You and your brave army have won the gratitude of your country and the admiration of the world. The field of Murfreesboro' is made historical, and future generations will point out the place where so many heroes fell gloriously in defence of the Constitution and the Union. All honor to the army of the Cumberland. Thanks to the living and tears for the lamented dead." celebrates this gallant exploit which General Halleck pronounced for daring and brilliant achievement without a parallel in the history of the war. In taking leave," said General Carter, "of the officers and soldiers comprising the expeditionary force in East Tennessee, the General Commanding desires to thank you in his own name and that of our common country, for the faithful During the movement upon Murfrees- manner in which you performed the boro' an expedition was sent by order difficult duties assigned you. In twenty of Major-General Wright from his de- days you marched four hundred and partment in Kentucky to cut off the com- seventy miles, one hundred and seventy munications of the enemy by the destruc- of which was in the enemy's country tion of the East Tennessee railroad. It without tents, and with only such ra was fitted out under the supervision of tions as you could carry in your haverMajor-General Granger, and placed un-sacks, in every instance. When you der the immediate command of Briga- met the rebels you captured, destroyed, dier-General Carter of the 2d Tennessee or put them to flight. You burned two regiment. A force of about a thousand most important railroad bridges at a men, all told, composed of battalions of time when it was taxed to its utmost caOhio, Pennsylvania and Michigan cav-pacity, took some four hundred prisoners, alry, were collected at the end of Decem- killed a number, destroyed six to seven ber in the south-eastern corner of Ken- hundred stand of arms, a locomotive, tucky. On the 28th, they crossed the tender and cars, besides a considerable Cumberland mountain into Virginia, and amount of valuable stores. You moved thence across Powell's mountain into day and night, exposed to rain, snow, Tennessee. Continuing their route over and bitter cold, and much of the time Clinch mountain, they entered Blounts- with only such scanty rations as you ville on the 30th, and proceeded to the could procure in your rapid march. You Union station on the Virginia and East bore such hardships and privations as Tennessee railroad, where they took by few of our soldiers have been called surprise and captured one hundred and upon to encounter, without a murmur or fifty of a North Carolina regiment, with a single word of complaint. You have Major McDowell in command, destroyed acquitted yourselves like worthy soldthe railroad bridge over the Holston iers of the Republic. "Through the river, and a large quantity of stores and Lord you have done valorously.' Your arms. A portion of the force then advanc- country is proud of your achievements. cd to Carter's station, ten miles distant, To your valor and endurance are due where they destroyed the bridge across the success of our undertaking. With the Watauga river and other railroad such men few things are impossible. We property. Having thus effectually sev-drop a tear to the memory of our brave ered this main military line of the enemy, General Carter, with the loss of but ten men in several encounters, made good his retreat across the mountains into Kentucky. His congratulatory order, dated Richmond, Ky., January 9, 1863, comrades who sleep in the valley of East Tennessee, and tender to their surviving friends our heartfelt sympathies. Let it be our pride to emulate their heroism and devotion to our most glorious and holy cause." CHAPTER LXXXIII. AFFAIRS IN ARKANSAS AND MISSISSIPPI-GENERAL SHERMAN'S EXPEDITION TO VICKSBURG-DECEMBER, 1862. WHEN General Halleck, in April, | tory at Pea Ridge, large numbers of its 1862, then in command of the Depart- citizens who had joined the rebel army ment of Missouri, left his headquarters were suffered to return to their homes on at St. Louis to take command of the taking the oath of allegiance, and the army before Corinth, he committed the guerrilla bands were for the time broken military charge of the State to General up. General Curtis was operating in John M. Schofield, with the parting in- Arkansas, threatening its capital, Little junction to "take care of Missouri." Rock. At his request, in June, Missouri The officer to whom this important duty was erected into a separate military diswas thus entrusted was a native of New trict and placed in command of General York, who had removed at an early age Schofield. He had an effective force of to Illinois, been appointed a cadet from about 17,000 men, volunteer and militia, that State, and graduated at West Point who were distributed through the State in 1853, receiving the rank of 2d Lieu- in six divisions. Of these, Colonel John tenant in the 2d Artillery. After two McNeil, of the Missouri State militia, years of service in South Carolina and commanded the north-eastern; BrigaFlorida, he was appointed instructor in dier-General Ben Loan, the north-westnatural philosophy at West Point, dis- ern; Brigadier-General James Totten. charged this duty for five years, when the central; Brigadier-General F. B. he obtained a leave of absence to occupy Brown, the south-western; Colonel J. a similar professorship in Washington M. Glover, 3d Missouri cavalry, at University at St. Louis. There he was Rolla, and Colonel Lewis Merrill, United found at the outbreak of the rebellion, States Volunteer cavalry, at St. Louis. when he was recalled to active service The movement about this time of Genin the organization of the new levies in eral Curtis to Helena, left the southern Missouri. He was with General Lyon frontier of Missouri again exposed, and as his chief-of-staff in the last campaign a new and insidious attempt was made of that gallant officer, and in the follow- by the enemy to push their fortunes in ing November was commissioned Briga- the State. Rebel Missourians in large dier-General of Volunteers and assigned numbers were sent home from the Conto the command of all the militia of the federate army to obtain recruits and stir State. This new force was raised and up revolt. "Many of these," says Genequipped under various difficulties, and eral Schofield,." succeeded in secretly in April, 1862, numbered nearly 14,000 passing our lines and eluding arrest, men, mostly cavalry, in the field. A some were arrested and others volunstill larger volunteer force similarly com- tarily surrendered themselves, professposed was also attached to General Scho- ing their desire to return to their allefield's command, which at this period giance and were permitted to take the embraced about three-fourths of the oath of allegiance and return to their State, comprising the northern, central, homes as loyal citizens. These emissaand eastern portions. Missouri was then ries spread themselves over the State, comparatively quiet after the Union vic- and while maintaining outwardly the character of loyal citizens, or evading of militia men and volunteers which our troops, secretly enrolled, organized and officered a very large number of men, estimated by their friends at from thirty to fifty thousand. Places of rendezvous were designated where all were to assemble at an appointed signal, and by a sudden coup-de-main, seize the important points in the State, surprise and capture our small detachments guarding railroads, etc., thus securing arms and ammunition, and coöperate with an invading army from Arkansas." This system of attack and pillage was so industriously carried out that the Union forces, though making every resistance, proved unequal to the protection of the State. As no reinforcements in sufficient numbers could be obtained from abroad, General Schofield called upon the Governor for authority to organize all the militia of the State and call into the field such a force as the situation might demand. The Governor consented, and the measure was carried into effect. As a consequence of the enrollment, the more desperate of the rebels joined the guerrilla bands, others hid themselves, while loyal citizens, especially in those districts which had been harassed by their foes, eagerly obeyed the call. The whole State was agitated with the question of military service. It was a problem what to do with the disaffected in St. Louis. It would not do to place arms in their hands; it seemed unfair to the others to excuse them from military duty, thus setting a premium on disloyalty. The question was settled by admitting only those of approved loyalty to bear arms, while, as there were many men of wealth among "the friends of the South," it was resolved that the latter should be made to contribute handsomely from their means. A tax of five hundred thousand dollars was assessed upon the rebels of St. Louis county, "to be used in arming, clothing and subsisting the enrolled militia when in active service, and in providing for those families might be left destitute. Those living in the country were taxed in furnishing subsistence to the troops in pursuit of the enemy." In one week after the issuing the order of enrollment, at the end of July, about 20,000 men had been organized, armed, and called into active service. 66 Two months of "desperate and sanguinary guerrilla war" now ensued, the principal theatre of operations being Colonel McNeil's north-eastern division above the Missouri and bordering on the Mississippi. The rebel bands in this region under Porter, Poindexter, Cobb, and others of less note, amounted to more than 5,000 men in parties varying in numbers according to their success. By carefully guarding the Missouri river the communication of these marauders with the South was effectually cut off. "Porter's band," says General Schofield in his narrative of the events of the year already cited, was immediately pursued by the Union cavalry, almost without intermission, for twelve days, during which time he was driven over a distance of nearly five hundred miles and forced to fight our troops nine sharp engagements. His force increased during the first few days, from two to three hundred to three thousand, which it reached on the 6th of August at Kirksville, where he was attacked by Colonel McNeil, with about one thousand cavalry and six pieces of artillery. The engagement was very desperate, and lasted about four hours. It resulted in a total defeat of the rebels. Their loss was one hundred and eighty killed, about five hundred wounded, and a large number taken prisoners or scattered. Several wagon-loads of arms fell into our hands. In this single engagement Porter's force was reduced from three thousand to about eight hundred, and his power and influence entirely broken. Our loss at Kirksville was twenty-eight killed and about sixty wounded. Our troops be haved with great gallantry, and were still held together with great tenacity in handled with consumate skill by their small bands, and endeavored to continue commander, Colonel McNeil. Poindex- the system of petty war which had been ter's gang had increased to about twelve going on for some time previous to the hundred men before a sufficient force general insurrection. But through the could be collected to break him up. activity of our troops, and the imporAbout the 8th of August, Colonel Gui- tant aid of our militia, now organized in tar, 9th cavalry, Missouri State Militia, large numbers, and thoroughly acquaintwith about six hundred men and two ed with the country and people, the outpieces of artillery, started in pursuit laws were soon hunted down, and either of Poindexter, overtaking and attack- killed, captured, or driven out of the ing him while crossing the Chartain State. It would be impossible to give a River, on the night of the 10th. A detailed report of all the minor affairs in very large number of the enemy were which our troops were engaged during killed, wounded, and drowned. Many this period, or to do justice to the many horses and arms, and all their spare gallant officers and men who were disammunition and other supplies, were tinguished in this arduous and most uncaptured. Poindexter moved rapidly pleasant service. From the 1st of April northward to effect a junction with Por- to the 20th of September our troops met ter, but was intercepted and driven back the enemy in more than one hundred enby the troops of the north-western divis-gagements, great and small, in which our ion, under General Loan, which force at numbers varied from forty or fifty to ten the same time drove Porter back upon or twelve hundred, and those of the eneMcNeil, and compelled him to disperse my from a few men to four or five thouhis band to save it from destruction. sand. In not more than ten of these Poindexter being forced back by Loan, were our troops defeated. Our entire was again struck by Guitar, and, after a loss, so far as reported, was seventyrunning fight of nearly forty-eight hours, seven killed, one hundred and fifty-six his entire force was killed, captured, or wounded, and three hundred and fortydispersed. The bandit leader himself, seven prisoners-most of the latter taken after wandering alone through the woods in the capture of Independence and Newfor several days, fell into the hands of ark. That of the enemy was five hunthe militia. Colonel Guitar and his dred and six killed, about eighteen huntroops deserve great credit for their gal-dred wounded, and five hundred and lantry and untiring energy. To the promptness and energy of General Loan and his command, in throwing themselves between Porter and Poindexter, was due in a great degree the speedy destruction of the latter. The rebel forces under Porter and Poindexter having been broken up, the band of robbers under Cobb soon dispersed or broke up into small parties, the more securely to continue their systematical plunder and murder of loyal men. To dispose of these fragments of the recently formidable bands of guerrillas, then scattered over the entire State, was necessarily a work of time. Many of them sixty prisoners taken in battle, beside the large number who have recently surrendered or fled from the State. The whole number killed, wounded, captured, and driven away cannot fall short of ten thousand." While these operations were going on north of the Missouri river, an ineffectual attempt to relieve their friends in that quarter was made by the rebels of the South. On the 11th of August the gar| rison at Independence was compelled to surrender to a body of the enemy, and immediately after the central and southwestern divisions of Generals Totten and Brown were aroused to meet the rebel General Coffy, who was pushing north with about 1,500 cavalry. Major Foster of the 7th Militia, sent out from Lexington with about 800 men and two pieces of artillery to effect a junction with Colonel Warren, in command of 1,500 men from Clinton, and attack the force under Hughes and Quantrel; disappointed in making the combination singly, met the combined forces of Coffy and Hughes at Lone Jack. A severe conflict ensued, Major Foster was very severely wounded, his two pieces of artillery captured and his command forced to fall back to Lexington. The engagement, however, saved the latter town from a serious meditated attack of the enemy. A strong force under General Blunt, then commanding the department of Kansas, energetically coöperating with Generals Totten and Loan, the further movements of the rebels in this quarter were promptly arrested and Coffy was pursued to the Arkansas line. The central division was now placed under the administration of General Loan, and order in that region was gradually restored. The enemy meanwhile were gathering strength in Arkansas. They had been largely recruited from Southern Missouri by home conscription, and by the addition of a considerable body of troops from Texas. General Schofield estimates their entire force in the middle of September at about fifty thousand. General Hindman was chief in command at that time. There were various demonstrations on the border of portions of this army by the rebel officers Cooper, Rains, McBride and Parsons, which led General Schofield to take the field in person and concentrate a large force at Springfield, while he called on General Steel, at Helena, to coöperate in a movement against the enemy. At the close of the month Major-General Curtis took command of the Department of the Missouri, General Schofield retaining command of the troops in the field in the South-west. The latter had at this time an effective force at and near Springfield of 4,800 infantry, 5,600 cavalry and 16 pieces of artillery, a total of 10,800 men, of whom, after providing for keeping open the line of communication, over 8,000 were available for active operations. General Blunt, in command at Kansas, was also now placed under General Schofield's orders, and summoned all the troops he could muster, to join with a considerable force sent out from Springfield to Sarcoxie to watch the enemy. There was an engagement at Newtonia in this quarter, on the 30th, between about 4,500, under the Union. General Salomon, and a superior force of the enemy, which resulted in the retreat of the former without serious loss. To repair this disaster, General Schofield hurried to Sarcoxie, where he was joined on the 3d of October by General Blunt, when, with their joint forces, about 10,000 in all, they advanced upon the enemy at Newtonia. The latter failing to receive expected support from General Rains at once began to retreat, and were pursued for thirty miles into the border of Arkansas. General Schofield presently advanced to the old battleground at Pea Ridge, and learning that the enemy had divided his force sent General Blunt in pursuit of the rebel General Cooper in the direction of Maysville, while he himself marched with Totten's and Herron's divisions after Rains in the direction of Huntsville. General Blunt, after a hard night's march, attacked Cooper in his camp at old Fort Wayne, near Maysville, and after a short but sharp engagement on the 22d of October, captured all his artillery, four pieces, and completely routed him, the enemy flying in great disorder across the river to Fort Gibson. His loss in this affair was very small, that of the enemy considerable. On arriving at Maysville, after an arduous forced march over the White River mountains, General Schofield found the enemy in that quarter in full retreat across the mountains. They |