Chapter 6 - The East Tennessee Campaign |
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18 On August 6th, by order of General Burnside, the 11th Kentucky Cavalry was placed in the Independent Cavalry Brigade consisting of the 1st Ky. Cav., 12th Ky. Cav., and the 11th Ky. Cavalry. This force was commanded by Colonel Frank Wolford. Wolford was a Kentucky mountain man, rough, and according to his men, ugly as sin. Some of them called him "Ole Meat Axe". He was barrel chested, hawknosed and rode an oversize roan horse like a farm boy. He originally commanded the 1st Kentucky Cavalry Regiment and once was wounded and made a prisoner by Morgan. He had previously been in the Mexican War. General Burnside was concentrating his forces of the Army of the Ohio at Crab Orchard, Kentucky in preparation for a push into Tennessee with the goal being Knoxville. Colonel Wolford's Independent Cavalry Brigade was sent to Somerset, Kentucky from Glasgow. On August 20th, at Somerset, Wolford was given orders to detail a guard of 300 men to proceed with a cattle herd that would arrive at Somerset, to Chitwood, Tennessee. They were to remain there awaiting the arrival of the main column or receipt of other instructions. A portion of Wolford's Brigade moved to Albany, Kentucky, arriving there on August 22nd. This detachment was to meet Wolford's main force later at Huntsville, Tennessee. Wolford received orders to proceed with his main force to General Hartsuff's headquarters at a camp on the Cumberland River. There they were detailed to guard a supply and ammunition wagon train into Tennessee. At Chitwood, Wolford's Brigade was reinforced by an infantry regiment to help in guarding the wagon train to Montgomery, Tennessee. General Burnside's forces moved into Tennessee in two columns. General Hascall's Division was to move to Kingston, Tennessee via Somerset, Kentucky, Chitwood's, Huntsville and Montgomery, Tennessee. General White's Division was to move from Columbia, Kentucky, via Creelsboro, Albany and Jamestown, Tennessee to Montgomery, Tennessee. Colonel Wolford's Independent Cavalry Brigade, which included the 11th Kentucky, was to guard the supply and ammunition train following General Hascall. On August 24, Colonel Wolford received orders to send a detachment of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry under Captain Pond to guard General White's division to Jamestown, Tennessee. Returning to Monticello, Kentucky in charge of a wagon train, Captain Pond was then ordered to Crab Orchard, Kentucky. There, they were told to rejoin their Brigade in Tennessee, by way of Cumberland Gap, although at this time, the Gap was in Confederate hands. The rest of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry rode with Colonel Wolford from Somerset to Sloan's Valley and encamped on the 25th of August. They then moved toward Chitwood near the State border, arriving there on the 27th of August. On the 28th, an infantry regiment joined the train to help guard it. On the 29th, the Brigade resumed the march, going to Hunstville, Tennessee and Kingston. pg 19 The forward elements of the drive to Knoxville reached that city on the 3rd of September. Knoxville was taken with very little resistance as the Confederates had fallen back east of Knoxville and also to the south down the valley. General Burnside, with his main force, arrived in Knoxville a little later. The 11th Kentucky Cavalry and the rest of Colonel Wolford's Brigade reached Knoxville on September 8th with the wagon train. The cattle guard detachment joined the Brigade on the 12th. Cumberland Gap had now been taken by Union forces and soon Captain Pond and his detachment of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry rejoined the Brigade at Knoxville. On September 16th, Wolford's Brigade marched across the Holston River in the direction of Strawberry Plains and encamped. The 12th Kentucky Cavalry was ordered to Seviersville, Tennessee to operate in the upper Tennessee valleys. A detachment of Wolford's cavalry went by Cumberland Gap to guard prisoners into Central Kentucky. On the 19th, Colonel Wolford was ordered back to Knoxville to receive further orders. At Knoxville, he was ordered to move his Brigade south down the valley to operate on the right flank of the enemy and protect General Rosecran's left. Rosecran was in northern Georgia pushing the Confederate Army under Bragg. Soon after this time, a large battle was fought between Union and Confederate forces at Chickamauga, Georgia. General Rosecrans was pushed back into Chattanooga and lay under siege in the city. On the 21st, Wolford's men crossed the Holston River. The current was so swift they had to turn upstream with the horses and go sideways across. After crossing they moved 4 miles and camped on the Athens Road. On the 23rd, they rode through Philadelphia, Sweetwater and Mouse Creek Station to Athens. They went into camp at Cedar Springs, 2 miles south of Athens on the Cleveland Road. Colonel Byrd's Union Cavalry Brigade had earlier, on the 11th, sent a detachment of his Brigade to Cleveland, 30 miles below Athens. This detachment was overwhelmed by the enemy and fell back to Athens. On the 22nd, Colonel Byrd, with his whole Brigade, moved down in the direction of Cleveland. The Confederate advance soon began pressing Byrd's forces and Byrd called on Wolford for reinforcements. Detachments of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, under Captain Lawson, the 1st Kentucky Cavalry under Captain Burton, and the 45th Ohio Mounted Infantry under Captain Humphrey, all under the command of Major W. N. Owens of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry, were sent to his support. A large detail of Byrd's force was sent to the junction of the Dalton and Cleveland roads. Here they met the enemy in force and at once opened fire on them. After holding the enemy in check as long as he could, the detachment retreated and recrossed the Hiwassee River. At daylight on the 26th, strong reconnoitering parties under Captain Burton, which included the detachments of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry under Captain Lawson and the 45th Ohio under Captain Humphrey, were sent in the direction of the enemy on three different roads. At 9 AM, Byrd received a message from Captain Humphrey that he had been attacked by the enemy and was forced to pull back. Two companies of the 112th Illinois were sent to reinforce him. Soon Captain Lawson, of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, reported the enemy was advancing on the Dalton Road. Captain Burton, with his detachment of the 1st Kentucky, had been ordered to go 5 miles on the Chatata Road. He soon met a heavy force of the enemy and skirmished with them, retiring back toward the Hiwassee River and returning to Colonel Byrd's main force on the north side of the River. About 12 PM, the enemy appeared in immense numbers. For 2 hours Byrd and his men contested the crossing of the River but were outnumbered. Byrd fell back on the road to Athens. pg 20 In the meantime, Colonel Wolford had moved the camp of his Brigade from the south to the north side of Athens. Hearing of Colonel Byrd's retreat, he met him with his Brigade 2 miles south of the town on the Athens road and formed into line of battle with Byrd's Brigade. The enemy soon appeared. After an engagement of an hour, the enemy retired. The Union forces then fell back to the camp of Wolford's Brigade on the north side of Athens. That night they pulled back in the direction of Loudon. E.Tarrant wrote in his book "The Wild Riders" of an anecdote told on Wolford by Captain Joel Huffman, of General Shackelford's staff, as follows. Gen. Burnside: The enemy is approaching in strong force. May I fall back? WOLFORD Before Burnside had time to reply, another dispatch was received. Gen. Burnside: The enemy is still approaching. Can I fall back? WOLFORD There immediately followed another dispatch. Gen. Burnside: The enemy is here in overwhelming numbers. I am falling back. WOLFORD On the 27th the command fell back, reaching Sweetwater at 5 AM. Soon the enemy appeared. After skirmishing a short while, they again fell back to Philadelphia, reaching that place about noon. On the morning of the 28th, Colonel Silas Adams of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry moved out toward Sweetwater where he met the enemy and skirmished with him until 10:30 AM. Being outnumbered, he fell back to the main line at Philadelphia, followed by the enemy. The Union forces then fell back to Loudon and were put under the command of General Julius White of the 2nd Division of the 23rd Army Corps. On the 29th, scouting parties were sent out, finding the enemy had retired. Colonel Adams was sent in pursuit and went 14 miles on the Athens road. He returned that night to Sweetwater. On September 30th, the 12th Kentucky Cavalry, which had been detached in the upper Tennessee valley, rejoined the Brigade at Loudon. At 7 AM, on this same day, Wolford's and Byrd's brigades moved in quick time to Philadelphia and there formed into a line of battle. pg 21 On the 1st of October, the Brigade resumed the march and encamped 2 ½ miles below Sweetwater, reaching the vicinity of Athens on the next day. A detachment was sent on the 2nd by Colonel Wolford toward Calhoun in search of the enemy. The enemy was found on the opposite side of the River in Charleston. They opened fire on the enemy pickets and then moved back to Wolford's camp. Wolford was soon ordered back to a safe position and on the 4th, saddled up and rode as far as Mouse Creek Station and went into camp. On the 5th, they moved to Sweetwater. Here the two Brigades separated, Byrd moving back to his old position at Post Oak Springs, west of Kingston. Wolford's Brigade and the 11th Kentucky remained at Sweetwater, staying there about a week scouting for the enemy. Colonel Wolford learned, on October 10th, that the enemy had crossed the Hiwassee River at Charleston and occupied Athens that night. General Manson, at Knoxville, directed that if Wolford found the enemy too strong, to fall back to Philadelphia or Loudon. On the 11th, the enemy appeared in Wolford's front. Wolford pulled back to 2 ½ miles and camped in line of battle. However, the enemy, though near, did not show up. The next morning the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, with the Brigade, marched to Philadelphia. Reaching that place, Wolford heard from his scouts that the enemy at Sweetwater was mainly reconnoitering parties. On the 14th, Wolford reported to General Burnside that the main body of the enemy had fallen back. Eight privates and one Lieutenant had been captured by the enemy within the last couple of days. Wolford kept his scouts out in every direction. On the 15th, wagons of the 45th Ohio Mtd. Infantry were out foraging when rebels attacked them. The enemy was repulsed. Lt. Colonel Adams, of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry, was sent out to help. The wagons were brought in safe and Adams trailed the enemy to within 4 or 5 miles of Decatur. There he charged the enemy, capturing 25 men and recapturing 9 of the Union prisoners. After chasing the enemy away, Adams returned to Philadelphia about midnight. A detachment of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry was with him. About this time, some changes were made in the Army and Department Commands. On the 16th of October, 1863, the Department of Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee were united into the Military Division of the Mississippi, with Major General U. S. Grant in command. General Rosecrans, at Chattanooga, was relieved of command and replaced by Major General George Thomas. pg 22 THE BATTLE FOR PHILADELPHIA About 10 AM on the 20th, Wolford received word that a large force of the enemy had attacked his wagon train out foraging about 6 miles west of Philadelphia. Wolford sent Major Milton Graham with his 11th Kentucky Cavalry to their defense. Shortly thereafter, word was received that the enemy was stronger than anticipated. Colonel Wolford then sent Lt. Colonel Silas Adams and the 1st Kentucky Cavalry to join with the 11th Kentucky. Reaching the train, the two regiments drove the enemy off. However, they were now cut off from their Brigade by enemy forces in their front and rear. Meanwhile, Wolford had sent a 12th Kentucky Cavalry detachment toward Sweetwater to ascertain the enemy's strength. Finding a large force coming up the valley toward Philadelphia, a courier was sent to warn Colonel Wolford. Another courier was dispatched then to recall the 1st and 11th Kentucky Cavalry Regiments, but the courier was captured before he reached them. Wolford was now left to defend the town with the 45th Ohio Mtd. Infantry, 12th Kentucky Cavalry, a small part of the 1st and 11th Kentucky Cavalry, and a small howitzer battery. Outnumbered 3 to 1, Wolford held his position for one long hour until finally driving the enemy back. While this was going on, Confederate General Morrison, with 1,800 men, was making his way around to the west and rear of Wolford's position. The 45th Ohio moved quickly to the new danger but was driven back to their line by superior forces of the enemy. Wolford then about faced his command and faced the enemy. During this conflict, Colonel Defosse, commander of the 12th Kentucky Cavalry was killed while leading his men in a charge. Now artillery from the enemy, under Confederate General Dibrell, opened fire upon the Union troops. Being attacked now from all sides, Wolford had no other options except to surrender or cut his way out. Gathering a large portion of his men, with saber and pistol, Wolford dashed against the Confederate line with such force that the enemy gave way, leaving a gap with which the Union soldiers made their way through to Loudon, although many of the troopers were captured by the enemy during this rush. While this was going on at Philadelphia, Lt. Colonel Adams, with the 1st and 11th Kentucky Cavalry, had driven off the enemy who were left to guard the captured wagon train, and captured several of them. Adams soon heard the sound of artillery coming from Philadelphia. He then pushed with his men for the scene of action. Advancing, he soon came upon about 300 rebels near the railroad. He opened fire on them and charged into their ranks, capturing many of them. Adams then proceeded toward Loudon, having noticed that the firing had ceased at Philadelphia. Moving on this road, they came face to face with a column of North Carolina Cavalrymen which had been sent to make a feint on Loudon. Adams wheeled to face the enemy and charged, capturing many. The enemy gave way and those not killed, wounded or captured made their way back to their own lines. During the following day, many of Wolford's men, having escaped or eluded their captors, trickled back into Loudon, among them the surgeon, Dr. Hawkins Brown. Losses of the 1st and 11th Kentucky Cavalry Regiments were 20 killed and 80 wounded. Nearly 354 men of these regiments were missing and presumed captured. Private James T. Pond, of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry Co. A, was killed and Farrier Dave Bishop, Privates Squire Davis, John Edmonson, Jim Elkins and Virg Layton of Company A were captured. Bill Simpson, quartermaster, Hospital Steward Bob Derr and 1st Lieutenant Reuben F. Scott were also captured, Lt. Scott being from Company A. In addition, the following Company casualties were: Co. B- 12 captured; Co. C- 15 captured; Co. D - 11 captured; Co. E - 1 killed and 15 captured; Co. F - 4 captured; Co. G - 9 captured, and Co. H - 1 captured. In all 2 men were killed and 75 were captured from the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, some of the captured being wounded. pg 23 From the 21st to the 28th of October, the Brigade skirmished continually with the enemy. At this time General W. P. Sanders came up and took command of all the Union Cavalry at the front. While at Loudon, some new recruits were added to the 11th Kentucky Cavalry. Company A received 10 men, being Edmund Burress, Woodson Murphy, Charles Moberly, James Whittaker, George Bogie, Thomas Cotton, John Tuder, William Key, James Holeman and Levi Hendron. Company B received 4 men, but they promptly deserted the regiment. Company D received 1 man, Company F received 3 men and Company H received 15 new men. Several East Tennessee men enlisted in the Regiment while at Knoxville and apportioned to the various Companies. On the 28th of October, the Union Forces evacuated Loudon and moved to the north side of the Tennessee River. Wolford received orders to move to Knoxville and the Brigade reached that place on the 29th. The next day the Brigade moved to Maryville to scout on the south side of the Holston River and as far as the Little Tennessee River. The dismounted men were ordered to remain at Knoxville to be refitted. Four men from Company B deserted on this day. On November 1st the Brigade crossed the Holston River and arrived at Maryville on the 2nd. One man from Company H deserted while passing through Rockford. On the 3rd of November, a portion of the Mounted Forces of the Department of Ohio was organized temporarily as a Cavalry Corps commanded by Brigadier General James M. Shackelford. The 1st Division was put under command of General Sanders. The designation of Wolford's command was changed from The Independent Cavalry Brigade to the First Brigade, First Division, Cavalry Corps. The Second Brigade of the same Division was commanded by Colonel R. K. Byrd, and the Third Brigade was commanded by Colonel C. D. Pennebaker. Pennebaker's Brigade also moved to Maryville and camped in the rear of Wolford's camp. The next day, November 4th, General Sanders received word of a large force crossing the Little Tennessee River. To verify these reports, Sanders sent a detachment of 150 men under Colonel Adams, to scout that area. Adams left at 1 AM that morning. Reaching the vicinity of Morley's Ford, he waited for daylight. At sunrise he heard the advance of the enemy coming down the bank to the River. Waiting for their approach he then ordered a heavy volley to be fired into their column, then rushed them. He captured 40 of the men and 4 officers. The rest tried to make their way back but many of them were killed or drowned. Adams soon ordered the firing to cease and his men helped the enemy soldiers get out of the water and up the bank. A larger force of the enemy soon appeared on the opposite bank and Adams withdrew with his prisoners and rode back to Maryville. pg 24 ATTACK AT MARYVILLE On the 7th, General Sanders' Division moved to Rockford. The next day, the 1st Kentucky Cavalry, under Colonel Adams, was sent to Maryville for outpost duty. Adams returned on the 11th and Captain Harrison of the 12th Kentucky Cavalry replaced him at Maryville. The next day Harrison reported that his pickets had been attacked by a small enemy force. Later that day the 12th Kentucky Cavalry returned to Rockford and the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, under Major Graham, moved to the vicinity of Maryville for outpost duty. On the 13th, scouts of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry drove back some enemy pickets in the vicinity of the Morgantown Road. That morning, Confederate General Joseph Wheeler, with his Cavalry Division, crossed the Little Tennessee River at Motley's Ford and marched all night toward Maryville. Having heard that a large force was moving on them, the 11th Kentucky Cavalry drew up in line of battle. The regiment was seriously depleted of men and had only 9 Companies, probably no more than 300 men, having lost many during the Philadelphia battle. The enemy appeared suddenly, having come through the woods into open ground. As soon as the enemy saw the 11th Kentucky, they immediately charged into the small regiment, scattering them into groups of 4 or 5 men as they skedaddled for safety. The 11th Kentucky was by far outnumbered. Many of the troopers were captured, but many did escape to fight another day. Hearing sounds of firing at Maryville, the 1st Kentucky and the 45th Ohio mounted their horses and moved quickly toward that place. A charge was made on the enemy by these regiments, but General Wheeler's men were expecting them to show up and were waiting in ambush for them. Heavy firing commenced and the Union Cavalrymen were forced to retreat back over the Little River, where they rallied and reformed, checking the advance of the enemy for the moment. General Sanders now moved his entire Division back to within 5 miles of Rockford and went into camp. Company A lost 7 men at Maryville, all believed to have been captured. They were: Privates Steve Layton, Broadus Owen, Pat Callahan, Jess Cooley and Bill Hamm. Also Corporal Abe Tuder and Sergeant Joe Tatum were taken. Adjutant William Pierce of the Staff was captured. Company B had 6 men captured, Company E had 15, and Company F had 10, including the Company Commander, Captain Robert Curd. Company G had 3 men captured. Several men were wounded, but there were no deaths. pg 25 THE SIEGE OF KNOXVILLE On the 15th the enemy advanced and soon engaged Sanders' entire Union line. Skirmishing and fighting continued during the day until late in the evening. The Union Cavalry was pressed back into the Infantry lines on the south side of the Holston River. The enemy advanced again on the 16th, but now found the Union lines on the Heights below the Holston River in well strengthened defenses. General Wheeler was now ordered to move to the other side of the River to join with General Longstreet and the main body of the Confederate forces. He immediately moved toward Louisville, crossing the river that afternoon. The Union forces, including the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, moved across the Holston River on the pontoon bridge and went into camp at Knoxville. The Confederate siege of Knoxville had now begun. On the 18th of November, General Sanders' Division, including the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, took position early to try to stall the advancing enemy. Wolford's Brigade, though in the fight, being on the right, was not in the heaviest of the Battle. In this battle, General Sanders was wounded and later died. Soon the Union troops were forced to fall back down the hill across Second Creek and up the opposite hillside. The enemy advanced their lines to the bluff south of the Creek. The firing had now ceased for the day. The City of Knoxville was now nearly surrounded by the Confederate forces under General James Longstreet. The Union forces were dug in behind formidable defenses and Wolford's Brigade was now behind those defenses. After the death of General Sanders, Colonel Wolford was made commander of the 1st Division Cavalry Forces. Colonel Silas Adams was now commander of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry's Brigade. Adams was a young 24 year old native Kentuckian, born in Pulaski County, and moved to Casey County when he was 2 years old. He attended the Kentucky University at Harrodsburg and Transylvania University at Lexington. He entered the Union Army as a First Lieutenant with the 1st Kentucky Cavalry. He was soon promoted to Captain and later Lt. Colonel and then Colonel. After the war he attended law school at Lexington. He eventually was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Congress in 1889 where he served until 1895, afterwards which he resumed his law practice. He died in Liberty, Kentucky, May 5, 1896 and is buried in Humphrey, Kentucky. On the evening of the 22nd, Colonel Wolford took the 112th Illinois and other mounted regiments 4 miles up the river on a reconnaissance, but did not find the enemy on the eastern side of Knoxville. The next day, Wolford's Division, including the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, crossed the Holston River and went into position on the heights of the South Side. The men were put to work digging rifle pits and throwing up breast-works. This continued for several days. On the afternoon of the 25th, the enemy made a heavy assault on the Union Cavalry position south of the Holston. The enemy however, soon retreated back to their own position on their own hill. pg 26 A party of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry was sent to determine the strength of Confederate forces in their front, south of the river. They advanced to the vicinity of Rockford and found no enemy north of Little River. The 11th Kentucky was ordered to send pickets out on the Maryville Road. Even though some provisions were brought into Knoxville from the loyal citizens east of the City, rations for the troops became very meager. However, Lt. Colonel Adams' Brigade Headquarters (that of the 11th Kentucky) found a stray hog and butchered it. The men subsisted on a small piece of bread each day, which only served to whet their appetite. The weather had become bad and the men of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry were miserable in their wet rifle pits. The men were divided into 3 reliefs and one third of them kept on guard all the time, night and day, 2 hours on and 4 hours off. Those men off duty slept with their weapons within reach. On the 27th of November, heavy skirmishing and artillery firing continued all day. On the 28th, Adams' Brigade went to Maryville on a scout, capturing 12 prisoners and returning at 11 PM. On the morning of the 29th, the 11th Kentucky heard heavy artillery across the river at the Union Fort Sanders (named in honor of General Sanders). General Longstreet's Confederate forces were preparing an assault on the Fort. When the cannonading ceased, the enemy charged the Fort. A large and deep ditch surrounded the Fort and wire entanglements were placed in front of that. When the enemy advanced, they became tangled in the wire and those that made it to the ditch were trapped while the Fort's defenders rained down a fire upon them. Soon the enemy retreated back to their lines, leaving scores of dead and wounded in front of the Fort. General Longstreet soon received a report that General Grant had assaulted and pushed Confederate General Bragg out of the heights surrounding Chattanooga, driving the enemy south into Georgia. Troops under General William T. Sherman were now advancing north from Chattanooga to relieve the besieged Union Forces at Knoxville. General Burnside ordered Lt. Colonel Silas Adams to take a detail south to meet Sherman's forces. Adams chose 300 men from his Brigade for this mission. Under cover of darkness, Adams moved south and marched as far as Maryville. Here they heard cannonading near Loudon, and having orders not to run any unnecessary risks, he started on their return march. As they approached within a mile or so of the Union lines, they came upon a Confederate force that was waiting for Adams in ambush. Adams then wheeled to the right and went into a dense woods, with the enemy firing a few shots behind them. By narrow paths, Adams led his Brigade safely back into the Union lines. On the morning of the 4th of December, the advance column of Sherman's forces arrived in Knoxville. The following night, Longstreet withdrew his army from the west of Knoxville and began moving northeast. The siege was over. pg 17 After Longstreet withdrew, the Union Cavalry was ordered to go in pursuit. The Cavalrymen were scantily clothed with worn out shoes and boots, and weak from short rations. Many were dismounted and many of the horses that survived were feeble. Joshua Hurt, the brother of Eli Hurt of Company A, had entered the hospital at Knoxville with measles or Small Pox, where he would later die. The orders were to move slowly with caution, which was good news for these weary troopers. Wolford's Division was in the advance and on December 5th marched 8 miles on the Rutledge Road and camped for the night. A number of enemy prisoners were captured during the march. At 10 AM on the 6th, Wolford's Command moved a short distance up the road. On the 7th, they advanced about 4 miles and did some skirmishing with the enemy. They moved forward and camped on Flat Creek. The next day, the Command marched to Rutledge and encamped. Several Prisoners were captured this day. At 7 AM on the 9th, Wolford's Command pressed hard on the enemy and captured a large number of them. They reached Bean's Station at 2 PM, 49 miles from Knoxville. Here they remained in camp, sending out scouts and skirmishing with the enemy. On the 10th of December, General Shackelford, commanding the Cavalry Corps, sent Lt. Colonel Silas Adams' Brigade, which included the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, to reconnoiter on the Rogersville Road. Adams went as far as Mooresburg, where he encountered the enemy in considerable force guarding a wagon train, and began skirmishing with them. The enemy dismounted and went into position in a gorge. Finding the enemy unassailable, Adams withdrew his Brigade and returned to Beans Station. ACTION AT BEAN'S STATION Two Hundred men of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry were on reconnaissance on the Rogersville Road on the 13th. Their detachment was attacked and driven off by the enemy, 600 strong, and 3 or 4 forage wagons were captured. General Shackelford sent reinforcements and drove the enemy off. The next day, the enemy attacked Bean's Station. Adams' Brigade was the first to be in the fight. Soon the entire Cavalry Corps became engaged. The fighting was fierce and eventually the 11th Kentucky Cavalry and its Brigade was forced to fall back. They retreated back to Blaine's Crossroads where they went into defenses. One man from Company G deserted at this place. Eli Hurt, of Company A became sick with the measles and was sent back to Knoxville to recover. General Longstreet hesitated to attack the Union troops at Blaine's Crossroads due to the fact that a Division of Infantry had arrived to support the Union Troopers. Longstreet then moved his forces back toward the northeast. ------o------ About this time, Brigadier General James Shackelford, commanding the Cavalry Corps, took leave of absence due to illness and left for Kentucky. Brigadier General S. D. Sturgis was now put in command of all the Cavalry of the Army of the Ohio. Also General Burnside had turned his Command of the Army of the Ohio over to General John Foster, and had left Knoxville for his home in Providence, Rhode Island. pg 28 Adams' Brigade and the 11th Kentucky Cavalry moved on the 17th in the direction of Strawberry Plains. They intended to cross the Holston River but the river was too high. They then moved on the 18th of December toward McKinney's Ford and returned to their camp on the 19th where they remained until the 23rd. On that day the 11th Kentucky Cavalry and its Brigade once more moved to McKinney's Ford where they crossed the river with difficulty. After crossing, they moved on to New Market and went into camp. The next day, Wolford's Division, along with Adams' Brigade, moved out on the Dandridge Road, 1 mile from town, remaining in line of battle all day, and then encamped. On the 27th of December, 1863, the 11th Kentucky Cavalry moved with its Brigade to Flat Gap to guard and picket the roads in the direction of Dandridge. An enemy force was at Dandridge. Colonel Wolford's two Brigades were in a very bad state. Around 800 men were effective for duty and about 1,200 men were without horses. The latter were ordered to Strawberry Plains to guard that place. On the 28th, General Sturgis ordered 4 regiments of Colonel Wolford's Division, with 4 mountain howitzers, to move on Dandridge by the Mossy Creek Road, and Lt. Colonel Adams Brigade, including the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, which had been picketing the gaps in Bay Mountain, to move toward Dandridge by the New Market Route, so as to reach Dandridge at daylight on the 29th. Reaching Dandridge, they found the enemy had withdrawn and had massed their Cavalry Forces against the Union troops left at Mossy Creek. A hard day's fight ensued and the rebels were repulsed. At Dandridge, Wolford's command started to return, but was cut off, and they had to move around by way of Bay Mountain. After marching hard all day in a rainstorm, they arrived at Mossy Creek at 8 PM. The next day, the 11th Kentucky Cavalry returned to its post at Flat Gap. The temperature fell to below zero and the Cavalry troops built huge log fires to try to keep from freezing. The regiment remained on picket duty at Flat Gap until January 14th, 1864. pg 29 ACTION NEAR DANDRIDGE On the 14th of January, Wolford's Division received marching orders and moved to Dandridge again. The enemy was in town at that time and the 112th Illinois Mtd. Infantry, being in the advance, drove them out. The next night, enemy forces attacked the Union pickets, but were driven off. The Cavalry Command moved out early on the 16th, with the 11th Kentucky Cavalry's Brigade in the advance, on the Morristown Road. They came upon a much larger enemy force in a strong position with artillery. The Division held its position until the enemy moved down on either flank, overpowering the small force sent to check them. The Union troopers then fell back to its former position, with the enemy following. The 1st Brigade, under Lt. Colonel Adams, made a flank movement on the enemy, driving them back from the camp. However, Adams' Brigade was soon overpowered and fell back slowly to the position of the 3rd Brigade. Sergeant Tom Finnell of Company A was wounded in this action. On the 17th of January, the enemy attacked the entire Union Line about 2 PM. Heavy skirmishing continued until dark. About 10 PM, the Division fell back toward Strawberry Plains, fording the Holston River. The 11th Kentucky Cavalry and its Brigade moved at 11:30 PM and marched all night through a cold drizzling rain, crossing the Holston River late in the afternoon on the 18th, and camped 2 miles below Strawberry Plains. That night the temperature dropped and it commenced snowing and snow soon covered the ground. On the 19th of January, Pvt. Joshua Hurt of Company A died in the hospital in Knoxville. ------o------ The following day, the command marched to Knoxville. On January 20th, Wolford's Division crossed the Holston River and marched 12 miles toward Seviersville and encamped. They remained in camp till the afternoon of the 21st, when the men were supplied with 100 rounds of ammunition each. The march resumed on through Seviersville and 2 miles beyond, where they went into camp. On the 22nd, the Command moved 8 miles to Fair Garden, capturing 5 enemy wagons and a guard of 20 men. The next day they captured a train of 11 wagons and 70 prisoners. They moved back about 3 miles on the road on the 24th, and the following day moved within 3 miles of Seviersville. pg 30 ACTION AT SEVIERSVILLE AND FAIR GARDEN On the morning of the 26th of January, Wolford's Command, including the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, moved out to Fowler's on the road from Seviersville to Fair Garden. Colonel Adams and 11th Kentucky Cavalry was in the advance. They arrived at 12 PM and halted. Soon the Union Pickets were attacked by the enemy coming from Fair Garden. Adams formed his Brigade into line with the 8th Michigan Cavalry in reserve. The Union pickets were soon driven in and the firing commenced all along the line. The enemy soon succeeded in flanking the Union Cavalry on the left. Colonel Adams ordered the left to fall back to their horses and mount, after which this part of the line swung back to the creek. The enemy did not pursue and the Command fell back on the Seviersville Road and went into camp 2 or 3 miles from town. Wolford's 2 Brigades moved back to Flat Creek Gap on the morning of the 27th, but found no enemy. In about 2 hours, Colonel Adams, with his Brigade, was ordered to move to Dickey's, some 3 miles from Seviersville. Colonel McCook's Union Division was engaging the enemy and Adams' Brigade was put in position to guard the left flank of McCook's line. However, the enemy soon retired. On the 28th of January, the Command moved to Fair Garden and on the road to a point near Kelley's Ford, where the enemy was found in a strong fortified position. The Command was dismounted and formed into line, with Adams' Brigade on the left. The line then advanced and charged the enemy. The enemy then poured a terrific fire into the Union Line. The line fell back for a moment but then rallied and held their position for more than 2 hours until ordered to fall back. Major Milton Graham, commanding the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, was badly wounded in this action and one man from Company C was killed. ------o------ After this engagement, the Cavalry fell back and camped at Dr. Hodgedon's place on Pigeon Creek. Meanwhile, a heavy enemy infantry force had moved to the rear of the Brigade, cutting them off from the main body of the Army of the Ohio. Adams' Command was ordered to move to Maryville by a back road route. The Command moved at sunrise on the 29th, marching 16 miles over bad roads, passing through Devil's Gap, and camping at Weir's Cove. They moved on the 31st down Little River and arrived in Maryville at sunset. Private Levi Hendren of Company A deserted at Knoxville during this month and 2 men from Company H deserted at Halls Gap, Kentucky on the 3rd and 6th of January. The 11th Kentucky Cavalry remained at Maryville until February 4th, using the time for rest and recuperation. Wolford's Division, including the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, on February 4th, was ordered to Mt. Sterling, Kentucky to be reorganized, remounted, and re-equipped for service and to guard the State against raids. One man from Company B deserted at Maryville. Another trooper from Company E was AWOL since January 20th, and was caught, arrested, and returned to the regiment on the 4th of February. Eli Hurt remained in the Hospital at Knoxville. On the 4th of February the Division marched through Cumberland Gap and crossed the Cumberland River passing on to Flat Lick. On the 8th of February, they passed through Barboursville and camped near London. They crossed the Rockcastle River the morning of the 9th, and evening found them in camp near Richmond. The next day, the 10th, they crossed the Kentucky River and camped near the Ford. The next day they camped at Winchester in the evening. On the 12th of February, they arrived at Mt. Sterling and went into camp about half a mile north of town. Two men of the Regiment later died in the hospitals at Louisville and Aurora, Indiana, from wounds received in the fighting of January in East Tennessee. |