|
Report
of Lieutenant General James Longstreet, C. S. Army |
HEADQUARTERS,
Russellville, E. Tenn., January 19, 1864.
SIR: The enemy advanced by Dandridge on the 14th, forcing our cavalry back and aiming to throw us out of position by turning our left.
On the 15th, Hood's and Buckner's divisions were advanced to a position to meet the enemy's move, and at the same time to threaten his base at New Market.
On the 16th, he made an effort to throw his cavalry in rear of ours, but the cavalry came in contact with these divisions of infantry and was driven back in some confusion.
On the 17th, a part of Hood's division was moved down to the enemy's immediate front. The sharpshooters of this division were ordered to advance against the enemy's left flank, and Martin's cavalry (dismounted) were ordered to follow this move, advancing in the enemy's front. The battalions of sharpshooters were closely supported by the main force of the division, the immediate object being to gain a favorable position for future operations. The flank movement was handsomely executed, and it was handsomely followed by the dismounted cavalry. As the infantry had had a good long march before reaching the ground, we only had time to get our position a little after dark. During the night the enemy retired to New Market and to Strawberry Plains, leaving his dead upon the field. The retreat seems to have been made somewhat hastily and not in very good order. We only got some few arms and equipments and a little ammunition. Our infantry was not in condition to pursue, half of our men being without shoes. Our cavalry is almost as badly off for want of clothing, and the horses are without shoes, or nearly half of them. It was sent forward, however, with order to make the effort to distress the enemy, and if possible to drive him from this side of the river. The enemy is much demoralized, and seems to have been in our power again, had it been possible for us to avail ourselves of this opportunity. The weather has been very severe for the past three weeks, and we are now having a snowstorm. Our men suffer a great deal for want of clothing even in their huts, and some few have been severely frosted.
We have been making shoes since we left Knoxville, but with all of our workmen can only make one hundred pairs a day. As our shoes are all old, they wear out faster than we can make them. Most of those that we have made ourselves. If you could order enough to shoe the entire command I think that our order shops will keep us supplied.
I have no report yet of the casualties of the two days' skirmishing, but do not think that they can exceed 150; possibly not half of this.
I remain, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
J. LONGSTREET,
Lieutenant-General, Commanding.
Source: War Department, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (128 vols.), Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1880-1901.
Series I, Volume XXXII, Chapter XLIV, Pages 93 - 94