Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
Union forces dominated East Tennessee during their occupation of the region until Union Col, Frank Wolford and his small command were attacked by two Confederate brigades under Colonels George Dibrell and John J. Morrison on October 20, 1863. Their combined forces boxed in Wolford's brigade in, fought them to a stand still, and then forced them to hastily retreat, but not until after Wolford lost many men, six mountain howitzer guns and over 50 supply wagons. Escaping with their lives Col. Wolford and his overwhelmed men retreated to Louden, Tenn. to fight another day. Union Bugler Josephus W. Pell, 12th Kentucky Cavalry penned a rare, 2pp. folio., (partial) account, entitled: "Battle of Philadelphia, Tenn." Reading, in small part: "On a beautiful morn of…20th of Oct. 1863 Burnside's advance consisting of 4 Regts of mounted men, then posted at Phila. Tenn…commanded by Col. Frank Woolford was ordered to send out a flag of truce with some Rebel officers for exchange. After the flag had left our lines all thought we would have a day of peace…accordingly Col. Woolford sent out most of his forage train containing some 50 or 60 wagons guarded by detachments of 1st, 11th & 12 Ky. Cav. in all 100 men…shortly after they had gone…news came in that our wagons & men were all captured. The Col. ordered out 1 battalion of the 1st one of the 12 Ky. Cav. who soon recaptured them with some loss being unable to bring out the wagons on account of a heavy rebel force. They had to destroy them. The Brigade was then ordered in battle array to meet fearful odds. A small brigade & battery of 6 guns 12 Ib. mountain howitzers against 6,000 of Longstreet's veterans…one Co. of the 12 Ky. & one of the 45th Ohio was ordered on the skirmish line. The fight soon became sharp & our skirmishers were driven in. Reinforcements were ordered to the skirmishers…drove the Rebs to their reserve…a battery supported by heavy columns of the enemy repelled the charge which the 45th Ohio was ordered to support which was…performed by a bayonet charge…checking the whole Rebel line. The 45th Ohio & 12 Ky. both being dismounted were ordered to charge the Rebel lines which they did & succeeded in…making them move their batteries…sustaining a considerable loss…finding themselves flanked…they fell back…the Rebs now made a charge…we were whipped [Rebels] came charging with a frightful yell that pen fails to describe. The fight became desperate, but the Rebs could not stand steel & were forced to fall back. Our little battery fought desperately…the loss on our side was heavy …the 45th Ohio…lost about 58 men…an artillery duel ensued…kept up for an hour…the enemy did not appear willing to give us another hand to hand engagement…the Rebels kept flanking until our lines formed a square fighting force…we kept…looking in vain for reinforcements…Col. Woolford acted bravely…up & down the line encouraging his men…the ammunition for the battery gave out …the Rebels commenced moving on us…we expended our last round…for small arms & nothing remained to defend us but empty guns & sabers. Col. Woolford ordered the battery spiked and the Brig. massed by squadrons to draw saber & charge & cut through the rebel lines. The Rebs fought desperately to repel us…but could not stand steel. Their lines were broken & the gallant Brig. went through leaving." Incomplete, but lucky all the crucial moments of the battle are accounted for up to the time of the withdrawal. Several minor modern tape repairs, else VG
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