Excerpts from Reports Relating to the Third Indiana Cavalry in East Tennessee

 

First Brigade, Second Cavalry Division, commanded by Col. Robert H.G. Minty, Fourth Michigan Cavalry.  (January 1864)

 

The Third Indiana Cavalry was stationed for the most of the month at Maryville, near Knoxville, E. Tenn.  It made no report of its marches or actions.

 

[War of the Rebellion, Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 32, Pt. I, Pages 35-36.]

 

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JANUARY 11-12, 1864.—Expedition from Maryville up the Little Tennessee River, Tenn.

 

Report of Lieut. Col. Robert Klein, third Indiana Cavalry.

 

HDQRS. THIRD BATTALION, THIRD INDIANA CAVALRY,

Maryville, Tenn., January 14, 1864

 

SIR: I have the honor to report the following in regard to a late expedition from my command up the Little Tennessee River, in which I broke up a nest of guerillas composed of absentees, deserters, and paroled soldiers of the rebel army, and rebel citizens who had been stealing stock and goods from the loyal citizens of Blount and Monroe Counties, and taking the same to North Carolina to sell them.  Their force was variously estimated from 50 to 200 strong, camped on both sides of the Tennessee River, at a place known as Chilhowee, 24 miles from this place.  I left camp with 100 men on the 11th instant at 3p.m., and stopped at night at the Harrison Ford, 8 miles from their camp, until the next morning, when at early dawn I attempted to throw half my force across the river, which was nearly swimming for a horse all of the way across; current swift, and much mush ice running.  Here I lost First Sergt. Bernhard Kraft, Company K, and his horse by drowning, and came near losing more.  I was only able to get 28 men across on the best horses.  We then moved up the river, on either side, in concert, as fast as the blockaded roads would admit, scattering their pickets and charging into their camps, routing them completely, capturing 1 captain, 1 first lieutenant, and 21 men, their arms, horses, equipments, &c., without further loss to us.  The prisoners have been put in charge of the provost-marshal of this county to forward to General Carter; the horses, arms, and equipments are taken up on my quartermaster’s return.

            Having no intermediate headquarters to report to, I make this report direct to your headquarters.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ROBERT KLEIN,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding

Assistant Adjutant-General,

Headquarters, Department of the Ohio

[War of the Rebellion, Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 32, Pt. I, Pages 70-71.]

 

First Brigade, Second Cavalry Division, commanded by Col. Robert H.G. Minty, Fourth Michigan Cavalry.  (February 1864)

 

The Third Indiana has made no report of events.  They have been operating in east Tennessee, near Knoxville.

 

[War of the Rebellion, Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 32, Pt. I, Page 37.]

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FEBRUARY 20, 1864.—Skirmish on the Sevierville Road, near Knoxville, Tenn.

 

REPORTS.

 

No. 1.—Brig. Gen Milo S. Hascall, U.S. Army.

No. 2.—Lieut. Col. Robert Klein, Third Indiana Cavalry.

 

No. 1.

Report of Brig. Gen Milo S, Hascall, U.S. Army.

HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,

Knoxville, Tenn., February 21, 1864.

MAJOR: While I was visiting my command on the other side of the river yesterday the enemy attacked my picket-post on the Sevierville road, and showed themselves rather prominently on all the roads.  I thought it best to ascertain what was in our front, and accordingly took the Fourth Tennessee Infantry, under Major Patterson, about 150 to 175 men, and the left wing of the Third Indiana Cavalry, under Lieut. Col. Robert Klein, about 200 men in ranks, and started out on the Sevierville road, the infantry in advance.  About a mile out we encountered the enemy’s outpost, which was promptly driven away by the infantry.  As soon as we had the rebels fairly started in retreat I directed Colonel Klein to go forward with his men and press the enemy vigorously till he ascertained how much force they had.  He at once obeyed the order and fell upon them with great vigor, pushing them back about 2 or 3 miles farther.  Finally, with two companies, he charged upon the Fourth and Eighth Tennessee (rebel) Cavalry, and succeeded in cutting off some 200 of them, but could only bring off 10 of them, 1 of whom was the adjutant of the Eighth Tennessee.  Having now ascertained from citizens and the prisoners taken that it was two brigades of Martin’s (rebel) cavalry that we were contending with, and not deeming it prudent to push any farther with my small force, as compared with theirs, I directed them to withdraw.  Colonel Klein lost 6 men wounded, 1 of whom will die.  The whole affair was very well executed by Colonel Klein, and proves to him to be a remarkably efficient officer.  His men behaved themselves also in the most creditable manner.

            There were no casualties in the infantry force.

            I forward the report of Colonel Klein.

            All which is respectfully submitted.

 

MILO S. HASCALL,

Brig. Gen. of Vols., Comdg. Division.

Maj. G.M. BASCOM,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Twenty-third Army Corps.

 

No. 2

Report of Lieut. Col. Robert Klein, Third Indiana Cavalry.

HDQRS. LEFT WING THIRD INDIANA CAVALRY,

Near Knoxville, Tenn., February 21, 1864

SIR:  I have the honor to report the following as the part taken by my command in the affair of yesterday on the Sevierville road:

            After the enemy’s outposts were driven in beyond our vedette station, by General Hascall’s order I passed to the front with four companies.  Leaving one company to guard against a movement around to our rear, I soon met the enemy in considerable force and skirmished (both mounted and dismounted) with them, driving them slowly, until by a charge we drove in the Fourth and Eighth Tennessee Cavalry to where the remainder of their force was dismounted and in line.  Here I had every man in hotly engaged, when finding the odds too great against us, I thought it prudent to withdraw, which was done in good order.

            As fruits of the engagement I brought off 1 adjutant (eighth Tennessee) and 9 men, 10 horses, some arms, &c.  My loss was 6 men wounded (1 mortally), 12 horses left on the field, 6 stand of arms.  The enemy’s loss was greater; so far as could be observed, 5 known to be killed.  We had at once as many as 200 men cut off, but we were too weak to hold them.

Respectfully, you obedient servant,

ROBERT KLEIN

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

Capt. EDMUND R. KERSTETTER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

 

[War of the Rebellion, Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 32, Pt. I, Pages 409-410.]

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MORRISTOWN, TENN., March 14, 1864

Major-General STONEMAN,

Commanding Twenty-third Corps;

GENERAL:  Colonel Klein reports that the enemy’s infantry is moving toward his position, Springvale, north from Chucky road, and the direction of Bull’s Gap, in what force he does not know.  Direct Colonel Garrard to be on the alert and to reconnoiter as far to his right as practicable.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J.M. SCHOFIELD,

Major-General, Commanding.

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HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., FIRST DIV., NINTH ARMY CORPS,

Near Morristown, Tenn., March 14, 1864.

Capt. R.A. HUTCHINS,

Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. First Division, Ninth Army Corps;

CAPTAIN:  I herewith send you nine prisoners captured by Colonel Klein’s cavalry this morning.  The enemy under command of Major Day, Twelfth Tennessee Cavalry, charged on what they supposed to be our picket-line.  Colonel Klein drove them back about two miles till they came upon their line of battle, killing 1, wounding 2, and taking these men prisoners.  The colonel lost no horses or men in the attack.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. MORRISON,

Colonel, Commanding Brigade

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HEADQUARTERS THIRD INDIANA CAVALRY,

Springvale, March 14, 1864.

ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL,

Headquarters Ninth Army Corps:

SIR:  The enemy in considerable force charged through our pickets on my camp.  I drove them back over two miles in confusion.  We killed 1, wounded 2, and captured 9, which I send per guard delivering this.  I lost no men or horses.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ROBERT KLEIN

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

[War of the Rebellion, Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 52, Pt. I, Pages 529-530.]

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SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS,   }                                              HDQRS. ARMY OF THE OHIO

                  NO. 8                    }                                              Morristown, Tenn., March 17, 1864.

 

IV. Captain Shields’ Nineteenth Ohio Battery is hereby attached to the Twenty-third Army Corps, and will report for duty to Maj. Gen. George Stoneman, commanding Twenty-third Army Corps.

V. The command will move to-morrow morning in the following order: Wood’s division, Fourth Army Corps, will move at daybreak, the wagons moving in advance of the body of the division.  The division will march to New Market.  The Twenty-third Army Corps will move at 8 o’clock, the trains moving in the same manner as above prescribed.  Colonel Garrard’s cavalry will \cover the movement upon the Russellville road, remaining at an in front of Morristown until noon, unless attacked by superior force of the enemy, in which case he will fall back upon the rear guard of the Twenty-third Corps for support.  The Twenty-third Corps will march from Springvale at daylight and report at Morristown to Colonel Garrard, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.  The Third Indiana Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Klein commanding, will march at 8 o’clock, taking the Dandridge road to Kimbrough’s Cross-Roads, and thence to Mossy Creek.  All the cavalry, on being united at Mossy Creek, will report to Colonel Garrard, who will receive his orders from Major-General Stoneman, commanding Twenty-third Army Corps.

By command of Major-General Schofield:

J.A. CAMPBELL,

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

[War of the Rebellion, Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 52, Pt. I, Pages 534-535.]

 

 

 

 

 

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SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS,   }                      HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO,

                  NO. 101                }                                                                              April 10, 1864.

 

6. The Tenth Michigan Cavalry and Third Indiana cavalry are hereby temporarily attached to the Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, and will report to Brig. Gen. J.D. Cox, commanding division.

By command of Major-General Schofield:

R. MORROW,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

 

[War of the Rebellion, Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 52, Pt. I, Pages 545.]

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APRIL 15, 1864.—Skirmish near Greeneville, Tenn.

 

Report of Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield, U.S. Army, commanding Department of the Ohio.

 

KNOXVILLE, TENN., April 16, 1864.

The Third Indiana cavalry, reconnoitering beyond Greeneville yesterday, surprised a party of rebel cavalry, killed 10 and captured 15, including their leader, Reynolds.  Nothing new relative to the movements of the enemy.

J.M. SCHOFIELD,

Major General.

Major-General SHERMAN, Nashville, Tenn.

 

[War of the Rebellion, Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 32, Pt. I, Page 670.]