Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-02
CROSSING FLINT RIVER
Brave and Daring Dash Made
by Col. Estes.
IF {
EVENING AUG. 80, 1864
OFFICIAL RECORDS DISPUTE
STATEMENTS OF HISTORIANS.
Gen. Howard and Others Agree That
Infantry, Not Cavalry, Ac-
complished the Task.
AUG. 80, 1864

Regard1ng the CRUISING or the Flint river
| by the Army of the Tennessee on the even
| ing of August 30, 1854, Capt. A. s. Perham,
| a veteran of the war of the rebellion, has
| taken pains to prepare and compile the fol-
| lowing data:
So many misleading and incomplete
statements have been made concerning this
| affair, he says, that 1 deem it advisable to
| bring the facts to public attention show
| ing that the credit of first crossing the
| Flint river on the above date belongs to
Captain. now General. L. G. Estes of Wash
| ington. D. c.; and the ODD Illinois Mounted
| Infantry.
One so-called historian makes this state
| ment:
| Capt Estes, was reinforced by parts of
| two cavalry regiments armed with Spencer
| rifles. These men were dismounted and
| formed in open order. In their rear
| strong skirmish line was formed from Gen.
| Hazens division The cavalrymen rushed
| forward to the river bank and opened with
| their rapid-fire guns, keeping up such
fusillade as could not be replied to by the
| enemy. Under cover of this fire Hazen's
| skrmshers rushed forward, crossed the
| bridge and carried two lines of barbados.
The enemy fell back to third line; but
| the skirmishers from the 18th Corps now
| had their blood up, and charging again
| upon the enemy, drove them from their
! third line of barricadeS.'
This statement seems to be in a measure
| warranted from the official reports of Gems
Logan and Hazen. Vol. IA page 1OS War
Records General Logan's. official report
| says of August 30 1864:
Logan's Official Report.
Arriving at Flint river we found the
| enemy posted beyond the river under cover
| of a strong barricade covering the cross
| ing. 1 at once directed Gen. Hazen to
secure the bridge and crossing, and in con-
| junction with two regiments of Kilpatrichs
| Cavalry he ordered his skirmishers TO
| change the position of the enemy. This
the enemy dislodged and the crossing
secured
! Volume IA, page 1873, war records, Gen.
| VIM. B. Hazen's official report concerning
| August 3d. 1864, saystF
! Crossing the)FliIit' river driving the
| enemy from the other side, repairing the
bridge and pushing to within a quarter of
mile of the town Gonesboro) before
| These two reRortsftdo not say that the
! infantry of Hazen crossed the Flint river
| in advance of the cavalry, but that would
| seem to be a clear Inference.
| Below are extLacts from few official
| reports u YIN
| Volume 49, page 1890. war records. Maj
| Albert Woodcock, commanding 92d Illinois
Mounted Infantry, reports concerning Au-
THE regiment then moved in advance of
the infantry skismishers, driving the
enemy steadily unttf We neared Flint river.
The enemy helds-theN bridge on the east
bank of the stream. The regiment dis
mounted, formed and charged the enemy
on foot, driving ,tbemss from the river and
1akng y the press men
miles in a southern direction until we were.
near the southwest Of J0nesboro.'
| Kilpatrick's Statement.
! Volume 70, page $50, war records, Brig.
1 Gen. ]. Fitzpatrick says Of August 30, 1864:
! Here the 92d Illinois Mounted Infantry,
under direction of Capt. Estes. my assist
| ant adjutant general, pushed in ahead of
| the. infantry. rushed the enemy back to
! and across Flint river, saved the bridge,
| crossed and took possession of the rifle pits
| beyond
Volume Is. page 1856, war records Brig
| Gen. Judson Fitzpatrick says in his official
| report of August 80 1864:
| THE enemy was again driven back from
one position to another until a favorable
! opportunity offered, when l rushed the
| I'D Illinois forward, saved the bridge and
| crossed in face of the rifle pits. Capt.
| Estes and the 92d Illinois alone entitled
to all the praise for the successful sx-
| plot - "a
The following letter is from General E. M.
| Hayes:
Washington, D. c., February IA. 1903.
| capt, fSleS, DelnS IN COM
! mand of the advance, reported to Gen.
| Howard, who asked him If he could drive
| the confederates. from his front-that he
| was anxious to secure the bridge across
| Flint river and make lodgment on the
! east bank, as he wished to camp his troops
| where they could have water and be in
| position to move early next morning.
| Capt. Estes volunteered to make the at
| tempt, and taking battalion of the 92d
| Illinois Mounted Infantry EARNED with
| Spencer carbipaSl moved TO the front and
| deploytng two of the companies on either
| side of the road and leading the other COM
panies In person, charged the enemy
| mounted and drove them from their barri-
| cades and across the bridge.
| Then dismounting he led the two COM
| panies across the bridge on the stringers
| (the planks having been removed by the
| enemy, and. reforming on the other side,
4 again charged and drove the enemy from
the two lines of barricades on that side Of
| the river
| 1.-THE infantry took no part in this move
| ment and the capture Of the bridge and
the cavalry. Capt. Estes volunteered for
| this work, and l accompanied him. being
| at the time an abide camp on Gen. Kill
| patrick's staff.
Capt. Estes in very complimentary terms
| for his gallant achievement, which he char
| acterized as one Of the most brilliant and
| dashing events Of the war.
|
| numbering our command nearly two to
| one. Gen. Howard and staff were present
and witnessed the affair. crossing the
bridge Immediately, after our cavalry"
Gen. Howard,s Official Statement.
Gen. O. o. HoaRardt.. in letters on file in
the War Department, referring to the
operations of TIM Army of the Tennessee
August 80, 1864, says II
| Capt. Estes Immediately rode on, took
the 82d Illinois Cavalry and. most gallant
| ly charging at tlsin.head drove the enemy
| from his barricades; charging to Inc river
| without stopping. giving no opportunity Ior
the cOnfederates TO reform. capt Estes
then reported to Ine1amd asked II wanted
| him to take the bridge. he 1mmeuiateiy
dismounted two troops armed with spencer
! rifles. and. putting himself at the head
| charged across the bridge. which was par
TALLY destroyed, onlyasthe stringers being
left for footing, He drove the enemy
| away and replaced ethe planking on the
| bridge. a.. !
| nomenal, and the promptitude ana gal
| lantry of Capt. Estes and his men unoer
| very sharp fire were unsurpassed
THE manner in which Capt Estes per,
| formed this duty for which ne volunteereo
/ struck me at the time and remains ~ my
mind as one Of the most gallant acts .. our