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In May of 1864, the Union force at Chattanooga was about to
launch the campaign to capture Atlanta. Union Major General
Wm. T. Sherman had gathered enough troops and had devised a
defense for the railroad back to Nashville. One of his main
concerns was the cavalry operating in Northern Alabama under
Roddey's and Forrest's cavalry in Mississippi. Unless these
two forces could be kept off his communications, he felt he
would have difficulty in reaching his objective. In an
effort to keep these two forces in their home territories,
large numbers of Union troops were left to watch them. Also,
raids with large numbers of troops were started by the Union
into Mississippi, attempting to keep Forrest in his area.
Because of the difficulty of supplying Corinth, the Union
had withdrawn from that point. On May 1, 1864, Maj. Gen.
S.D. Lee, commanding cavalry in the Department Alabama,
Mississippi, and East Louisiana, wrote Maj. Gen. Forrest to
occupy Corinth to be used as a base of operations. Forrest
was to advise Roddey that the railroad was to be rebuilt
from Corinth to Tuscumbia.
On May 1, 1864, Lieut. Gen. Polk directed Brig. Gen. P.D.
Roddey to picket the Tennessee River from the Mississippi
line as far east as required to prevent the movement of
persons loyal to the Union and deserters from crossing to
the north side of the river.
On May 6, 1864, Lt. Gen. Polk advised General Johnston, he
was moving with the Army of Mississippi to join in the
defense of Atlanta, leaving Roddey in the Tennessee Valley.
On May 10, 1864, Maj. Gen. S.D. Lee wrote to Maj. Gen.
Forrest at Tupelo to keep his right in contact with Brig.
Gen. Roddey at Decatur. On May 11, Major Francis, at Blue
Mountain, was instructed to establish a courier at
Jacksonville, to forward and receive mail from Roddey.
Roddey had a courier line between Jacksonville and Florence.
On May 16, 1864, Colonel Patterson, commanding brigade under
Roddey, was making preparations to cross the Tennessee that
night with 500 men, fifteen miles up river from Decatur.
On May 17, 1864, Union Brig. Gen. C.L. Matthies reports from
Decatur, Alabama:
Rebel Patterson crossed with 500 men, three pieces of
artillery, near Trianna, moved on Madison Station, destroyed
all but the railroad, took Colonel Gorgas prisoner and 50
men fell back to the river; not known if he recrossed. One
regiment of infantry should be at Trianna.
On May 18, 1864, Patterson's force is reported to have
recrossed the river.
On May 20, 1864, Union Brig. Gen Mathies reports from
Decatur, Alabama:
Refugees report Patterson back in his camp. The gun-boat
awaiting orders.
On May 22, 1864, Maj. Gen. S.D. Lee reports, "Roddey sends
half his force, 700 men, to Talladega." On May 23rd, Lee
again directs Roddey to send half his troops to Talladega.
This force was to be commanded by Colonel Patterson. Colonel
Patterson was to go to East Alabama to be scouts against the
left of the Union Force expected to move through that area.
The Confederate officers believed an Union force was about
to depart Decatur, Alabama. The information the Confederates
had in their procession indicated a movement through
Alabama, to either Rome, Georgia, or Selma, Alabama.
Patterson's force was also to be the eyes for the Army of
Tennessee, to advise if the Union troops were attempting to
swing around the left of that army.
On May 29, 1864, Maj. Gen. S.D. Lee reports the enemy on the
28th drove Roddey to Jonesborough, with a force of 10,000.
On the 30th, Lee advised that the Union force that drove
Roddey on the 28th, had returned to Decatur.
On May 31, 1864, Maj. Gen. Forrest writes he is leaving the
next day from Tupelo, Mississippi, for Russellville,
Alabama, to join with Roddey in a raid to Middle Tennessee.
On June 3, 1864, a dispatch reached Maj. Gen. N.B. Forrest
at Russellville, Alabama, directing him to return to Tupelo
to face a Union expedition from Memphis, Tennessee.
Gen. Forrest reached Tupelo on the 5th of June. On the 7th
of June, Brig. Gen. Roddey advised Gen. Forrest, that a
brigade under Col. W.A. Johnson was moving to join Gen.
Forrest. The balance of Brig. Gen. Roddey's command was
posted from Decatur to Rome on the flank of the Union force
moving through North Alabama on the north side of the river
to join Union Gen. Wm. T. Sherman. Patterson's command was
still at Talladega, Alabama.
On June 10, 1864, Maj. Gen. Forrest with 3,400 men, won one
of his most spectacular battles at Brices Cross Roads in
Northwest Mississippi, against Union Maj. Gen. Samuel
Sturgis with 8,300 men, a complete rout.
On June 16, 1864, Union Brig. Gen. R.S. Granger writes from
Decatur that on the night before he had sent out a patrol
which found the advance guard of the Confederate's seven
miles out on the Decatur road, scattering them, capturing 6
men and 9 horses. The men said they belonged to Patterson's
command, about 250 men, camped for the night some miles
farther on road.
On June 18, 1864, Brig. Gen. P.D. Roddey received the
following dispatch:
Hdqrs. Department of Ala., Miss., and East La.,
Meridian, Miss., June 18, 1864.
General P.D. Roddey,
Commanding, &c:
GENERAL: In reply to your letter of the 13th instant I am
directed by General (S.D.) Lee to say that you will keep 350
men of Patterson's brigade near Decatur, also to prevent
raids from that point, whilst the rest of the brigade,
together with Johnson's entire brigade, will be kept at
Corinth, or in its vicinity, in readiness to meet another
threatened move from Memphis. At this time, and as long as
there is any considerable force at Memphis, it is
impracticable to make any move into Middle Tennessee.
I am, general very respectfully, your obedient servant.
P. Ellis. Jr.
Assistant Adjutant-General.
On June 25, 1864, Brig. Gen. P.D. Roddey wrote to Col.
Josiah Patterson as follows:
(Col. Josiah Patterson,
Commanding Cavalry Brigade:)
COLONEL: Above find copy (Ellis to Roddey)
of General Lee's
order of 18th instant, which you will obey at once. This
order changes all the plans for the campaign into Middle
Tennessee, but I still desire the force left to keep advised
as to the position of affairs on the railroads, so if
opportunity offers we may know how to strike at any time.
You may withdraw the courier line, via Russellville and
Moulton and keep a connection, via Tuscumbia to Bear Creek,
or wherever your brigade is located.
P.D. RODDEY,
Brigadier-General
On June 27, 1864, a very upset Col. Patterson wrote to Brig.
Gen. P.D. Roddey in reply to Gen. S.D. Lee's order:
Headquarters,
Pond Spring, June 27, 1864.
Brig. Gen. P.D. Roddey
Commanding District of North Alabama:
GENERAL: The enemy were out yesterday evening on all the
roads feeling our lines. They were back at 10 o'clock last
night. Sharp skirmishing along the line. They are becoming
bolder and more active every day. I have just seen the
officers of that portion of the 5th Alabama Cavalry now
here. I have 250 men belonging to these companies and 125
belonging to Stuart's battalion. I will move in obedience to
orders tomorrow morning, but I confess that it seems to me
like a sacrificing the troops. After very hard service last
fall and winter my brigade was ordered to the vicinity of
Aberdeen to recruit our horses. We then started out on a
recruiting expedition. We had not been there exceeding five
days when we received orders to go to Gadsden. From thence
we were ordered, without a moments rest, to Rome, and
continued the march to Dalton. We here went immediately on
the front. We kept up a heavy picket-line in front of the
enemy for five or six weeks. We then received orders to
return to North Alabama. I marched to the vicinity of
Decatur over a barren, mountainous country without as much
as quarter rations of corn. My brigade was immediately
thrown around Decatur, and remained on picket until ordered
to Talladega in May last. During this time we were almost
incessantly skirmishing with the enemy, and made one raid
across the river. When ordered to Talladega we marched 100
hundred miles across the mountains and 100 miles back again.
On my return to Moulton, I found orders to move at once to
Tupelo twenty-four hours before my command got up. We then
marched to Big Bear Creek and back again to the vicinity of
Decatur. We are now ordered to Corinth to meet the enemy.
Four companies of my regiment that were left at Cherokee on
duty and Colonel Pickett's regiment, that was just relieved
from picket duty, have already gone. Stuart's battalion,
numbering but little over 100 effective men, and remaining
six companies of regiment (5th Alabama Cavalry) are still
here. You can imagine, after all this marching, the
condition of these men. I have marched over 1,200 miles in
the last five months, under orders, without firing a gun; I
have been in four engagements during that time --fight at
Madison Station, Fletcher's Ferry, Garth's Farm, and
Moulton. All of these fights were at my own selection. Have
sacrificed my command, ruined the horses of my brigade in
marching and countermarching in obedience to orders, and for
my life I cannot see where I have benefited the country in a
single instance during all these marches. Horses have broken
down by the way in large numbers, thus reducing the
efficiency of my command at almost every step. You are aware
that all of this has been done on less than half rations of
corn. The troops I move with in the morning, although once
finely mounted, are now in very bad condition, and half the
horses, I am informed by the captains, are not able to maarch
twenty-five miles without lagging and giving out. I beg some
change for the better. Either order my command entirely out
of the country, or let me remain on duty here long enough to
get in condition to do something. If my brigade was
inspected today there would not be 200 horses found fit for
active service. I would not write this letter had the hard
service which has ruined the present efficiency of the
command resulted in any material good for the country.
JOSIAH PATTERSON,
Colonel, Commanding.
Colonel Patterson with a portion of his command remained in
the Tennessee Valley, south of the river. On June 29, 1864,
Union Colonel C.C. Doolittle, reports his troops attacked
the camp of Colonel Patterson at Pond Springs on the Moulton
road. Union reports, on July 7, 1864, state that five
companies of rebels are around Tuscumbia, probably
Patterson's.
The events in Mississippi continued to control the
activities in North Alabama. Union Maj. Gen. W.T. Sherman,
after the defeat at Brices Cross Roads, had instructed the
commander at Memphis, to hunt down "That devil Forrest, if
it breaks the United States Treasury".
Union Maj. Gen. Cadwallader Washburn was given the task of
catching, defeating and killing Forrest, for which a
promotion was promised. Union Gen. Wm. T. Sherman, also, had
a message sent to Florence, Alabama, that, "if Forrest
crossed the river at that point to attack Middle Tennessee,
the entire town would be burned".
With the appointment of Union Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant to
command of the Union armies, the concept of the war changed.
The former commanders of the Northern armies had been
chivalrous idealists. They were replaced by commanders who
believed the quickest way to end the war was to destroy any
and all Southern property, thus bringing the suffering and
horrors of war to the door step of the Southern populace.
Maj. Gen. Washburn organized a force under the command of
Maj. Gen. A.J. Smith of two infantry divisions, veterans of
Vicksburg and the Red River campaign in Louisiana. To that
force he added a cavalry division under Brig. Gen. Grierson
and a colored infantry brigade, both in the rout at Brices
Cross Roads. This combined force consisted of 14,000 men
with six batteries of artillery, supplied with twenty days
rations.
On July 5, 1864, the Union forces under Gen. Smith left La
Grange, near Memphis, on its trek into Mississippi. On July
9th, they reached Ripley, Mississippi, 50 miles south of La
Grange, and torched it, burning two churches. Completely
robbing and destroying a swath through Mississippi. By July
13, Smith's force was marching to Tupelo from Pontotoc, to
attempt to cut the Mobile and Ohio railroad at that point.
The Confederate force under Forrest was joined by 2,000 men
under Gen. S.D. Lee. Lee being the senior commander, Forrest
gave command of the force to him, and assumed command of the
cavalry forces. Even after Lee's troops came up, the Union
force still out numbered the Confederates 2 to 1.
On afternoon of July 13, 1864, Maj. Gen. Wm. Sooy Smith's
infantry troops had reached Harrisburg, two miles from
Tupelo, and his cavalry was at Tupelo, busy tearing up the
railroad on both sides of town.
On the morning of July 14, 1864, Lt. Gen. S.D. Lee wanted to
settle the affair, because he had pressing demands for his
troops to fend off Union attacks on Mobile. He decided
rather than wait on the Union force to attack, he would
attack, at Tupelo, their far superior force. The Confederate
troops in their haste to attack, made piece meal and
uncoordinated attacks, suffering severe casualties from the
entrenched Union force. After a loss of about 1,350 men,
Lee, after two hours of slaughter, called off the attacks.
Union Gen. Smith had some serious problems. His gun powder
was defective, causing the Union guns to jam. The July heat
had caused the bread to spoil, leaving only a one day
supply. He decided to withdraw his troops and return to base
at Memphis. On the afternoon of the 15th, Smith moved five
miles north out of Tupelo. In six days he returned to
Memphis. At least Smith had not suffered a defeat by
Forrest. Maj. Gen. Sherman was furious that a force he
believed he could have taken and defeated Forrest, had
failed to do so. The expedition had given the South a
preview of the total war concept that was to be visited on
Georgia and other parts to the Confederacy in a few months.
On July 26, 1864, Colonel Patterson's troops were attacked
at Courtland. Patterson's troops having moved from their
camp at Pond Springs to Courtland to head off a Union column
moving in that direction. The skirmish lasted about thirty
minutes. The Confederate force withdrew toward Tuscumbia and
the Union force returned to Decatur, arriving on the 28th.
On August 2, 1864, Union Brig. Gen. R.S. Granger in command
of Union forces in North Alabama, reports he has captured
some communications from Col. Patterson showing the
Confederates had plans to invade Middle Tennessee and cut
off the Union garrison in Decatur, before Maj. Gen. Smith's
raid into Mississippi.
On July 29, 1864, General Braxton Bragg writes he was not
aware an order had been given to move Brig. Gen. Roddey's
command to Southeast Alabama in time to stop the move. On
August 3, 1864, General J.B. Hood writes to Brig. Gen.
Daniel W. Adams at Opelika, Alabama, "Roddey's command will
return to you to-morrow."
On August 10, 1864, Brig. Gen. Adams received a letter from
Major-General Maury, commanding in the Department of Ala.,
Miss., And East La., stating: "since my telegram to you
relative to Brigadier-General Roddey's brigade I have
received from General Bragg a letter so strongly insisting
upon that command being kept in North Alabama that I do not
feel at liberty to remove it at the present time."
On August 16-20, 1864, Union Colonel W.F. Prosser made an
expedition to Moulton from Decatur and was attacked by 500
to 600 men of Patterson's command. His report of that affair
includes in part the following: "Having received information
that General Roddey, with his command, was returning from
Selma, Alabama, and part had already arrived in the
vicinity, and that Colonels Patterson, Biffle, and Nixon
were concentrating their forces at Courtland for the purpose
of cutting me off from Decatur or capturing my command. I
determined to retire from Moulton ****.
On the afternoon of the 18th instant a portion of Colonel
Patterson's command followed my rear from Moulton until I
went into camp at Antioch Church, and afterwards annoyed my
pickets considerably. During the early part of the night the
whole of the command arrived, making constant demonstrations
on my picket-line until about 1 a.m. The enemy having
collected his forces at a single point, made a sudden and
furious attack on my camp, accompanied by heavy volleys of
musketry and yells incident to such attacks. Having
receive them, and their attack was speedily repulsed with
considerable loss, 15 dead and mortally wounded **** 40
captured ****. The entire force was under the command of
Colonel Patterson and after the attack he withdrew toward
Pond Springs or Hillsborough. **** I determined to return to
this place (Decatur)."
From the above, it appears that Colonel Patterson's command
had remained in the Tennesse Valley, while Brig. Gen.
Roddey's command was moved to South Alabama.
With the end of August, 1864, the campaign for Atlanta, with
the battles at Jonesborough and Love Joy's Station, Georgia,
was drawing to a close.
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