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: 420
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420 WEST TENN. AND NORTHERN MIS [CHAP. XXIX.
and perhaps other places, with forces which aggregated would not bje twice or thrice
as large as our own, particularly as they seamed to give us credit for having a great
many more men than we really had, and I thought it practicable to mass a majority
of these troops at any one of these points within thirty-six hours. I had no positive
information of the facts. These were only opinions and reasons which influenced my
mind in coming to these conclusions.
Question. You say you were ignorant at the Tuscumbia that our
army was marching on Corinth. Had the enemy better means of in-
formation as to the design of General Van Dorn as to the point he
would attack, whether it would be Bolivar or Corinth ?
Answer. I have no means of knowing what the sources of the enemy's information
are with regard to General Van Dorn'a movement or the movements of his army.
Question. Did you suppose we were marching to attack the enemy at
any point; if so, what ?
Answer. I did not. I recollected the remark that General Van Dorn made about
maneuvering the enemy out of his fortifications, and supposed that this might be hir
ol ct. I contented myself with executing orders as well as I could.
Question. Had you any idea what that maneuvering must be to ha, e
the effect of getting the enemy out of Corinth.?
Answer. No. My own idea was that the enemy might be maneuvered out by get-
ting in his rear, by cutting off his supplies or threatening to do so, or occupying his
own base.
Question. When did you arrive at the camp on the Hatchie 7
Answer. My command arrived there very late at night. The place at which I was
ordered to encamp was a mile or two to the right of Bowen, in the bottom or swamp.
The forest and foliage was so very dense that the darkness made it impossible to get
the train straightened out and in place
Question. When did you get orders to cook three days' rations I
Answer. I suppose about 4 or 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
Question. When did you turn over rations to General Price's com-
mand ?
Answer. I left them in the swamp and woods at this place which I described, hav-
ing been ordered to leave them Where I encamped, and notified General Maury that I
had left them and where he would find them.
Question. Would it have been possible to cook any rations during
the night ?
Answer. It was possible. I did cook one day's rations for my command. It was
impossible on account of the inadequate supply of cooking utensils in the command
to cook the three days' rations by the time we were ordered to march in the morning.
The best officers commanding regiments declared it was utterly impossible and I agreed
with them. That night the men were much fatigued. On the day previous, being
encamped north of Ripley 4 miles, I was ordered to have my command at the road
from Ripley to Ruckersville at 8 o'clock and to fall in the rear of General H6bert's
command. I did so, but was detained there until nearly 5 o'clock by the troops in
front of me. I received an order that night if I had not passed General H6bert to
encamp with him or at the same place. On reaching his headquarters he informed
me that there was not nearly enough water there for his own command. I procured
a guide, who took me through the fields and woods 14 miles or 2 miles to a branch,
which supplied me with water. It was very late before my men could rest or sleep.
For the same reasons the same thing happened the next day, and hence it was that
my men were tired when they got to the Hatchie.
Question. Do you know whether or not the miscarriage of the wagons
on our return to Holly Springs was a fault of General Van Dorn, or if
they were not immediately ordered on the right road as soon as the fact
was reported to him?
Answer. I presume they were. I do not know that it was his fault. The fault
may have been with those under him. I do not know whose fault it was.
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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/m1/431/?q=%221862%22: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.