Catlett's, Scott's Ferry, Livingston, Clinton,
Edward's Depot, Miss.
Battle Report of Colonel John L. Logan, Eleventh Arkansas Infantry, commanding brigade, of operations near Brownsville and Livingston, Mississippi, October 16-18, 1863.
From the O.R., Series I, Volume 30, Part 2, pages 816-817.
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE,
October 23, 1863.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my brigade during the four days we engaged the enemy in front and rear:
On the 15th, having received information from Col. Wirt Adams, commanding brigade of General Cosby, that the enemy was advancing upon him in force, I at once put my command in motion to unite with and assist him.
I arrived at his camp near Mr. Catlett’s, on the upper Brownsville road, at daybreak on the morning of the 16th. Took position on the left of his command and placed my artillery (a section of Capt. C. Robert’s battery) for action; dismounted Col. John Griffith’s regiment of mounted Arkansas infantry, and placed it in advance of my line in a skirt of woods, supported on the left by a squadron of cavalry, and threw out skirmishers in advance of Colonel Griffith. Up to 10 a.m. the enemy did not seem disposed to advance, but was skirmishing with us.
At 10 a.m. I ordered Colonel Griffith to advance and feel for the enemy, and, if possible, make him develop his strength and plans. I rode out to the front, and had just commenced advancing when I received an order from Colonel Adams to fall back and move my command across the creek and take a position so as to protect the right and rear, which I did, taking a position a little in advance of Mr. Catlett’s house, where I remained until the enemy had driven our skirmishers across the creek and out of the woods within 400 yards of my artillery. I then, fearing the enemy might charge my battery, withdrew it and my line to Mr. Catlett’s house and opened fire upon him, sending Major Stockdale in advance, who skirmished with the enemy for one hour disputing his advance.
At 2 o’clock I received an order from Brigadier-General Jackson to withdraw my whole command and move at once in direction of Scott’s Ferry, on Big Black, and cross over and pursue a Federal cavalry force that was reported advancing toward Grenada. When I had moved 5 or 6 miles north to the cross-roads near the Henderson place, I found Brigadier-General Whitfield engaging another force of the enemy, who were pressing him. General Whitfield requested me to stop and assist him, which I did, dismounting Colonel Griffith and Major Akin’s Ninth Tennessee Battalion and placing them on the left of General Whitfield’s line.
At 6:30 p.m. the enemy made an advance, but was repulsed. I then withdrew my command and fed my horses and formed in line in rear of General Whitfield, according to order from General Jackson.
At daylight next morning, when I had my line about formed, I received orders to fall back and take a position at Livingston, which I did, taking a strong position on a range of hills 1 mile west of Livingston, where I remained until next morning, the enemy having advanced to within 1 1/2 miles of my position. I was supported on the right by part of General Whitfield’s brigade. During the morning we were skirmishing continually until 10 o’clock, when the enemy’s cavalry made a general advance. I opened fire upon them with my artillery, consisting of Roberts’ and a Georgia [Swindoll’s Mississippi] battery, commanded by Lieutenant Young, and the enemy was soon repulsed.
I then, according to orders, threw forward Major Stockdale’s battalion to feel for the enemy, General Whitfield having at the same time ordered forward one of his regiments for the same purpose, when it was discovered that the enemy was retreating. I was ordered to pursue with all haste, having in advance the Third Texas, Whitfield’s brigade, and Stockdale’s battalion. The advance soon overtook the rear guard of the enemy, and were skirmishing with them every few hundred yards, my main force following closely behind, supported by the balance of General Whitfield’s brigade. I continued the pursuit until had arrived near Clinton, when, not knowing the direction the enemy would take, and General Jackson coming up about this time ordered the command to file to the left and move over to the Clinton and Livingston road, so as to be in a position to intercept the enemy’s advance toward Jackson should he move in that direction. It was ascertained during the night that he had taken the road to Vicksburg, and I was ordered to Clinton in pursuit alone.
I moved from my camp at 3 a.m. I arrived in Clinton at daylight and ordered Colonel Dumonteil with his command to pursue the enemy, while I moved the main body of my command on the flank of the enemy to intercept a part of his force at Bolton’s Depot, if possible. Colonel Dumonteil soon came up with the enemy’s rear guard and commenced skirmishing with him. I moved rapidly to a point within 1 mile of Bolton’s Depot and ascertained that the enemy’s main force of infantry was then passing through, and of course I could not strike, but waited, hoping to cut off his cavalry or wagon train, but as soon as his infantry had passed the trains moved directly behind, and his cavalry close up to the train. I then sent a courier to Colonel Adams, who was between me and Edwards’ Depot, and informed him that I would follow the enemy’s rear and check him as much as possible, and suggested to him to strike at Edwards’ and cut off his cavalry or wagon train, as the infantry was moving rapidly.
I continued the pursuit, having re-enforced Colonel Dumonteil by Major Akin’s battalion, and directed him to follow the enemy closely and check him at every favorable point. When my advance had arrived at Edwards’ Depot and was skirmishing with the enemy, and I was moving up my main force, I met Colonel Adams’ command coming in on my right at Champion’s Hill, at which place I left him and moved on. I continued the pursuit until the enemy’s rear had crossed Big Black. I then withdrew and moved my command to camp.
The casualties in my brigade during all the skirmishing were 6 wounded, all slightly.
To the officers and men under my command I feel under many obligations for the prompt manner in which they obeyed my orders and for the gallant manner in which they met the enemy, although confronting at all times a largely superior force; also for the patient manner in which they bore the hardships and fatigues of these four days.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
JOHN L. LOGAN,
Commanding Brigade.
Captain MOORMAN, Assistant Adjutant-General.
Notes on Battles of Catlett’s and Treadwell’s Plantations (Bogue Chitto Creek) and Livingston (Robinson’s Mills), Mississippi, October 16-18, 1863 taken from Anthony C. Rushing’s book Ranks of Honor, A Regimental History of the Eleventh Arkansas Infantry Regiment & Poe’s Cavalry Battalion C.S.A., 1861-1865 (1990), pages 54-66:
The skirmishing actions described above by Colonel John L. Logan in his battle report were part of the attempted check against the Federal forces of Major General James B. McPherson during his so-called Canton Expedition of October, 1863. A column consisting of two infantry divisions (Logan’s and Tuttle’s) and Winslow’s Cavalry Brigade -- a total of considerably more than 8,000 men -- crossed the Big Black River at Messinger’s Ferry on the main road to Canton. As described above by Colonel Logan, the massive Federal force first clashed with Wirt Adams’ force one mile west of Brownsville on the evening of October 15.
Opposite Colonel Logan’s Brigade, including the 11th & 17th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry (Mounted) commanded by Colonel John Griffith, outside Brownsville and at Catlett’s Plantation on October 16, 1863 were the following Yankee units according to Dyer’s Compendium (Vol. 1): 4th Illinois Cavalry, 5th Illinois Cavalry, 11th Illinois Cavalry, 4th Iowa Cavalry, and 10th Missouri Cavalry. Near Brownsville at daybreak of October 16, Colonel Griffith’s 11th & 17th Consolidated Arkansas Regiment was dismounted and placed in advance of Logan’s main force as skirmishers; this within a thicket of woods on the Federal’s right side. This position was abandoned by Colonel Griffith and his men when it was learned that the Federals had sent an entire infantry brigade plus artillery to support their cavalry.
Simultaneously, Major General McPherson had deployed additional forces towards the south, near Treadwell’s Plantation, endangering the Confederate’s rear. Colonel Logan then had Colonel Griffith and the 11th/17th Arkansas Infantry pull back to Bogue Chitto Creek, literally in yard of Mr. Catlett’s house; this next phase of the day’s action occurred roughly between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Here the men of the 11th and 17th Arkansas were deployed north of Mr. Catlett’s house, along a rise on the east side of Bogue Chitto Creek. Their Yankee adversaries during this action were again the 4th, 5th, 11th Illinois Cavalry, 4th Iowa Cavalry, and 10th Missouri Cavalry. Again, the Federal cavalry once again disengaged and rapidly headed toward Canton until it reached the intersection of the Clinton and Vernon roads. Under CSA General W. H. Jackson’s orders, Logan also disengaged his command, including the 11th/17th Arkansas Infantry, and headed northeast to intercept the Federal troopers.
After traveling about 5 miles, Logan’s force found CSA General Whitfield’s Brigade deployed across the Canton road where Bogue Chitto Creek crosses it at the Treadwell Plantation. Whitfield asked for assistance and Logan obliged, deploying his brigade for this last phase (2:00 p.m. to dark) of the day’s action. Here, the men of Colonel John Griffith’s 11th and 17th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry were once again dismounted and deployed; this time, on the south side of the Canton road, next to the 9th Tennessee Battalion and slightly southeast of Mr. Treadwell’s house. Once again, the 11th/17th Arkansas Infantry was positioned on a rise overlooking Bogue Chitto Creek to the west; the advancing Yankees moved in from the west along the Canton road. The persistent 4th, 5th, 11th Illinois Cavalry, 4th Iowa Cavalry, and 10th Missouri Cavalry were once again their opponents.
After an abortive attempt to advance around 6:30 p.m., the Yankee horsemen retreated and waited for the rest of McPherson’s force to come up. According to Dyer’s Compendium, it included not only the cavalry units previously mentioned, but also Batteries D and E, 1st Illinois Light Artillery; Battery L, 2d Illinois Light Artillery; 8th, 17th, 20th, 30th, 31st, 45th, 47th, 81st, 114th, and 124th Illinois Infantries; 6th Indiana Independent Battery Light Artillery; 93rd Indiana Infantry; 2d Iowa Battery Light Artillery; 8th, 12th, and 35th Iowa Infantries; Battery H 1st Michigan Light Artillery; 5th Minnesota Infantry; 7th and 11th Missouri Infantries; 3d Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery; 20th, 32d, 68th, 72d, 78th, and 95th Ohio Infantries; and the 8th Wisconsin Infantry.
Here, defending a strong position at Robinson’s Mills with part of CSA General Whitfield’s Brigade, Logan’s Brigade including Colonel John Griffith’s 11th and 17th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry skirmished through early morning with their now well-known foes in the 4th, 5th, 11th Illinois Cavalry, 4th Iowa Cavalry, and the 10th Missouri Cavalry until about 10:00 a.m. At that time, their Yankee adversaries made a general advance upon their position on the high-ground and deployed on the north side of the Canton road; both Roberts’ and Swindoll’s artillery batteries opened upon them and the Federals quickly withdrew.
As Colonel Logan documents in his report above, his brigade was then ordered to pursue the now withdrawing Federals first to Clinton, then to Bolton’s Depot, Edwards’ Depot, Champion’s Hill, and finally to the Big Black River. A long, exhausting campaign of skirmishing for Colonel Logan and his men, including the 11th and 17th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry (Mounted) was finally finished -- his total casualties were light, only 6 slightly wounded. According to Dyer’s Compendium (Volume 1), the total losses for Federal Major-General McPherson’s massive force during his Canton Expedition were 5 killed, 15 wounded, and 10 missing.
After this campaign, Colonel John Logan received leave to journey to Richmond, Virginia in order to request that his old regiment, the 11th Arkansas Infantry, be transferred to CSA General Sterling Price’s command. During his absence, Colonel John Griffith of the 11th and 17th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry was in command of the brigade. During this time, Colonel Griffith’s Brigade consisted of the following units: 11th and 17th Arkansas Infantry (Mounted), 14th Confederate Cavalry, 9th Louisiana Battalion, 9th Tennessee Battalion, Stockdale’s Mississippi Battalion, Wilbourn’s Mississippi Battalion, and Robert’s Mississippi Battery. `
Colonel John Griffith commanded this cavalry brigade until November 23, 1863 when the newly promoted Brigadier-General Wirt Adams was given Logan’s former command. During this time, Colonel Griffith received Special Order No. 235, dated November 4, 1863: directing him to send a 100-man squadron of cavalry to burn the grounded Federal gunboat USS Indianola and bring in any Negroes on area plantations. It is unclear whether or not these directives were accomplished.
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