Campaigns and Battles - I

I:  Illinois Creek, Arkansas, to Ivey’s Ford, Arkansas

Source: The Union Army, Vol. VI. Madison, Wisconsin: Federal Publishing Company, 1908.


Illinois Creek, Arkansas, December 7, 1862. (See Prairie Grove.)


Independence, Missouri, June 17, 1861. Detachment of Missouri Volunteers.


Independence, Missouri, November 26, 1861. 7th Kansas Cavalry. Independence, Missouri, February 18, 1862. 2nd Ohio Cavalry.


Independence, Missouri, March 22, 1862. (See Blue Springs.)


Independence, Missouri, August 11, 1862. Detachments of 7th Missouri Cavalry and 2nd Battalion Missouri Cavalry (Militia). At daybreak this post was attacked by the Confederates under Colonel J. T. Hughes, numbering from 700 to 800 men. The enemy entered the town by two roads, one party attacking the provost guard at the jail and the other the headquarters of Lieut.-Colonel James T. Buel in the bank building. Captain Thomas' company of the Missouri militia was compelled to seek cover behind a stone wall running parallel with the south side of the camp, the enemy meanwhile occupying a building from which he could pour a galling fire into the bank building, and at 9 a. m. Buel surrendered, a good part of the town having been set on fire. A party of 65 men under Lieut. Herington, which had been sent out to open a communication between headquarters and the different parts of the camp, managed to cut their way out and escaped to Kansas City. The Federal loss was 26 killed and 30 wounded. Of the garrison of 213 some 150 were taken prisoners, the others escaping toward Kansas City. The Confederate casualties were not reported, but included the leader, Colonel Hughes, killed. Independence, Missouri, February 8, 1863. Detachment of 5th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Colonel W. R. Penick, commanding the post of Independence, Missouri, sent out Lieut. D. A. Colvin with a detachment of 50 men from Companies C, D, and F, to break up a guerrilla camp not far from the town. About 2 p. m. Colvin surprised the enemy and for half an hour a running fight was kept up, the guerrillas losing 8 killed and 2 wounded. The Federals lost but 1 man. All the horses and arms of the bushwhackers were captured.


Independence, Missouri, August 25, 1863. Detachment of 11th Kansas Cavalry. Lieut. John G. Lindsay of the 11th Kansas, reporting from Independence under date of August 26, says: "I had a fight yesterday at sunrise; killed 1, wounded 2; had 1 of my men wounded."


Independence, Missouri, October 22, 1864. Pleasonton's Provisional Cavalry Division. During the pursuit of Price in his Missouri expedition the cavalry under Pleasonton reached the Little Blue river at 10 a. m. and after crossing on a hastily constructed bridge the head of the column was opened on by artillery. A steady advance was made, however, and the enemy was slowly driven toward Independence, into which town the 13th Missouri cavalry charged. Two guns and about 100 prisoners were captured and the enemy left 40 dead and wounded. The Union casualties were not reported. Independence Station, Louisiana, May 9-18, 1863. (See Amite River, same date.)


Indian Bay, Arkansas, April 13, 1864. 56th U. S. Colored Troops (3d Arkansas).


Indian Bayou, Mississippi, June 8, 1864. Captain Perry Evans, of the Confederate scouts, in a report dated at Deer creek, June 13, states that "On the 8th instant a Federal cavalry force, from 300 to 40o strong, landed at Greenville, Mississippi, and marched hastily to Indian bayou, which they reached at night and there surprised and captured during the night several furloughed soldiers from the Texas cavalry Page 510 brigade." This is the only mention of the affair, so there is no way of ascertaining what Federal soldiers participated. Indian Hill, Tennessee, November 23, 1863. (See Chattanooga.)


Indianola, Texas, February 22, 1864. Twenty-five Mounted Infantry of U. S. forces in Texas. Brigadier-General Fitz Henry Warren, commanding at Indianola, reports that 25 mounted infantrymen of his command, who were driving stock 8 miles from camp, were attacked by a well armed and mounted band of 55 Confederates. The horses of the Federals were scrubs unaccustomed to fire and at the first volley fired by the Union troops 14 of them were thrown and subsequently captured.


Indianola, U. S. S., Capture of, February 24, 1863. The Indianola was captured and sunk by the Confederate gunboats Webb and Queen of the West near New Carthage, Louisiana, about 11 p. m., after a pursuit from the mouth of the Red river. For a full account of the action see Naval Volume.


Indian Ridge, Louisiana, April 12-14, 1863. This skirmish was a part of the operations about Bayou Teche, but no circumstantial report of it is found in the official records.


Indiantown, North Carolina, December 18, 1863. Detachment of 5th U. S. Colored Infantry. Four companies of colored infantry while out on a reconnaissance were fired upon from a dense thicket of pines about 400 yards from the road. Two companies were sent out to flank the attacking party, but before they reached the pines the Confederates had fled. Two of the reconnoitering party were killed and 2 wounded.


Indian Village, Louisiana, January 28, 1863. Detachment of 2nd Louisiana Cavalry. Lieut. Perkins with a portion of a company of cavalry and a boat's crew from one of the gunboats with a howitzer, while reconnoitering near Indian Village on Grosse Tete bayou, was fired upon by a body of Confederates in rifle-pits on the opposite side of the bayou. Perkins was unable to dislodge the enemy at first, but after getting his force across the bayou in boats sent down from Plaquemine he drove the Confederates out. No casualties were reported.


Ingraham's Plantation, Mississippi, October 10, 1863. 2nd Wisconsin and 4th Illinois Cavalry. A cavalry expedition across the Big Black river under Major Harry E. Eastman of the 2nd Wisconsin came up with about 200 of Wirt Adams' Confederate cavalry at the plantation of Alfred Ingraham, not far from Port Gibson. The enemy's position was in a big yard enclosed by a box hedge, and the Federals entered this yard before the enemy was discovered. Eastman dismounted his men and deployed them so as to outflank the Confederates on the left, but before the disposition was completed the enemy was withdrawing on the Port Gibson road. Pursuit was immediately given and a running fight kept up to within 3 miles of Port Gibson. Eastman lost 1 killed and 2 wounded and though the Confederate loss was not reported, they abandoned 9 of their dead and 2 mortally wounded. Four prisoners were taken by Eastman's men.


Ingram's Mill, Mississippi, October 12, 1863. Detachment of Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps. During Chalmers' raid the cavalry division of the 16th corps came upon the Confederates 3 miles south of Byhalia near Ingram's mill. The enemy was strongly posted on hills with a swamp in their front and two 6-pounder guns commanding the road. The Confederate skirmishers were driven out of the swamp and about 3 p. m., after the Federal troops had opened on the log houses, the enemy charged. The attack was repulsed by the 7th Illinois. cavalry and the 9th Illinois infantry, and the 7th Illinois and 7th Kansas cavalry made a countercharge under Lieut.-Colonel Phillips. The enemy broke Page 511 and fled and were not rallied until 2 miles from the scene. Phillips followed until 9 p. m., fighting an obstinate rear-guard. The losses were not reported.


Irish Bend, Louisiana, April 14, 1863. 4th Division, 19th Army Corps. At daylight the division, Brigadier-General Cuvier Grover commanding, moved from Mrs. Porter's plantation, near Centerville, toward Irish bend. The 3d brigade under Colonel H. W. Birge, with Rodgers' battery, had the advance, followed by the 1st brigade, under Brigadier-General William Dwight, with Closson's battery, while the 2nd brigade, under Colonel W. K. Kimball, brought up the rear. When within 40 rods of where the road turned to form a right angle with the bend, Birge's skirmishers became engaged, and soon afterward the enemy opened with a battery posted in the woods at the angle of the road. In ordering up his reserves Birge exposed for a time his right flank, of which situation the Confederates were quick to take advantage, a force which had been concealed in the thick undergrowth making a dashing charge upon the flank and rear of the reserve regiments. This unexpected assault was bravely met, but the brigade was finally compelled to fall back. In the meantime Dwight had come up and he now, with the aid of Rodgers' battery, drove the enemy from Birge's flank, after which he attacked and pressed back the force in front. Reconnaissances disclosed the fact that the Confederates had taken up a still stronger position, where their right was protected by the gunboat Diana, thus giving an opportunity for the concentration of a greater portion of their strength on the left. For awhile the Diana kept up a cross-fire on the front, but the enemy did not attack. Grover then ordered a general advance, when the infantry and cavalry retired and the Diana dropped down stream, where she was blown up and burned. The Union loss was 49 killed, 264 wounded and 30 missing. The exact losses of the enemy were not learned, but Grover's men buried 21 Confederate dead and carried off 35 of their wounded.


Ironton, Missouri, September 26-27, 1864(See Fort Davidson.) Irvine, Kentucky, July 29, 1863. U. S. Troops under Colonel W. P. Sanders. On this date Colonel Sanders assumed command of all the mounted troops in the vicinity of Lexington, and at 3 p. m. with detachments of the 1st, 10th and 14th Kentucky, 2nd and 7th Ohio, 8th and 9th Michigan, and 5th East Tennessee cavalry; 1st and 2nd East Tennessee, 45th Ohio, and 112th Illinois mounted infantry, and Crawford's Tennessee battery, started from Lexington. After driving the enemy through Winchester, Sanders next day followed him closely on the Irvine road, and upon arriving at Irvine the Confederates were found in force, drawn up in line of battle on the other side of the river. After an hour's fighting they were driven from their position and forced to abandon a number of horses and mules. During the running fight from Winchester to Irvine the Federal troops captured some 100 prisoners and killed and wounded a number of the enemy.


Irwinsville, Georgia, May 10, 1865. Detachments of 1st Wisconsin and 4th Michigan Cavalry. These two regiments were sent out by Major-General James H. Wilson to follow and capture Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy. It was ascertained that Davis, with a train, was encamped on the night of the 9th at Irwinsville. Colonel Harnden, commanding the Wisconsin detachment, started at 3 a. m. next day, and when near Irwinsville his detachment was fired upon by what he supposed was a Confederate picket. The Wisconsin men returned the fire and advancing captured a prisoner, who proved to be a member of the 4th Michigan, which regiment Harnden had left at Abbeville the day before. In the meantime part of the Michigan troops had Page 512 surrounded and captured the camp, and with it Davis and his family. In the unfortunate skirmish between the two Union detachments 2 Michigan men were killed and an officer was wounded; 3 Wisconsin men were severely and several others slightly wounded.


Island Mound, Missouri, October 27-29, 1862. Detachment of the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry. The detachment, numbering about 240 men and commanded by Major Richard G. Ward, left camp on the 26th and the next day crossed the Osage river at Dickey's ford. Near this point the Confederates had a force of about 800 men concentrated on Osage island, and the next two days were spent in desultory skirmishing, Ward trying to draw the enemy from the island and the Confederates trying to draw the Union men from the cover of the timber. While Ward's men were at dinner on the 29th his pickets were driven in, and suspecting that the enemy was taking position behind the eminence known as Island mound, Lieut. Gardner was sent with 25 men to dislodge him. Gardner succeeded in doing this, but on attempting to return to camp was charged by about 400 of the enemy and his little band would have been annihilated but for the timely arrival of Captain Armstrong with reinforcements. Even then it was an unequal contest and the remainder of the Union troops were speedily brought into action, with the result that the Confederates were repulsed. The Federal loss was 8 killed and 11 wounded. The enemy's loss was not ascertained, but it must have been considerably more.


Island No. 10, Siege of, March 15 to April 8, 1862. (See New Madrid.)


Island No. 65, Mississippi River, May —, 1863. Detachments of 1st Indiana Cavalry, 36th Iowa Infantry and 2nd Arkansas Colored Infantry. The steamboat Pike, with a force of troops under Lieut.-Colonel George W. De Costa, while proceeding down the Mississippi for the purpose of recruiting for the 2nd Arkansas, was fired into near Island No. 65. Brisk fighting ensued for a time, one of the 2 Confederate pieces of artillery being silenced by a howitzer on board the vessel. Captain Waters of the Union command was slightly wounded, and 2 contrabands received death wounds. The Confederates are thought to have lost 10 or 15 in killed or wounded.


Island No. 76, Mississippi, January 20, 1864. Battery E, 2nd Colored Light Artillery. Island No. 82, Mississippi, May 18, 1863. Detachment of 4th Division, 16th Army Corps. While proceeding on transports, 15 miles from Greenville and near Island No. 82, the advance boat of the transport fleet was fired into from the Mississippi side of the river, wounding 14 men of the 3d la. A force was immediately landed and started in pursuit, but the chase was futile.


Isle of Wight County, Virginia, January 30-February 1, 1864. Naval Brigade Expedition. Brigadier-General Charles K. Graham, commanding the naval brigade, led an expedition to Isle of Wight county for the purpose of capturing a detachment of the enemy reported to be on the peninsula formed by Pagan and Chuckatuck creeks and the Nansemond river. A reconnaissance was made on the 29th by the gunboats Flora Temple and Smith Briggs, the former to Chuckatuck creek and the latter up the Nansemond. Owing to a heavy fog on the 30th but little was done, but at daylight on the 31st the Smith Briggs, two launches from the steamer Foster, and the gunboat Commodore Morris, all under command of Lieut.-Com. J. H. Gillis, were ordered to move up the Nansemond to Holloway point, where the troops were to land and move on the village of Chuckatuck. Graham, with the gunboats Flora Temple and General Jesup, and the transport Long Branch, Page 513 was to sail at 10:30 a. m. for Smithfield, on Pagan creek, where his men were to land and move to Chuckatuck, where the two detachments were to form a junction. Shortly after 1 p. m. a force of -90 men was landed at Smithfield, under command of Captain Lee of the 99th New York infantry, with instructions to push on to Chuckatuck, engaging any enemy that might be in the way. The gunboats were placed in position to command the town and cover the retreat of Lee, in case he was compelled to fall back. They remained there until about 3 p. m., when the Temple was sent to engage the attention of the enemy on Chuckatuck creek in the neighborhood of Cherry Grove. An hour later, having heard no firing, Graham moved with the Jesup and Long Branch for Holloway point. In the dense fog the Temple ran aground at the mouth of Pagan creek, and when Graham reached the mouth of the Nansemond the pilot of the Jesup stated that it would be impossible to go up the river until the fog lifted. The Long Branch, being of light draft, was sent up the river and about 8 p. m. arrived at Holloway point, where Graham was informed that Captain McLaughlin, with 40 men, had advanced to Chuckatuck and remained there until dark without meeting Lee, and had then returned to the point with the report that he had heard heavy firing in the direction of Smithfield. Reconnaissances were made during the night and at 7 a. m. on February 1 Graham landed with 80 men and proceeded to Chuckatuck. Finding no enemy there he went a mile farther toward Smithfield, but could get no tidings of the force under Lee and returned to the river. About 11:30 a. m. the gunboat Commodore Jones came up with a despatch, stating that Ensign Harris had escaped from Smithfield and brought the news that Lee had met the enemy at Benn's church and had been driven back to Smithfield, where he was then surrounded and short of ammunition. Without waiting to hear from Graham, Rear Adm. Lee had sent launches with howitzers and ammunition to the assistance of the detachment. Upon receiving this despatch Graham at once started with the gunboats for Smithfield, but when he reached the mouth of Pagan creek he learned that Lee's command and the Smith Briggs had been captured, that the gunboat had been blown up by the Confederates to prevent recapture, and that the launches sent by Rear Adm. Lee had met with such a galling fire that they were compelled to retire, the commanding officer and several of his men having been wounded. Thus the expedition ended disastrously. The exact losses were not reported, but practically all of the detachment that landed at Smithfield and the crew of the Briggs were either killed, wounded or captured.


Isle of Wight County, Virginia, April 13-15, 1864. Expedition led by Brigadier-General C. K. Graham. Pursuant to orders from Major-General B. F. Butler, General Graham, commander of the naval brigade, conducted an expedition into Isle of Wight county to break up a Confederate force that was annoying the gunboats along the James and Nansemond rivers. At midnight of the 13th the 23d Massachusetts infantry, Colonel Andrew Elwell, was embarked on the transport Pentz at Newport News, and under convoy of the gunboat Brewster moved up the James river, arriving at 4 a. m. at Burwell's bay, 9 miles above Smithfield, which was the objective point. The 25th Massachusetts, Colonel Josiah Pickett, embarked at Portsmouth, at sunset on the 13th, on the steamers C. W. Thomas and John Tracy, and arrived at Smithfield about 2 p. m. the next day. The 118th New York, Colonel Oliver Keese, embarked on launches at Sleepy Hole landing, on the Nansemond, at 2 a. m. of the 14th and proceeded directly to Holloway's point. From there Keese sent a detachment of 100 men to Barrel point Page 514 and with the remainder of the regiment marched to Cherry Grove, where he arrived at 7 a. m. Graham, with the 9th New Jersey, left Newport News on the flag-ship Chamberlain and the transports Tucker and Woodis at 4 a. m., and arrived at Cherry Grove about the same time as Keese. The two regiments immediately took up the march for Smithfield, but had not proceeded far when the enemy's skirmishers were encountered and the fighting was kept up for a distance of 3 or 4 miles, the dense thickets along both sides of the road making it impossible to capture the small force that annoyed the advance. At Benn's church the 118th New York was halted, with orders to remain there until 3 p. m. and then push on to Smithfield. Graham reached Smithfield about 5 p. m., but was disappointed at not finding the 23d Massachusetts there as he had expected, and made arrangements to hold the town until the next morning. Shortly afterward he was joined by Reese's regiment. Immediately after landing at Burwell's bay, Colonel Elwell started for Smithfield, but soon met the enemy's pickets and drove them back for about 2 miles, when he came upon a larger force protected by earthworks. After a sharp skirmish the Confederates were dislodged, but a little farther on they again made a stand at Wren's mills. Here they held Elwell in check for an hour, when one company charged across the creek and flanked the enemy from position. The enemy's cavalry now came up and Elwell decided to fall back to Fort Boykin, where his regiment could be protected by the fire of the gunboats in the James. At 8 p. m. he reembarked and moved down to Pagan creek, where he anchored until the following morning, when he received orders to return to Portsmouth. The loss of this regiment during the actions of the 14th was 4 wounded and 1 missing. At daylight on the 15th the 118th New York was sent up Pagan creek to destroy all the boats that could be found and feel the enemy. No enemy could be found and it soon became apparent that the Confederates had withdrawn during the night. The results of the expedition were the capture of a few prisoners; the driving away of the force in the vicinity of Smithfield and Cherry Grove; and the capture of considerable stores, which for want of transportation had to be destroyed. Among the property thus taken were 3 carriages, a lot of tobacco, several pairs of boots, some sugar, harness, tools, etc. Besides the loss of the 23d Massachusetts, already mentioned, the 9th New Jersey had 1 man wounded in the skirmish at Cherry Grove. The enemy's casualties were not ascertained.


Isle of Wight Court House, Virginia, December 22, 1862. Detachment 2nd New York Mounted Rifles. Iuka, Mississippi, September 13, 1862. 8th Wisconsin Infantry. Colonel Robert C. Murphy of the 8th Wisconsin, commanding the garrison at Iuka, reported to Major-General Rosecrans that a Confederate cavalry force attacked him and were repulsed on the morning of the 13th. Two of the attacking party were captured, but no other casualties were reported.


Iuka, Mississippi, September 19-20, 1862. Army of the Mississippi. On September 15 General J. A. Mower made a reconnaissance with his brigade to within 2 miles of Iuka and ascertained that Major-General Sterling Price of the Confederate army, with 28 regiments of infantry, 6 batteries and a considerable force of cavalry, occupied the town. General Grant determined upon an attack in two columns, the one commanded by Brigadier-General W. S. Rosecrans to move to the right of the railroad, and the other, under Major-General E. O. C. Ord, was to move to Burnsville, take the roads to the north of the railroad and move Page 515 upon Iuka. On the night of the 18th the latter was in position to bring on an engagement in an hour, but Rosecrans, because of a greater distance to march and a worthless guide, was 20 miles back. At daylight of the 19th his command moved, Stanley's division in the lead, and* by noon had reached Barnett's, a distance of 12 miles, the enemy's pickets having been driven for 2 or 3 miles. At this point Sanborn's brigade of Hamilton's division took the lead, the rest of Hamilton's division following with Stanley's division in the rear. The Confederate skirmishers were steadily driven back until the head of Rosecrans' column was within 2 miles of Iuka, near the forks of the Jacinto road and the cross-roads leading from it to Fulton. Here at 4:30 p. m. the enemy unexpectedly took the initiative. Hamilton deployed his force to the best advantage, his artillery being posted on the only ground available for the purpose. Colonel Mizner with a battalion of the 3d Michigan cavalry was sent out on the right and Colonel Perczel with the 10th la. infantry and a section of artillery formed the left. The enemy's line moved forward on the battery, and although met by a volley from the entire Federal line at 100 yards, it succeeded in reaching the battery, but was repulsed. A second time the enemy gained the battery and a second time was repulsed, but on the third attempt the three regiments sent out for the purpose, with the aid of the regiment of Texans which had just been repulsed by the 5th la., drove off the gunners and compelled the 48th Indiana to fall back upon the 4th Minnesota At this time Stanley's division was brought into the action. The 11th Missouri was placed a trifle to the right and rear of the 5th la., where it repulsed with loss a last desperate attack of two Mississippi brigades. The battle raged furiously until darkness put a stop to the fighting, the 2nd brigade of Stanley's division having been brought into action. During the night Rosecrans deployed his forces to the best advantage, expecting a renewal of the engagement at daylight, but the Confederate forces had withdrawn. Stanley followed, and when within striking distance shelled the town, driving out a number of stragglers. He pushed on for several miles, but owing to the exhausted condition of his troops, his column was badly distanced and he gave up the pursuit. Among the ordnance stores abandoned by the enemy and taken possession of by Rosecrans were 1,629 stand of arms, a large stock of equipments, a quantity of quartermaster and commissary stores, and 13,000 rounds of ammunition. The casualties were 141 killed, 613 wounded and 36 captured or missing on the Federal side and the Confederates, according to their own report, lost 86 killed and 408 wounded. Rosecrans, however, in his report says they lost 265 killed; 120 died of wounds; nearly 700 wounded, and 361 taken prisoners. The Federal force in the engagement consisted of 9,000 men. A fresh wind, blowing from Ord's position in the direction of Iuka, prevented the sound of the guns from reaching him, and he knew nothing of the engagement until after it was over.


Iuka, Mississippi, July 7, 1863. U. S. Troops under Colonel Florence M. Cornyn. On the morning of this date Colonel Cornyn, with the 7th Kansas, eight companies of the 10th Missouri, and a detachment of the 15th Illinois cavalry, 750 men in all. left Corinth for a reconnaissance on the North Farmington road. On reaching the corral on this road he learned that 12 companies of mounted Confederates had a short time before overpowered the guard and taken all the stock. He pursued and when about a mile and a half from Iuka came upon about 1,500 of the enemy posted in an open field on both sides of the road. The Illinois troops were deployed as skirmishers while the rest of the command, except a portion of the 7th Kansas, was dismounted Page 516 and formed in line of battle. The mounted howitzers were discharged into the enemy's line for some time, when Cornyn advanced. He was met by a heavy fire but succeeded in driving the Confederates in confusion. Three squadrons of the 7th Kansas under Major Jenkins was sent in pursuit and followed as far as Iuka, capturing a battery wagon and forge. The Federal loss was 4 killed and 8 wounded. The Confederate casualties were not reported but were undoubtedly heavy, as the Union men found several dead on the field.


Ivey's Farm, Mississippi, February 22, 1864. (See Okolona, same date.)


Ivey’s Ford, Arkansas, January 17, 1865. U. S. Transports Chippewa, Lotus and Annie Jacobs. While these vessels under Colonel Thomas M. Bowen were proceeding up the Arkansas river, they were attacked by a Confederate force on the south bank. The Chippewa, which was in the advance, received the worst of the fire and became so disabled that it was necessary to run her aground in order to save her. The crew and the soldiers on board were disembarked and a battery placed in position to fire upon the enemy, but during the night the Confederates withdrew. The casualties were not reported. The other transports received several shots, but were not so badly injured as the Chippewa.