of divisions, and deployed four companies forward as skirmishers, and placed one piece of artillery on the bank of the lake, where it had a fine range, and in open view of the enemy's battery. The other piece I posted in the field, where it had an excellent range. I then ordered Lieutenant Stillman to open fire upon them with his artillery, and advanced my line of skirmishers, and the enemy opened fire with his battery, but did us no damage, his shots passing over my command. After a few shots from our pieces, he moved his cavalry out of range of our shells, and in about one hour from the time our artillery opened on him he limbered up and left the ground in a hurry. We followed as far as we could for the bayou and then halted.</I></div> <div> <I>     Having no orders to bridge this bayou, and it being off of our line of march, and from all appearances the enemy had fled from our view, I returned to the road with my command, and there bivouacked for the night. I sent the cavalry on to Hard Times Landing, to report to you, having learned of your arrival during the day.</I></div> <div> <I>     On the morning of the 29th instant we continued our march to the landing, arriving there at 8 a.m. There I received orders from the general to send the section of artillery to General Burbridge and the regiments to report to their former commanders, which they did in a short time, and were on board the transports, ready to assist in the attack on Grand Gulf.</I></div> <div> <I>     I cannot speak in too high terms of all the officers and men in the detachment, they being ever ready to assist in all the labors of building bridges, and so forth, and were ever ready to obey any command, and all seemed, when we came in sight of the enemy, to be ready for any emergency. I cannot but feel indebted to Lieutenant Stillman and his men for their bravery and skill. I scarcely ever witnessed as fine artillery shooting.</I></div> <div> <I>     To Captain Peckinpaugh and Lieutenant Fullyard, of the Forty-ninth Indiana, I was indebted for the speedy construction of the bridges across the bayous and for aiding me in all the duties I had to perform on the trip.</I></div> <div> <I>     I will say, in conclusion, that a good road was found all the way around to near the mouth of Bayou Pierre, and, as I have since learned, the most of the army that crossed the river after us marched on the road and bridges we had constructed.</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I>I am, sir, your obedient servant,</I></div> <div> <I><B> </B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B>JAMES KEIGWIN,</B></I></FONT><I> </I></div> <div> <I> Colonel, Commanding Detachment.</I></div> <div> <I> Capt. J. W. THOMPSON, </I></div> <div> <I>Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Ninth Division.</I></div> <div> <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantrydiary_of_a.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="114th OVI History"><U>114th OVI History</U></A>   <A HREF="id208.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roster"><U>Roster</U></A>   <A HREF="id196.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Battles"><U>Battles</U></A>  <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry4c.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pictures"><U>Pictures</U></A>  <A HREF="id169.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roll of Honor"><U>RollofHonor</U></A>    </div> <div> <A HREF="id139.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vicksburg File"><U>Vicksburg Documents</U></A>    <A HREF="id184.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letters Home"><U>Letters Home</U></A>   <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Descendants"><U>114th Descendants</U></A>   </div> <div> <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Obituary"><U>Obituary</U></A>  <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Accolades"><U>Accolades</U></A>  <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hard Tack "><U>Hard Tack</U></A>  <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry4d.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bugle Calls"><U>Bugle Calls</U></A>  <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Related Links</U></A> </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="They Were the 114th O.V.I."><U><IMG SRC="0781e240.png" border=0 width="30" height="36" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="They Were the 114th O.V.I."><U>back to home</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div>   <A HREF="http://www.toolzone.com/isuite/bin/regsign.cgi?UID=TZ096430&APPID=GuestSign&LANG=english"> Sign my Guestbook </A> --- <A HREF="http://www.toolzone.com/isuite/bin/registry.cgi?UID=TZ096430&APPID=GuestSign&LANG=english"> View my Guestbook </A>  </div> <div>   <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://pub15.bravenet.com/counter/code.php?id=176950&usernum=1214804337&cpv=2"></script>   </div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="They Were the 114th O.V.I."><U><IMG SRC="0781e240.png" border=0 width="30" height="36" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>