Campaigns and Battles - K

K:  Kabletown, West Virginia, to Kossuth, Mississippi

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


Kabletown, West Virginia, March 10, 1864 . (See Charlestown, same date.)


Kanawha Valley Campaign, West Virginia, September 6-16, 1862. Troops of the Kanawha District. Colonel J. A. J. Lightburn, of the 4th West Virginia infantry, was assigned to the command of the Kanawha district on August 17. His forces consisted of the 4th, 8th and 9th Virginia, the 34th, 37th, 44th and 47th Ohio infantry, the 2nd Virginia cavalry, 14 pieces of artillery, and was divided into two brigades, commanded by Colonel Edward Siber and Colonel S. A. Gilbert. The 34th and 37th Ohio, with 4 howitzers and 2 smooth-bore field pieces, were at Raleigh Court House; two companies of infantry were at Fayetteville to guard trains; the 44th and 47th Ohio were at Camp Ewing, 10 miles from Gauley bridge; two companies of the 9th Virginia and two companies of cavalry were at Summerville; and the remainder of the troops were at various places between Gauley and Charleston. Learning that the Confederates were massing troops at different points for a demonstration on the Valley, Lightburn ordered Siber to fall back from Raleigh to Fayetteville, and Gilbert to fall back to Gauley mountain, with a view to getting the troops together, while Colonel Paxton was sent with six companies of cavalry to keep open the communications with the Ohio river. Siber reached Fayette on the 9th and took an intrenched position, determined to hold it until the quartermaster's and commissary stores there were removed. About 10 a. m. on the 10th he received notice of the approach of a large force of the enemy. He threw out four companies to cover his right flank, and an hour later sent two companies down the Raleigh pike to reconnoiter in front. This detachment soon encountered the enemy's advance guard and Siber ordered all his men into the intrenchments. The attack in front was repulsed, but the enemy succeeded in getting around to the rear, cutting off the line of retreat. The first notice Siber had of this was an attack on the trains he had ordered back to Cotton hill. Finding himself likely to be surrounded he ordered Colonel Toland to take six companies of the 34th Ohio and clear the road to Gauley. A fight of 3 hours ensued, in which Toland was well supported by the fire of 4 mountain howitzers, when reinforcements came to Siber and he decided to hold his position until the rest of the stores could be saved. About 1 a. m. on the 11th he withdrew his whole force, unperceived by the Confederates, and took up a position at Cotton hill. Here he was assailed by six or seven regiments on the forenoon of the 11th, but a steady fire of artillery and five companies of the 37th repulsed the enemy with considerable loss. As Siber withdrew from Cotton hill he managed to destroy the magazines opposite Gauley. Late in the afternoon his rear-guard, the 47th Ohio, was attacked at Armstrong's creek by some of the enemy's cavalry. Siber sent back a force sufficient to repulse the assault and then barricaded a narrow defile in a road on the left bank of the creek, making further pursuit on that side of the stream impossible. As the enemy withdrew the march was resumed toward Camp Piatt, where he expected to join the other brigade. At 3 p. m. on the 10th Gilbert received the instructions to fall back to Gauley and immediately issued orders to that effect. Learning of the attacks on Siber's brigade, he sent four companies of the 47th Ohio and 120 cavalry to Cotton hill in time to assist in guarding the trains, and at 8 a. m. on the 11th stationed the 44th Ohio and one company of the 4th Virginia, under Major Mitchell, opposite the point where the Fayetteville road strikes the Kanawha river, and posted artillery to cover Siber's retreat. When the enemy approached they were held in check for an hour or more, when Gilbert gave the order to retire. Just above Page 531 Cannelton the Confederate advance struck the rear-guard, but was driven off with severe loss. During the night the command moved through Cannelton and reached Camp Piatt at 4 p. m. the 12th. Here the two brigades were united and at 2 a. m. on the 13th the whole column moved down to Charleston. Colonel Elliott, with the 47th, and Lieut . Fischer, with 3 howitzers, were ordered to take position in the upper part of the town and hold it as long as possible. The remainder of the command was formed on the north side of Elk creek. About 9:30 the cavalry pickets were driven in and two hours later Elliott's troops were actively engaged. He held his position, however, until 3 p. m., when he fell back on the main body and the engagement became general. The Union forces were outnumbered two to one in front, and Jenkins' cavalry, 1,200 to 1,500 strong, had come up on the right and rear. Matters looked hopeless for that little band, but by good generalship Lightburn held the enemy at bay until night, when he retreated under cover of darkness, via of the Ripley road to Point Pleasant, bringing off his artillery and trains. The Union loss in the campaign was 25 killed, 95 wounded and 190 missing. The heaviest loss fell on the detachment of the 34th Ohio, while trying to clear the road at Fayetteville. The loss of the enemy could not be ascertained, but it must have been heavy, as they were the assailants, the Federals fighting most of the time from sheltered positions. Large quantities of stores were burned to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. Kautz's Raids Near Petersburg, Virginia, May 5-17, 1864. Cavalry Division, Army of the James. On the morning of May 5, Brigadier-General August V. Kautz with his cavalry division and a section of the 8th New York battery left the Federal camp near Suffolk for the purpose of cutting the Petersburg & Weldon railroad, and marched 33 miles to Andrews' corners. Soon after midnight the march was resumed through Windsor and the Isle of Wight Court House to Fearnsville. At Birch Island bridge over the Blackwater river there was a slight skirmish between the advance guard of the Federal column and a Confederate picket engaged in destroying the bridge, in which 1 Union man was wounded. On the evening of the 6th the command camped at Wakefield, where the Norfolk & Petersburg track was cut and the station house, some freight cars and a small amount of stores destroyed. From Wakefield Kautz moved via Littleton to Stony Creek station on the Petersburg & Weldon railroad. At Littleton 8 Confederate soldiers were captured, together with several wagons of commissary stores. At Bolling's bridge, a structure for the passage of wagons over the Nottoway river, the Federal advance encountered and drove back the enemy's pickets after a sharp skirmish, and with a loss of 3 men in killed and wounded, but the Confederates surrendered after a sharp resistance. Besides more than 40 prisoners, a large quantity of provisions was captured, and a frame bridge, 2 wood sheds, 2 water tanks, a quantity of extra bridge timber, 3 freight cars, a culvert and a turnpit at Stony Creek station near by were destroyed. At daylight of the 8th the 11th Pennsylvania under Colonel Samuel P. Spear took up the line of march toward Jarratt's station. On his arrival Spear was met by a portion of Holcombe's Confederate legion and after a desperate contest was obliged to fall back. The 5th Pennsylvania was brought up and dismounted, charged the enemy and succeeded in carrying the place, capturing 37 prisoners. While Spear was fighting at Jarratt's station the rest of the division was engaged at Nottoway bridge, where it had come upon several hundred men under a Colonel Tabb of the 59th Virginia. The ground about the bridge was open and the enemy occupied both sides of the stream, holding a redoubt on the farther side. Tabb put up a good fight, but was finally driven from the bridge, which Page 532 was set on fire and in 20 minutes was a complete ruin. All of Tabb's men might have been captured had not Kautz been hampered with prisoners and a lack of provisions. Having accomplished the object of the expedition he returned via Allen's bridge and the Jerusalem plank road to City Point, burning a culvert on the Petersburg & Norfolk railroad on the way. On the 11th Kautz drew rations for an expedition against the Richmond & Danville railroad. About g a. m. on the 12th he moved out to Chesterfield junction, continued on to the Chesterfield Court House road and then in a northwesterly direction to Coalfield, where the stationhouse, woodsheds, water-tank, some cars loaded with shells, and a section of the track were destroyed. At 9 a. m. on the 13th the command reached Powhatan Station, where a supply of forage and bacon was obtained, and the railroad buildings, water-tank and 15 cars were destroyed. At the railroad bridge over the Appomattox, the enemy was found in force on the opposite bank. The advance regiment was left to keep up a demonstration in front while the main column went down the stream and crossed at Goode's bridge. Considerable delay was experienced in repairing this bridge and, reinforcements having been sent to the Confederates at the railroad bridge, the original design was abandoned. Colonel Spear and Major Jacobs with portions of their commands were then sent up the road to make a demonstration on Flat Creek bridge, while the remainder of the command engaged in destroying the railroad equipment. The Confederates at the bridge being too strongly posted to successfully engage, Kautz proceeded toward Wellville, while Spear marched to Wilson's station on the South Side railroad, where the buildings were destroyed and some track torn up. The track and station at Wellville were destroyed and the march was resumed along the South Side road to Blacks and Whites station, where a supply of forage and commissary stores was taken and the freight house, woodshed, water-tank, etc., were burned. On the 15th the column moved to Lawrenceville, where a number of prisoners and a supply of bacon and forage were taken. The next day Kautz started for Belfield, but receiving information which led him to believe that the Hicksford bridge was too strongly guarded to be successfully attacked, he changed his plans and returned to Jarratt's station. The railroad equipment which Spears had destroyed the week before had been replaced, and it was again destroyed. The railway bridge over the Nottoway had also been repaired, but it was too strongly guarded to be charged, and the column proceeded to Freeman's, where a body of Confederates attempting to destroy the bridge were driven away. Some delay was caused in repairing this bridge so that the cavalry could cross, but on the 17th the command arrived in City Point. The loss in Kautz's command during the 2 expeditions was 14 killed, 60 wounded and 27 missing.


Kearneysville, West Virginia, August 23-25, 1864 . Army of West Virginia. On the 23d, during the operations of Sheridan's army in the Shenandoah valley, General Crook was ordered to make a reconnaissance in the direction of Kearneysville. In this maneuver several of the enemy were killed and wounded and a few prisoners taken. On the same day Major Brewer, with the 1st and 7th Michigan cavalry, moved down the Smithfield pike toward Kearneysville, engaged the enemy's pickets and drove a small Confederate force out of the town, after which he returned to camp. Another reconnaissance was made on the 24th, which resulted in a sharp skirmish, the Union loss being about 30 men in killed and wounded. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was not ascertained, but a number of prisoners were brought in. On the 25th Merritt's and Wilson's cavalry divisions were sent toward Leetown on a reconnaissance. Soon after crossing Page 533 the railroad at Kearneysville the enemy's pickets were met and the command formed quickly in line of battle, Merritt's division on the right of the pike and Wilson's across the road and to the left of it. Mcintosh's brigade of Wilson's division was dismounted and thrown forward to a piece of woods on both sides of the pike; Ranson's battery was stationed in the same woods near the road and opened a vigorous fire on the enemy's front, while Chapman's brigade with Pennington's battery was moved to the left to enfilade the Confederate lines. After a sharp fight of about half an hour the enemy began to fall back and was closely pressed for nearly a mile, when it was learned from some of the prisoners taken that Early was on his way to Shepherdstown, where he intended to cross the Potomac into Maryland. The two divisions were therefore ordered back to head off the movement. Breckenridge immediately followed and when near Shepherdstown made a desperate attack on the rear-guard, forcing it from its position and following up with great vigor and persistence. Custer's brigade of Merritt's division was ordered out to repel the attack, but in doing so was struck on the flank by another body of Confederates that had marched across the country to join Early. For a time it looked as though Custer would be cut off from the main body, and Devin's brigade was directed' to engage the enemy in order to give Custer a chance to cross the river. As soon as Devin's attack was well under way Custer, with his characteristic bravery, cut his way through the enemy's lines and crossed the Potomac, going into camp that evening near Sharpsburg. Wilson was withdrawn to Halltown and Merritt remained at Shepherdstown. The Union loss was not reported. The Confederate casualties were given as 250 killed and wounded and "a number" captured or missing. Although the withdrawal of Merritt and Wilson left the ford open for Early no advantage was taken of it, Early contenting himself with the slight victory gained over the Federal cavalry in forcing it to retire from his immediate vicinity.


Kearsarge and Alabama, June 19, 1864. For a complete account of the sinking of the Confederate cruiser Alabama by the Kearsarge, off Cherbourg harbor, France, see Naval Volume.


Keller's Bridge, Kentucky, June 11, 1864. 171st Regiment Ohio National Guard. About 2 a. m. Brigadier-General E. H. Hobson disembarked this regiment from a train at Keller's bridge, about a mile from Cynthiana. Firing was heard in the direction of the town and before very long Hobson was attacked. The first and second attacks were repulsed, but later it became evident to Hobson that he was surrounded, and he surrendered his force to General John H. Morgan. The Confederate forces on the same day took Cynthiana and its garrison of a company of the 168th Ohio.


Kelley's Plantation, Alabama, April 11, 1864. Detachment of the 5th Ohio Cavalry. As a wagon belonging to Captain Jessup's company was returning from Huntsville to the camp near Sledge's plantation, it was attacked near Kelley's, on the Sulphur Springs road, captured and burned with all its contents, consisting of ten days' rations, a quantity of ammunition, clothing, etc. Three of the escort were taken prisoners, and the 6 mules of the team were driven off by the Confederates. Jessup, immediately upon hearing of the affair, organized and started a party in pursuit, but failed to overtake them that night. The next day he learned from citizens that they had. been seen on the Fayetteville road, but that they had no prisoners with them. The fate of the captured men was never reported.


Kelly's Ford, Virginia, August 21, 1862. Cavalry of the Army of Virginia. On this morning the Federal cavalry met the advance of Longstreet's cavalry on the road leading from the Stevensburg road to Kelly's ford. Page 534 Some skirmish firing was done in a field about 1,000 yards from the Rappahannock river, when the Confederates withdrew across Mountain run, leaving two companies on the farther side as a picket guard. The Federal cavalry surrounded these two companies and demanded a surrender, but the arrival of another body of the enemy aided them to get away. The Federals then charged, but were repulsed, and finally withdrew from the fight. Their loss was not reported; the Confederates lost 2 killed and 12 wounded.


Kelly's Ford, Virginia, March 17, 1863. 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. This command, under Brigadier-General William W. Averell, crossed the Rappahannock river at Kelly's ford on the morning of the 17th, after having driven the enemy's sharpshooters from an abatis on the river. Half a mile from the ford was a skirt of woods and when the Federals approached it the enemy was discovered advancing in force. The 4th Pennsylvania and the 4th New York were immediately deployed, with Mcintosh's brigade supporting the right and Reno's in reserve. An attempt was made by the Confederates to gain a house and outbuildings on Averell's right, but it was repulsed by artillery. Gregg's and Mcintosh's brigades then advanced on the enemy's left, while Duffle's brigade charged the center, driving him in confusion. After half an hour taken to reorganize the Federal troops, an advance was again made, but when the column debouched from the woods it was met by a charge of the Confederate cavalry on both flanks. The assault on the right was handsomely repulsed, but the left wing was not formed until after the Union forces had cleared the woods and the enemy got to within 400 yards of the battery before it could be unlimbered. A fierce and sanguinary cavalry fight occurred here, but Averell's men kept advancing until the Confederates were compelled to give way. Another attack upon the Union right was repulsed and the enemy driven into his intrenchments. Darkness coming on and the enemy circling to the right, Averell deemed it advisable to withdraw across the Rappahannock, which move was made without the loss of a man. The Federal loss in this engagement was 6 killed, 50 wounded and 22 missing. The Confederate forces, which were commanded by Brigadier-General Fitzhugh Lee, suffered more heavily, losing 11 killed, 88 wounded and 34 missing. Kelly's Ford, Virginia, August 4, 1863. (See Brandy Station, same date.)


Kelly's Ford, Virginia, November 7. 1863.' Detachment of 3d Army Corps. Shortly after noon the head of the column reached Kelly's ford, when a brigade of Confederate infantry was seen to rush out of the woods on the opposite bank toward the intrenchments. A cross-fire of artillery was brought to bear upon them, the enemy replying with a battery. At 1:30 p. m. the Federals forced the passage of the ford and by 2 o'clock the whole of the 1st division had crossed. The Confederates, meantime, had evacuated their rifle-pits and were in full flight across the field. Their casualties were not reported; the Union loss was 6 killed and 36 wounded.


Kelly's Island, Virginia, June 26, 1861. (See Patterson Creek.)


Kelly's Mill, Mississippi, July 8, 1864. 3d Iowa Cavalry. While Smith's expedition was proceeding to Tupelo the 3d la. was sent on a reconnaissance toward Kelly's mill. The destination was reached without incident, but as soon as the regiment began its return it was assailed on the flank by a party of Confederates, 1 of whom was killed, 1 wounded and another captured. The Federals suffered no loss.


Kelly's Store, Virginia, January 30, 1863. (See Deserted House.)


Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 27, 1864. Armies of the Cumberland, Tennessee and Ohio. When General William T. Sherman transferred his line of Page 535 operations from Pumpkin Vine creek to Allatoona and Acworth on June 4th, he rebuilt the railroad bridge over the Etowah river, established a base of supplies at Allatoona, and on the 9th occupied Big Shanty, the next railroad station south of Acworth. By that time General Johnston, commanding the Confederate forces, had formed a new line along Brush, Pine and Lost Mountains, across the railroad in front of Marietta and near Kennesaw mountain. Sherman began the investment of this position on the 10th with McPherson's Army of the Tennessee on the left, moving toward Brush mountain and Marietta; Thomas, with the Army of the Cumberland, occupied the center, moving against Pine and Kennesaw mountains; and Schofield, with the Army of the Ohio, was on the right, operating against Lost mountain. Stoneman's cavalry covered the right flank and Garrard's the left, while McCook's cavalry division guarded the communications in the rear and the base at Allatoona. After two weeks of almost constant skirmishing, in which Johnston was forced to abandon Pine and Lost mountains and contract his lines about Kennesaw, Sherman determined to assault the Confederate position. In his report he says: "Upon studying the ground I had no alternative in my turn but to assault his lines or turn his position. Either course had its difficulties and dangers, and I perceived that the enemy and our own officers had settled down to a conviction that I would not assault fortified lines. All looked to me to outflank. An army to be efficient must not settle down to a single mode of offense, but must be prepared to execute any plan which promises success. I wanted, therefore, for the moral effect. to make a successful assault against the enemy behind his breastworks, and resolved to attempt it at the point where success would give the largest fruits of victory. Th« general point selected was the left center, because if I could thrust a strong head of column through that point by pushing it boldly and rapidly two and one-half miles, it would reach the railroad below Marietta, cut off the enemy's right and center from its line of retreat, and then by turning on either part it could be overwhelmed and destroyed. Therefore, on the 24th of June, I ordered that an assault should be made at two points south of Kennesaw on the 27th, giving three days' notice for preparation and reconnaissance, one to be made near Little Kennesaw by General McPherson's troops, and the other about a mile farther south by General Thomas' troops." The plan of assault was for Schofield on the right to threaten the enemy's extreme flank and at the same time make an attack at some point near the Powder Springs road. McPherson was to make a demonstration on his extreme left, then attack on the south and west of Kennesaw, while strong skirmish lines were to be ready to push forward and seize the crest if opportunity offered. In the center Thomas was to choose some point for his assault and mask his purpose by suitable demonstrations. The real points of attack, where Sherman hoped to break through the lines, were in front of Thomas and McPherson, Schofield’s movements being more for the purpose of inducing Johnston to weaken his right and center by sending troops to his left, as the action of Reilly's and Byrd's brigades along Olley's creek (q. v.) the day before had caused Johnston much concern, and it was believed that a vigorous demonstration on that part of his line would cause him to reinforce it at the expense of other portions. Accordingly at daybreak on the 27th Schofield sent Cameron's brigade of Cox's division across the bridge built by Byrd the preceding day, while Reilly deployed a portion of his brigade as skirmishers along the Sandtown road, planted a battery on the Confederate flank and under its fire forded the stream. Just as he pushed up the bank on one flank of the Confederate intrenchments Page 536 Cameron came up on the other and after a brief skirmish the enemy broke and fled. While these movements were in progress on the right Thomas and McPherson were perfecting their arrangements for the general assault . McPherson's batteries opened a rapid fire on the works at the south end of the ridge known as Little Kennesaw, and Thomas' artillery along the Burnt Hickory and Marietta road began sending in a storm of shot and shell against the intrenchments on Kennesaw. About 9 a. m. M. L. Smith's division of Logan's corps moved forward from McPherson's lines to the attack. Almost at the same instant Newton's division of Howard's corps and Davis' division of Palmer's also advanced on the Confederate works. Smith was met by a galling fire from three batteries and a line of infantry, but his men moved steadily forward and carried two lines of rifle-pits in the face of all opposition. The main line of works was found to be located along the crest of a rocky declivity that it was impossible to scale and the division fell back to the first line of rifle-pits taken, which position was strengthened and held. Newton's division was formed in two columns, Harker's brigade on the right, Wagner's and Kimball's on the left, and preceded by a strong line of skirmishers advanced, driving in the enemy's pickets, through a tangled mass of undergrowth and fallen trees up to the very foot of the Confederate works, but were unable to carry them. Harker rallied his men and made a second assault, but fell mortally wounded. Wagner's brigade met with no better success and Kimball was then ordered to assault. His command moved forward gallantly to the foot of the works, but was met with such a stubborn resistance that it was compelled to fall back with heavy loss. Newton's pickets continued to hold the captured rifle-pits, where they were afterward relieved by Stanley's division. Davis massed his troops in an open field in the rear of the Federal breastworks and about 600 yards from the line of works to be assaulted. The intervening ground was exceedingly rough, a good portion of it being covered with a dense undergrowth. Morgan's brigade was held in the Union trenches as a reserve and at the given signal the brigades of McCook and Mitchell sprang forward over their own works and dashed across the rough ground in the face of the enemy's fire. They reached the enemy's works, but, owing to the intense heat and the strenuous exertions in crossing the broken ground, were too much exhausted to mount the parapet to which their impetuous valor had carried them. McCook fell, dangerously wounded, and Colonel Harmon of the 125th Illinois, assumed command of the brigade, but fell almost immediately. Colonel Dilworth, of the 85th Illinois, then took command and heroically led the brigade against the enemy, many of the men falling in the trenches on the threshold of victory. Mitchell's brigade moved in column parallel with McCook's and in its front a similar drama was being enacted. A problem now presented itself. To withdraw the troops was to receive the full effect of the enemy's unrestrained fire; to attempt a renewal of the assault was equally hazardous. Under the circumstances Davis recommended to Thomas that the position be held and the troops intrenched where they were. Thomas ordered this to be done and tools were immediately sent forward to the men. That night stronger works were thrown up and the division occupied a line of trenches only a few yards from those of the enemy. The Union losses in the attacks on Kennesaw mountain numbered about 2,500 in killed and wounded. Johnston admitted a loss of "over 500." The assault had failed of its purpose, but at every point of attack the Federal lines had been advanced and made permanent, proving a constant menace to the Confederate position. On the Page 537 night of the 29th an attempt was made to drive Davis from his position, which was the closest to the enemy's lines, but it was repulsed. Under the circumstances Johnston had his engineer prepare a new line along the north side of the Chattahoochee river, crossing the railroad near Smyrna. On the night of the 28th he began the removal of his trains and on the night of July 2 the entire Confederate army evacuated Kennesaw mountain.


Kernstown, Virginia, March 23, 1862. Shields' Division, 5th Army Corps. Early in 1862 "Stonewall" Jackson retreated from Winchester up the Shenandoah Valley, closely followed by Major-General N. B. Banks with the 5th army corps. The movement continued until Jackson reached New Market and was within easy marching distance of a junction with Johnston's army. It was essential to prevent this union and to get Jackson to fight away from any supporting force. Accordingly on March 20 Banks fell back to Winchester, a distance of 30 miles, giving the movement all the appearance of a retreat. The ruse worked and Jackson followed. On the morning of the 22nd Banks sent all his force with the exception of Shields' division and a small cavalry detachment across the Blue Ridge. Jackson learned of this movement and about 5 p. m. of the same day Ashby's cavalry was directed to attack and drive in the Federal pickets around Winchester. The movement was made, but Shields used only two regiments of infantry and a battery in repulsing the attack, so that Jackson was deceived as to the strength of the Union force. In the skirmish, however, Shields was struck by the fragment of a shell, and his arm fractured above the elbow, which incapacitated him for active command on the field the following day. In the night Colonel Nathan Kimball received orders to push forward at daylight on the Strasburg road to within a short distance of Kernstown. The Strasburg or Valley pike is the middle or center of three roads leading into Winchester from the south, the other two being the Cedar Creek road on the west and the Front Royal road on the east. Kimball established his headquarters on a ridge which extended across the Valley pike, a little west of that thoroughfare and half a mile north of Kernstown. The Confederate line of battle was 2 miles long, extending in a semicircle from a ravine near the Front Royal road on the east to near the Cedar Creek road on the west. The position was so skilfully concealed, however, that when Kimball placed his brigade on an eminence to the east of the road no enemy was to be seen except Ashby's cavalry which had been repulsed the night before. The Confederates commenced the attack, advancing from Kernstown and occupying a position on the heights to the east of the Strasburg pike with the batteries, while the cavalry and infantry took position on the plain on the other side. The 8th Ohio was thrown out as skirmishers, and joined by two companies of the 67th Ohio, drove back a Confederate battery which had opened a heavy fire, and routed five companies of infantry posted behind a stone wall. The position thus taken was held for several hours, or as long as the Confederates were active in front, and several attempts of Ashby's cavalry to turn the Federal left were frustrated by this advance line. When Sullivan's brigade came up it was placed at the left of Kimball's, forming the extreme left of the line. After several unsuccessful attempts to turn the Union left, Jackson moved the bulk of his force to his left and took a strong position behind a stone fence running northwest and southeast. Tyler was ordered to advance his brigade against the position. With a rush he drove the Confederate skirmishers back on their reserves behind the fence, but the position was too strong to be carried. It was at that point that the most desperate fighting of the day occurred, and had not Kimball hurried up portions of Sullivan's and his own brigades Page 538 to reinforce Tyler the result would have been disastrous. For 2 hours the battle raged with great fury and then, just as darkness fell, Jackson retired. The Federal participants, too exhausted to follow, slept on the field. The Union loss in this engagement was 118 killed, 450 wounded and 22 captured or missing. The Confederates lost 80 killed, 375 wounded and 263 captured or missing. This affair is also known as the battle of Winchester.


Kernstown, Virginia, July 23, 1864. (See Winchester, same date.)


Kernstown, Virginia, November 11-12, 1864. 1st and 3d Cavalry Divisions, Army of the Shenandoah. The 3d division, commanded by Brigadier-General G. A. Custer, went into camp near Kernstown on the evening of the 10th and the 1st Vermont, under command of Major W. G. Cummings, was placed on picket from Newtown to Fawcett's gap. About noon on the 11th the picket line was attacked by the Confederate cavalry under Rosser, which came up on the Middle road. Cummings retired slowly until Colonel William Wells ordered out the 2nd brigade to the assistance of the picket line, when the tables were turned and the enemy driven off. Another attack was made on the morning of the 12th and the skirmishing continued until nearly dark, several charges being made during the action. A little while before dark Merritt's division came up and a charge by the two divisions completely routed Rosser and drove him from the field. The 1st Vermont lost 5 killed and 16 wounded, which were the only casualties reported.


Kettle Creek, Kentucky, June 9, 1863. Detachments of 5th Indiana and 14th Illinois Cavalry. A Federal expedition from Glasgow, Kentucky, to Burkesville and the Tennessee state line, under Colonel Felix W. Graham, surprised the camp of Hamilton's battalion of Morgan's Confederate cavalry. The result was the rout of the enemy with a loss of several in killed, wounded and prisoners, 2 pieces of artillery and a quantity of stores.


Kettle Run, Virginia, August 26, 1862. (See Bristoe Station.)


Keytesville, Missouri, February 26, 1862. 6th Missouri Cavalry.


Kickapoo Bottom, Arkansas, May 29, 1862. Detachment of 3d Iowa Cavalry. Major William D. Bowen, with some 300 men and 2 mountain howitzers, surprised the camp of a band of outlaws in the Kickapoo bottom, 2 miles from Sylamore. An attempt was made to surround the camp, but owing to the extreme darkness it was unsuccessful. When the Confederates fled pursuit was made for a number of miles, resulting in the capture of 25 men, 40 horses and 40 stands of arms. Two of the enemy are known to have been killed, while the Federals suffered casualties to the extent of 1 man killed, and 2 wounded.


Kilpatrick's Expedition, Virginia, February 28-March 4, 1864. (See Richmond.)


Kilpatrick's Raid, August 18-22, 1864. (See Lovejoy's Station, Georgia) Kimbrough's Cross-Roads, Tennessee, January 16, 1864. (See Dandridge, same date.) Kimbrough's Mill, Tennessee, December 6, 1862. 1st and 93d Ohio and 5th Kentucky Infantry. Three regiments under Colonel Harvey M. Buckley acting as escort to a forage train were attacked by a band of Wheeler's cavalry at Kimbrough's mill. The attack was repulsed, but when the train started to move for camp the Confederates again attacked the rearguard and fighting was continued all the way to camp, the Union force losing 1 man killed and 2 wounded. Eight wagons farther out on the same road were captured by the Confederates.


Kinderhook, Tennessee, August 11, 1862. Detachments of the 3d Kentucky and 1st Tennessee Cavalry. At 5 a. m. 108 Federal soldiers engaged 175 Confederates near Kinderhook. The contest was continued for 4 hours, Page 539 resulting in the defeat of the enemy with a loss of 7 killed, several wounded and 27 captured. The Federal loss was 3 killed.


King and Queen Court House, Virginia, March 10, 1864. 1st New York Mounted Rifles and 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry. As an incident of an expedition into King and Queen county two regiments of cavalry under Colonel B. F. Onderdonk attacked a force of Confederates estimated at 1,200 and after a brief engagement routed them. No casualties were reported.


King George Court House, Virginia, December 2, 1862. (See Leeds' Ferry, same date.)


King George Court House, Virginia, August 24, 1863. Detachment of 3d Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. Brigadier-General George A. Custer, commanding the detachment on a reconnaissance in the direction of King George Court House, came across a party of Confederates 2 miles south of that place. In the skirmish which followed Custer forced the enemy back to within 2 miles of Port Conway, where he discovered a brigade of infantry and 4 pieces of artillery and withdrew. The enemy lost 2 killed and several wounded, and a few were taken prisoners. There were no casualties in Custer's force.


King's Creek, Mississippi, May 5, 1863. 10th Missouri, 7th Kansas, 15th Illinois Cavalry, and oth Illinois Mounted Infantry. After a successful expedition to Courtland, Colonel Florence M. Cornyn was sent with four regiments to meet and engage the enemy then at Tupelo. When the command was within a short distance of the town it was opened upon with musketry. Squadrons of the 10th Missouri were immediately thrown out to the right and left and drove back the enemy, meanwhile securing the bridge over Old Town creek. When the command had crossed the skirmishers were again deployed and advanced. Two squadrons of the 7th Kansas (dismounted) attacked the line of the enemy drawn up before the town, and two of the 10th Missouri followed the move with a saber charge, driving the Confederates from their position and out of the town. After a short time they returned and charged the Union force, which had been drawn up in line of battle on a hill. Two regiments of mounted infantry succeeded in getting between the fighting column and the reserve, but were compelled to retire in disorder. The mountain howitzers then poured charge after charge of canister into the Confederate ranks, which after a short time forced them to withdraw. The Union loss was 1 killed, 5 wounded and 3 missing. Eighty-one Confederates were captured, and besides this loss in prisoners they had 5 killed and 7 or 8 wounded.


King's Hill, Alabama, October 25, 1864. (See Turkeytown, same date.) King's Hill, Tennessee, December 25, 1864. 5th and 6th Divisions, Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Mississippi. After destroying all the ammunition at Pulaski that General Hood had been unable to remove, General Forrest fell back to Devil's gap, a narrow gorge in King's or Anthony's hill, 7 miles from Pulaski, leaving Jackson's command to burn the bridge over Richland creek and then bring up the rear. The 5th la. cavalry charged upon Jackson's men and saved the bridge after it had been fired. Colonel T. J. Harrison, of the 8th Indiana cavalry, commanding the 1st brigade, 6th division, ordered 2 pieces of artillery into position and deployed a force along the bank of the creek, compelling the enemy to withdraw. He hotly pursued the retreating Confederates, several times driving them from strong positions, until he reached the main body at King's hill. Here Forrest had selected an admirable position on high ground and hidden from view until within a short distance of it. Harrison had to halt, and while Hatch's, Hammond's and Croxton's commands were marching through the woods to his support a fire from Page 540 3 masked cannon was poured upon him, followed by a charge in two lines of infantry and a column of cavalry, forcing Harrison down the road through the ravine and capturing 1 gun from Battery I, 4th U. S. artillery. After falling back for half a mile, Harrison's skirmishers checked the enemy, and receiving support repelled him. Forrest's stand at this time was to protect his train, as his rear-guard, consisting of seven brigades of infantry and Jackson's cavalry, had been driven sharp upon it. Hammond, Croxton and Hatch moving on the flanks of his position, he abandoned it hastily, just before nightfall. The Federals captured at Pulaski, a hospital containing 150 wounded Confederates and afterward that day, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants and 50 or 60 men. The Federal casualties consisted of 3 killed, 18 wounded and 5 missing. Of these the 3 were killed and 3 were wounded when the 5th la. charged Jackson at the bridge.


King's House, Missouri, October 26, 1863. Detachment of 5th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Lieut. Charles C . Twyford and a detail of men, while resting at King's house near Waynesville, were attacked by a party of Confederates, 25 or 30 in number. Twyford and his men sought shelter in the house, and for several hours held the enemy at bay. Finally after the house had been set on fire the Federals surrendered, and were paroled. During the encounter 5 Confederates were killed and 4 wounded.


Kingsport, Tennessee, October 6, 1864. A report of Brigadier-General J. C. Vaughn, of the Confederate army, states that a force sent out by him encountered the Federals at Kingsport and drove them across the north fork of the Holston river at noon. This is the only mention of the affair in the official records of the war.


Kingsport, Tennessee, December 13, 1864. 8th, 9th and 13th Tennessee Cavalry. As an incident of Stoneman's raid into southwestern Virginia with the Tennessee cavalry brigade, the Confederates made a stand at Kingsport on the north fork of the Holston. The 8th Tennessee was sent up the stream to cross at a ford and attack the enemy in flank while portions of the 9th and 13th charged across the river and attacked in front. The movement was successfully executed and the enemy fled after a feeble resistance. Pursuit was given for 7 miles, when the disorganized Confederates took to the woods. Some 18 were killed and 84 captured. No casualties were reported on the Federal side.


King's River, Arkansas, April 19, 1864. Detachment of 2nd Arkansas Cavalry. Brigadier-General John B. Sanborn, reporting under date of April 21, says: "On the 19th instant Major Melton, with 200 men, 2nd Arkansas cavalry, had quite an affair with the forces of Colonel Sissell and Bailey on King's river, and the rebels were driven off with a loss of 25 killed and 9 captured; our loss not reported." King's School House, Virginia, June 25, 1862. This engagement is officially reported as the battle of Oak Grove, and was the first of the Seven Days' battles, (q. v.)


Kingston, Arkansas, October 10, 1863. 1st Arkansas Cavalry. While pursuing a band of Confederates the 1st Arkansas, under Colonel M. La Rue Harrison, moved at daylight and an hour later surprised the enemy at breakfast a mile below Kingston. In 25 minutes he had been routed and was retreating toward Clarksville. Six miles from the scene of the morning's encounter the Confederates were forced to make a stand by the pursuing Arkansans, and the cavalry advance kept them busy until the howitzers were brought up, when a few shells dispersed them. The casualties, if any, were not reported.


Kingston, Georgia, May 19, 1864. 1st Division, 4th Army Corps. The division, commanded by Major-General David S. Stanley, broke camp near Page 541 Adairsville and early on the morning of the 19th moved toward Kingston. Cavalry pickets were encountered early in the day and driven back through Kingston, where the enemy was found in considerable force posted beyond the creek. Cruft's and Whitaker's brigades were formed in line in front of the Confederate position, while Grose was sent to feel his way down to the left of the railroad to turn the enemy's flank. This was accomplished after a severe skirmish and the Confederates fell back toward Cassville, stubbornly fighting as they went.


Kingston, Tennessee, November 24, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 23d Army Corps. At daylight Wheeler's cavalry attacked Colonel Samuel R. Mott's brigade of the 2nd division. After a brisk engagement of 7 hours the Confederates were driven back with a loss of 250 killed, wounded and captured. The Federal loss was 1 killed and 14 wounded. The affair was an incident of the Knoxville campaign.


King's Store, Alabama, April 6, 1865. Detachment of 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Military Division of the Mississippi. Captain W. A. Sutherland with 25 men was acting as an escort for 37 prisoners when he was attacked by a superior force of the enemy at King's store and was obliged to give up his prisoners. One man of the escort was wounded and 1 taken prisoner.


Kingsville, Missouri, June 12, 1864. Detachment of Company M, 1st Cavalry, Missouri State Militia. Corp. Joseph V. Parman, with 14 men, was ambushed by a party of guerrillas near Kingsville on Sunday morning, June 12. The small squad of Union men was cut to pieces, only Parman and 2 men escaping with their lives. The bodies of the dead were robbed of their clothes and 1 was scalped.


Kinney's Farm, Virginia, May 27, 1862. (See Hanover Court House, same date.)


Kinsale, Virginia, March 12, 1865. 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 24th Army Corps. The brigade, commanded by Colonel S. H. Roberts, was on an expedition from Fortress Monroe into Westmoreland county, Virginia About 5 a. m. on the 12th the steamers landed near Kinsale and the troops began to disembark. No sooner had the first boat-load of cavalry reached the bank than it was attacked by a party of the enemy. A second boat was hurried ashore, when the Confederates, finding themselves likely to be outnumbered, made their escape before the remainder of the troops could be landed.


Kinston, North Carolina, December 14, 1862. (See Goldsboro, Foster's Expedition.)


Kinston, North Carolina, March 8-10, 1865. 23d Army Corps and Provisional Division, District of Beaufort. Wilmington was occupied by the Union troops under General Schofield on February 22, and steps were immediately taken to open railroad communications between the seacoast and Goldsboro, in order to get supplies to Sherman's army. It was soon discovered, however, that communications could be more easily established from New Berne and the base of operations was transferred to that point. On February 26, Major-General J. D. Cox was ordered to assume command of the movement. Cox reached New Berne on the last day of February, organized his forces into two divisions, commanded by Brigadier-Generals I. N. Palmer and S. P. Carter, and at once commenced the work of repairing the railroad. A little later he was joined by Ruger's division of the 23d corps. The first opposition was met near Kinston, about 30 miles from New Berne. About 3 miles from Kinston is a stream called Southwest creek, along the banks of which some skirmishing occurred on March 7, and the enemy was found to be in greater force than had been anticipated. Several roads leading to Kinston crossed Southwest creek. Near the mouth of the stream was the Neuse road, running almost parallel to the river of that name Between Kinston and Southwest creek two Page 542 roads—the Upper Trent and Dover—branched off from the Neuse road and followed a general southeasterly direction. On the east side of the creek, and nearly parallel to it, was the British road, while the Lower Trent road left the Neuse road a short distance east of the creek and ran for some distance nearly due south, crossing the British and Dover roads a little way south of the railroad. The crossing of the British and Dover roads was known as "Wise's Forks." After the skirmishing on the 7th along Southwest creek (q. v.) Cox placed Upham's brigade of Carter's division at this point to cover the left of the Federal position, a strong picket line was pushed up to the bank of the creek, and Ruger's division was stationed at Gum swamp, where it could move to the support of any part of the line at short notice. Cox had received information that Hoke's division was at Kinston, and that a Confederate ironclad was lying in the Neuse in front of the town. He did not know, however, that General J. E. Johnston, who had just been assigned to the command of the Confederate forces in North Carolina, had ordered General Braxton Bragg to move with his command from Goldsboro, unite with the remnant of Hood's army, under Generals Clayton and D. H. Hill, at Smithfield, and strike a decisive blow at the Union column coming up from New Berne, in the hope of cutting off Sherman's supplies, after which his intention was to concentrate the entire force at some available point to prevent Sherman from forming a junction with Schofield. On the morning of the 8th, while Schofield and Cox were in consultation as to what course was best to pursue, the enemy suddenly appeared in force between Upham and the rest of the division. Upham's troops were principally new recruits and could not be rallied after the first attack in time to meet the second. The result was that three-fourths of the brigade were captured. Ruger was hurried to Carter's support and the two divisions, protected by a light breastwork, held their position against the repeated assaults of the Confederates. In order to create a diversion Palmer was ordered to make a vigorous demonstration in his front, as though he intended to force a crossing. Here a few prisoners were taken, from whom it was learned that at least three divisions of the enemy were engaged at Wise's Forks, and that Bragg was in command. Upon receiving this information Schofield directed Cox to act on the defensive, holding his position if possible, until the remainder of the 23d corps could be brought up. Skirmishing was kept up during the 9th, but no serious attack was made on any part of the Union lines. A short time before noon on the 10th Hoke's division made a desperate assault on Cox's left. McQuiston's brigade of Ruger's division was moved on the double-quick to Carter's left, and at the same time both Carter's and Ruger's batteries began pouring a perfect shower of shrapnel and canister into the Confederate ranks. After an hour they broke and fled, closely pursued by McQuiston until the latter was recalled to support the center, where the line was too thin to successfully resist an attack should one be made. At 3:45 p. m. Bragg sent the following despatch to Johnston: "The enemy is strongly intrenched in the position to which we drove him. Yesterday and today we have moved on his flanks, but without gaining any decided advantage. His line is extensive, and prisoners report large reinforcements. Under these conditions I deem it best, with the information you give, to join you, which I shall proceed to do, unless otherwise directed." That night the ironclad was burned and sunk, and Bragg moved to Goldsboro to effect a junction with the main body of Johnston's army. Kinston was occupied by the Federal forces on the 14th. The Union losses in the several engagements about Kinston were 65 killed, 319 wounded and 953 captured, most of the last being members of Upham's Page 543 brigade, which was surprised on the morning of the 8th. No detailed report of the Confederate casualties was made. The number of prisoners taken was 266, and as the enemy was the attacking party it is quite probable that their loss in killed and wounded was equal to or greater than that of the Union army.


Kirksville, Missouri, August 6, 1862. Missouri State Militia Cavalry. After pursuing a party of Confederates under Porter for 8 days, Colonel John McNeil with a detachment of militia discovered them posted in the houses and outbuildings of Kirksville. The Union force consisted of only 500 men, but notwithstanding the greatly superior numbers of the enemy, McNeill dashed into the town and drove them out, capturing 47 prisoners. About 15 of these were shot for having violated paroles. The Federal casualties were 5 killed and 32 wounded. McNeil estimated the enemy's killed at 150 and the wounded between 300 and 400.


Kittredge's, Louisiana, February 10, 1865. Detachment of 3d Rhode Island Cavalry. A picket of this regiment stationed at Kittredge's sugar-house was fired into from behind a fence and 1 of the number was captured. A party was immediately started in pursuit, but after being out all day only succeeded in taking 1 man.


Knob Gap, Tennessee, December 26, 1862. (See Nolensville.)


Knob Noster, Missouri, January 22, 1862. 2nd Missouri Cavalry. Knoxville, Tennessee, June 19-20, 1863. U. S. Troops under Colonel W. P. Sanders. About 7 p. m. of the 19th Colonel Sanders, during his raid in East Tennessee, drove in the Confederate pickets to within a mile of Knoxville. After dark a detachment of the 1st Kentucky cavalry was left in the position first taken by the Federals and the remainder of the force moved around to the opposite side, driving in pickets and cutting telegraph wires. At daylight the Union troops moved up close to the city, but finding it too strongly barricaded and fortified Sanders withdrew. Two pieces of artillery were captured, besides a quantity of camp equipage, etc., and a conscription camp was broken up. The Union casualties were not reported. A Confederate report states that the loss on that side was 4 killed and the same number wounded.


Knoxville, Tennessee, September 10, 1863. This was not an engagement, being simply the occupation of the city and its environs by the Army of the Ohio, under Major-General Ambrose E. Burnside.


Knoxville, Tennessee, November 15, 1863. Cavalry Corps, Army of the Ohio. The cavalry of the Army of the Ohio skirmished all day with the advancing Confederates around Knoxville. The affair was an incident of the Knoxville campaign. The casualties were not reported. Knoxville, Tennessee, Siege of, November 17-December 4, 1863. Army of the Ohio. By November 17 practically all the Union troops about Knoxville had retired into the city before the advance of the Confederates. Major-General Ambrose E. Burnside, commanding the Army of the Ohio, had some 15,000 effective men, organized as follows: 9th army corps, Brigadier-General Robert B. Potter, consisting of two divisions, the 1st commanded by Brigadier-General Edward Ferrero and the 2nd by Colonel John F. Hartranft; part of the 23d army corps, Brigadier-General Mahlon D. Manson commanding, the 2nd division under Brigadier-General Julius White and the 3d under Brigadier-General Milo S. Hascall; the provisional brigade of Colonel W. A. Hoskins; the Tennessee brigade of Colonel J. S. Casement; the cavalry corps of Brigadier-General J. M. Shackelford, the 1st division of which was commanded by Brigadier-General W. P. Sanders, and after his death by Colonel Frank Wolford (only one brigade of the 2nd division, under Colonel Israel Garrard, was present); and the reserve artillery under Captain A. J. Konkle. The Confederate army, some 20,000 strong, was under command of Lieut.-General James Longstreet, and consisted of Major-General Lafayette McLaws' division; Page 544 Hood's division, commanded by Brigadier-General Micah Jenkins; eight batteries of artillery, under Colonel E. P. Alexander; the cavalry corps of Major General Joseph Wheeler, whose division commanders were Major-General W. T. Martin, Brigadier-General F. C. Armstrong and Brigadier-General John T. Morgan. Before the siege was raised Wheeler withdrew with part of his command, leaving Martin in charge of the cavalry remaining at Knoxville. Between November 26 and 28 Longstreet was reinforced by Ransom's cavalry and Buckner's division, now commanded by Brigadier-General Bushrod R. Johnson. During the day of the 17th Burnside kept Sanders' cavalry stationed a mile out on the Kingston road, west of the city, to hold the approaching enemy in check until the infantry could throw up breastworks. Knoxville lies between two streams flowing south, First creek on the east side of the town and Second creek on the west. Both empty into the Holston river, which is the southern limit of the city. Just north was the East Tennessee & Virginia railroad, running southeast and northwest. The line of works on the west of the city started about a quarter of a mile below the mouth of Second creek, extending in a northwesterly and northerly direction across the Kingston road to a point 600 yards beyond. Here was constructed a bastioned earthwork, upon an irregular quadrilateral, "the sides of which are respectively 125 yards southern front, 95 yards western front, 125 yards northern front and 85 yards eastern front. The eastern front was entirely open. * * * Each bastion was intended to have a pan coupe. * * » The ditch of the fort was 12 feet in width and in many places as much as 8 feet in depth. The irregularity of the site was such that the bastion angles were very heavy, the relief of the lightest one being 12 feet." This fortification was named Fort Sanders. From this point the breastworks extended in a northerly direction to the railroad. By the afternoon of the 18th Burnside had so nearly completed his works that he ordered Sanders' cavalry to withdraw into the city. The order had no sooner been given than Sanders fell, mortally wounded. The remainder of his command, however, was safely withdrawn within the defenses, and the city was now fairly invested. The ground which Sanders' cavalry had occupied was taken possession of by the Confederates on the 20th and the same day a sortie was made by the 17th Michigan to a house from which the enemy's sharpshooters were annoying the Federal troops. The Confederates were driven from the structure, which was burned. Friday and Saturday (21st and 22nd) were occupied by the garrison in strengthening the defenses. On the 23d an assault, which was partially successful, was made on the enemy's parallel by the 2nd Michigan, which gained possession of the earthworks, but was obliged to fall back for lack of support. Late that night the pickets on Hartranft's front were driven in, but the line was reestablished next day, but not without a struggle which resulted in 22 casualties. On the 24th the Federal detachment at Kingston had an encounter with Wheeler's cavalry. (See Kingston.) The same day the enemy commenced crossing a portion of his force to the south side of the Holston and on the 25th made a desperate attempt to drive Shackelford's cavalry from its position on a hill on that side of the stream, but the attack was repulsed with heavy loss to the assailants. Little was done by the Federal garrison on the next two days, although on the 27th Longstreet's skirmishers were busy on both sides of the river. On the evening of the 28th an artillery fire was opened on Fort Sanders from a hill commanding that stronghold, and as it became apparent that Longstreet intended to attack in force that part of the defenses, Hascall's division was sent during the night to reinforce Ferrero there. About 6:30 a. m. of the 29th Longstreet Page 545 opened on Fort Sanders with artillery, but after 20 minutes the guns ceased firing, a heavy musketry fire opened along the whole of Longstreet's line, and at the same time an infantry column moved forward on a run toward the bastions of Fort Sanders. Large numbers of men fell while getting through the entanglements of wire before the fort, but the weight of the column was sufficient to push it forward to the ditch. It was here that the largest number of the enemy fell, for the Federals had not only a direct artillery fire upon them, but also a cross-fire of infantry from both sides. The few who managed to scale the parapet were knocked back or killed. The slaughter was awful. Those who were not killed or wounded surrendered, as there was no avenue of retreat. Burnside estimated the enemy's loss in killed and wounded at 1,000, but Longstreet reported 129 killed, 458 wounded and 226 missing. The assault on Fort Sanders was the final effort on the part of Longstreet. The siege was not raised until Dec . 4, but in the meantime no fighting was done, although the skirmishers of the opposing forces had frequent encounters. By daylight of December 5 the Confederate rear could just be seen crossing the Tazewell road to the northwest of the city. Bragg had been defeated at Chattanooga and Grant had despatched Sherman and Elliott to Burnside's assistance, so that Longstreet's position was fast becoming untenable. The charge of the 29th was a last desperate attempt of the Confederates to get a foothold in East Tennessee. The Union loss during the siege was 92 killed, 394 wounded and 207 captured or missing. The Confederate casualties for the siege alone were not reported, but for the campaign up to the time of raising the siege (November 14 to December 4) were 198 killed, 850 wounded and 246 captured or missing.


Kolb's Farm, Georgia, June 22, 1864. Part of the 20th and 23d Army Corps. Kolb's farm was on the road from Marietta to Powder Springs. On the 21st, as Sherman was forcing Johnston to contract his lines about Kennesaw mountain, Williams' division of Hooker's (20th) corps moved forward and took possession of a hill near Kolb's house commanding the road. The enemy tried to regain the hill, but were repulsed. Johnston became uneasy over the situation and during the night of the 21st moved Hood's corps from the right of the army to drive Williams away. Although Hood reached Zion church, about a mile east of Kolb's, at an early hour on the morning of the 22nd, for some reason he did not attack until the afternoon. This gave Hascall's division of Schofield's (23d) corps time to come up and take position on Hooker's right. While reconnoitering with a view to moving forward to a ridge in front, Hooker and Hascall discovered that the enemy was advancing to attack. Hascall threw forward a skirmish line supported by the 14th Kentucky under Colonel Gallup, to hold the Confederates in check until the main body of the division could throw up barricades. Gallup repulsed three attacks on his advanced position, when he was ordered back to the main line. He fell back slowly and in good order and when the regiment reached the works the Union batteries opened. Williams' line was composed of Ruger's brigade on the right next to Hascall, Knipe's in the center and Robinson's on the left. Against this line Hood sent Hindman's division, while Stevenson's division attacked Hascall. The latter had placed in position the batteries of Shields and Paddock and these, with a well directed infantry fire, soon repulsed the attack against that part of the Federal lines. On the left of Williams was Geary, the two divisions coming together on low ground, and here the enemy succeeded in gaining some advantage. Hooker called on Howard, who was next on his left, for reinforcements. Howard sent Butterfield's division as soon as it Page 546 could be withdrawn, but before the reinforcements arrived the 13th New York battery opened from the hill on Geary's right and Winegar's and Woodbury's batteries joined in the cannonade from Williams's front, thus subjecting Hindman's forces to a cross-fire and compelling them to withdraw in some disorder and with heavy loss. The Union loss in this battle of Kolb's farm was less than 300. Johnston admitted a loss of "about 1,000."


Kossuth, Mississippi, August 27, 1862. Detachments of 7th Kansas and 2nd Iowa Cavalry. A scouting party from the two regiments was fired upon from ambush, 5 miles from Kossuth, as it was returning from the Hatchie river. On recovering from the confusion incident to the attack the Federals charged and drove the enemy from his shelter, scattering the force, killing 2 and wounding several. The Union troops lost 4 killed and 8 wounded.