13 Oct 61, Wet Glaze, Mo - Battleground 4: Shiloh
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| Games Played: | 0 |
| SM: | 3 |
| Turns: | 8 |
| Type: | Custom |
| First Side: | Union |
| Second Side: | CSA |
| Downloads: | 30 |
13 October 1861, Wet Glaze, Mo [Curt Cabbage]
I have the honor to report to you that immediately upon the departure of my messenger to you yesterday morning I put my command on the march at 7 o'clock in the following order: Major Bowen, commanding battalion attached to the Thirteenth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, in advance, with his own transportation, then the Thirteenth Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Gorgas commanding, immediately followed by its own transportation and that of the commissary department, the rear being brought up by Maj. C. Wright, commanding Frémont Battalion. After seeing the entire column in motion, I started for the head of it, and had proceeded about 6 miles to the point where the road turns off from the route to Lebanon for this point, and had reached the right of the Thirteenth Regiment, when I was informed that Major Bowen had discovered a party of rebels---70 in number--- and had gone in pursuit of them towards Lebanon, feeling confident of his ability to cope with them successfully. I turned the column towards this point, and had proceeded about 2 miles when a rapid volley of musketry fell upon my ear. I immediately, turning towards the left of my command, ordered the train corraled at once, and at the same time met a courier from Major Bowen, informing me that "he had engaged the enemy, and that they were from 800 to 1,000 strong; that he had been obliged to fall back," and asked for re-enforcements. This same message had also been sent to Major Wright, who, with his usual promptness, took two of his companies, himself taking the advance. At the same moment I sent an order to Lieutenant-Colonel Gorgas to send to the support of the cavalry the five left companies of the Thirteenth Regiment, reserving the other five companies, under Major Partridge, as a reserve and guard for the train. The order was promptly delivered to Colonel Gorgas, and as promptly executed. The line of march was at once taken up, headed by Lieutenant-Colonel Gorgas himself; then Company K, Captain Blanchard; Company I, Capt. Samuel Wadsworth; Company H, Captain Gardner; Company G, Captain Cole, and Company F, Captain Dutton, all at double-quick; and to show you the rapidity of their movements, I beg to assure you that they made a march of nearly 5 miles in forty-five minutes. After issuing this order I immediately started for the scene of action.
In the mean time Major Wright had formed a junction with Major Bowen, and had made their arrangements for another attack, for particulars of which I beg to refer to their respective reports. Approving of them, I relieved Major Wright of the center command, and ordered him to join the line of flankers thrown out by him, and myself made a forward movement from the center---with one company of cavalry, supported by the five companies of infantry---of about 1 miles. The enemy by this time becoming satisfied they could not cope with us (or for some other reason known only to themselves), commenced a rapid retreat, so fast, indeed, that it was impossible even for the Thirteenth to keep up with them. I therefore ordered a halt of the infantry, and ordered the cavalry forward, with orders to drive them as far as possible, and reach camp (at the point 2 miles on the Linn Creek road) at or before sunset. They did so, and drove them nearly 12 miles toward Lebanon.
I have the honor to report to you that immediately upon the departure of my messenger to you yesterday morning I put my command on the march at 7 o'clock in the following order: Major Bowen, commanding battalion attached to the Thirteenth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, in advance, with his own transportation, then the Thirteenth Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Gorgas commanding, immediately followed by its own transportation and that of the commissary department, the rear being brought up by Maj. C. Wright, commanding Frémont Battalion. After seeing the entire column in motion, I started for the head of it, and had proceeded about 6 miles to the point where the road turns off from the route to Lebanon for this point, and had reached the right of the Thirteenth Regiment, when I was informed that Major Bowen had discovered a party of rebels---70 in number--- and had gone in pursuit of them towards Lebanon, feeling confident of his ability to cope with them successfully. I turned the column towards this point, and had proceeded about 2 miles when a rapid volley of musketry fell upon my ear. I immediately, turning towards the left of my command, ordered the train corraled at once, and at the same time met a courier from Major Bowen, informing me that "he had engaged the enemy, and that they were from 800 to 1,000 strong; that he had been obliged to fall back," and asked for re-enforcements. This same message had also been sent to Major Wright, who, with his usual promptness, took two of his companies, himself taking the advance. At the same moment I sent an order to Lieutenant-Colonel Gorgas to send to the support of the cavalry the five left companies of the Thirteenth Regiment, reserving the other five companies, under Major Partridge, as a reserve and guard for the train. The order was promptly delivered to Colonel Gorgas, and as promptly executed. The line of march was at once taken up, headed by Lieutenant-Colonel Gorgas himself; then Company K, Captain Blanchard; Company I, Capt. Samuel Wadsworth; Company H, Captain Gardner; Company G, Captain Cole, and Company F, Captain Dutton, all at double-quick; and to show you the rapidity of their movements, I beg to assure you that they made a march of nearly 5 miles in forty-five minutes. After issuing this order I immediately started for the scene of action.
In the mean time Major Wright had formed a junction with Major Bowen, and had made their arrangements for another attack, for particulars of which I beg to refer to their respective reports. Approving of them, I relieved Major Wright of the center command, and ordered him to join the line of flankers thrown out by him, and myself made a forward movement from the center---with one company of cavalry, supported by the five companies of infantry---of about 1 miles. The enemy by this time becoming satisfied they could not cope with us (or for some other reason known only to themselves), commenced a rapid retreat, so fast, indeed, that it was impossible even for the Thirteenth to keep up with them. I therefore ordered a halt of the infantry, and ordered the cavalry forward, with orders to drive them as far as possible, and reach camp (at the point 2 miles on the Linn Creek road) at or before sunset. They did so, and drove them nearly 12 miles toward Lebanon.
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