The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 17, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports. Page: 22
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WEST TENN. AND NORTHERN MISS.
JULY 10-11, 1862.-Expedition to Guntown, Miss.
Report of Capt. Robert 0. Selfridge, U. S. Army, Assistant Adjutant-Gen-
eral, Cavalry Division, Army of the Mississippi.
HDQRS. CAi. DIV., ARMY OF THE MISS., July 12, 1862.
GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report of an
expedition with a flag of truce to Guntown, Miss., by Col. P. H. Sheri-
dan, Second Michigan Cavalry, and myself:
Leaving Colonel Sheridan's camp, between Rienzi and Booneville, at
4 o'clock on the morning of the 10th instant, we proceeded by the.Ja-
cinto road to Booneville ; thence in a southwesterly direction, via Crock-
ett's and Tate's, on the Carrollville road. Learning at Tate's of a picket
being stationed at Carrollville we turned eastward for 2 miles, thence
southward for 2 miles farther, to Baldwyn. Learning at this place of a
picket on the right-hand road quite near to Baldwyn we turned off to
the eastward across the railroad, and proceeded in a southeastwardly
direction, intending to pass to the eastward of Guntown and strike
Tupelo from the Fulton road; but the absence of water and the suffer-
ing condition of our animals precluded this idea, and we were reluc-
tantly compelled to turn back to Guntown after striking the Fulton
road 1 or 2 miles south of that place.
In the village of Guntown we found the first picket of the enemy,
who received us most cordially, and by whom we were provided with
an excellent camp for our escort and most hospitable quarters for our-
selves at.the house of a Mr. Thomas. On the morning of the 11th we
were waited upon by Cols. J. Wheeler and Tracy of the Nineteenth
Alabama; Captain Lenoir, of General Bragg's staff, and Captain Rob-
ertson, of the artillery, who received our dispatches, and with whom we
exchanged newspapers and discussed in the most friendly manner the
various topics of the day, from which we gathered:
First, that their main force is now at and near Tupelo and numbers
from 70,000 to 75,000 strong. Second, that the army, since the evacua-
tion of Corinth, has been thoroughly reorganized, and is now under the
sole command of General Bragg. Third, that General Beauregard is in
disgrace, and is charged with the loss of victory at Shiloh and with want
of success at Corinth. Fourth, that no movement is contemplated by
them until the maturing and gathering of the present corn crop. Fifth,
that when they do advance it will be upon our right flank and as far
to the westward as Holly Springs.
We returned, by a circuitous route, through Carrollville and Black-
land, leaving Baldwyn and Booneville to the right, and reached camp
at midnight on the 11th.
The country, after leaving Twenty Mile Creek, is entirely destitute
of water, and even this stream is rapidly failing, and will be entirely
dry in two weeks. The roughness of the country about Booneville be-
comes still more rough and rugged beyond Baldwyn, the hills even in
many places approaching the mountainous, covered by a vegetation so
dense as to completely cover the ground. The character of the country
precludes the passage of troops, unless at vast labor and expense. We
found none of the enemy's pickets after passing 2 miles north of Gun-
town.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. O. SELFRIDGE,
Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General Cavalry Division.
Brig. Gen. W. L.. ELLIOTT, Chief of Staff, Army of the Miss.[CHAP. XXIX.
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The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Additions and Corrections to Series 1, Volume 17. (Pamphlet)
Errata sheets for the Records of the War of the Rebellion include additions and corrections to the text and the index for Series 1, Volume 17.
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United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 17, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports., book, 1886; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154626/m1/33/?q=%221862%22&rotate=90: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.