Concord Church, Mississippi [since 1843] Battle Report of Colonel John Griffith, 11th and 17th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry (Mounted), commanding brigade re action at Concord Church, Mississippi on December 1, 1864 From the O.R., Series I, Volume 45, Part 1, pages 784-787 HEADQUARTERS GRIFFITH’S CAVALRY BRIGADE Near Camden, Miss., January 13, 1865 I have the honor to report that in obedience to instructions from department headquarters I assumed command of the troops in this district, and moved from Clinton via Brownsville toward Big Black River the day after enemy’s forces -- which left Vicksburg about the 26th of November ultimo, under Colonel Osband, of the Third U.S. Colored Cavalry, for the declared purpose of a raid on Jackson -- had recrossed Big Black River near the railroad track, and moved north along the western bank. I endeavored to move parallel with the enemy to prevent any effort of his to cross the river above by means of the pontoon bridge he used near the railroad track below. I sent a company from Wood’s Regiment and a company from the Eleventh and Seventeenth Arkansas, under Capt. C. Watkins, the detachment being placed under command of Capt. William S. Yerger, of Wood’s Regiment, to prevent the destruction of the bridge over the Big Black River on the Mississippi Central Railroad, which the enemy had reached before them, and although set on fire by the enemy, was stoutly defended by some dozen citizens assembled for the occasion, without knowledge of the approach of Confederate forces. The timely arrival of Captain Yerger effected the retreat of the enemy and the easy extinguishment of the flames without material damage to the work. It is worthy of especial mention that a few men living in the vicinity of this bridge rallied for its protection, and fought with skill and courage against the greatest odds, and were holding their ground nobly when our troops arrived. A small party sent forward, under Lieut. B.B. Chism, of the Eleventh and Seventeenth Arkansas Regiment, to protect the long bridge over Big Black River on the highway leading to Goodman, reached there after the toll-house and the bridge had been fired by the enemy, but in time to aid a few citizens assembled there in putting out the fire and to prevent the entire removal of the flooring on the bridge over the main stream, in which a portion of these citizens were busily engaged to keep the enemy from crossing in force, these gentlemen being ignorant of my movement to oppose the enemy. After a delay for one entire night to repair the bridge, I crossed my command early on the morning of the 29th of November. This delay was unfortunate, for the enemy, composed of white and negro troops, with eight pieces of artillery, to the number of 1,800, were encamped within four miles of Goodman; had heard at 2 o’clock in the night of our approach, and their failure to destroy the bridge, and left in haste and confusion, taking the main road to Yazoo City via Benton. I hurried after the enemy with considerable speed, but found upon reaching Benton they had so far outtraveled my command that farther pursuit was useless. The precipitancy with which the enemy fled is best attested by the fact, that during the pursuit of twenty-one miles twenty-one dead horses and several broken-down horses were found on the road. One dismounted Federal soldier was captured by a negro servant of a member of Wood’s Regiment. The day following I moved to Pritchard’s Cross-Roads, and as my scouts reported the enemy in position within the defenses of Yazoo City, I went into camp for the night. About 10 o’clock the next morning I moved on the road diverging from the road to Benton and leading directly to Yazoo City, in anticipation that the curiosity of the enemy, after his flight and confusion and my apparent withdrawal from pursuit, would induce him to search in force for my locality. Upon reaching Concord Church I found the enemy in my front preparing for action in considerable force, when I threw forward the body of scouts under Maj. J.D. Bradford and the company of independent scouts under Capt. Will. Montgomery to skirmish with the enemy, which they did, until I formed and brought forward the Eleventh and Seventeenth Arkansas Regiment, under Lieut. Col. Josephus Dotson, who was placed on the right of the road, and Wood’s Regiment, under Col. R.C. Wood, jr., who occupied the road and the left of the road. The enemy held a parallel position with my own and a portion of them had found shelter about some deserted log-houses on a hill in a small cleared field intervening, when the Arkansas and Wood’s regiments moved steadily forward, drove the enemy from the cover of the houses and out of the field, when a charge was ordered along the line, which pushed the enemy back to their horses and compelled them to retire in hurried disorder. At this juncture I held in reserve mounted the two companies of scouts already mentioned, with a detachment of the Fourth Mississippi Cavalry and Thirty-eighth Mississippi Infantry (now mounted), under Colonel Wilbourn, of the Fourth, who had reported to me with these commands, numbering about 180 men, with the design of leading them in close pursuit after the enemy the moment he gave way. I had previously sent a scout from Maj. G.W. Stubbs’ battalion of State reserve troops up the Benton road, to watch any movement by that flank to my rear. When some miles away they discovered two companies of Moorman’s and Wilbourn’s men, who had to move by way of Goodman to rejoin us, whom he took for the approach of a Federal force and so reported to me, the news reaching my ears at the instant I was moving off with my reserve force in pursuit of the vanquished enemy. I had to hold back my mounted forces and order Dotson and Wood to call off their commands and reform to meet the reported movement toward my rear. When I had completed this design a report from these scouts of Stubbs’ battalion apprised me of their error. I sent Montgomery and Bradford forward with their companies in pursuit, who followed the enemy to Sandy Creek, within two miles of Yazoo City, where they crossed the Yazoo River during the night. This fight lasted an hour and a half, was a decided victory, and cost the enemy 20 dead on the field, 7 captured wounded, 3 of whom died within twenty-four hours thereafter, and 23 other prisoners, including a lieutenant. Our loss sums up 7, only 1 of whom was killed on the field, as will more particularly appear by the accompanying report of the chief surgeon. It affords me pleasure to state that throughout this campaign officers and men did their duty fully and promptly. There was less straggling than I have ever known on similar occasions, and a general feeling of unanimity and universal good spirit prevailed. On the field every man engaged did well, and those held in reserve seemed eager to be permitted to participate. To Colonel Wood and Lieutenant-Colonel Dotson, commanding regiments under fire, I owe especial praise and obligations for readiness to obey orders, gallantry in the fight, and uniform good example. Bradford and Montgomery, of the scouts, zealously performed their duty, and I award them each the highest praise. Chief Surg. Henry Hanslow deserves mention for the success with which all the appointments of his department of duty were performed and his efficient and very gallant services, as he was on the field, accompanied by his regimental assistants, Dr. G.W. Purnell and Dr. S.R. Chambers, of Wood’s Regiment, fully up the post of duty and all the time in range of the enemy’s shot. Of those serving near my person I will mention William Laughlin, of Wood’s Regiment, my acting adjutant, and Lieut. Hal. M. Brown, of the Eleventh and Seventeenth Arkansas Regiment, who served as my aide-de-camp. Both displayed high qualities of competency, zeal, industry, and courage. I desire to refer to the valuable and efficient services rendered me on the march and during the action by Capt. Sam. Henderson, commanding independent company of scouts, who is ever ready, courteous, and highly gallant on all occasions, and particularly so on this. Reliable reports from Jones’ scouts were sent to me that the enemy moved down the opposite side of the Yazoo River and crossed a portion of his forces at Satartia, where these scouts fired upon them, which caused them to recross the stream immediately [and] build a pole road across the swamp below, during which such confusion prevailed among them that many attempted to flee, and lost their horses in the mud to a number exceeding 100. It may not be improper to add that the citizens of Yazoo County whose homes lay near our line of march visited our camps in appreciation of the position and services of the troops, conveyed promptly all reliable intelligence serviceable to a commander, and rendered valuable aid as guides, and tendered every courtesy and hospitality to officers and men. I have the honor to be, captain, your very obedient servant, JOHN GRIFFITH Colonel, Commanding Brigade. Capt. P. Ellis, Jr., Assistant Adjutant-General [Inclosure.] Report of casualties in Griffith’s cavalry brigade in the action at Concord Church, Yazoo County, Miss., December 2 [1], 1864. Killed.............................................................. 1 Slightly wounded.............................................. 1 Severely wounded.............................................3 Dangerously wounded (afterwards died).............1 Total................................................................. 6 H. HANSLOW, Senior Surgeon of Brigade. Notes on Battle of Concord Church, Mississippi, December 1, 1864 taken from E.C. Bearss’ book Decision In Mississippi (1962), pages 503-512: Federal commander Colonel E.D. Osband’s force that left Vicksburg on Nov. 23, 1864 was 2,200 men and consisted of the 5th Illinois Cavalry, 11th Illinois Cavalry, 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry, 5th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, and the 3rd U.S. Colored Cavalry. Before their kismet at Concord Church, they had burnt railroad buildings, 1,300 cotton bales, hundreds of bushels of corn and wheat, and destroyed 2 engines and 4 railroad cars at Goodman, Mississippi on Nov. 28. The combat patrol sent out by Colonel Osband from Yazoo City and led by Major N.H. Dale consisted of the 280 men of the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry; this was the unit that encountered Colonel Griffith’s main force at Concord Church the morning of Dec. 1, 1864. Total Federal casualties reported at Concord Church that day were 5 killed, 9 wounded, and 25 missing. Back to Battle Index Back to EMWS This page hosted by GeoCities Get your Free Home Page