Raynors 2020-05 Putnal
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2020
War-date Union officer's Manuscript Document Being General William Sooy Smith's retained copy, 9-1/2p. quarto, Head Quarters Chief of Cavalry, Military Division of the Mississippi, Nashville, Tennessee, March 4, 1864, addressed to Brig. Gen. John. A. Rawlings, Chief of Staff, Milt. Divi. of the Miss. and reads in part: "...I have the honor to submit the following report of recent cavalry operations made by the direction of Major General Grant Comdg Military Division of the Mississippi and in accordance with the orders and written instructions of Maj Gen Sherman Comdg department of the Tennessee ...on the 28th Day of December 1863 I started from this city with the 2nd , 3rd and 4th Tennessee cavalry regiments 3rd and 5th Kentucky cavalry down the northank of Duck river to scour the Country bordering that river on the North to the Tennessee river and to watch that stream from the mouth of Duck river to a point opposite Fort Henry. The 5th Kentucky Cavalry was ordered down the South Bank of Duck river to clear the country to the Tennessee, and to watch that stream from the mouth of Duck river to Savannah, where this regiment was to communicate with me and receive further orders. The object of the movements was to clear the country of the bands of guerillas that infested it and to watch any attempt that Forrest, who was then at Jackson, Tenn. might make to throw his force or any portion of it over into Middle Tennessee or Kentucky. These regiments captured some fifty guerillas and among them the notorious Col. Hawkins. The 3d Kentucky Cavalry reported back to Nashville according to its instructions and the 5th met my command at Waynesboro and accompanied it from that point. The 28th Kentucky Mounted Infantry was ordered from Columbia to Pulaski Tenn. where it reported to Genl Crook and was assigned to duty with the 2nc Cavalry Division under his command...Upon reaching the Tennessee river the whole command consisting of the 2nd, 3d & 4th Tennessee Cavalry, 5th Kentucky Cavalry, 4th U.S. Cavalry, and 72nd Indiana Mounted Infantry, was thrown across the river and moved toward Corinth, which point we reached on the 8th day of January. Forrest had moved Southward into Mississippi before my command reached the Tennessee river, urged to this step by the movement of the troops of the 16th Army Corps upon him. Orders were issued to abandon the Railroad from Memphis to Corinth and I moved my cavalry to Colliersville, where I awaited the arrival of Waring's brigade from Columbus, from which point it was ordered to move to join our other cavalry forces. Owing to bad roads and the freshets which made the crossings of the streams extremely difficult, especially that of the Obion river, this brigade was delayed and only reached Colliersville on Monday the 8th day of February...By great effort the whole command was prepared for the movement and put in motion on the 11th day of February. Forrest had taken position with all his forces behind the Tallahatchie river determined to resist our crossing.
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