Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-12-27
HEADQUARTERS, CAvALRY CORPS. }
MLLLLARN nLNIsLoN OF TIE MLssLssLeL-. :


ters Department OF the Cumberland
General. nv last general report of
operations, dated AT Gravelly Springs,
Ala, February eighth, eighteen hundred
and siNty-five, completed the history OF
the Cavalry Corps, Military Division OF
the Mississippi, from its organization 10
that date.
In. pursuance OF instructions from Gen.
Thomas, J WAS authorized, after the es-
s.aut. OF Hood 10 the south side of tiia
Tennessee river, to assemble the avalla-
hle force Of the corps in tie vicinity OF
E.astport, at the head Of steamboat nayi-
cation, on the Tennessee river, for the
purpose OF completing the organization
and putting the troops in the best pos
stblecondition for early active operations.
By his direction, after transferring the
Seventh Ohio and fifth Iowa, rom the
Sixth Division, it was ordered TO Pulaski
with a view to its remaining in 1ennes-
see for local operations. No reports have
since been received Of its services.
On the twenty-fOuTth Of January, La
Oranges and Watkins Brigade of the
First Division, after a fatiguing march,
arrived at Waterloo Landing, IN the
northwestern corner Of Alabama They
had been detained in Kentucky, under
Gen. McCook, for the purpose of Kidding
that State Of a band Of rebel cavalry
. under Lyon. In pursuance of preVl-
1us orders the Third Brigade of
the division was then distributed between
the First and Second Brigades. Bre-
vet Brig.-Gen. Watkins, at his own
request, was ordered 70 Nashville 20
re1ort 10 Brig.-Gen. r. w. Johnson
Commanding the Sixth Division. About
The same time the Second Division, Brig
Gen. Eli Long commanding, and newly
mounted and equipped, arrived from
Louisville, having marched from thai
place a distance Of three hundred ana
eighty-five miles, in midwinter, over
lad roads, with scanty supplies OF forage,
in tWenty-eight days. Soon after this,
Wioslow's Brigade of the Fourth Divis-
vision arrived 10y steam transports
from the same place. The Sec
oud Brigade Of this Division was then
organized by joining the First ONO
transferred TO the Second Division with
The Fifth Ohio and Seventh Ohio trans
ferred from the Sixth DivisiOn). BTev--
Gen. \: J. Alexander. d young officer OF
courage and administrative ability, was
-,ssisrue-d 10 the command. Brighten.
r. y. Grierson had been originally AS
signed TO the command Of this Dlvisltn,
tut falling to use due diligence in assem-
bling and preparing il for the field, he
was replaced by Brev.-Maj. j.-Gen. l.. Up
ton. an officer of rare merit and expert
ence.
The troops were all cantOEed on the
north bapkof the Tennessee river Long,
linton and Hatch's Divisions and Ham
nloDd's Brigade, # knipe's Division at
GravelIv Springs, and McCOok's Division
at Waterloo. The aggregate force was
about twenty-five thousand men, thlr-
teen thousand Of whom were armed with
Spencer carbines and rifles sixteen
thousand were well mounted on horses
simply requiring few weeks rest, Iced
and attention 70 become mt for sctiVe
service. The balance were poorly armed
and dismOuhted.
ON tie third of February / received
INSTRUCTIONS 10 send a division of i've
thousand cavalry to Gen. Candy After
consultation with Gen. Thomas, II was
decided TO send Knipe's Division; but in
order 10 furnish il with horses il was
Eolud necessary 10 dismount part OF
the command remaining behind. Gen.
Hatch's Division, composed OF most ex-
eellent trooTis, had, under its gallant
commander. won great distinction dur
ing the recent campaign; but having
rl1e largest number Of dismOunted Inen,
and having been constantly IN service
from the beginning Of the war, thought
Il hest 70 take the horses from II Necessary
70 mount the troops about 70 leave.
wished 10 give il an opportunity 10 rest,
furnish IL q aTeH0unt OF fresh horses, equip
meuts and arms, and thereby TO make IL
d model Ia drill, discipline and equip
ment. as il had already made Itself ~
dash. constaney, and the cheerful per
ggrTusnce Of duty.
on the third Of February the mOuated
t,srtion Of the Seventh Division embarked
al Waterloo on transports for Nieksbp7g.
Tine disHaOunted portion, with slch
1orsss a. eould be obtained, follower
from Nashville under the direct com
mand of Gen. kniPe. rs soon a. trans
tortation could be furnished. BreNet
t.rig.-(sen. ]. II. Hammond bad been
rs.ljeyed by the direction Of the Chief
,-urpe.ln from the command Of a Brigade
IA this division, after having earned great
credit with il in the battles about Naslt-
vile and the paEsIit Of Hood from Tex
nessee.
These changes LEFT under my imme-
sliafe command seventeen thousand men,
-equirfag about five thousand horses 10
furnish a complete remouut-
As the troops arrived at Grayeily
Snrinrs they were assigned 10 camps as
close together a. the circumstances of
ground, water and contingency 70 the
landings would permit Tie mild eli
mate, rocky soil and rolling spfiace ol
the country rendered this altogetier lhS
best locality that could have been founa
for recuperating and preparing both men
and horses for an early Spring campat gn-
The camps were laid out with regular
itv. Comfortable quarters for the meI
and shelters for the horses were con
structed without delay; roads were made
10 the landings, and supplies Of forage,
rations. clothing, equipments aud am
nunition were furnished in greaE abun-
dance. a thorough system Of instruction
for men and officers was instituted, and
every necessary effort was made TO bring
the corps 10 the highest possible state oI
efficiency. 1 transmit herewith topo-
graphical sketch showing the situation OF
the camps and their arrangement Ihe
plan OF uAt CONSTRUCTED - Gen. RAM
InOnd, and 8fteTpard occupied by q iie}L
Of Gen. TJptOn's Division, / regard the
best ARA agement Of a cavalry CANTOR
nent yet devised
The influence Of the sys4em adopted in
the subsequent career Of the corps cannot
te Oyer-5stimated. The final victory
over Forrest and tiie rebel cavalry was
won by patient industry AID instruction
while in the esDtOnments of ssrayelly
Springs aud Waterloo, The great fS9it .
tn our cavalry system Bs4 previously
been oye5'W0rked in detachmelts, and I
the alssenss of instruction, organization,
and uniformity Of eqJHpslent.
On the sweaty-third q FebrgsrT, Gen. I
Thomas arrived al Esstport with instHie-
fions directing me 10 fl out al expedition /
OF five on six thousand cavalry for the
fsaTpOse Of naslEing a demonstration upon
YusesI0osa AID heiIGe in favor Of Gen. /
CaBlsyss oyseTle tons AGAINST Ssohile and
CF.ntesl .Alalalqs- After consultation, Z
In which I expressed o belief ip the I
ca,.aeitv OF my command 10 capture
tbase Diaces, and conduct from the latter
most inl3ortant operations, Gen. Thomas
ave me t,ermisSiOn 20 move With my
ssntre available m9gnted force, ana
aud orized ne 70 pslrsus slicn q course as
1 might zee pr0peT, keeping ~ view the
general object OF uls impending cam
0aig,n. The instructions Of LieUL-Gen.
i.raut. transmitted 70 me by Gen.
'FhosHss. after directing me % ee ready
10 Aoarch as soon IS Gen. Canby's move
ssaent had begun, allowed re the ampiest
stscsetiop a. an independent eoiiasllllan-
1t II was ei first intended tiiat the expe-
dition should beesa it movement By the
fourth Of March, but hsavy rain storms
settiug in, DE- Tennessee river became
very ouch swolieH, sisSt the roads impAs-
sable,
E.ieHt.-0ea. GraHt having directed al
lie surplus horses purchased in the We
10 be sent 10 Gen. CSlaby, there were no
ysieans left in the hands Of the Cavalry
Bureau 70 mount Hatch's Division. /
Therefore directed him 70 turn over his
i " Remaining horses 10 Gen. Upton, and
s,c4,tsrue the Instruction Of his command
a. Esstport. il was expected that the
supply depArtoepts would soon ~ able
10 furnish him honseg and Spencer
oarlifves. so as 10 enable him 10 take the
6,,d asd iOin the Corpe somewhere in
slabarla or Georgia. BY a voluntary
arrangement lRtween Breyst Brig. Gen.
-. r. Coon, eOmmanai ipg the Second
Brigade of Hatch's Division, and Brig
Gen. CrOxtou, the former tIso turned
over b the latter all thesspenesr carbines
then in his Brigade. BY these means
he troops Of the First, Second and Fourth /