FIGHT AT DAVIS'S MILLS, MISS.
COLONEL MORGAN'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
Headquarters Twenty-fifth Regiment Indiana
Volunteers,
T-fifth Regiment Indiana , Davis's Mills, Miss. December 26, 1862.
Capt. A. J. Buchanan, Assistant Adjutant- General, District of Jackson : Captain :
The following brief report of the engagement between the forces of my command stationed at this place, composed of parts of companies A, F, D, I, C, and H, of the Twenty-fifth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, with companies В and M, of the Fifth Ohio cavalry, and the rebels, under Major-General Van Dorn, on Saturday, the twenty-first inst, is respectfully submitted.
Information that a large rebel force was moving northward with the evident intention of capturing or otherwise disposing of the troops left as a guard along the line of the Mississippi Central Railway, as well as of destroying the Government stores and the road at various points, had been previously received.
I at once set to work to erect such defences as in my opinion would best protect my small force from injury or capture, prevent the trestle-work at this point from being destroyed, and at the same time inflict the greatest amount of damage upon the enemy.
I accordingly took possession of an old sawmill, which I converted into a block-house by means of railroad ties and cotton-bales. This is so situated as to command the entire trestle-work and the wagon-road leading to the mill from the south, crossing Wolf River by a bridge, distant only about seventy yards.
In this block-house I placed company H, of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, with a sufficient amount of ammunition and bread to last them a siege of at least forty-eight hours. Our work here was completed about dark Saturday evening, when with one half of my command, I erected an earthwork around the base of a mound, distant from the bridge over Wolf River about three hundred and fifty yards, and in such a direction as to cover the approach to, and. with the aid of the block-house, afford us a crossing on the bridge. Our circle was completed and sufficiently strong for an ordinary engagement by eleven P.m. the same night, and was then, with a sufficient amount of ammunition, taken possession of by those of my men who had been up to that hour resting in camp.
At four o'clock the following morning, (Sunday the twenty-first,) all were in position prepared for an attack, but the enemy failing to make his appearance, we continued our labor on the earthwork, and were in this manner occupied until about noon.
A few minutes after twelve PM. my pickets were driven in, and information was received to the effect that the enemy (variously estimated at from five to ten thousand) was approaching from the south. The infantry were at once ordered into and took the positions assigned them, that of companies A, F, D, I, and C, of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, being in the fort or earthwork, and the cavalry (dismounted) were divided, and a part, under the command of Capt Henry, company M, sent to the earthwork, another division to the blockhouse as a reinforcement, and a third party under Lieut. Slade to guard the approach to the river about one fourth of a mile from and to the west of our position. This disposition of my forces had scarcely been completed when the rebels (as infantry and in large force) made their appearance, formed their line for a charge, and came rapidly forward with a loud cheer, evidently expecting to force us into a surrender with little if any resistance on our part. Their impetuosity was checked, however, by the uneven ground, the river, and the steady and destructive tire from our defences.
For a time their ardor appeared to have diminished, but their numbers being largely increased, an effort was made to force a passage over the bridge; and for this purpose their forces were massed and a desperate attempt made to secure a footing on our side, but after a most obstinate attempt on their part, and an equally determined resistance on ours for some minutes' duration, they were compelled to fall back with considerable loss. During this time their forces had been gradually and rapidly augmenting, and their line extended from and even beyond the railroad on their left to a distance of three or four hundred yards to the right, from which they poured upon us an almost continuous shower of leaden hail. Efforts were also made at several points to effect a crossing over the river, but these were unsuccessful In a short time indications of a second attempt to cross the bridge were apparent, and deep masses, with banners flying, urged on by their officers, advanced only to be again driven back in confusion and dismay. The firing was by this time very heavy along their whole line, and concentrated upon our little earthwork and block-house ; but nothing daunted, and now firm in the belief that we could hold them at bay, my gallant little band poured in upon them volley after volley in rapid succession.
Soon a third and similar attempt to cross was made, but met with a like defeat A few of them, however, succeeded in crossing, but these hastily took refuge under the bridge.
After a most incessant firing of three and a half hours' duration the enemy withdrew, leaving a part of their dead and such of the wounded as they were unable to carry off the field in our hands. Those who had shielded themselves under the bridge, not being able to make their escape with the main force, exhibited the usual token of surrender, and were ordered to and took shelter within our works. Several attempts were made to fire the trestle-work by means of cotton-balls saturated with turpentine. The fire from the blockhouse was poured in upon them with such excellent precision and rapidity that they were compelled to abandon the enterprise. Some few shielded themselves from the fire by means of the trestle- work, and when the retreat was ordered were unable to get out of their position without great danger, and very wisely hoisted the white flag and presented themselves as prisoners.
Shortly after the retreat, the bearer of a flag of truce appeared with a verbal message from the General commanding, desiring to know if a surrender on our part was in contemplation or had been decided upon. A respectful but decided negative was returned in reply. I am firmly impressed with the belief that such a thought had not even been entertained for a single moment by any officer or private of my command, although the enemy far outnumbered us. From the best information, I am of the opinion that the rebel force was not much less than six thousand, while my force numbered only two hundred infantry and fifty cavalry.
With such discrepancies it cannot but be said that all are entitled to great credit for their gallant defence on that day, which will be ever bright in the memory of the Twenty-fifth Indiana. The enemy left in our hands twenty-two dead, thirty wounded, and twenty prisoners, together with one hundred stand of arms. Thirty wounded were deposited by them in a house near a church, about three quarters of a mile to the rear. These were left in the care of a surgeon, and from him I learn that between two and three hundred wounded were taken off in ambulances and on horseback.
Our loss was but three slightly wounded and none killed.
The other four companies of the Twenty-fifth Indiana were at Lámar and along the line of the railroad, under the command of Capt. E. C. Hastings of company C. His line extended from Cold Water to within three miles south of this point, and was there joined by pickets from here. Of these last, sixteen men were captured and paroled, but not without a very creditable resistance.
To Major Walker, Adjutant Walker, and Capt Larkin, of the Twenty-fifth Indiana ; Capt. Henry, company M, Sixth Ohio cavalry, and the other officers and men of both arms, am I much indebted for their skill and the assistance rendered me in preparing our defences ; but to single out particular officers and men as being more worthy of an honorable mention than others who were present and took part in the engagement of the twenty- first of December, 1862, would certainly be doing an injustice.
Our Senior Assistant-Surgeon, Dr. C. L. Thomas, for the skill displayed and the kind and humane treatment rendered the enemy's wounded, is deserving of mention.
Each and every one did his duty, and, if our defence and conduct during those trying hours meets with the approval of our General, we shall feel that we have received our reward.
We respectfully ask, however, that along with the names of " Donelson," " Shiloh," and " Meta- mora," " Davis's Mills " may be inscribed upon our banner.
I am, Captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Wm. H. Morgan,
Colonel Twenty-fifth Indiana Volunteers. CINCINNATI "GAZETTE" ACCOUNT.
Source: The Rebellion record: a diary of American events, Volume 3
by: Frank Moore