Battle Report of Brig. Gen. Wirt Adams, C.S. Army, commanding Cavalry Brigade, of operations against Sherman’s Expedition to Meridian, Mississippi, February and March, 1864.
From the O.R., Series I, Volume 32, Part 1, pages 371-374.
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE
March 12, 1864
CAPTAIN: In obedience to orders from division headquarters, requiring a report of the operations of my brigade during the recent advance of the enemy from Big Black to Meridian, I have the honor to submit the following:
My command having just returned from East Louisiana, whither it repaired under orders of Lieutenant-General Polk, directing me to threaten Baton Rouge or Manchac, reached by two days’ forced marches the vicinity of Raymond on the afternoon of January 28. I was there met by orders from division headquarters to watch closely all the ferries and approaches in the direction of Big Black south of the railroad bridge, in anticipation of the expected advance of the enemy, and, in case he crossed, to advance and oppose him, offering all the resistance and at points as near the river as possible.
On the evening of February 3, at 6 p.m., I received intelligence from my scouts that the enemy was crossing in force at the railroad bridge and advancing toward Bolton. I immediately mounted my command, consisting of 800 men and a rifled section of King’s battery, and moved beyond Raymond, on Edwards’ Depot road.
Halting until 4 o’clock next morning, I again put my command in motion, marching rapidly toward Bolton, 1 mile beyond which I took position, sending Colonel Wood’s regiment forward to reconnoiter and ascertain certainly whether the enemy was moving on the Raymond or Bolton road. Near Champion’s Hill Colonel Wood encountered a dismounted cavalry force, which after a brief skirmish was gallantly charged by Captain Muldrow’s squadron, killing and wounding a number and capturing 8 prisoners. Colonel Wood reported to me that the enemy’s cavalry force was on the Raymond road and consequently moving on my left flank. I at once detached Colonel Dumonteil and instructed him to move his regiment (Fourteenth Confederate) down the road on which I had come to the junction of the two roads and hold the enemy in check, reporting to me his numbers, movements, &c. With this force he soon became engaged, skirmishing briskly for several hours. I also sent Major Stockdale directly across a field to the same road to take the enemy in flank, but he encountered an infantry and artillery force, from which he was compelled to retire, bringing off several prisoners. The main infantry column of the enemy soon afterward advanced upon the Bolton road, deploying a strong line of skirmishers and using one piece of artillery. He was held in check for several hours at this point by Wood’s regiment and Stockdale’s battalion, dismounted. Nothing could surpass the unflinching courage and steadiness of these commands, eliciting at the time the commendation of the major-general commanding.
About 3 p.m. the greatly superior force of the enemy having failed to dislodge them, a brigade of infantry, marching in column, was pushed across the creek on my extreme left and moved rapidly toward some buildings which crowned an eminence near my left. At the same time he advanced in line of battle directly against my front. The position being no longer tenable, I was ordered to withdraw my command across Baker’s Creek bridge, half a mile in my rear, and send two squadrons of Colonel Wood’s regiment to check the enemy’s advance on my left.
Leaving Major Akin, Ninth Tennessee Battalion, to cover the withdrawal of the command across the bridge, I removed the remainder as promptly as practicable. Major Bridges, with two escort companies, supported by Captain Muldrow’s squadron, of Wood’s regiment, soon became warmly engaged with the enemy on the left, driving him from the building on the hill; but strong re-enforcements coming up he was obliged to relinquish them soon afterward. At this point fell Major Bridges, Lieutenant Wilson, and 8 men. I next took position on the Bolton and Clinton road, 1 mile from that just relinquished. The enemy advanced in four lines of battle across the field I had just left, but did not advance beyond Baker’s Creek that evening. Throwing out a strong picket and numerous scouts on my front and flanks, I withdrew my command 1 mile to Mr. Thomas’ plantation, where I fed my horses and encamped for the night.
Before daylight on the morning of February 5, I resumed my position, directing Captain King to train his rifled pieces on the bridge over Baker’s Creek, 800 yards in my front, and posted Colonel Griffith’s [Eleventh] Arkansas Regiment on the right and Major Stockdale’s battalion on the left, both dismounted, as supports for the artillery. I held Colonels Wood and Dumonteil in reserve, the former dismounted and forming a second line; the latter mounted and in column in the road.
At 7 a.m. the enemy advanced in column across the bridge in my front, when I directed Captain King to open fire with his two rifled pieces, which did not, however, check the enemy. He pressed steadily forward, deploying to the right and left in the open field. A rapid artillery fire was maintained for some time, and when within range Colonel Griffith and Major Stockdale engaged his whole line, offering the most determined and stubborn resistance and maintaining their position to the last moment, Colonel Griffith and Major Stockdale, as usual, distinguishing themselves by their gallant and fearless bearing. After offering all the resistance possible to the largely superior force of the enemy, I withdrew Colonel Griffith’s and Major Stockdale’s commands, ordering Colonel Wood to cover the movement. Colonel Wood was relieved by Colonel Dumonteil and Major Akin successively as the command retired in perfect order along the Clinton road. When near Clinton I was ordered by the major-general commanding to hold the enemy in check until Colonel Starke’s brigade, coming in on the Queen’s Hill road, could pass through the town. After the passage of this command I moved through Clinton, taking the Jackson road beyond. Two miles east of Clinton I again took position on the eastern limit of an extended, open field, and was joined by a section of Croft’s and a section of Waties’ (South Carolina) battery. The enemy soon showed himself in my front, but advanced cautiously. His line of skirmishers was promptly driven back by the artillery, the practice of which was excellent.
After the lapse of two hours and a careful reconnaissance he moved an infantry column out of view by a road 1 mile to my right and falling into the Jackson road 2 miles in my rear. Advancing a 6-gun battery at the same time with a strong infantry support to a commanding elevation on my front and left and two 20-pounder Parrotts in my front, he opened a rapid and vigorous fire of artillery, pushing forward at the same time a strong line of skirmishers under cover of a wood from the column moving past my right. As the enemy showed no inclination to advance in my front, and my artillery was seriously endangered by the column turning my position, I ordered the artillery and supports to withdraw, following with the remainder of the command. In passing the point where the road on my right entered the Jackson road, the enemy poured a severe volley into Major Stockdale’s battalion, acting as rear guard. Colonel Wood’s regiment was immediately moved back to his support, but the enemy was so posted as to prevent any effective movement against him.
I then moved my command on the Jackson road and again took position 3 1/2 miles west of the city, with a broad, open field in my front. Against this the enemy did not advance, but throwing forward an infantry and cavalry force on a road 1 mile to the left, pushed immediately for Jackson. After an irregular artillery fire at scattering parties of the enemy, I was ordered to withdraw by a lateral road toward the Canton road, the enemy having gained, near night-fall, the road between me and Jackson. This was done without loss.
In these various positions taken between Champion’s Hill and Jackson, and the severe checks given the enemy, I cannot commend too highly the alacrity, courage, and steadiness of my officers and men. They could not have acquitted themselves better.
On the march from Pearl River to Meridian but one opportunity was offered of striking the enemy. This was at Decatur, and was discovered by a bold reconnaissance in person of the major-general commanding. The enemy’s wagon train halting in the suburbs of the town, I directed Colonel Wood to make a dash at it with two squadrons, which was executed in gallant style, killing and wounding a number of the enemy and killing the teams of a large number of wagons. A heavy infantry force front and rear of the train precluded all hopes of bringing them off.
In these various affairs from Champion’s Hill to Decatur I sustained a loss of 129 killed, wounded, and missing, and 143 horses..
Marching from Alamutche to Starkville and thence to Canton, I was ordered by General Jackson to pass that place, then occupied by the enemy, and operate upon his left flank in his march toward Vicksburg. This was done on the 29th ultimo and 1st and 2d instant, resulting in killing and capturing about 60 of the enemy, and capture of 33 horses, 2 wagons and teams, and a number of small-arms.
In these affairs Major Stockdale, Captain Muldrow, and Captain Yerger were the most conspicuous and gallant participants.
I have to lament the loss of Captain Magruder, of the Fourth Mississippi, who fell seriously, if not mortally, wounded while leading a charge near Canton.
I am indebted to Capts. F.W. Keyes and A.T. Bowie, and Lieut. George Scott, of my staff, and Lieut. George Yerger, who volunteered his services, for efficient and valuable assistance.
I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WIRT ADAMS
Brigadier-General.
Capt. GEORGE MOORMAN,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Jackson’s Cavalry Division.
Notes on Battle of Baker Creek (Clinton), Mississippi, February 4-5, 1864 and Sherman’s Meridian, Mississippi Expedition, February 3 - March 4, 1864 taken from M.R. Bearss’ book Sherman’s Forgotten Campaign, The Meridian Expedition (1987), pages 40-80 and 243-244:
Federal Major General William Tecumseh Sherman began his “tune-up” for the total warfare practiced in his Atlanta Campaign later in 1864 with his lesser known Meridian, Mississippi Expedition of Feb.-March, 1864. He left Vicksburg, Mississippi with a total of 23,519 men within two corps (XVI and XVII) and a cavalry brigade (5th Illinois, 11th Illinois, 4th Iowa, and 10th Missouri) under Colonel Edward F. Winslow. The XVI Corps was commanded by Major General Stephen A. Hurlbut and the XVII Corps was under Major General James B. McPherson.
Against this massive force was Confederate cavalry within Brigadier General William H. “Red” Jackson Division; on Feb. 4-5, 1864 only two of his brigades under Colonel Peter B. Starke and Brigadier General Wirt Adams opposed Sherman’s Yankee horde. Wirt Adams’ Brigade consisted of the 11th/17th Consolidated Arkansas (Mounted) Infantry under Colonel John Griffith, 14th Confederate Cavalry (Colonel Felix Dumonteil), 9th Louisiana Battalion Cavalry (Captain E.A. Scott), 2nd Mississippi Cavalry (Major J.L. Harris), 4th Mississippi Cavalry (Major Thomas R. Stockdale), Adams’s Mississippi Regiment (Colonel Robert C. Wood, Jr.), 9th Tennessee Battalion (Major James H. Akin), and the Seven Stars Mississippi Artillery (Captain Calvit Roberts) -- a total of approximately 800 men. Brigadier General Jackson’s CSA cavalry division was under overall command of Major General Stephen D. Lee during these attempts to halt Sherman’s overwhelming numbers.
Early morning on Feb. 3, 1864, General Wirt Adams was camped near Raymond and received word that the Federal force was crossing the Big Black River and were advancing toward Bolton Depot. He collected his force of 800 men and a section of Clark’s Missouri battery and moved to the Edwards Road where they stopped and bivouacked. At about 4 a.m. on Feb. 4, after a brief rest, he rapidly marched his men towards Bolton and deployed his troops about one mile SW of town, behind Bear Creek, while a reconnoiter patrol was sent from Colonel Wood’s regiment. The patrol encountered General McPherson’s column and Winslow’s cavalry on the NE slope of Champion Hill; while skirmishing, they relayed the news of the Yankee force back to General Adams.
The Federals pushed back the dismounted Reb cavalrymen to where Wirt Adams’ main line of resistance was formed, near forks of the Jackson and Raymond roads just west of Baker’s Creek. To the north, the Federal XVI Corps under General Hurlbut advanced on the Confederate cavalry brigade of General Starke. Winslow’s Federal cavalry approached Wirt Adam’s position from the south while McPherson’s XVII Corps attacked it from the west; to counter this, General Adams deployed 2 escort companies (about 90 men) under Major Wm. B. Bridges against Winslow’s advancing cavalry. Amazingly, Bridge’s sortie held off the Yankee cavalry brigade and allowed Wirt Adams to consolidate his position until Bridges was killed and his men driven back from the Walton Plantation.
Margie Bearss documents on page 54 that General Adams ordered Colonel John Griffith to deploy his 11th and 17th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry (mounted) in the woods west of the Baker’s Creek Bridge in order to allow the remnants of Bridges’ and Akin’s troopers to safely cross back to the main Confederate force. As Colonel Griffith’s regiment held the large force of advancing Federals at bay, the Reb rear guard quickly crossed the bridge; four lines of Yankee infantrymen under General McPherson swept across the open field towards the 11th/17th Arkansas Infantry in their exposed position. The Federal advance was hindered by constant shelling from the now unlimbered cannons of Roberts’ and Clark’s batteries; with some breathing room, Griffith’s outnumbered men then crossed Baker’s Creek to relative safety. The Federal vanguard (15th Illinois, 14th Illinois, 76th Illinois infantries) slowed and halted as the sun set; McPherson’s Corps made no further attempt to cross Baker’s Creek that night.
Wirt Adams positioned a strong picket line on his front and flanks before camping about a mile behind his battle lines on the Thomas Plantation. CSA Major General Stephen D. Lee recorded that “Adam’s Brigade had done the fighting and acted gallantly” that day, and noted that the Federals left their dead on the field that night.
Before dawn on Feb. 5, General Adams positioned his men on a ridge about 800 yards east of the Baker’s Creek bridge; he dismounted and deployed Colonel Griffith’s 11th and 17th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry to the right (north) of the road and Major Stockdale’s 4th Mississippi Cavalry to the left. Wood’s and Dumonteil’s regiments were held in reserve, Wood’s men being dismounted and formed into a second line behind Griffith’s and Stockdale’s front lines, while Dumonteil’s troopers were kept mounted and placed in columns of four on the road. Mounted on his white charger, General Wirt Adams rode constantly along the lines, encouraging his men and bolstering their morale -- not an easy thing to do when outnumbered roughly 15 to 1. Shortly after dawn, General McPherson directed Leggett’s Division of his XVII Corps to begin the assault against Wirt Adams outnumbered men.
As the Federal infantry brigades of Colonel B.F. Potts ( 20th Ohio, 32nd Ohio, 68th Ohio, 78th Ohio) and Brigadier General J.A. Maltby ( 8th Illinois, 17th Illinois, 30th Illinois, 7th Missouri) surged across Baker’s Creek bridge, the two rifled guns of Captain Houston King (formerly Clark’s Missouri Battery) opened upon them. The 32nd Ohio Infantry then advanced on the position held by Colonel Griffith’s 11th/17th Arkansas Infantry on the north side of the road; two of their men in Co. I downed by a single solid-shot from King’s cannons -- one of them having his leg ripped off. Companies A and B of the 32nd Ohio were thrown forward as skirmishers but were unable to dislodge the resistant Southrons in Griffith’s regiment, many Yankees being wounded in the attempt. Company K of the 32nd Ohio then joined Companies A and B, intent on breaching Wirt Adams’ main line behind a rail fence near the hill’s crest and visible to all.
At this point, the commanding officer of the 32nd Ohio Infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel Jefferson J. Hibbets, ordered the remaining companies of his regiment to advance on the double-quick behind the 3 companies of skirmishers; the skirmishers laid down on the ground and the rest of the regiment began to fire over them, by files, into the ranks of the 11th/17th Arkansas Infantry. After discharging 3 rounds, the 32nd Ohio Yanks were met by rifle-fire from Colonel Griffith’s 11th and 17th Consolidated Infantry combined with deadly accurate shot and shell from King’s Missouri cannons; the rifles of Major Stockdale’s 4th Mississippi Cavalry also joined in the barrage. The Federal assault quickly stalled and Colonel Potts called for artillery support; his request being answered by the 15th Ohio Battery, under the direct personal supervision of Major General McPherson (!!!). The accurate fire of the 20-pounder Parrott guns soon made the Confederate cannons limber up and fall to the rear.
With no distracting Confederate cannons, McPherson’s soldiers immediately surged forward once again; General Wirt Adams realizing his outnumbered men were no match for the Yankee hordes, ordered Colonel John Griffith and Major Stockdale to fall back from the Federal onslaught. Wood’s Regiment covered the retreat of the 11th/17th Arkansas Infantry and 4th Mississippi Cavalry as they retired along the Clinton Road back to the east; Wood’s men were covered by Dumonteil’s 14th Confederate Cavalry, and Dumonteil was covered by Akin’s 9th Tennessee Cavalry. In this way, General Wirt Adams skillfully saw to it that the Federals were delayed, despite their massive force, while his brigade never broke ranks during their retreat.
Nearing the town of Clinton, General Adams was ordered by Major General Stephen D. Lee to fight a holding action against the rapidly advancing Federals in Winslow’s cavalry brigade in order to let Colonel Starke’s cavalry brigade pass through Clinton safely. This Wirt Adams’ brigade successfully accomplished and then passed through Clinton themselves, just barely ahead of the XVII Corps vanguard; McPherson’s infantry and Winslow’s cavalry entered Clinton just as General Adams’ rear guard exited on the east side of town. About noon, Wirt Adams’ brigade was joined by Colonel Starke’s brigade and they formed their battle lines along the top of a ridge about 2 miles east of Clinton. This ridge, overlooking a large open field, was called the “Tombstone” by the Confederate soldiers, possibly because only two Reb cavalry brigades were facing the now combined forces of both McPherson’s XVII and Hurlbut’s XVI Corps, not to mention Winslow’s cavalry.
The two Confederate cavalry brigades and their total of 6 cannons held out until Hurlbut’s Corps flanked them to the north and McPherson’s Corps flanked them to the south. Major General William Tecumseh Sherman himself was now on the scene to direct Winslow’s Federal cavalry to disengage and get behind both Wirt Adams’ and Colonel Starke’s troopers. Wirt Adams appreciated the immense risk of total annihilation and withdrew his and Starke’s brigades before they could be surrounded, once again fighting a rear guard delaying action; Adams’ column, riding in columns of four, stretched for almost 3 miles as they rode into and out of Jackson. The Federal forces then occupied Jackson, the capitol of Mississippi for the 4th time, burning whatever had not been torched the first 3 times; some local residents renamed their formerly beautiful city “Chimney-ville”.
Major General S.D. Lee camped four miles north of Jackson on the Canton Road, watching the flames of Jackson with his outmanned Confederate defenders, including the commands of Colonel Starke, Major Stockdale, and Colonel John Griffith of the 11th and 17th Consolidated Arkansas (Mounted) Infantry -- valor had indeed given way to numbers. No Confederate infantry had fired a shot against Sherman’s Federal onslaught on this day; Rebel cavalry and mounted infantry did all of the fighting.
Sherman continued his march on Meridian, Mississippi and burned the town to the ground in this first taste of the total warfare Atlanta and Georgia would soon experience during the Summer and Fall of 1864. After return to his base in Vicksburg, his total casualties were 341 killed, wounded, and missing out of 23,519 men in his two corps and Winslow’s Cavalry. Wirt Adams’ Brigade has a loss figured at 129 killed, wounded, or missing and 143 horses; the total casualties for the Confederate cavalry opposing William T. Sherman during his Meridian Expedition have been calculated as being 288 killed, wounded, and missing.
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