Page�663-668

APRIL 12-16, 1864.-Reconnaissance from Bridgeport down the Tennessee River to vicinity of Triana, Ala.

Report of Brigadier General John W. Geary, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division, Twelfth Army Corps.

HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, TWELFTH ARMY CORPS,

Bridgeport, Ala., April 16, 1864.

GENERAL: I have the honor to report the progress and results of an expedition down the Tennessee River, made in pursuance of orders of the major-general commanding, under date of April 10, instant:

Owing to the high state of water it was found impossible to pass the steam-boat Chickamauga, which reported from above on the 11th, by the main stream under the bridge at this point. The draw-bridge on the opposite side of the island being imperfect and inoperative, she was not ready for the embarkation of the troops until noon of the 12th.

We steamed from Bridgeport at 2 o'clock on the afternoon of the 12th, having on board and in tow scows alongside the Seventh and Sixty-sixth Ohio, detachments of the Twenty-eighth and One hundred and forty-seventh Pennsylvania, and one section of Knap's Pennsylvania battery, in all about 800 men, with an ample supply of ammunition and ten days' rations. I manned a 12-pounder howitzer and a small mountain howitzer upon the boat. These additional pieces proved very serviceable.

At an early hour I dispatched 14 of the First Alabama Cavalry, all that were available, along the south side of the river to Island Creek for information, and to destroy all boats in that stream, which they accomplished.

We passed down the river by Island and Widow's Creeks and Caperton's Ferry, Coon Island, and Coon and Mud Creeks, Bellefonte Islands, and Riley's Creek. I had dispatched detachments of infantry and the cavalry along the south side to advance by way of Cedar Bluff, Caperton's Ferry, and Crowton, to a point about 5 miles up Raccoon Creek, descending that stream and destroying all boats on it; thence to Riley's Creek, demolishing crafts secreted in the bushes. These orders were satisfactorily executed by 7.30 o'clock in the evening.

Riley's Creek was found to be a very rugged stream, difficult and of little importance.

My scouting forces reported men from Johnston's army up Raccoon Creek valley, scouting for information. Also, that Davenport's and Wintherspoon's men were maneuvering through that section.

At 8.15 p. m. we arrived at Larkin's Landing, where we halted for the night. I here found the Fifty-fifth Illinois and two sections of artillery, and the post commanded by Lieutenant Colonel D. C. Coleman, Eighth Missouri, with whom I communicated, deriving from him information (based on reports of scouts and refugees) that the rebels had a continuous chain of pickets from Lebanon ranging on the south side of Town Creek to Guntersville, which village was to picketed by Captain Smith's force of about 100 men. Their next location in body was opposite Whitesburg. Lieutenant-Colonel Coleman had been informed several days previously that rebel cavalry had been seen moving from the neighborhood of Town Creek and Guntersville toward Decatur; also that tow divisions of cavalry were at Gadsden, 20 miles southwest of Guntersville, and that Roddey and Wheeler were in command; Wheeler had been in Guntersville the week before.

Starting at 6.50 a. m. on the 13th, having been prevented moving earlier by a heavy fog, we passed through the pontoon below Larkin's Ferry. In South Santa Creek we found but two boats, which were required by Colonel Coleman's command; at Roman's Ferry found one boat. Reached Seven-Mile Island at a 40 a. m., and found a mail-route across the head of it. We broke up the line by sinking the boat used for it moored in the bushes. No other boats were found on the margin of the island, but we discovered one at Buck's Island, and also at Law's Ferry. From this point beyond we found a continuous chain of mountains on our left with arable land on the river banks, and heavy swamps and morasses between it and the foot of the mountain. Many farms were under cultivation, but the majority of the laborers fled from the fields toward the rebel pickets as we approached, and several fine cotton plantations were visible, one near Guntersville and one opposite Buck's Island. I notified those who remained of the restrictions upon boat-building.

We discovered a slough running from the rive about a mile before reaching Town Creek, which debouched semi circularly tot he mountain base and found outlet at Gunter's Landing. Farther beyond on the north side was another small inlet, leaving a narrow peninsula in the stream, and on the south side opposite was a succession of estuaries, bayous, and indentations which were encountered frequently beyond Guntersville, covered with heavy underbrush. The enemy could, with these morasses between them and troops landed upon the thickly wooded banks, possess every advantage of position; and in them boats could be secreted beyond the possibility of perception, without minute search.

We ran up Town Creek and examined it to near its junction with Black Oak Creek, and also some distance up Short Creek, finding 2 scows and a canoe. Proceeding thence to Guntersville, found the river picketed with cavalry, which extended from Lebanon along the south bank of Town Creek, crossing Short Creek to Guntersville, which we reached at 10 a. m. A body of rebel cavalry was drawn up on a hill to the south of the town. Having landed a detachment of infantry and thrown out skirmishers toward Guntersville and the mountains to its right, witch orders to advance so as to encircle the enemy's position to cover the movements, we steamed up the creek until opposite the town, which lay invalid between the mountains screened from river view.

The rebel pickets along the creek and adjacent to the river fell back rapidly to their reserve on the hill before the advance of my skirmish line. Simultaneous with this, I opened with artillery from the three decks of the boat upon the main force, which stood a short time, wavered, and dispersed, some seeking refuge in the town, to which I then directed my shots and dislodged them. Under cover of the artillery, the skirmish line rapidly approached the enemy's position, and were in possession of the town and the rebel position about a half hour after the operations against it were commenced.

We captured a mail and five boats, one of which was a large ferry-boat, which had been taken from Roman's Ferry, 6 miles below Larking's Ferry, to Guntersville, to cross the party under Captain Smith, which captured our pickets at Claysville a short time since.

The enemy fled so rapidly on our approach that we took no prisoners, but several riderless horses indicated that our fire had not been without effect. The enemy had retired precipitately toward the Warrenton line, and all the pickets had left Town Creek immediately upon the attack upon Guntersville. The troops here and in the vicinity consisted principally of companies of Captains Smith, Buck May, Peter Whitecotton, Peter Dollard, and L. Mead-in all, about 250 to 300 men.

Having notified some of the inhabitants (the majority of them fled) of the restrictions placed upon them, we visited the next small creek, the mouth of a nameless stream running in from the direction of Helicon Postoffice, Shoal Creek, near the falls of the same, and found several boats; as also in the small streams between the latter and Cane Creek, the latter secreting two; also one each in the mouths of Dry and Blue Spruce Creeks. At 11.30 a. m. we passed Port Deposit and Paint Rock River at 12.15.

At Wild Goat Cove, discovered places for manufacturing saltpeter and in this vicinity the banks lined with refugees, some 40 or 50 appearing within a space of little more than a mile. The banks were so overflown with water that men could be landed only with great difficulty and delay, and in most places not a mile. The banks were so overflown with water that men could be landed only with great difficulty and delay, and in most places not at all. My men were kept constantly under arms from Town Creek to the farthest point reached, as a desultory firing was kept up along the shore, returned whenever opportunity presented, and with visible effect in some instances. Both going and returning we received occasional shots from bushwhackers on the north side. The least impregnable positions of the southern shore were protected with rifle-pits and earth-works, of which there were many, which we closely inspected from the boat. When passing Flint River, where the enemy had a post, they discharge several volleys at us from places so sheltered that they could not be seen. Some of their balls passed over the heads of the officers on the upper deck, and several entirely through the boat. Two men of the Seventh Ohio were wounded, 1 through the face and 1 in the head. Two of the rebels were picked off by my sharpshooters. We put in at Whitesburg at 2.30 p. m., opposite tow rebel forts, which offered no molestation. I here found Lieutenant-Colonel Hall, Fifty-sixth Illinois, in command, the post being garrisoned by 285 infantry, 48 cavalry of the Fifth Ohio and Fourth Missouri, and a section of the Sixth Wisconsin Battery.

Colonel Hall informed me that a rebel brigade of cavalry under General Clanton, with minor force of infantry, was stationed opposite, between Whitesburg and the mountains below, who were supposed to be building boats for early launching. A rebel brigade of cavalry lay encamped in a cove back of Lacy's Spring (the latter situation also rendered to me by a negro) and a still larger force was 5 miles back from the river. They showed themselves daily opposite Whitesburg in parties of from 15 to 30 behind the fork. No artillery had yet been seen by him. The rebels were extensively scouting and patrolling the country from Decatur to Paint Rock. The Federal side was picketed about a mile each way from this post, and beyond that ungraded to near Decatur. His patrols had reported the enemy occupying both sides of the river at Triana in large force on the south side, as though intending to effect a crossing for an expedition at that point.

At 4.30 p. m. we left Whitesburg, and discovered, a short distance above Indiana Creek, a column of infantry, about tow strong regiments, moving rapidly in a small vale on the south side toward a high rocky bluff, well fortified by nature, presenting a precipitous wall to the river, evidently intending to dispute our passage. We halted the boat and opened a warm fire upon them from the four pieces for fifteen minutes, and shelled a party which was already on the bluffs, and then ran past. Getting a south view of the hills, we found some of them had concealed themselves in the plantation huts and houses, which we shelled, driving them out. We moved but a short distance and were near Triana, when we found on the north side a force fully equal to my own, in line of battle with skirmishers out, in a low, swampy, secreted place, densely wooded, and a force much larger on the hills on the south side, with a piece of artillery about being put in position upon them. We were near enough to distinguish all this with the naked eye. They presented an insuperable barrier to the passage of so frail a boat, whose decks threatened to give way even at the rebound of our own pieces, and with boiler and engine exposed. The men were necessarily huddled together, and there was o shelter for scarcely a single man. The enemy had either crossed, bent upon our annihilation, below the bluffs, where we had destroyed a very large boat, or at Triana, or at both places.

It was inevitable that immediately in front of us, in our condition, was the useless sacrifice not only of the boat, but necessarily of many lives, for a single cannon-shot would go through her, and fully satisfying myself of the situation and of the impossibility of passing the narrows near Triana with the concentration of forces upon us, and being informed at the point where we got the boat that a full battery was hourly expected at Triana, and believing that the reconnaissance as far as made, about 110 miles from Bridgeport and within 14 miles of Decatur, came within the spirit of my orders, I resolved to regain the position at Guntersville before morning and if possible before the artillery, expected from the vicinity of gadsden to intercept us could reach that point.

I therefore directed the course of the boat up stream, and we reached Whitersburg shortly after dark. On the route we shelled parties of cavalry on the south side. I here informed Lieutenant-Colonel Hall of th position of the enemy, and learned that a force of rebels had been on the north side a few days before, having crossed at the mouth of Cane Creek into Flint River, at which place we had destroyed all the boats. Scouts also reported to me that those that had been sunk in Paint Rock River were all that could be found in it.

Furnishing the command at Whitesburg with ammunition, we again got under way and carefully examined every stream along the north bank of Seven-Mile Island. We halted a short time opposite Guntersville, at 2 a. m. of the 14th, and then passed to Roman's Ferry, where I gleaned from citizens that 1,500 cavalry had passed southwestwardly from Lebanon on Saturday, in the direction of Gadsden. All their information tended toward a concentration westward of Gadsden.

At Larkin's Landing I was informed by Lieutenant-Colonel Coleman that after we had passed down the river, the day before (the 13th), three regiments of rebel cavalry passed from near Lebanon for the direction of Guntersville.

At Bellefonte was stationed the Nineteenth Indiana, (A mistake. The Nineteenth was in the Army of the Potomac. It was probably the One hundredth Indiana.) but no pickets were found along the river. A party I sent ashore in front of that place took several prisoners, one a member of Captain Smith's company of cavalry. He fled and was fired upon before taken. He stated that of our forces at Claysville, 2 men were killed, 1 wounded, and 37 taken prisoners. Of the rebels, 2 were killed and 5 wounded, 1 of whom was Captain Smith.

At various points along the north side of the river I communicated with the citizens, and instructed them as to what is required of them. In addition to the statement regarding the movements of the enemy tendered me, and rendered in this report, I gelated from most reliable and intelligent sources, the parties having peculiar advantages for getting information, and who furnished it from personal knowledge, that 1,000 of Roddey's men arrived at Hendrixville, Ala., on Saturday evening last, were there joined by 1,000 more of the same on Sunday evening, and on Tuesday at daybreak the entire force started off on the Guntersville road. They stated they were to be followed by another brigade on Tuesday evening. Six pieces of artillery left Collinsville on Tuesday morning, going westward.

Following the cavalry, my informant learned from officers that this force had intended to attack the forces at Larkin's Landing, destroy the pontoon bridge, and then go to Decature of aggressive operations. They received some news supposed by him to be adverse to their plans, held a consultation and relinquished the design, giving as a reason that the roughness of the roads would preclude its being carried successfully into effect. They then took the road to Warrenton, leaving Guntersville 4 miles to the right, and by way of the Somerville road to Pontague Valley, and then by a river road they moved to near Triana.

All the forces lately moving toward Gadsden have collected about the Blue Mountain in the vicinity of Jacksonville, Calhoun County, to feed their stock, there being large supplies of corn through that section, and visibly to protect the Montevallo Railroad from Selma to Jacksonville, which they think we design attempting to take. They are kept informed of our movements through bodies kept moving on the river route. These statements are corroborative of a movement of the enemy's forces by way of Warrenton and toward Somerville, which had been going on for some days previously. This preparation to oppose us also revealed their point of concentration.

Upon the return trip the repeated appearance of hostile groups necessitated the men being under arms as upon the outward Journey. We reached this station at 2 o'clock this morning.

Upon the expedition we destroyed forty-seven boats. Our casualties are: Private James B. Auxer, Company F, Seventh Ohio Volunteers, gunshot would through face; Private William H. Poor, Company F, Seventh Ohio Volunteers, gunshot wound in head; Private Martin T. Britton, Company D, Seventh Ohio Volunteers, gunshot wound in right hand. We took prisoner with arms: J. H. Cunningham, Smith's Alabama Cavalry, L. M. Swan, G. J. Bain, J. M. Gullitte.

With the mail I forward you by messenger seventeen $1,000 Tennessee and Coosa Railroad bonds, taken at Guntersville.

Captain John Newton, of the Chickamauga, is deserving of official mention for the zeal and interest he manifested in his connection with the expedition.

Hoping the reconnaissance may meet with the approbation of the major-general commanding, I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. W. GEARY,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Brigadier General W. D. WHIPPLE, A. A. G.

[Indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,

Chattanooga, April 17, 1864.

Respectfully forwarded to the assistant adjutant-general, headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi, for the in- formation of Major-General Sherman, with expressions of satisfaction at the manner in which Brigadier General John W. Geary conducted his expedition and the results which followed. From the information furnished by General Geary, and that derived from other sources, there seems to be foundation for the rumor that the enemy intend attacking our railroad communications from a southwesterly direction.

GEO. H. THOMAS,

Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding.