The Tennessee Campaign Fall 1864
President Jefferson Davis and his military advisor, General
Braxton Bragg, had envisioned a military operation into
Tennessee, in the rear of the Union forces at Atlanta. The
belief was that such a move would cut the supplies to Union
Maj. Gen. Wm. T. Sherman's army and force a withdrawal of
the Union army back into Tennessee and beyond. Gen. John
Bell Hood, after his disastrous defeats in and around
Atlanta, was anxious to please the officials in Richmond,
and prove his generalship.
Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler with his cavalry command, moved
from the Knoxsville area into East and Middle Tennessee, at
the end of August 1864, in an attempt to cut the railroads
in Gen. Sherman's rear. Maj. Gen. Wheeler's fast moving
cavalry troops presented the Union commanders a problem in
determining his destination and intentions. Also, there was
fear among them, that Brig. Gen. Roddey would move across
the Tennessee River and join Maj. Gen. Wheeler in the
destruction of the railroads.
On August 26, 1864, it is reported that Roddey with 2,000
men was preparing to cross the Tennessee River between the
Elk River and Florence. On August 30, Roddey and Forrest are
both reported to have troops on north side of river, in the
Savannah vicinity. On September 1, 1864, Brig. Gen. Roddey
is reported at Lamb's Ferry, with about 1,600 men. Also, on
September 1, Union Brig. Gen. R.S. Granger reports, Brig.
Gen. Roddey has crossed at Bainbridge with 2,000 men and
five or six pieces of artillery.
On September 4, 1864, Union reports indicates Maj. Gen.
Wheeler crossed the Duck River below Columbia, Tennessee,
and joined Brig. Gen. Roddey in menacing the railroad. On
September 6, Brig. Gen. Roddey was reported to be back
across the Tennessee River. Union Brig. Gen. Granger
reported that day, thirteen and a half miles from
Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, that Maj. Gen. Wheeler was about an
hour ahead of him, using Brig. Gen. Roddey's force as a
shield. He had little doubt that they where heading to
cross the river that night. With Brig. Gen. Roddey having
fresh horses, Granger predicted they would make their
escape. Brig. Gen. Roddey's force was estimated at 3,000
men, and was reported to have recrossed with his entire
force, part at mouth of Elk River and balance at Lamb's
Ferry.
On September 6, 1864, J.T. Parrish, Assistant Adjutant-General
to Brig. Gen. Roddey writes to General Wheeler:
GENERAL: Brigadier-General Roddey directs me to say that
your two favors of 5th and 6th are just at hand. The general
is very much indisposed, but will take the saddle and join
you, and will be at Lamb's Ferry by daylight. He has ordered
Colonel Johnson to report to you. Colonel Patterson's
brigade is tonight at Gilchrist, ready to cross. He has been
ordered to communicate with you. (Gilchrist is opposite
mouth of Elk, your former crossing.) ****
Colonel Patterson's orders from General Rodder were to cross
the river at mouth of Elk, passing between Athens and river,
strike the road and destroy as far as practicable in the direction
of Decatur; then to pass across, striking the road
between Decatur and Huntsville, destroying as much as
possible, then passing across, leaving Huntsville to the
left, and striking the road between that place and
Stevenson. **** He (Patterson) is subject to your orders.
On September 8, 1864, the Union reports indicate Roddey
returned to Courtland. On September 10, Roddey is reported,
to have camped the night before twelve miles south of
Huntsville, on the south side of the river. He was reported
to have 1,000 men and be headed to cross the river at
Guntersville.
On September 21, 1864, Maj. Gen. N.B. Forrest embarked on a
raid into Middle Tennessee to again harass the Union posts
and railroads on the Union supply lines.
On September 24, 1864, the District of Northern Alabama was
divided into the District of North Alabama and Central
Alabama, with Brig. Gen. P.D. Roddey in command of the
District of North Alabama. The District of North Alabama was
composed of the counties of Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison,
Jackson, De Kalb, Marshall, Morgan, Lawrence, and Franklin.
The District of North Alabama was part of the Department of
Ala., Miss., and East La., Lieut. Gen. Taylor, commanding.
On September 28, 1864, Union Brig. Gen. R.S. Granger reports
Patterson's old command of 600 men, near this place
(Decatur), other side. Some of Roddey's troops did accompany
Forrest into Middle Tennessee, but from the above statement
and in reading Forrest account of the raid; it would appear
the Fifth Alabama Cavalry (Patterson's old command) did not.
It appears that Colonel Patterson's command remained on the
south side of the river during the month of October, 1864.
Brig. Gen. Roddey's command was busy repairing the railroad
from Corinth, Mississippi, to Cherokee Station, Alabama, to
provide supplies to General J. B. Hood's Army of Tennessee,
that was moving into the Tennessee Valley from Georgia.
On October 11, 1864, Union Brig. Gen. R.S. Granger reports
his scouts have been toward Courtland and Moulton and could
ascertain Patterson's troops, only, in that area. Stating
Patterson's pickets were met eight miles out (from Decatur)
on the Courtland road.
On October 23, 1864, Brig. Gen. Roddey is directed to
cooperate with General Hood and to make raids north of the
river to keep the enemy off Hood's flank.
On October 26, 1864, Hood's infantry made its appearance in
front of Decatur, Alabama. The Army of Tennessee passed
south of Decatur, camping around Tuscumbia. No serious
attempt was made to take Decatur, since the plan was to soon
flank that place and move into Middle Tennessee.
On October 30, 1864, Maj. Gen. Forrest reports General Hood
has Decatur surrounded, with Roddey on north side. General
Hood advises Brig. Gen. Jackson to observe the river as far
down as Bainbridge, as the command of Roddey is ordered to
move.
General G.T. Beauregard reported on November 6, 1864, that
Brigadier-General Roddey with his command would guard the
left flank of the Army of Tennessee. Brig. Gen. Roddey's
command was to cover the lines of communications from
Tuscumbia to Corinth, and on toward Meridian, Mississippi.
On November 9, Union Brig. Gen. Granger reports that Roddey
has gone to Corinth.
On November 14, 1864, Union Brig. Gen. Edward Hatch in his
report states that Brig. Gen. Roddey's division is at
Tuscumbia. He further states the Confederate horses are in
poor condition and the men have not been paid for fourteen
months. Union Brig. Gen. R.S. Granger reports the same day,
that his pickets had returned from a scout on the Courtland
road and found all of Roddey's troops between Decatur and
that place.
On November 18, 1864, the following request was sent:
Corinth, November 18, 1864.
General J.B. Hood,
Florence:
Unless necessity for Colonel Patterson's command to move
from here to Iuka is very urgent, I recommend it should be
left here as long as practicable, or until proper garrison
for this place shall have arrived. General Roddey should
come here as soon as possible to confer with Colonel Reid,
commander of this post.
G.T. Beauregard,
General.
On November 19, 1864, Maj. Gen. N.B. Forrest is reported
with his command moving forward toward Lawrenceburg on the
Butler road, on the west side of Shoal Creek. Roddey's
division is reported to accompany Forrest.
On November 20, 1864, in the returns of troops in the
Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana,
Lieut. Gen. Richard Taylor, commanding, list the
following:
DISTRICT OF NORTH ALABAMA
Brig. Gen. Philip D. Roddey
4th Alabama Cavalry, Lieut. Col. F. M. Windes.
5th Alabama Cavalry, Lieut. Col. James M. Warren.
10th Alabama Cavalry, Col. Richard O. Pickett.
Burtwell's Alabama Cavalry, Col. John B.R. Burtwell.
Moreland's Alabama Cavalry, Lieut. Col. M.D. Moreland.
Stuart's Battalion Alabama Cavalry, Maj. James H. Stuart
Ferrell's Georgia Battery, Capt. Coleman Ferrell.
On November 25, 1864, General Hood directs Brig. Gen. Roddey
to send all the force he can spare from guarding Corinth, to
destroy the railroads between Decatur and Huntsville and on
to Stevenson.
On November 26, 1864, Brig. Gen. Roddey reports that the
enemy left Decatur at 2 p.m. on the 25th, and were taking up
the pontoon bridge under cover of gunboats and shore
batteries.
On November 29, 1864, Union Maj. Gen. J.H. Wilson reports to
Maj. Gen. G.H. Thomas that Forrest's cavalry has crossed the
Duck River by swimming their horses between the Franklin and
Lewisburg Pike and Huey's Mill, seven miles above Columbia.
Captain Wm. A. Reid reports from Corinth, on the 29th, that
Roddey left previous night with his command, except one
regiment of Patterson's brigade, to execute General Hood's
order.
It would appear that all of Patterson's troops did not
accompany the Army of Tennessee into Middle Tennessee. On
December 3, 1864, Capt. W.A. Reid is advised at Corinth,
that Patterson is under command of General Roddey, and if
pickets and details are needed from Patterson to call on
General Roddey.
On December 12, 1864, Capt. W.A. Reid writes from Corinth:
"All of Patterson's brigade has gone from here, except one
regiment doing picket duty." This was in response to an
order by General Hood to send forward all available men.
On November 30, 1864, the battle at Franklin, Tennessee, was
fought against Union troops, entrenched. Terrible losses
were suffered by the Confederate attackers. Many general,
regimental, and company officers were killed and wounded.
The fighting efficiency of the Army of Tennessee was almost
destroyed. In spite of these losses, General Hood decided to
continue on to Nashville. Another battle was fought there on
December 15 and 16, 1864, when the Union forces at Nashville
attacked the weakened Confederate troops in front of
Nashville, with the same result as has had been experienced
at Franklin. General Hood then decided to withdraw back
across the Tennessee River. Gen. Forrest fought a
rear-guard action that saved the Army of Tennessee from
being destroyed. The last units of the army crossed back
over the Tennessee River on December 26 and 27, 1864, on a
pontoon bridge, at Bainbridge, Alabama.
On December 28, 1864, General Hood issued orders for Maj.
Gen. Forrest to hurry Patterson and Burtwell to Roddey as
rapidly as possible. The enemy had taken possession of
Decatur the previous day at dark. On December 30, Maj. Gen.
Forrest ordered General Armstrong, and a portion of his
command, back to assist Brig. Gen. Roddey, who was being
pressed by the enemy from Decatur.
Union Maj. Gen. Geo. H. Thomas in reporting on the events,
during this period of the war, writes in part:
The pursuit of Hood's retreating army was discontinued by my
main force on the 29th of December, on reaching the
Tennessee River; however, a force of cavalry, numbering 600
men, made up of detachments of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania,
Second Michigan, Tenth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Indiana
Regiments, under command of Colonel William J. Palmer,
Fifteenth Pennsylvania, operating with Steedman's column,
started from Decatur, Ala., in the direction of Hood's line
of retreat in Mississippi. The enemy's cavalry under Roddey,
was met at Leighton, with whom Colonel Palmer skirmished and
pressed back in small squads toward the mountains. Here it
was ascertained that Hood's trains passed through Leighton
on the 28th of December and moved off toward Columbus, Miss.
Avoiding the enemy's cavalry, Colonel Palmer left Leighton
on the 31st of December, moved rapidly via LaGrange and
Russellville and by the Cotton-gin road, and over took the
enemy's pontoon train, consisting of 200 wagons and 78
pontoon boats, when ten miles out from Russellville. This he
destroyed. Having learned of a large supply train on its way
to Tuscaloosa, Colonel Palmer started on the 1st of January
(1865), toward Aberdeen, Miss., with a view of cutting it
off, and succeeded in surprising it about 10 p.m. on the
same evening, just over the line in Mississippi. The train
consisted of 110 wagons and 500 mules, the former of with
were burned and the latter sabered or shot. Returning via
Toll-gate, Ala. and on the old military and Hackleburg
roads, the enemy, under Roddy, Biffle, and Russell, was met
near Russellville and along Bear Creek, whilst another force
under Armstrong, was reported to be in pursuit of our
forces. Evading the force in his front, by moving off to the
right under cover of the darkness, Colonel Palmer pushed for
Moulton, coming upon Russell when within twelve miles of
Moulton, and near Thorn Hill, attacked him unexpectedly,
utterly routing him, and capturing some prisoners, besides
burning five wagons. The command then proceeded to Decatur
without molestation, reaching the place on 6th of January,
after a march of over 250 miles. One hundred and fifty
prisoners were captured and nearly 1000 stands of arms
destroyed. Colonel Palmer's loss was 1 killed and 2 wounded.
On January 22, 1865, General Beauregard writes to General
Cooper at Richmond about the disaster: General Hood reports
the loss of his pontoon-train, eighty-three boats, one
hundred and fifty wagons, and four hundred mules, due to
inability of General Roddey to bring his troops from their
homes. I wish to substitute another brigade in its place,
and put all cavalry of this department under one commanding
officer, Forrest.
The Army of Tennessee had suffered a disastrous defeat. The
Army was again withdrawing to Tupelo, Mississippi, the same
action it had taken after the Battle of Shiloh in 1862, to
recoup and reorganize. The men of the various units, whose
homes where in the area, had, as they had done 1862, after
the Battle of Shiloh, gone home.
The Army of Tennessee was about to enter its final campaign
and the war its final action.
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