I am just informed that a force of 1,400 rebel cavalry left Jonesville for Mulberry Gap immediately after Major Beeres surrendered, and I fear the gap has been taken with the garrison of the Eleventh Tennessee Cavalry.
I have the honor to be, colonel, your obedient servant,
W. C. LEMERT,
Colonel, Commanding Forces at Cumberland Gap and Tazewell.
TO: General S. COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector General, C. S. Army.
RUSSELLVILLE, January 9, 1864.
A portion of our cavalry, under Brig. Gen. W. E. Jones, attacked on the 3d instant a force of 300 of the enemy near Jonesville, and killed and wounded and captured the whole of it, with 3 pieces of artillery and 20 wagons and teams.
J. LONGSTREET,
Lieutenant-General.
TO:
Col. G. M. SORREL,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., C. S. Army East Tennessee.
[Indorsement.]
JANUARY 21, 1864.
Respectfully submitted to the President, who may be interested by the success alluded to by the explanation of the causes that frustrated the more important enterprise.
J. A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
HEADQUARTERS JONES' CAVALRY BRIGADE,
Jonesville, Va., January 7, 1864.
COLONEL: Preparatory to executing the design imparted in your confidential note of the 28th ultimo,(*) I moved my command across Clinch River on the 2d instant. Soon after going into camp information reached me that the enemy had driven Lieutenant-Colonel Pridemore through this place, and was still going east. I at once determined to cross Powell's Mountain that night to attack him in rear, and ordered Colonel Pridemore to attack in front as soon as he found me engaged. The weather was intensely cold. Many of my men could not be started from their camps. Every halt of a few moments fires were started, and probably more than half of those who did leave were far in rear before daylight. The road was rough and in many places almost impassable from ice, but onward we went with all that could or would go. One man was frozen to death and many were badly frost-bitten.
Arriving at daylight in the vicinity of the enemy, well nigh conquered by the hardships encountered by my poorly clad and shod men, I had the satisfaction to find we were unexpected guests. No pickets were on the road we came. We were charging their camp before they were aware of our presence. They flew to their arms and fought manfully. Our leading company succeeded in capturing their artillery, but was not supported quickly enough to avoid losing it again. The enemy falling back took shelter in a farm-house and outbuildings, placing his artillery so advantageously as to make a heavy sacrifice of life necessary to dislodge him. Feeling secure of the prey my men were kept well sheltered, and skirmished just enough to keep the enemy firing his artillery to exhaust its ammunition. Toward sundown Colonel Pridemore made his appearance east of the enemy, my command being to the west, thus hemming him in the valley.
About this time the enemy quitted the houses and took position on a neighboring eminence. As soon as he was far enough from his shelter to make return impossible a general assault was ordered, a surrender enforced in a few minutes.
We captured 383 officers and men, 45 of whom were wounded, and we killed 10, took 3 pieces of artillery and 27 6-mule wagons and teams. Five of the wagons were broken in the capture.
Early on the morning of the 4th one of my scouts returned, reporting the garrison at Cumberland Gap from 1,000 to 1,500, which was confirmed from other sources.
My ammunition was nearly exhausted and my wagons, being compelled to make a detour by Pattonsville, did not reach me until the evening of the 5th, when it was too late to effect what was intended for me to undertake. There is probably subsistence enough for my men and horses to March 1 in this county, though long forage will be scant.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. E. JONES,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
TO:
Lieut. W. M. HOPKINS,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
HDQRS. EIGHTH VIRGINIA CAVALRY, C. S. Army
March 10, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to herewith transmit a report of the part taken by the Eighth Regiment Virginia Cavalry in the action at Jonesville, Lee County, Va., on 3d day of January, 1864.
On reaching the point in rear of the enemy's camp from which the attack was made about 8 a.m., I received an order from General Jones to place the three companies armed with pistols and sabers in front. I did so, and placed Capt. H. C. Everett in command of those companies, with instructions to charge the enemy's camp and take his artillery and hold him in check until I could support him with the other six companies. Captain Everett advanced at the trot until he came opposite the camp, when he ordered one company to charge the camp and the other two to charge after the battery of 3 guns which the enemy was endeavoring to get into position in the road about 500 yards from their camp. I was prevented from following up and supporting Captain Everett as it should have been done in consequence of a bad place in the road, through which the men were compelled to ride by file. When I reached the point at which we entered the camp I could not ascertain where Captain Everett was, and supposing the whole force of the enemy to be in the camp I dismounted my men as quickly as possible and went to the relief of the company then engaged.
In the mean time Captain Everett had taken possession of the artillery, held it a few minutes, and had been driven back by overwhelming numbers. My men, aided by a portion of the Twenty-seventh Virginia Battalion, drove the enemy's advance in a few minutes from their positions behind trees, rocks, &c., in the camp, when they fled in confusion back to where their main force had taken position in and around Milburn's house. I then reformed the six companies and advanced through the field under fire from the artillery to a fence about 400 yards from their position. Here I halted and kept up a heavy fire for a few minutes, when I received an order from General Jones to move my command to the hill on the left and take possession of Milburn's house if possible. I then left two companies to guard the road, and took the other four with me to the top of the hill.. Here I found a portion of the enemy's force, and after collecting all the men I could from other commands we drove them from the woods through the corn-field and down the hill into Mil-burn's house and outhouses. As soon as I came in full view of their position and numbers I saw that it would be folly to attempt to take the house, as I saw more men enter it and the outhouses than I had with me to make the attack. I then withdrew into the woods again to await further orders. The enemy made several attempts to regain the woods, but failed in all.
About 3 p.m. I received an order from General Jones to send a portion of my command across to the road leading to Crank's Gap. I sent three companies under Captain Rocke to that road, and went myself to bring up the two companies that were left on the road. Before I could return an advance was made by the whole command and the enemy surrendered unconditionally.
The loss in the regiment was--Lieut. A. H. Samuels and 4 enlisted men killed and 7 wounded.
Both officers and men behaved as well as could be expected under the circumstances.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. F. COOK,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Eighth Virginia Cavalry.
TO:
Lieut. W. M. HOPKINS,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Jones' Brigade, C. S. Army.
Official report of the part taken by the Twenty-seventh Virginia Battalion of Cavalry in the engagement at Jonesville, Lee County, Va., on January 3, 1864:
LIEUTENANT: On arriving within half a mile of the enemy's camp on the morning of January 3 I was directed by General W. E. Jones, commanding, to move my battalion, already in column of fours, to the main Cumberland Gap road, a short distance north of its then present position, and upon reaching that road to charge the enemy's camp in concert with two companies of the Eighth Virginia Cavalry, who would move upon the river road. On arriving upon the eminence above Wynn's house, a short distance west of the enemy's camp, I became aware that I was ahead of the two companies of the Eighth; but satisfied that my approach had been perceived by parties of the enemy who ran out of Wynn's house in the direction of their camp, I determined to charge the enemy before they could be aroused in their camp and get to their arms. This I did successfully, capturing quite all the force stationed on the Cumberland Gap road, amounting to 55.
In the loss I sustained a loss of 4 men severely wounded. The enemy's loss was 3 killed on the field and 6 wounded.
After the capture of this force I dismounted my men, and leaving a detachment sufficient to guard the prisoners I moved rapidly with the remainder of my battalion within a short distance of the junction of the Cumberland Gap and river road, below or west of Milburn�s house, into which and the outhouses a large body of the enemy had taken refuge. Here I took position and awaited the arrival of the rest of the troops. Shortly thereafter I moved my command to an eminence on the left or north of the road, the enemy in the mean time having taken position upon a second eminence in my front, also to the left or north of the road. This position I occupied until a general advance was ordered. I then moved directly upon the enemy, who at once opened fire and kept it up until my line was near them. Upon perceiving that they were completely invested by the lines of other commands of the brigade, which were, like with my own, advanced within a short distance of their position, they surrendered about 3 p.m.
My loss in this advance was none killed and none wounded.
My men and officers acted well throughout the engagement.
I am, lieutenant, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN B. THOMPSON,
Captain, Commanding, &c.
TO:
Brig. Gen. WILLIAM E. JONES,
Commanding Cavalry Brigade.
HDQRS, THIRTY-SEVENTH VIRGINIA BATTALION CAV., C. S. Army.
Ball's Bridge, Lee County, Va., March 8, 1864.
GENERAL: In obedience to orders just received calling for my official report of the engagement at Jonesville, Va., on 3d day of January, 1864, and at Gibson's Mill(*), on February 22, 1864, I have the honor to submit the following:
On the evening of January 1, in obedience to orders, I withdrew my pickets from near Mooresburg, on the Rogersville and Knoxville turnpike, and proceeded with my command to rejoin the brigade, then encamped at Little War Gap.
The brigade having moved previous to my arrival at the latter place, I followed and joined the brigade on the evening of January 2 on the north bank of Clinch River. Owing to the swollen condition of the stream and the extreme darkness of the night a number of my men failed to cross, and remained on the south side of the river.
My command was halted on the morning of January 3 with the remainder of brigade for the purpose of reforming. I there ascertained that many of my men had straggled from the line of march on account of the severe cold and their naked condition, many being entirely without shoes. I could not muster more than 100 effective men. One man froze in the saddle and several others were frosted.
I was ordered to follow the Twenty-seventh Virginia Battalion Cavalry. I entered the Jonesville and Cumberland Gap turnpike some 300 yards below the enemy's camp at Jonesville, Va. We moved up at a gallop in column of fours, well closed on the Twenty-seventh Battalion, which halted on the summit of the hill and opened a light fire upon the enemy, at the same time dismounting. The road ahead being blocked, and having no orders but to follow the Twenty-seventh, I dismounted a portion of my command and formed on the left of the turnpike. We pursued the enemy across the field some 100 yards, capturing a number of prisoners. The enemy turning his battery upon us in open field and at short range, my command fell back a short distance, where I succeeded in rallying all, except such as were guarding prisoners to the rear. By your orders I then moved by the left flank and succeeded in carrying a hill heavily timbered and occupied by a few of the enemy's skirmishers and overlooking his battery. Shortly after my occupation of this hill Lieutenant-Colonel Cook came up with a detachment of the Eighth Virginia Cavalry and took command of the whole. The enemy with a small force made an attempt to retake the hill, but were repulsed and pursued by us to within some 250 yards of his main body, when he opened upon us with grape and canister, and thinking it impracticable to attempt to drive him from the Milburn house, near the center of his lines, we fell back to the summit of the hill, where we remained, exchanging a few occasional shots with the enemy till about 3.30 p.m., when Colonel Cook was withdrawn with his detachment. In some twenty minutes after I was ordered to move forward upon the enemy, who had evacuated the Milburn house, and then occupied the hill directly toward Jonesville and in my front.
In making this move the enemy fired several volleys into my advancing line, which was informally drawn on account of the nature of the ground over which we had to pass; and at this time of the engagement I sustained my only loss, which was 4 men severely wounded, none killed.
I continued to advance, and when within 150 yards of the enemy he ceased firing and the engagement on my part here ceased.
Respectfully,
JAMES R. CLAIBORNE,
Major, Comdg. Thirty-seventh Virginia Battalion Cavalry,
TO:
Captain MARTIN,
Assistant Adjutant-General, C. S. Army.
HDQRS. SIXTY-FOURTH VIRGINIA CAVALRY
January 8, 1864.
CAPTAIN: On the morning of January 3, 1864, I received an order from Brig. Gen. W. E. Jones to press the enemy on the north of the road east of Jonesville. Moving forward double-quick for 11 miles, I found Jonesville occupied by about 50 Yankees. I drew up in line, dismounted, took possession of the hill east of town, and opened fire. In ten minutes we had possession of the town. Not knowing anything of the force or intention of General Jones I dispatched him and awaited his further orders.
In a few minutes I received through a staff officer an order to attack the enemy (now driven by the force below from Milburn's to a position on a high hill west of town) in a line perpendicular to the Valley road. Just as my line of attack was formed Captain Caudill, with 100 of the Tenth Kentucky, came up, making my whole strength about 230. Major Richmond had command of the right, Captain Caudill of the left wing. We now commenced to advance through an old sage-grass field under fire of their artillery. We moved to within 250 yards of the enemy's line and battery and opened a well-directed fire on his front. After a few rounds I observed that his lines might be easily flanked. I took command of the right wing, leaving Major Richmond that of the left and Captain Caudill's men. I had with me about 50 men. I soon took possession of a small ridge in the enemy's rear, having previously driven the enemy's sharpshooters in off of the same ridge. Then ordered Major Richmond forward (who was also on the advance)with an intention to unite my whole force and charge the battery, but before I could reorganize the line the enemy surrendered--240 in number, 3 pieces of artillery, 405 wagons, all of their arms, horses, &c.
Soldiers from all the regiments coming up who had won honors in the morning and fought with us now, and justly entitled to share with us, joined in collecting the spoils. What was retained in the Sixty-fourth Virginia has been properly accounted for.
The Sixty-fourth Virginia and Tenth Kentucky, both officers and men, acted gallantly. Major Richmond conducted his wing with skill and ability.
I had Captain Poteet, Company B, wounded slightly; Private Bryant, Company B, wounded mortally; Private Ratliff, Company F, in leg slightly; Private Flaney, Company I, in thigh severely. Four non-commissioned officers and privates in Tenth Kentucky wounded. Particulars not known.
I am, captain, your most obedient servant,
A. L. PRIDEMORE,
Lieut. Col., Comdg. Sixty-fourth Virginia Cavalry.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXII/1 [S# 57]
Night fell, and the men of the 16th Illinois, having had nothing to eat since the preceding day, mixed meal with springwater in their caps and baked the miserable cakes on rocks in front of their fires. They spent another freezing night in the open, and then marched over the mountains for four days to Bristol, where they were crowded into boxcars and sent by rail to Richmond, where they arrived ten days after their capture.1 As I find time, I will add information about the prisons in Richmond and Andersonville.
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John McElroy, This Was Andersonville: The True Story of Andersonville Military Prison as Told in the Personal Recollections of John McElroy, sometime Private, Co. L, 16th Illinois Cavalry. |
