Campaigns and Battles - N

N:  Namozine Church, Virginia, to Noyes' Creek, Georgia

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


Namozine Church, Virginia, April 3, 1865. 3d Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac. In the pursuit of the Confederates after the battle of Five Forks, the division, commanded by Bvt. Major-General George A. Custer, moved out on the morning of the 3d on the road leading to Amelia Court House. At Winticomack creek the enemy was found strongly posted on the opposite bank and the bridge was destroyed. Under a heavy canister fire a dismounted force was thrown across the creek and the enemy dislodged from his position. The pursuit was then continued to Namozine Church, where a furious charge was made on Wells' brigade, which was in advance, but it was repulsed by the gallant conduct of the 8th' New York At the church the Confederates divided, Fitzhugh Lee taking the road toward Amelia Court House and W. H. Lee moving toward Bevill's bridge on the Appomattox. Custer directed Wells' brigade to follow the former and Capehart's the latter, while Pennington was ordered to send one regiment of his brigade in support of each and to hold the remainder of his brigade in reserve at the cross-roads. A running fight then ensued on each road, the enemy being driven at the gallop, while prisoners, guns, battleflags, etc., were captured all along the route. At Sweat House creek the enemy was reinforced and made a. stand, temporarily checking the Federal advance. Pennington was ordered up, but before he arrived the enemy retreated and could not be overtaken. Wells captured the greater part of Barringer's brigade. The Union loss was comparatively slight.


Nancy's Creek, Georgia, July 18, 1864. (See Buckhead, same date.)


Nansemond, River, Virginia, May 3, 1863. During the siege of Suffolk considerable fighting occurred along the Nansemond, the most important engagement occurring on the above date. (See Suffolk, siege of.)


Narrows, Georgia, October 11, 1864. Garrard's Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland.


Nashville, Tennessee, March 8, 1862. 4th Ohio Cavalry. A detachment of the 4th Ohio under Major John L. Pugh, while in pursuit of Morgan after the latter had committed several depredations in the vicinity of Nashville, came up with the Confederates near Stone's river. After a short but sharp skirmish the enemy was defeated with a loss of 4 killed and their prisoners were liberated. The remainder swam the river to escape capture.


Nashville, Tennessee, July 21, 1862. Detachment of 2nd Kentucky Infantry. Brigadier-General N. B. Forrest, with 700 Confederates, while on a Page 628 reconnaissance in the direction of Nashville attacked the guard at a railroad bridge, consisting of a portion of the 2nd Kentucky, and after killing 2 and wounding 1, captured the remainder, 80 in number. Later in the day he drove in the Union pickets at Nashville and attempted to draw out the garrison, but was unsuccessful.


Nashville, Tennessee, October 20, 1862. Union troops commanded by Colonel Miller.


Nashville, Tennessee, November 5, 1862. U. S. Forces under Brigadier-General James S. Negley. At 2 a. m. Forrest's Confederate cavalry, about 3,000 strong with 4 pieces of artillery, attacked the Federal pickets to the south of Nashville and simultaneously Morgan with 2,500 men and one piece of artillery made a dash on the 16th Illinois infantry on the north side of the river. After a sharp contest Morgan was repulsed with a loss of 5 killed and 19 wounded. The attack from the south was also repulsed and the enemy pursued for a distance of 7 miles, where Forrest made a stand and brought his artillery into action. The Federals slowly retired, the cavalry in the rear, and the infantry so disposed as to lead an anticipated attack of the enemy against the 14th Michigan. The object was accomplished, the cavalry deployed to allow the infantry to pour in a fire which drove the Confederates back. Negley lost 26 wounded and 19 missing. The Confederate loss, according to Forrest's report, was 21 killed, wounded and missing.


Nashville, Tennessee, May 24, 1864. 15th U. S. Colored Infantry.


Nashville, Tennessee, December 15-16, 1864. U. S. Forces commanded by General George H. Thomas. After the battle of Franklin on November 30, Major-General George H. Thomas, commanding at Nashville, ordered General Schofield to fall back to that city, where Thomas had been industriously engaged for some time in collecting an army of sufficient strength to drive the Confederate forces under General Hood out of the State of Tennessee. General A. J. Smith, with three divisions of the Army of the Tennessee, had been expected to arrive from Missouri in time to reinforce Schofield at Franklin, but he did not reach Nashville until the last day of November. At the time of the battle of Nashville Thomas' army numbered altogether about 55,000 men, though less than 45,000 were actually engaged. The 4th corps, temporarily commanded by Brigadier-General T. J. Wood, General Stanley having been wounded at Franklin, was composed of three divisions commanded respectively by Brigadier-Generals Nathan Kimball, W. L. Elliott and Samuel Beatty; the 23d corps, under Major-General John M. Schofield, consisted of two divisions, the 2nd commanded by Major-General D. N. Couch and the 3d by Brigadier-General J. D. Cox; (the 1st division of this corps was absent on detached duty); three divisions of the Army of the Tennessee, (Major-General A. J. Smith's command) the 1st commanded by Brigadier-General John McArthur, the 2nd by Brigadier-General Kenner Garrard, and the 3d by Colonel J. B. Moore; the provisional detachment of Major-General J. B. Steedman, consisting of one division under the immediate command of Brigadier General Charles Cruft; the post of Nashville, troops of the 20th corps, under command of Brigadier-General John F. Miller; the quartermaster's division, commanded by Bvt. Brigadier-General J. L. Donaldson; the cavalry corps under command of Bvt. Major-General J. H. Wilson, consisting of Croxton's brigade of the 1st division, the 5th division commanded bv Brigadier-General Edward Hatch, the 6th division under command of Brigadier-General R. W. Johnson, and the 7th division under Brigadier-General J. F. Knipe. With this force of infantry and cavalry were 40 batteries of light artillery. Hood's army was organized as follows: Lee's corps, Lieut.-General S. D. Lee, was composed of the divisions of Johnson, Stevenson and Clayton; Stewart's corps, Lieut.-General A. P. Stewart, consisted of the divisions of Loring, French and Walthall; Cheatham's corps, Lieut.-General B. F. Cheatham, included the infantry divisions of Cleburne and Bate, and the cavalry Page 629 division of General J. R. Chalmers. General Cleburne was killed at the battle of Franklin and his division was commanded at Nashville by Brigadier-General J. A. Smith. The strength of Hood's army has been variously estimated at from 30,000 to 39,000 men of all arms. Colonel Stone, who went into the subject somewhat exhaustively, fixes it at 37,937. Nashville is situated on the south side of the Cumberland river. In December, 1864, several turnpike roads radiated from the city between the southeast and southwest, all running through a country somewhat broken. Six miles due south are the Brentwood hills, along the east side of which ran the Franklin pike, while the Hillsboro pike ran along the western base. Two creeks rise in these hills, their sources being less than a mile apart. Brown's creek flows northeast, emptying into the Cumberland above the city, and Richland creek flows northwest into the river some distance below. Along the ridge between the two streams ran the Granny White pike. The Nolensville pike entered the city from the southeast, crossing Brown's creek not far from the Chattanooga railroad, while north of the railroad, and between it and the river, ran the Murfreesboro, Chicken and Lebanon pikes. Another range of hills near the city had been fortified by order of Thomas. Hood followed Schofield from Franklin and during the afternoon of December 2 his cavalry engaged the Union skirmishers in front of Nashville. The next day the whole Confederate force appeared, the Federal skirmishers were crowded back, and Hood proceeded to form his main line on the hills immediately south of the Union fortifications. The morning of the 4th found his salient on Montgomery hill, within 600 yards of the Union works. Cheatham's corps on the right occupied a position behind Brown's creek, extending from the railroad to the Franklin pike; Stewart's corps formed the center and lay across the Granny White pike, while Smith's corps on the left extended the line to the Hillsboro pike. From there to the river below, across the Hardin and Charlotte pikes, and from Cheatham's right to the river above the cavalry was posted. Having taken this position Hood did not attack the works in front of the city, but spent several days in reducing some of the smaller outlying garrisons and blockhouses along the railroad. This gave Thomas time to complete his preparations, to mount and equip his cavalry and thoroughly organize his troops. General Grant in Virginia and the authorities at Washington grew impatient at the delay, fearing that Hood would eventually elude Thomas, pass round Nashville, and invade Kentucky as Bragg had done in the summer of 1862. But Thomas was guarding the fords and bridges with his cavalry, and the gunboats of Fitch's squadron were patrolling the river above and below the city. General Lyon, with a detachment of Confederate cavalry, did succeed in crossing at Clarksville on the 9th, with a view to destroying the Louisville & Nashville railroad, but Thomas despatched General E. M. McCook, with two brigades of the 1st cavalry division, to look after Lyon, so that the latter's expedition proved fruitless. Grant, however, was of the opinion that Thomas should have given battle before the enemy had time to recover from the blow received at Franklin, and on December 2 he telegraphed Thomas to leave the defenses of Nashville to Donaldson's division and attack Hood at once. Although this telegram was not an official order, its language was scarcely less imperative, but Thomas was so anxious to increase his force of cavalry, and so certain that he could do so within a few days, he decided to wait until he could attack with every assurance of success. In reply to Grant's telegrams Thomas said: "I now have infantry enough to assume the offensive, if I had more cavalry; and will take the field anyhow as soon as the remainder of General McCook's division of cavalry reaches here, which I hope will be in two or three days. We can get neither Page 630 reinforcements nor equipments at this great distance from the North very easily, and it must be remembered that my command was made up of the two weakest corps of General Sherman's army, and all the dismounted cavalry except one brigade; and the task of reorganizing and equipping has met with many delays, which have enabled Hood to take advantage of my crippled condition. I earnestly hope, however, in a few more days, I shall be able to give him a fight." This explanation was evidently not satisfactory, either to Grant or to Sec. of War Stanton, and Thomas was again urged to attack the enemy in his front. It was a case of the man at the desk a thousand miles away trying to direct the operations of the man in the field. The record of Thomas at Mill Springs and Chickamauga ought to have been a sufficient guarantee of his ability to command an army or to plan a campaign, yet that record availed him nothing now, when the secretary of war and the lieutenant-general of the Federal armies were "spoiling for a fight." On the 6th Grant sent another telegram to Thomas, directing him to attack at once, and to wait no longer to remount his cavalry. To this Thomas replied that he would make the necessary disposition and attack, "agreeably to your orders, though I believe it will be hazardous with the small force of cavalry now at my command." This elicited a sarcastic telegram from Stanton to Grant, in which he said: "Thomas seems unwilling to attack because it is hazardous, as if all war was any but hazardous. If he waits for Wilson to get ready, Gabriel will be blowing his last horn." To such sneers as this the hero of Chickamauga paid no attention, but went quietly ahead completing his arrangements for a battle that was to forever destroy the usefulness of Hood's army as a factor in the War of the Rebellion. By the 9th he was ready to attack, but a severe storm came on, covering the ground with a thick coating of sleet, over which it was impossible to move troops with that celerity so essential to success in making an assault on an enemy. On the 9th General Halleck telegraphed him as follows: "Lieut.-General Grant expresses much dissatisfaction at your delay in attacking the enemy." To this Thomas replied: "I feel conscious I have done everything in my power, and that the troops could not have been gotten ready before this. If General Grant should order me to be relieved, I will submit without a murmur." He seems to have had a premonition of what was about to occur, for on the same day Grant asked the war department to relieve Thomas and turn over the command of the army at Nashville to Schofield. When notice of this order was received at Nashville, Thomas called a council of his corps commanders and asked their advice, informing them that he was ordered to give battle immediately or surrender his command. The council Was unanimous in the opinion that it was impracticable to make any attack until the ice should melt. The order relieving Thomas was then suspended, but on the 13th Grant again became impatient and ordered General Logan to proceed at once to Nashville, and the next day started for that place himself to assume command of the army in person. By noon on the 14th the ice had melted sufficiently to permit the movement of troops. At 3 p. m. Thomas called together his corps commanders and laid before them his plan of battle for the following morning. Steedman was to make a feint against the enemy's right, while Smith, with the three divisions of the Army of the Tennessee, was to form his troops on the Hardin pike and make a vigorous assault on Hood's left. In this movement Smith was to be supported by Wilson, with three divisions of cavalry, and one division of cavalry was to be sent out on the Charlotte pike to clear that road of the enemy and keep watch on Bell's landing. Wood was directed to leave a strong skirmish line in his works from Lawrens' hill to his right, form the remainder of the 4th corps on the Hillsboro road to support Smith's left, and at the same Page 631 time move against the left and rear of the salient on Montgomery hill . Schofield, after leaving a strong line of skirmishers in the trenches from Lawrens' hill to Fort Negley, was to move with the rest of the 23d corps and cooperate with Wood, protecting his left against any attack by the enemy. The troops under Donaldson, Miller and Cruft were to occupy the inner line of works and guard the approaches to the city. At 4 a. m. on the 15th everyone within the Federal works was awake, and at daylight the several commands began to move to their assigned positions. A dense fog hung over the field during the early morning hours, completely concealing the movements of the Federal troops. Each officer seemed to feel the injustice of the imputation cast on Thomas, and all now moved as if determined to vindicate the valor of the Army of the Cumberland and the honor and judgment of its commander. At 6 o'clock Steedman moved out on the Murfreesboro pike and 2 hours later began his demonstration against Cheatham's right. This demonstration was so vigorous that it was virtually an assault. The roar of his artillery and the rapid fire of his musketry soon drew Hood's attention to that part of his line. Reinforcements were hurried to Cheatham and Steedman withdrew his men after they had carried part of the enemy's intrenchments, as they were subjected to an enfilading fire and the object of the feint had been gained, though toward noon Colonel Thompson, with three regiments of colored troops assaulted and carried the left of the front line of Confederate works on the Nolensville pike, holding his position there until the next morning. Smith had to move farther than anticipated, and the movements of his men were retarded by the fog and mud, so that it was 10 o'clock before he reached the first of the detached redoubts which Hood had built between his left flank and the river. This was between the Hardin and Hillsboro roads and was manned by a detachment of Walthall's infantry, with 4 pieces of artillery. Hatch and McArthur opened fire on it with their batteries, Coon's cavalry brigade dismounted and charged, carrying the redoubt and capturing the guns. At the same time McArthur charged from another direction and as the enemy was retiring captured 150 prisoners. The captured redoubt was under the fire of another and stronger one, and the two commands now turned their attention to its reduction. Again Coon's brigade, armed with repeating rifles, advanced up the hill, firing as they went, while McArthur was in such close support that the Confederates saw they were doomed to defeat and made the attempt to abandon the redoubt. Just then McArthur ordered a charge, which was successfully made, and 250 prisoners were added to those already taken. In the meantime Hatch had engaged a portion of French's division near Richland creek and driven it back beyond the Hardin house, where Colonel Spaulding, with the 12th Tennessee cavalry made a brilliant charge, capturing 43 prisoners and the headquarters train of Chalmers' division. As soon as Wood heard the sound of Smith's guns, he moved against Montgomery hill, swinging to the left as he advanced in an effort to uncover the enemy's flank. At 1 p. m. Post's brigade of Hearty's division dashed up the hill and over the intrenchments. He was promptly supported by the rest of the division, and the enemy's salient was in possession of the Federals. Wood then threw his reserve brigade of each division to his right and engaged the enemy with his entire corps. This movement of the 4th corps to the right caused Thomas to order Schofield to the right of Smith. In executing this movement Couch's division pushed beyond the second captured redoubt and carried the enemy's line on a. range of hills parallel to the Granny White pike. Cox's division moved st1ll farther to the right, driving the Confederates from the hills along Richland creek. As Schofield was thus moving to the right Smith bore to the left, assaulted Walthall's division behind a stone wall near Page 632 the Hillsboro road, driving Reynolds' brigade on the left in confusion, and finally routed the entire division. At sunset the whole Confederate army had been driven from its original line and forced back to the Brentwood hills. During the night Hood formed a new line with his right resting on Overton's hill near the Franklin pike and extending from there along the base of the Brentwood hills, his left being refused a little west of the Granny White pike. The Union forces bivouacked on the field, and Thomas gave orders for each corps to move forward at 6 o'clock the next morning, not halting until the enemy should be met. If Hood showed a disposition to accept battle a general attack was to be made, but if he should retreat the whole army was to be pushed forward in pursuit. The battle on the 16th was opened by the advance of the 4th corps on the Franklin pike. The enemy's skirmishers were driven back and Wood pressed forward to the main line of works on Overton's hill. Steedman came up on the Nolensville road and formed on Wood's left, while Smith connected with Wood's right, forming a continuous line of battle. Schofield occupied a position facing east, perpendicular to Smith's line, and Wilson, on the right of Schofield, was directed to gain the enemy's rear with his cavalry. By noon Wilson had reached the rear and stretched his line across the Granny White pike. Thomas then ordered an assault on Overton's hill, in the hope of gaining the Franklin road, thereby cutting off the last avenue of retreat. Morgan's brigade of Steedman's command, with the left brigades of the 4th corps, moved forward to the assault, advancing in the face of a heavy fire of infantry and artillery until near the crest, when a line of reserves arose and opened such a destructive fire that the column was compelled to fall back. The heaviest losses sustained by the Union army was in this attack on Overton's hill. Immediately following Wood's repulse here Smith and-Schofield moved against the enemy's works in their front, carried everything before them, broke the line in a dozen places, captured all the artillery and several thousand prisoners. At the same time Wilson attacked the enemy in the rear, clinching his possession of the Granny White pike and completely shutting off retreat by that road. Wood and Steedman, hearing the shouts of victory on their right, now made another assault on Overton's hill, and although they were met by the same heavy fire as before, the onset was irresistible. As the Federal lines advanced the enemy broke in confusion, leaving all his artillery and many prisoners in the hands of the victorious assailants. On through Brentwood pass the Confederates fled, a disorganized mob, closely pursued by the 4th corps for several miles, or until darkness put an end to the chase for that day. The pursu1t was continued for ten days, but owing to the delays encountered m crossing Rutherford's creek and Duck river, both swollen by recent rains and the bridges destroyed, Hood got so far in advance that he crossed the Tennessee river at Bainbridge on the 26th and the chase was abandoned. The Union loss in the battle of Nashville was 387 killed, 2,562 wounded, and 112 missing. No detailed report of the Confederate losses was made. Hood reached Tupelo, Mississippi, with about 21,000 men. In his report of the campaign he says: "The official records will show that my losses, including prisoners, during the entire campaign do not exceed 10,000 men." On the other hand Thomas officially reports the capture of 13,189 prisoners, and it is known that the Confederate loss in killed and wounded at the battle of Franklin alone was about 5,000, to say nothing of Nashville and the other engagements of the campaign. In addition to the prisoners reported by Thomas, the Union army captured 72 pieces of artillery, and a large number of battleflags. Notwithstanding Grant's severe criticisms of Thomas' delay, he sent a telegram congratulating Page 633 him on his victory, and Sec. Stanton ordered a salute of 100 guns to be fired on the 16th to celebrate the event. General Cullum, in speaking of the battle of Nashville, says: "The best tactical battle of the war, so decisive in results, was the last and crowning glory of Thomas' campaigns; but it sufficed to stamp him as one of the foremost soldiers of the great civil contest, a general who had never been defeated, and one whose victories had placed him among the greatest heroes of the Republic."


Nashville & Chattanooga R. R., Tennessee, December 2-5, 1864. Detachments of the Army of the Cumberland. As the Confederates under General Hood were advancing upon Nashville, they made several attacks on the garrisons at the various blockhouses along the line of the Nashville & Chattanooga railroad. Blockhouse No. 2, located 5 miles from Nashville, was garrisoned by Lieut. George D. Harter and a small detachment of the 115th Ohio infantry. On the morning of the 2nd a force of the enemy, most of whom wore the Federal uniform, began surrounding the stockade. Before the movement was completed a train came up from Murfreesboro, having on board the 44th and part of the 14th U. S. colored infantry. While the train was still on the Mill creek trestle it was fired upon by the Confederate battery, disabling the locomotive and injuring several men Colonel Lewis Johnson, commanding the colored troops, hurried his men to the blockhouse, where they received ammunition from Harter and joined in the defense of the post. From 10 a. m. until dark an incessant fire of artillery was kept up by the enemy, nearly 500 rounds of solid shot from 10 and 20-pounders being discharged against the garrison. Several times the fire from the blockhouse compelled the enemy to change the position of his guns, but at dark the building was in a state of wreck . The north wing was destroyed, the west wing badly damaged, the main support of the roof had been shot away and the other supports were much weakened. Under the circumstances Harter decided to evacuate the stockade, and accordingly at 3 a. m. on the 3d quietly withdrew and marched with his own detachment and the colored troops to Nashville, where they arrived safely about daylight. The Union loss in this action was 12 killed, 46 wounded and 57 missing. No. 1 blockhouse, 4 miles from Nashville, garrisoned by a few of the 115th Ohio, under Lieut. J. N. Shaffer, was attacked on the morning of the 3d by artillery. The firing lasted all d-.y and five times the Confederates sent in a flag of truce to demand a surrender, but each time it was refused. Toward evening the ammunition of the garrison was exhausted and Shaffer was unable to continue the fight, so there was nothing left for him but to surrender. On the same day blockhouse No. 3, near Antioch, commanded by Captain D. N. Lowrey, was attacked by a large force of the enemy. Artillery was brought to bear on the garrison and the cannonade was kept up for 36 hours, during which time no less than 90 shots from 10 and 20-pounder guns struck the stockade. At the end of that time, as the enemy showed no signs of withdrawing, Lowrey surrendered the garrison. The blockhouse at Overall's creek, about 4 miles north of Murfreesboro, was attacked on the 4th by Bate's division, with several pieces of artillery. General Rousseau sent General Milroy, with the 8th Minnesota, 61 st Illinois and 174th Ohio, from Murfreesboro to the relief of the garrison. The timely arrival of this reinforcement enabled the garrison to hold its position, as Bate was driven off with a loss of several in killed and wounded and about 20 prisoners. Milroy stated the total number of his casualties as 64, many of whom were only slightly wounded Four miles below Murfreesboro was blockhouse No. 7, garrisoned Dy Company E, 115th Ohio, commanded by Lieut. H. H. Glosser. This post was attacked on the 4th by General Forrest, with a large force of cavalry and artillery. Of the 76 artillery shots fired at the blockhouse, 32 struck it, Page 634 though the structure was but slightly damaged. In his report of the affair Glosser says: "General Forrest sent in a flag of truce four times, demanding the surrender of this house, promising to treat me well, and threatening to burn me with Greek fire it I refused. I resolved to believe nothing but such things as I could see; and as I could not see the Greek fire, I thought I would wait until I did." Forrest finally withdrew, but left some sharpshooters, who kept the garrison hemmed in for thirteen days. No casualties here, either during the attack or the siege. General George H. Thomas, commanding the Army of the Cumberland, sent out an order on the 4th to evacuate all the blockhouses between Nashville and Murfreesboro. As soon as this order was received at Murfreesboro couriers were started to notify the commanders of the blockhouses. Sergt. William McKinney, commanding at No. 4, received the order on the 5th, and was preparing to carry it out, when he was attacked by overwhelming numbers and compelled to surrender. Nos. 5 and 6, commanded respectively by Captain W. M. McClure and Lieut. J. S. Orr, received the order late on the 4th and evacuated early the next morning, just as straggling parties of the enemy had began to make their appearance. Both garrisons were compelled to move by circuitous routes, but reached Murfreesboro that afternoon without casualty. At blockhouse No. 9, near Bellbuckle, the Confederates appeared and sent in a flag of truce to Lieut. M. S. Hurd, the commander of the garrison, demanding a surrender. Hurd replied: "If you want this blockhouse, come and take it." The enemy evidently had no artillery here, and after firing a few volleys of musketry withdrew.


Natchez, Mississippi, July 31, 1863. (See Saint Catherine's creek.)


Natchez, Mississippi, November 11, 1863. 58th U. S. Colored Infantry.


Natchez, Mississippi, December 7, 1863. Mississippi Marine Brigade. Brigadier-General Wirt Adams, of the Confederate army, in his report of operations about Natchez, states that at about daylight on the 7th he attacked the Union position near the city and after one regiment had skirmished for a short time the Federals retired. No casualties were reported. Adams' report is the only one found in the official records, so that it is not definitely known what Union troops were engaged, but as the Marine brigade was in the vicinity at the time it was probably the participant.


Natchitoches, Louisiana, March 31, 1864. Cavalry Division, Department of the Gulf. The itinerary of the cavalry division during the Red River campaign contains the following: "March 31.—The command moved forward at an early hour, and met with no resistance until about 1 p. m., when a small force of rebels was encountered about 6 miles from Natchitoches. The rebels, 1,000 strong, with 4 pieces of artillery, were driven rapidly through the town, losing several killed and wounded and 35 prisoners."


Natchitoches, Louisiana, April 6, 1864. 19th Army Corps. When the 19th corps moved out of Natchitoches on the 6th there was slight skirmishing in the Federal front with no casualties reported. The movement was an incident of the Red River campaign. Natchitoches, Louisiana, April 19, 1864. 4th Brigade, Cavalry Division, Banks' Red River Expedition. During the Red River campaign this brigade was commanded by Colonel Nathan A. M. Dudley, who made no report of his operations. On the 20th he was relieved by the 1st brigade, 1st division, 16th corps. (See article following.)


Natchitoches, Louisiana, April 20-22, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 16th Army Corps. On the 20th this brigade broke camp at Grand Ecore and marched 5 miles to Natchitoches, where a line of battle was formed and continuous skirmishing kept up until the morning of the 22nd, when the balance of the 16th and all of the 17th corps arrived and the enemy was forced back across Cane river. No casualties reported on either side.


Natural Bridge, Florida, March 6, 1865. 2nd and 99th U. S. Infantry, Colored. At daylight Major Benjamin Lincoln with two companies of the 2nd U. S. colored infantry drove the advanced pickets of the Confederates over the Natural bridge, further pursuit being stopped by a deep slough. Learning that there was no other way of crossing it was determined to force a passage and while three companies attempted a direct assault three others were to attempt to turn the Confederate right. The enemy fled from their works on Lincoln's approach, and again the slough stopped further progress. No casualties were reported. The affair was one of the incidents of the operations about Saint Mark's.


Nauvoo, Alabama, January 2, 1865. Cavalry Detachment, Army of the Cumberland. Colonel W. J. Palmer, of the 15th Pennsylvania cavalry, with his own regiment and detachments of the 2nd Tennessee, 10th, 12th and 13th Indiana cavalry, was in pursuit of the Confederates as they retreated from Tennessee, after Hood's decisive defeat at Nashville. The enemy's pontoon train was captured near Russellville on December 31, and Palmer pushed on through Nauvoo after the supply train. From Nauvoo he turned westward on the Aberdeen road and came up with the train about 10 p. m., just across the state line in Itawamba county, Mississippi The Confederates after a slight resistance fled in confusion, leaving 110 wagons and over 500 mules as spoils to the victorious pursuers. No casualties reported. (Although this action is given as Nauvoo, Alabama, it really occurred about 40 miles from that place in a northwesterly direction.)


Neabsco Creek, Virginia, December 19, 1862. (See Occoquan, same date.)


Neal Dow Station, Georgia, July 4, 1864. (See Ruff's Station.) Neal's Gap, Alabama, September 1, 1863. Negro Head Cut, Kentucky, April 27, 1863. Detachment, 102nd Illinois and mth Ohio Infantry. This detachment, under command of Colonel Benjamin J. Sweet of the 21st Wisconsin, acting as guard for a passenger train between Franklin and Woodburn, had a rather sharp skirmish in Negro Head cut. The engineer noticed a rail removed for the purpose of throwing the train off the track and brought the train to a stop. The troops on board were at once disembarked and formed under cover of the railroad embankment on the opposite side from the Confederates. After brisk firing for a few minutes the enemy broke and fled, pursued for 2 miles by a company of the mth Ohio. The casualties were 5 wounded, 2 mortally, on the Union side; 4 Confederate dead and 4 wounded were left on the field.


Nelson's Bridge, Louisiana, October 4, 1863. (See New Iberia.)


Nelson's Farm, Virginia, June 30, 1862. This is one of the names given to the battle of Glendale, for a full account of which see Seven Days' Battles.


Neosho, Missouri, July 5, 1861. Detachment of 3d Missouri Infantry. On hearing cannonading outside the town, Captain Joseph Conrad, commandant of the post, despatched a patrol of 20 men to learn the cause. About 2 hours later the patrol returned followed by five companies of Confederate soldiers, who demanded an unconditional surrender of the garrison of 80 men. It was made without the firing of a shot. Neosho, Missouri, April 26, 1862. Detachment of 1st Missouri Cavalry. Lieut.-Colonel C. B. Holland reporting from Cassville on May 1, says: "Major Hubbard, commanding 1st Missouri cavalry, with 146 of his men, fought and routed Colonels Coffee and Stand Watie and 200 Indians at Neosho on the 26th, killed and wounded 30, and took 62 prisoners and 70 horses and a large quantity of arms." Stand Watie's report puts the Confederate loss at 2 killed and 5 wounded.


Neosho, Missouri, May 31, 1862. Detachments of 14th Missouri Infantry (Militia) and 10th Illinois Cavalry. This force under Colonel John M. Richardson was attacked about 8 a. m. by Confederates and Indians under Page 636 Colonels Stand Watie and Coffee. Richardson formed his troops and ordered a charge, but instead of advancing toward the enemy the men turned and fled, followed by the Confederate cavalry for some distance. Richardson's loss was 8 wounded and 3 captured or missing, while the Confederates had 1 man killed.


Neosho, Missouri, August 21, 1862. 6th Missouri Cavalry. This affair was the driving out of a Confederate detachment in a hasty retreat. The Federal cavalry followed until the enemy had passed Pineville. No casualties were reported.


Neosho, Missouri, October 4, 1863. Detachments of the 6th and 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Captain Charles B. McAfee, with a detachment of the 6th regiment, entered the town of Neosho, just as Captain Coffee's Confederate company entered it from another. McAfee attacked with such vigor that the enemy was soon driven from the town, but he was reinforced by a large detachment of Shelby's cavalry and returned, forcing the Union men to take shelter in the court-house, which place was defended for an hour and a half, when the ammunition was about exhausted and McAfee surrendered. While this was going on a scouting party of the 8th regiment, under Captain Milton Burch, overtook some 30 Confederates at Widow Wheeler's place, near Neosho, routed and pursued them for some distance, killing 10 and capturing 2 without any loss to the Federals. These affairs were incidents of Shelby's Missouri raid.


Neosho, Missouri, November 4-6, 1863. Detachment of 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. When this detachment entered the town on the 4th it skirmished with and drove out a band of bushwhackers, killing 1 of the number and losing 1 killed. On the 6th about 70 of the Union troops attacked 30 bushwhackers on Butler's creek, near Neosho, killing 8 of them. The Federals were commanded by Captain James J. Akard.


Neosho, Missouri, June 3, 1864. Detachment of 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. A band of 20 bushwhackers fired upon 2 men of Company L, 8th Missouri, 3 miles from Neosho. One man was killed and the other captured. A rescuing party was immediately sent out from Neosho and overtook the guerrillas 10 miles out. In the fight which ensued 4 of the enemy were killed and the rest of the band scattered. One of the attacking Federals was killed.


Neuces River, Texas, August 10, 1862. A party of 04 Confederates under Lieut. C. D. McRae lay in ambush near the camp of 70 Federal loyalists during the night of the 9th and at daylight next morning attacked from two sides. Though the Federal participants put up a stiff resistance they were overpowered, and those not killed fled in confusion. Thirty-two Union men were left dead on the field and the enemy lost 2 killed and 18 wounded.


New Albany, Mississippi, April 18-19, '8636th and 7th Illinois and 2nd Iowa Cavalry. As an incident of Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson's raid from La Grange, Tennessee, while a battalion of the 6th Illinois was attempting to cross the bridge across the Tallahatchie river near New Albany, it was fired on by a squad of the enemy stationed on the farther bank. A charge across the bridge sent them back toward the town. The next day a detachment of Grierson's command came upon 200 Confederates near the town, and engaged them, killing and wounding several. The Federals suffered no loss in either skirmish.


New Albany, Mississippi, June 19, 1863. Detachments of 9th Illinois Mounted Infantry, 18th Missouri Infantry, 5th Ohio Cavalry, 1st Missouri Light Artillery. As an incident of operations in northeastern Mississippi this command, under Lieut.-Colonel Jesse J. Phillips, encountered some 200 or 300 Confederates, who attempted to check Phillips' progress, but they were driven a mile beyond New Albany, where they were dispersed.


New Albany, Mississippi, October 5, 1863. 3d Michigan Infantry. This regiment under Colonel Eugene Moyers formed line of battle on approaching New Albany, but the panic among the Confederates there was so great that they were withdrawn without offering any resistance. Moyers pursued for several miles, killing 2 and capturing 11. The Union loss was 1 killed.


New Albany, Mississippi, February 23, 1864. 3d Illinois and 5th Kentucky Cavalry. When Smith's column on its retreat from before West Point during the Meridian expedition was between Pontotoc and New Albany the 3d Illinois and the 5th Kentucky were placed as rear guard. For some distance they kept up a running skirmish with the enemy and then at a creek 9 miles from New Albany put an effectual stop to the Confederate attacks by a decisive defeat of the harassing force. No casualties reported.


Newark, Missouri, July 7, 1862. Detachment of 2nd Missouri Cavalry (Militia). Captain C. A. Lewis with a portion of the 2nd Missouri encountered Confederate pickets about 3 miles from Newark. The enemy made an attempt to outflank the Federals and cut off their horses, thereby compelling Lewis to fall back to his camp. A demand for a surrender was sent in but it was immediately refused. By the time the remainder of the 2nd Missouri arrived to reinforce Lewis the Confederates had withdrawn. Lewis reported 2 men wounded.


Newark, Missouri, August 1, 1862. 73 men of the 11th Missouri State Militia.


New Baltimore, Virginia, November 5, 1862. New Baltimore, Virginia, October 19, 1863. (See Buckland Mills.)


New Baltimore, Virginia, October 26, 1863. Major John S. Mosby with 50 men attacked a Union wagon train and captured the teams of some 40 or 50 wagons, together with 20 of the guard. The only mention of the affair is in Mosby's report, so there is no way of knowing who the Union participants were.


New Berne, North Carolina, March 14, 1862. Expedition under Major-General A E. Burnside. The brigades of Brigadier-Generals John G. Foster, Jesse L. Reno and John G. Parke and the unattached commands of the 1st New York Marine artillery and Company B, 99th New York infantry, all of the department of North Carolina under Major-General Ambrose E. Burnside, embarked on transports at Roanoke island on the morning of the 11th and at daybreak on the morning of the 13th landed at the mouth of Slocum's creak on the Neuse river. By the time the last of the troops were disembarked the head of the column had reached Otter creek, where it was discovered the Confederates had deserted their intrenchment. From this point Foster proceeded up the main county road and Reno up the railroad toward New Berne, while Parke followed Foster as a reserve. At 8 p. m. the troops bivouacked in the order of march and during the night some more of the Federal artillery was landed. At daylight on the 14th Captain Robert S. Williamson of the topographical engineers was sent forward with an escort to reconnoiter the Confederate position, while the brigades formed for battle. Foster, with Parke in his rear as a reserve, was to attack the enemy's front and left from the county road, and Reno was to attempt to turn the enemy's right from the railroad. The heads of the columns had gone but a short distance before they were within range of the Confederate artillery. Foster immediately placed the 24th and 25th Massachusetts on the right of the road, 6 navy boat howitzers and 2 other naval batteries on the road, and the 23d and 27th Massachusetts on the left. Reno, on arriving near the line of intrenchments, ordered a charge up the railroad on a brick-kiln well within the enemy's line. The move was successfully executed by part of the 21st Massachusetts, but the Confederate right extended some three-quarters of a mile beyond the railroad, so that Reno was kept busy and was unable to send support to the advanced detachment of the 21st, which was obliged to fall back to the main line of Page 638 the brigade, now disposed with the remainder of the 21st Massachusetts, the 51st New York and the 9th New Jersey, on the left of the railroad and the 51st Pennsylvania in reserve. By this time the engagement had become general. Parke was ordered across the railroad to strike the extreme Confederate right from a strip of timber. While he was crossing the railroad he was met by Lieut.-Colonel William S. Clark with the detachment of the 21st Massachusetts which had been compelled to fall back and was informed that by regaining possession of the brick-kiln with a sufficient force the Confederate rear could be gained. Parke immediately ordered a charge, which was made by the 4th Rhode Island, supported by his whole brigade, and the Union colors were planted on the parapet. The column then turned to the right and while it was thus fighting the enemy behind his own intrenchments Foster charged, clearing the whole line of the breastworks from the railroad to the river of Confederates. Parke then reversed his command and a similar movement was executed on the left of the railroad, Reno charging in front while Parke attacked the enemy behind his works. By the time this coup was completed Foster had succeeded in getting one regiment to the Confederate rear, cutting off the retreat of 200 men who surrendered unconditionally. Burnside then quietly took possession of the city. His loss was 90 killed, 380 wounded and 1 captured or missing, while the Confederates suffered casualties to the extent of 64 killed, 101 wounded and 413 captured or missing.


New Berne, North Carolina, May 22, 1862. Company I, 17th Massachusetts Infantry.


New Berne, North Carolina, November 11, 1862. 24th and 25th Massachusetts Infantry and 3d New York Cavalry. Two detachments of 50 men each, under Lieuts. James M. Drennan and Charles F. Tew, were sent out from New Berne on foraging expeditions. On the return of Drennan's party it was followed by a force of Confederates with artillery. Drennan made a stand at the Jackson creek bridge, where reinforcements, reached him and for some time a sharp skirmish fire was kept up, the Federals falling back at dark to New Berne with the loss of 1 wounded. Meantime the enemy had attacked two companies of the 24th Massachusetts at the Neuse river bridge, but was driven back by the railroad monitor. The Union loss in this latter affair was 1 killed and 2 wounded.


New Berne, North Carolina, February 27, 1863. Detachment of the 3d New York Cavalry under Captain Jacobs.


New Berne, North Carolina, March 14, 1863. (See Deep Gully, same date.) New Berne, North Carolina, February 1-3, 1864. Army of North Carolina. New Berne is located on the point of land at the junction of the Neuse and Trent rivers, and in the winter of 1864 was a place of some strategic importance. The Confederate plan of attack on the town and its surrounding defenses was as follows: General Pickett, with some 6,000 men,, was to move directly upon the town from the direction of Kinston; General Barton, with about 5,000 men, was to gain possession of the Federal works on the south side of the Trent river, beginning at Brice's creek and extending westward; and General Martin, with 4,000 men, was to attack Newport, some 20 miles south of New Berne, in the sub-district of Beaufort, destroy the railroad, and thus break the communication with the coast. The defenses of New Berne were commanded by Brigadier-General I. N. Palmer, whose effective force numbered less than 4,000 men of alt arms. On the east side of the Neuse were Forts Chase and Anderson, garrisoned by small detachments under the command of Colonel Hiram Anderson, of the 92nd New York infantry. Colonel T. J. C. Amory, of the 17th Massachusetts infantry, had been placed in command of the intrenchments on the south side of the Trent, and Colonel P. J. Claassen, of the 132nd New York infantry, was in command of the outposts along Batchelder's creek to the north and west of the town. The sub-district of Beaufort Page 639 was under command of Colonel James Jourdan, of the 158th N. Y., whose forces consisted of his own regiment, the 9th Vermont and 2nd North Carolina infantry, rt of the 2nd Massachusetts heavy artillery, and Mix's (23d New York) cavalry battalion. At 2:30 a. m. on the 1st Pickett, with his own division and Hoke's brigade of Early's, attacked the outpost at the crossing of the Neuse road over Batchelder's creek. This outpost was held by 13 men under Lieut. Haring, of the 132nd New York, but in the darkness the Confederates could not determine the strength of the force opposed to them. Having posted his men behind a light breastwork and for over an hour kept Pickett's entire army in check. He was then reinforced by Company D, 132nd New York, composed mostly of Indians, who threw themselves into the breastwork and so effectually did they resist the enemy that he had to bring up artillery to continue the attack, at the same time sending a detachment across at another place to threaten their flank. At 5:30 Claassen sent word to Palmer that the enemy was attacking in force and asked for a section of artillery. An hour later, finding himself unable to drive the Confederates back, he gave the order to retire toward New Berne. In the fog signals could not be used, the order failed to reach an outpost at Beech Grove on the Washington road, and it was cut off and captured. This detachment, under Lieut. Leith, consisted of 14 men of the 132nd New York and Company F, 2nd North Carolina A section of artillery moving to the assistance of the post was also captured. Palmer sent a small detachment of infantry and a section of artillery, under Lieut.-Colonel Fellows of the 17th Massachusetts to check the advance of the enemy on Neuse road, and also sent out a railroad train from New Berne, which enabled Claassen to save his stores. About noon the enemy appeared on all sides of New Berne. Barton had crossed the Trent river on pontoon bridges and appeared in front of Amory's works on Brice's creek with three brigades of infantry, Baker's cavalry and several pieces of artillery. The fight here was opened by a field battery of the 3d New York light artillery and after a short time the Confederates retired beyond the range of the guns. Another attack was expected and Amory placed his men in the best positions to resist it, but for some reason the enemy did not renew the assault. When Pickett appeared in front of the line running from the Neuse to the Trent the guns of Fort Totten opened fire, the 12th New York cavalry, under Colonel J. W. Savage, with 2 mountain howitzers, remained in front of the line, and this position was maintained until sunset, the Confederates making no attempt to assault. Pickett had sent three regiments of infantry and 4 pieces of artillery to the east side of the Neuse, with instructions to attack Forts Anderson and Chase as soon as the assault commenced against Fort Totten, but nothing was done on that side of the river, further than to assume a threatening attitude. About midnight Pickett gave up the fight and began to withdraw his forces. About 3 a. m. of the 2nd some 250 men of the Confederate navy, under Captain J. T. Wood, embarked in small boats and surprised the U. S. gunboat Underwriter lying in the Neuse. The greater part of the crew escaped, but the vessel was captured. As soon as this fact became known the guns oi Fort Stevenson opened on the gunboat, and the enemy, finding it impossible to get the steamer away, set fire to her and escaped to shore. Six of the attacking party were taken prisoners. In the Beaufort district the Confederates led by Martin performed their part of the program better. Early on the 2nd the picket station at Gales' creek was attacked by infantry, cavalry and artillery. Two attacks were repulsed, but the superior numbers of the enemy finally compelled the pickets to fall back to Bogue Sound blockhouse. The enemy then set fire to the Gales' Creek station and followed the Union Page 640 troops to the blockhouse, which was garrisoned by a company of the 9th Vermont infantry. This company, reinforced by the pickets from Gales' creek, put up a gallant resistance for nearly an hour, when the blockhouse was carried by assault, the garrison retiring to Morehead City. Martin then advanced on Newport barracks, throwing his right across the railroad to cut off the retreat of the garrison. Here the remainder of the 9th Vermont, commanded by Captain S. H. Kelley, met the advance of the Confederates with well-directed volleys of musketry, while Mix's cavalry did effective service by harassing the enemy at various points. The light was maintained with unabated vigor for over an hour, and it was not until there was great danger of all retreat being cut off that the order was given to burn the stores and abandon the place. The fort at Newport village was occupied by a detachment of the 2nd Massachusetts heavy artillery and some infantry under Lieut.-Colonel Barney, who was also commandant at the post. After Kelley was driven from the barracks, Barney deemed it inexpedient to try to hold his position, and gave the order to retire toward Beaufort under cover of darkness. One of the heavy guns was brought off, another stuck in the mud, and the others were rendered unfit for service. During the night Jourdan concentrated his forces behind a line of intrenchments at Morehead City, where he made preparations to resist an attack. All the roads leading to the places were barricaded, a line of rifle-pits was thrown up, artillery placed in position, etc. During the 3d his cavalry reconnoitered the country in front of his works and reported the enemy in force at the railroad crossing, 6 miles from Morehead. But no attack was made, either because Jourdan's position was deemed too strong to assault, or Pickett's failure to carry the works at New Berne led Martin to regard it as inexpedient. On the 4th he withdrew and the next day Jourdan reoccupied his old positions and reestablished his lines. The Union losses in all the operations about New Berne were 13 killed, 26 wounded and 364 captured or missing. The enemy's casualties were not ascertained. Pickett reported "about 45 killed and wounded," and promised a more detailed report, but if he ever made one it does not appear in the official records of the war.


New Bridge, Virginia, May 24, 1862. (See Mechanicsville, same date.)


New Bridge, Virginia, June 5, 1862. Battery B, 1st Maryland Light Artillery. This affair was an artillery duel between a Federal force commanded by Captain Alonzo Snow and four batteries of the enemy, posted on the opposite side of the Chickahominy river. After expending 630 rounds of case shot and shell Snow succeeded in silencing the Confederate guns. The Union loss was 2 wounded, while that of the enemy was not reported.


New Bridge, Virginia, June 20, 1862. 1st New York and 5th U. S. Artillery. While General McClellan's army was lying in front of Richmond the several camps were annoyed by shells thrown by the enemy. On the 20th 3 horses and 1 man belonging to Battery B, 1st New York, were killed. Captain Weed, commanding Battery I, 5th U. S. artillery, placed 2 guns near New Bridge and replied to the enemy's fire, killing 2 men and wounding 4. After 8 rounds had been fired the Confederate guns were silenced. Later they commenced again from an enfilading position, but their shells went wild and no damage was done. Newburg, Indiana, July 18, 1862. On this date some of Morgan's raiders, commanded by Adam R. Johnson, captured Henderson, Kentucky, and some of the guerrillas crossed the Ohio river to Newburg, Indiana, where they captured a hospital with about 80 wounded and convalescent soldiers. The inmates of the hospital were armed and wanted to fight, but the surgeon in charge ordered them to lay down their arms. The surgeon was arrested by the state authorities. Two citizens of Indiana, who Page 641 brought the Confederates across the river, were killed by citizens of Newburg after Johnson's men had left.


Newby's Cross-Roads, Virginia, November 9, 1862. Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac. During the operations of the cavalry under Brigadier-General Alfred Pleasonton in Loudoun county, Virginia, the enemy attacked at Newby's cross-roads. The affair resulted in the repulse of the Confederates. No losses were reported.


Newby's Cross Roads, Virginia, July 24, 1863. (See Battle Mountain.)


New Carthage, Louisiana, April 5, 1863. Detachment of 3d Illinois Cavalry. In an effort to secure a flat-boat to cross Bayou Vidal so as to get to New Carthage, Brigadier-General P. J. Osterhaus sent Captain Carnahan and 20 men of the 3d Illinois down the bayou. The boat was secured and the party had started back to the main body when the Confederates opened fire from the bank. After a few minutes of fighting the enemy was driven back, having lost 1 killed and 1 badly wounded. The Illinois men suffered no losses.


New Creek, West Virginia, June 19, 1861. At 5 a. m. Confederates under Colonel John C. Vaughn attacked the Federals guarding the bridge across the Potomac river. The Union troops withdrew in confusion, firing only a few scattering shots. The only mention of the affair is that made by Vaughn, so there is no way of ascertaining what Federal troops participated. The Confederates had 1 man wounded.


New Creek, West Virginia, August 4, 1864. U. S. Troops of the Department of West Virginia. The garrison of New Creek, under Colonel Robert Stevenson, and consisting of the 154th Ohio National Guard, detachments of the 6th West Virginia infantry, 2nd Maryland Potomac Home brigade, 1st Illinois, light artillery and Battery H, 1st West Virginia light artillery, was attacked by a large Confederate force under Generals McCausland and Bradley T. Johnson. The fort was subjected to a heavy artillery and musketry fire for several hours, but after the arrival of a detachment of the 11th West Virginia infantry as a reinforcement, the Confederates were driven back. Stevenson's command suffered a loss of 8 killed and 29 wounded or missing. The Confederate loss was not reported, but was fully as heavy.


New Creek, West Virginia, November 28, 1864. Detachments of 5th and 6th West Virginia Cavalry, Battery L, 1st Illinois and Battery H, 1st West Virginia Artillery. About 11:30 a. m. of the 28th the garrison of Fort Kelly at New Creek was surprised by about 2,000 Confederates under Rosser. The surprise was so complete that no organized resistance was made, only a few scattering shots being fired by the stampeded troops. Rosser captured 7 pieces of artillery and some 443 prisoners, 100 of whom later escaped. The Federals also had 4 men wounded. The enemy's loss, if any, was not reported.


New Haven, Kentucky, August 2, 1864. Detachment of 40th Kentucky Mounted Infantry. Captain J. B. Nipp, with Company C of the 40th Kentucky, came upon a few Confederates while on a scout in the vicinity of New Haven. Seven of the enemy were captured, 2 of whom were later shot while attempting to escape.


New Hope, Kentucky, July 11, 1862. 33d Ohio Infantry.


New Hope Church, Georgia, May 25-26, 1864. (See Dallas.) New Hope Church, Virginia, November 27, 1863. (See Mine Run, Virginia, November 26-December 2. 1863.)


New Hope Station, Kentucky, July 25, 1863. Detachment of 12th Ohio Cavalry. Brigadier-General Edward H. Hobson sent the following despatch from Lebanon on the 25th: "Captain Dubois, 12th Ohio cavalry, with detachment from his company, attacked rebels near New Hope Station. Kilted rebel Captain Alexander, wounded several, and scattered the band in every direction. Had 1 man wounded." New Iberia, Louisiana, October 4, 1863. The only official mention of an Page 642 action at New Iberia on this date is the report of Confederate General Mouton, who says: "I have the honor to report the enemy at New Iberia. We left the town at sundown. Colonel Vincent ambuscaded them at Nelson's bridge, and their advance driven in, leaving the road full of dead and wounded."


New Kent Court House, Virginia, May 9, 1862. (See Slatersville.)


New Kent Court House, Virginia, August 28, 1863. (See Slatersville, same date.)


New Lisbon, Ohio, July 26, 1863. 9th Kentucky Cavalry and Ohio Home Guards. It was near New Lisbon that Brigadier-General John H. Morgan, with the remnant of his command, surrendered to Major Rue with a force of home guards and cavalry. It marked the end of his Ohio raid. (See Salineville.)


New London, Virginia, June 16, 1864. 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of West Virginia. Brigadier-General William W. Averell, commanding the 2nd division, in his report of the operations of the division in the Lynchburg campaign, states: "Attacked McCausland at New London about dark. He had been reinforced by Imboden with 400 men and 2 guns, but relinquished his position after a short action, in which he lost about a dozen men.


New Madrid, Missouri, February 28 to April 8, 1862. Army of the Mississippi and Foote's Fleet of Gunboats. Immediately upon the fall of Fort Donelson Confederate General Polk was ordered to evacuate Columbus and fall back down the river to the works on Island No. 10 and at New Madrid, Missouri, the former 25 and the latter 35 miles below Columbus. This move was part of the plan to retreat down the river step by step, thus preventing Foote from joining Farragut's fleet at the mouth of the Mississippi. Earthworks mounting 70 heavy guns had been constructed on the island, and at New Madrid two forts had been erected. The one about half a mile below the town was a bastioned earthwork, with 14 heavy siege guns, and the other, at the upper end of the town, was an irregular intrenchment, sheltering a battery of 7 guns of various caliber. About the middle of February Brigadier-General John Pope was summoned to St. Louis and directed to organize and take command of a force to cooperate with Commodore Foote's fleet in the reduction of these fortifications. Pope went to work and in a few days had the Army of the Mississippi ready to move against the enemy. This army was made up as follows: Infantry,—1st division, Brigadier-General David S. Stanley, consisted of the brigades of Colonels John Groesbeck and J. L. Kirby Smith; 2nd division, Brigadier-General Schuyler Hamilton, included the brigades of Colonel W. H. Worthington and Colonel Nicholas Perczel; 3d division. Brigadier General John M. Palmer, included the brigades of Colonel James R. Slack and Colonel G. N. Fitch; 4th division, Brigadier-General E. A. Paine, consisted of the brigades of Colonels James D. Morgan and G. W. Cumming; 5th division, Brigadier-General J. B. Plummer, included the brigades of Colonels John Bryner and J. M. Loomis. Cavalry,—one division. commanded by Colonel Gordon Granger. Artillery,—seven batteries under command of Major W. L. Lothrop. The infantry brigades consisted of two regiments each, and the cavalry division of three regiments. There were also some organizations that were not assigned to any particular command. Notable among these were the 64th Illinois sharpshooters and the engineer regiment of the West. In addition to these land forces there were the flotilla brigade, commanded by Colonel N. B. Buford; the gunboats Benton (flag-ship), St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Mound City and Carondelet, under command of Commodore A. H. Foote, and 11 mortar-boats in charge of Captain H. E. Maynadier. The Confederate forces, commanded by Major-General John Page 643 P. McCown, consisted of twelve regiments and three battalions of infantry, four companies of cavalry; eight companies of heavy artillery; two light batteries; the engineer corps, and a company of sappers and m1ners. The Confederate gunboats, commanded by Flag Officer G. N. Hollins, were the McRae (flagship), Livingston, Polk, Pontchartrain, Maurepas, Jackson and New Orleans. Pope selected Commerce, 30 miles up the Mississippi from Cairo, as a base of operations. Here his command was assembled and organized, and on the last day of February the army took up its march against New Madrid, which was to be first attacked, as possession of this point would give the Union forces control of the river below Island No. 10, thus cutting the principal line of supplies for the island garrison. On March 1 Jeff. Thompson's body of Confederates were driven out of Sikeston, and two days later Pope appeared before New Madrid. Hamilton, whose division was in advance, deployed the 27th and 39th Ohio as skirmishers, drove the enemy's pickets back into the works and occupied the town. Hollins came up with the gunboats and participated in the action, the water in the river being high enough to bring his guns above the bank. This condition of affairs showed the necessity of having siege-guns to repel the fleet after the intrenchments might be carried by assault, which Hamilton's reconnaissance had shown to be feasible. The army therefore retired about 2 miles from the town and went into camp to wait until the heavy guns could be brought down from Cairo. While waiting Pope sent Plummer, with three regiments of infantry, three companies of cavalry, and a battery of 10-pounder -rifled and Parrott guns, to Point Pleasant, 12 miles below, under instructions to establ1sh his artillery in such a position as to cover any steamboat that might try to ascend the river, and to line the banks with rifle-pits for 1.000 men. Plummer moved on the 5th and the morning of the 7th found his guns in position, well protected by works thrown up during the night. The gunboats shelled him for some time without effect, and Plummer held to his position during the entire siege. On the 12th the siege-guns arrived and during the night were placed in battery within 800 yards of the main Confederate work. At daylight the next morning fire was opened on the fort. The enemy's batteries and gunboats answered promptly and the cannonading lasted all day by the enemy, but without producing any impression on the Federals, except the disabling of a 24-pound«r gun. A little while after daylight on the morning of the 14th a flag of truce approached the Un10n lines, the bearer bringing the information that the enemy had evacuated his works during the night. Hamilton sent a detachment to ascertain the truth of this statement and to take possession if it turned out to be true. On every hand could be seen evidences of a hasty departure. Their dead were left unburied; food on the tables appeared to be untouched; private baggage of the officers was left behind, and neither provisions nor ammunition had been taken away. Tents for 10,000 men. a large number of horses and mules, 33 pieces of artillery, several thousand muskets and a large number of cartridges fell into the hands of the Federals. The fort was occupied in force, the guns being turned on the river. New Madrid had been captured more easily than had been anticipated, but there still remained a way for the garrison on Island No. 10 to receive supplies from below. The river from Island No. 8 to Tiptonville, Tennessee, forms a letter S. Island No. 10 is in the southern bend and New Madrid on the northern. Although Tiptonville is 27 miles from the island by water it is only 5 miles by land. After the fall of New Madrid boats landed at Tiptonville, whence supplies were conveyed Page 644 across the narrow neck of the peninsula. Just below Tiptonville the banks of the river on both sides become so marshy as to be impassable for loaded wagons. By intercepting the navigation of the river at the lowest point of solid ground, Pope could cut off the resources of the garrison and also close the principal avenue of escape. He therefore extended his line down the river, his lowest battery being just below the little village of Riddles Point, which is nearly opposite Tiptonville. This battery was established on the night of the 16th and mounted two 24-pounder siege-guns and two 10-pounder Parrotts, supported by Palmer's division. Rifle-pits for 500 sharpshooters were dug on the flanks of the battery and close to the river bank. The battery was discovered at daylight on the 17th and was immediately assailed by 5 of the enemy's gunboats, which ran up to within 300 yards and opened a fierce cannonade. The fight lasted for an hour and a half, in which time one gunboat was sunk, others badly damaged, and a number of men were picked off by the sharpshooters. The Union loss was 1 man killed. That night McCown, with a considerable portion of the forces, left for Fort Pillow, General W. W. Mackall succeeding him in command. Pope was now in full possession of the right bank of the river, and the river itself, both above and below the island, but in order to effect the capture of the garrison it was necessary to cross the river. To cross above the island was useless, as the country there was under water, the only dry ground being the narrow neck on the south, between the enemy's works and Tiptonville. On the 17th Pope suggested to Foote that he run the batteries with his gunboats and transfer the land forces to the Tennessee side. Foote replied that it was impracticable, as the vessels were armored only at the bows, and were consequently fitted for fighting up stream. Hamilton suggested a canal from near Island No. 8 to connect with Wilson's bayou, which entered the Mississippi just above New Madrid. Colonel Bissell, of the engineer regiment, reported this plan feasible, and Pope sent to Cairo for the necessary tools and light draft steamers to convey his command across the river. The canal was about 12 miles long and for half its length ran through heavy timber, the trees having to be sawed off several feet under water. It was completed on April 4, the water continuing at a high stage all the time it was under construction. and on the 5th 4 small steamers, bringing a number of barges for floating batteries, dropped down the bayou to New Madrid, but kept out of sight of the river until the floating batteries, or mortar boats, were ready. On the night of the 4th the Carondelet ran the batteries on the island, and the Pittsburg followed on the night of the 6th. That day the Carondelet made a reconnaissance down the river, silenced the batteries opposite Point Pleasant, a small infantry force going ashore and spiking the guns. During this period of three weeks daily bombardments occurred at some point in the field of operations. As the enemy's gunboats passed Plummer's batteries at Point Pleasant shots were exchanged. On March 16 Foote engaged at long range the batteries on Island No. 10 and the left bank of the river. The next day he advanced a little nearer and kept up the bombardment until the redan at the upper end of the island was practically destroyed. The cannonading was then continued from day to day, keeping the enemy busy in repairing damages and changing the position of his puns. Early on the morning of April 7, Captain Williams' 1st U. S. battery and the 2 gunboats opened on the enemy's works at the proposed landing place and continued until noon, when the Confederate guns were silenced. Paine's division was then sent over and pushed with Page 645 all possible speed toward Tiptonville, word having been brought in by a spy that the enemy was retreating in that direction. Morgan's brigade occupied the town that evening, and during the night over 300 prisoners were brought in by the pickets of this brigade. Stanley's and Hamilton's divisions followed Paine's, but were overtaken by darkness and bivouacked a few miles from Tiptonville. Colonel Elliott, with the 2nd la. cavalry, was sent over soon after dark and at daylight on the 8th took possession of the enemy's encampments on the mainland opposite the island, together with the deserted stores, all the steamboats in good condition, 6 in number, and about 200 prisoners Before Elliott accomplished this the force left on the island, 385 officers and men, was surrendered to Foote. When Mackall found that Morgan was in the way at Tiptonville, and that the island was in possession of the Federals, he surrendered at discretion. Pope says in his report: "Three generals, 273 field and company officers, 6.700 privates, 123 pieces of heavy artillery, 35 pieces of field artillery (all of the very best character and latest patterns), 7,000 stands of small arms, tents for 12,000 men, several wharf-boat loads of provisions, an immense quantity of ammunition of all kinds, many hundred horses and mules, with wagons and harness, etc., are among the spoils." For a movement of such magnitude the losses in killed and wounded were very slight. On the Union side, including the two killed and 13 wounded by the bursting of a gun on the St. Louis, the total was 17 killed, 34 wounded and 3 missing. The Confederate loss was estimated at about 30. New


Madrid, Missouri, August 7, 1863. One company of the 24th Missouri Infantry. New Madrid Bend, Tennessee, October 22, 1863. 32nd Iowa Infantry.


New Market, Alabama, August 5, 1862. 3d Brigade, Army of the Ohio. A portion of the brigade—the 9th and 35th Ohio, and 2nd Minnesota— was on the march from Athens, Alabama, to Winchester, Tennessee Brigadier General R. L. McCook, who was in command, was sick and riding in an open carriage, accompanied by eleven members of his staff and escort, some distance in advance of the main column. When near New Market this advance party was fired upon by a party of guerrillas, estimated at from 100 to 200 men. The driver turned his horses as soon as possible, but before he could reach the main body one of the guerrillas rode alongside the carriage and fired two shots at the general. One ball passed through his hat and the other inflicted a mortal wound in the abdomen which produced his death some 24 hours afterward. When the troops heard of the dastardly murder of their commander they spread themselves over the country, burned several houses, and shot a Confederate lieutenant who was home on furlough before discipline could be restored. New Market, Alabama, October 12, 1863. 1st Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland. During the pursuit of the Confederates under Wheeler and Roddey while they were attempting to cut the line of Rosecrans' communication, Brigadier-General Robert B. Mitchell's cavalry met Roddey about dark near Buckhorn tavern on the road between Huntsville and New Market. The fighting, which was done in a heavy rainstorm, was desperate for a time and continued until the enemy turned and retreated toward New Market. No casualties were reported.


New Market, Alabama, November 17, 1864. Detachments of the 12th Indiana and 4th Michigan Cavalry. The detachments, commanded by Colonel J. W. Hall, broke camp near Maysville and started in pursuit of the Confederates under Russell, Johnson and Mead. Two miles from Maysville the advance met the enemy's pickets to the main body. Page 646 some 500 strong, which was found drawn up in line of battle. In a short but sharp skirmish the enemy's lines were broken and he was driven from the field, the Union troops pursuing to near New Market. The Confederates were known to have lost 9 killed and 3 wounded, while the Federal loss was nothing.


New Market, Kentucky, February 8, 1865. (See Bradfordsville, same date) New Market, Virginia, June 15, 1862. Detachment of the 3d Division, 4th Army Corps. A reconnaissance sent out by General Casey, commanding the division, encountered a Confederate picket near New Market and a slight skirmish ensued, which resulted in the enemy being driven from his position. One prisoner, 1 horse and some small arms were captured.


New Market, Virginia, May 15, 1864. Portion of the Army of West Virginia. The effective force under Major-General Franz Sigel at New Market was 5,500 men, comprising the 1st infantry division under Brigadier-General Jeremiah C. Sullivan, whose two brigade commanders were Colonels Augustus Moor and Joseph Thoburn; the 1st cavalry division under Major-General Julius Stahel, the two brigades of which were commanded respectfully by Colonel William B. Tibbits and Colonel John E. Wynkoop; 5 batteries,—Battery B, Maryland light artillery, 30th battery, New York light artillery. Batteries D and G, 1st West Virginia light artillery and Battery B, 5th U. S. artillery. About 9 a. m. the Confederates under Breckenridge and Imboden moved on the Federal position. Sigel deployed h1s forces to meet the attack, but at 11 a. m. was compelled to fall back some 800 yards and form a new line. Some confusion attended this movement, owing to the mud and heavy rain. About 4 p. m. a general retrograde movement of the Union command was commenced, and that night the Rappahannock river was crossed. Sigel estimated the Confederate force at between 8,000 and 9,000 men. The Federal loss of the day was about 600 killed and wounded, and 50 taken prisoners. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was fully as heavy.


New Market, Virginia, September 24, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Army of the Shenandoah. On the forenoon of this date the Confederate forces under Early were driven from Rude's hill and Devin's cavalry brigade pressed forward in pursuit, overtaking the rear-guard at New Market. Taylor's battery was run to a ridge in front and opened with shell and case-shot, and the 1st New York was thrown forward as skirmishers, closely supported by the rest of the brigade. The enemy replied with a battery from a hill to the right, but Devin charged and drove through the town the force in his front, when he was subjected to a heavy infantry fire from the houses and garden walls and forced back. He then dismounted part of his command and drove the Confederates from their cover, after which he again took up the pursuit for some 6 miles until it became too dark to act with certainty, when he went into camp.


New Market Bridge, Virginia, November 11, 1861. Brigadier-General John B. Magruder of the Confederate army, reporting under date of November 18, 1861, from near Fort Monroe, states that on the 11th a Confederate scouting party "was fired on by the enemy, and one of our men was wounded slightly. The fire was returned and after the third discharge from our artillery, the enemy, whose force proved to be a regiment, fled. I have reliable information that several of them were killed or wounded." The Federal reports make no mention of the affair.


New Market Bridge, Virginia, December 22, 1861. 20th New York Infantry. Nothing definite can be gleaned from the official records of the war regarding this action, further than that it was at the New Market Bridge, near Newport News.


New Market Cross Roads, Virginia, June 30, 1862. The battle of New Market Cross-roads is known by several other names and was one of the engagements of the Seven Days' Battles, (q. v.)


New Market Heights, Virginia, September 29-30, 1864. (See Fort Harrison.)


New Market Road, Virginia, October 7, 1864. (See Darbytown Road, same date.)


Newnan, Georgia, July 30, 1864. (See McCook's Raid.) New Orleans, Louisiana, (Capture of) April 18-28, 1862. (See Naval Volume.)


Newport Barracks, North Carolina, February 2, 1864. (See New Berne, same date.)


Newport Bridge, Florida, March 5-6, 1865. Detachment of 2nd Florida Cavalry (Union). As an incident of the operations about St. Mark's, Florida, the command of Major Edmund C. Weeks arrived at the Newport bridge at 11 a. m. to find the structure on fire and the enemy posted behind intrenchments on the opposite side of the stream. A charge was unavailing and the Federal artillery was brought to bear, but Weeks finally withdrew to the town of Newport, leaving a small detachment as a guard, which skirmished with the Confederates practically all night and during the morning of the 6th. No casualties were reported.


Newport Cross-Roads, Louisiana, June 17, 1864. Colonel John S. Scott of the 1st Louisiana cavalry (Confederate) in his report of June 19 states: "On my march the next day down the Baton Rouge road, at Mrs. Newport's cross-roads, with1n 7 miles of Port Hudson, a force of infantry and cavalry from that place was most handsomely repulsed by Major Ogden." This is the only official mention of the affair.


Newport News, Virginia, July 5, 1861. While a party of Federal cavalry was engaged in foraging in the vicinity of Newport News an attempt was made by Lieut.-Colonel Charles D. Dreux, with a detachment of Confederate soldiers, to draw the Union troops into an ambush. Although the foragers were dispersed it was with considerable loss to the enemy, 2 men being killed, one of whom was Dreux, and their team ran away with the howitzer, which finally fell into the hands of the Federals.


Newport News, Virginia, July 12, 1861. Detachment of 7th New York Infantry. Twenty-two men of Company E, under Lieuts. Oscar von Heringen and Fred Mosebach, while on an expedition from the Federal camp for the purpose of obtaining wood, were surprised and captured by 80 Confederate cavalry. Little resistance was offered, but while the fight lasted 2 Union men were killed. The enemy suffered no casualties.


New Providence, Tennessee, September 6, 1862. (See Clarksville, same date.)


Newtonia, Missouri, September 13, 1862. 3d and 6th Missouri Militia Cavalry.


Newtonia, Missouri, September 30, 1862. Detachment of the Army of Kansas. On the 29th Brigadier-General Frederick Salomon sent scouting parties to Newtonia, Granby and Neosho. The detachment sent to Newtonia encountered the enemy in the afternoon and reinforcements were sent. Early next morning it became apparent from the heavy cannonading that the force at Newtonia was heavily engaged and Salomon despatched the 6th Kansas cavalry and the 3d Indian home guard to the place at a trot, following with the artillery and infantry. When he arrived he found the troops already there disposed in line of battle and the reinforcements were added to strengthen the line. From that time until dark the Confederates were kept in check by the artillery, when Salomon withdrew, the brigade Page 648 of Missouri militia, which he had been expecting to reinforce him, not having arrived. On its coming up later it was used to cover Salomon's retreat. The Federal loss was comparatively light, while the enemy suffered casualties to the extent of 12 killed, 63 wounded and 3 captured or missing.


Newtonia, Missouri, October 28, 1864. Army of the Border. Major-General James G. Blunt with his division had the advance of the Army of the Border in its pursuit of Price's army through Missouri. At Newtonia the Confederates had encamped near the Pineville road, but upon the appearance of the Federals on the hills to the northwest of the town they immediately began to move off, leaving some 2,000 men to cover the movement. Although Blunt had only two brigades with him he immediately attacked, deploying his men under cover of an artillery fire. By the fierceness of his attack he uncovered the whole of the enemy, and soon learned that he had engaged Price's whole army, which was four times as large as his own. Price pressed the Union flanks until they were compelled to fall back about 500 yards. A further withdrawal was about to be ordered when the division of Major-General John B. Sanborn appeared, took position on Blunt's left, charged the Confederate right, compelling it to fall back and at dark to abandon the field. The casualties for this single engagement were not reported.


Newtown, Virginia, May 24, 1862. Portion of the forces of the Department of the Shenandoah. During the operations in the Shenandoah valley while the Confederates were advancing, they were met near Newtown and a heavy fire opened on their column. The Federals then withdrew to a hill to the north of the town, whence an artillery fire was kept up for some time. The casualties were not reported, but were not very heavy.


Newtown, Virginia, November 12, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 19th Army Corps. The brigade made a reconnaissance to Newtown, where a small detachment of the enemy was stationed. This force was driven out, with a loss to the Union brigade of 2 men slightly wounded. The enemy's loss was not reported.


New Ulm, Minnesota, August 21-23, 1862. Minnesota Troops under General H. H. Sibley and Citizens. This was one of the points attacked by the Indians of the Sioux nation in their outbreak in 1862. The first attack was made on the 21st and on the 23d a more desperate and determined assault was repulsed by the citizens under Judge Flandrau. On the 24th troops under General Sibley drove the Indians off and relieved the besieged garrison. Nickajack Creek, Georgia, July 3-5, 1864. 14th Army Corps. As the Union forces pursued the Confederates in their retreat from Kennesaw mountain the 14th corps passed through Marietta and on the evening of the 3d went into bivouac on Nickajack creek, within sight of the enemy's works on the south side of the creek. Early the next morning the two batteries of Davis' division opened on the enemy and a heavy skirmish line was pushed through the swamp and across the creek. Shortly after noon Morgan's brigade crossed and after a short skirmish drove the Confederates into their trenches. The brigade bivouacked close to the enemy's works and at daylight on the 5th discovered that the Confederates had retreated during the night in the direction of the Chattahoochee river. The whole corps then crossed the Nickajack and the pursuit was continued, the 34th Illinois, which was in advance, skirmishing with the enemy's rear-guard almost to the Chattahoochee. No casualties reported.


Nickajack Gap, Georgia, March 9, 1864. 8th Indiana Cavalry. Brigadier General Absalom Baird reporting from Ringgold, Georgia, under date of Page 649 March 9, says: "Colonel Thomas J. Harrison skirmished an hour with a large force of rebels near Nickajack, and then fell back here; has pickets out 4 miles." This is the only mention of the affair.


Nickajack Gap, Georgia, May 7, 1864. 3d Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland. In the advance on Tunnel Hill the division, under command of Brigadier-General Kilpatrick, moved through Taylor's ridge at Nickajack gap, drove back the Confederate cavalry there and then spent the day in covering the movements of the 20th army corps. No casualties reported. Nickajack Trace, Georgia, April 23, 1864. Detachment of 92nd Illinois Mounted Infantry. Sixty-four men of Company K, doing picket duty about 5 miles from Ringgold, were attacked by a regiment of Confederate infantry from the north, another from the east, and two regiments of cavalry from the south. Rather than surrender the men attempted to fight their way out, but 5 were killed, 7 wounded, and 20 reported as captured or missing. The others reached camp in a disorganized condition.


Niobrara, Nebraska, December 4, 1863. Detachment of 7th Iowa Cavalry. Because a party of Ponca Indians had made a demonstration upon 2 white citizens of Niobrara a party of soldiers under a sergeant left the town to punish the red men. Upon overtaking the Indians the troops opened fire, and when the former fled the soldiers followed until 7 Indians had been killed. Nineveh, Virginia, November 12, 1864. (See Cedar Creek, same date.) Noland's Ferry, Maryland, July 5, 1864. (See Point of Rocks, same date.)


Nolensville, Tennessee, December 26, 1862. 1st Division, Right Wing, Army of the Cumberland. As the Army of the Cumberland was advancing on Murfreesboro Davis' division encountered the enemy's pickets near Nolensville and soon afterward saw a force of cavalry forming on the hills southwest of the town, as if to flank the Union troops. Pinney's battery was ordered forward to dislodge the cavalry, a few shells being sufficient for that purpose, while Carlin's brigade engaged some dismounted cavalry and drove them back through the town. Two miles beyond Nolensville, where the pike ran through Knob gap, the enemy took up a strong position on the heights commanding the road and opened on the Federal advance with artillery. Pinney's and Hotchkiss' batteries were brought up to reply to this fire, and Davis ordered Carlin to charge the battery. The charge was successfully made, Carlin carrying the heights and capturing 2 of the guns. At the same time Post's brigade carried the hills on the left of the road, Woodruff's brigade drove back the enemy on the right, and the division moved on toward Murfreesboro. The casualties in these engagements are included in the official reports of the battle of Stone's river, (q. v.)


Nolensville, Tennessee, February 15, 1863. Detachment of 3d Division, 14th Army Corps. _ A forage train of 10 wagons, with an escort of two companies of infantry, was attacked by 150 Confederate cavalry about a mile and a half from Nolensville. The Federal troops took refuge in some outbuildings and repulsed the attack, wounding 5 men, (of whom 3 were captured) taking 3 horses, 7 saddles and 3 guns.


Nonconnah Creek, Tennessee, April 4, 1863. 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry. The pickets of the 2nd Wisconsin near Memphis were struck about daylight, 2 of them wounded and 2 captured. Colonel Thomas Stephens w1th about 100 men pursued, crossing the Nonconnah and driving a Confederate picket a distance of 6 miles to where the enemy was found some 600 or 800 strong. Stephens returned and Lauman's brigade was ordered out, but failed to come up with the enemy.


Nonconnah Creek, Tennessee, October 29, 1864. Detachment of 7th Indiana Cavalry. Twenty-four men of this regiment under Captain Joseph W. Skelton while scouting in the vicinity of Nonconnah creek were fired into from the brush on their right flank. At the same time the advance guard, which had crossed to the other side of the creek, was cut off from the main body. Skelton ordered a charge, but the move on horseback was an impossibility and to dismount meant capture, so the command retreated up a high embankment on the left and halted. Part of the horses were unable to make the distance and their riders were obliged to dash back through the dismounted enemy. Skelton had l man mortally and 1 severely wounded, and 10 captured or missing.


Noonday Creek, Georgia, June 7-18, 1864. Army of the Tennessee. In forming his lines about Kennesaw and Lost mountains General Johnston extended his right on the 7th across the Marietta and Acworth road along the south bank of Noonday creek at the base of Brush mountain. Here Hood's corps intrenched itself and from the 7th to the 18th there was almost constant skirmishing, the Union troops advancing under successive lines of intrenchments, until on the night of the 18th Hood was withdrawn. The losses during this time were trifling on both sides.


Noonday Creek, Georgia, June 20, 1864. Detachment of 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland. Just as Brigadier-General Robert H. G. Minty was moving across Noonday creek near Latimar's mill to camp for the night, he learned that the 7th Pennsylvania cavalry under Major William H. Jennings had been attacked from the north. Minty went to Jennings' relief and found him being slowly driven. He ordered Newlin's battalion to charge, which routed the enemy and drove him back a quarter of a mile to where Williams' (Confederate) brigade was stationed. Williams charged, but was repulsed by a countercharge of the 4th Michigan Three times two of the Confederate regiments charged, but each time were driven off, when a fresh detachment of the enemy appeared on the Federal right and Minty was obliged to fall back until reinforcements should come up. The Union line was in the shape of a horseshoe with the bridge across the creek directly in the rear. Upon the arrival of reinforcements Minty placed them in position, but before they could be fully disposed, the enemy charged both flanks. The Union left was easily driven back, but when the Confederates came within range of the artillery they were checked. The right flank repulsed the attack. When darkness came on the enemy retired and left Minty in possession of the field. The Federal loss in this engagement was 13 killed, 38 wounded and 16 captured or missing. The Confederate casualties were not reported, but were undoubtedly heavier.


Norfolk, Missouri, September 10, 1861. U. S. Gunboats, and Detail of Cavalry under Captain Orlando Burrell. Two different reports of Brigadier General John A. McClernand state that during a reconnaissance toward Norfolk, in which Federal gunboats assisted, an encounter between the vessels of the contending forces occurred, the Union fleet being successful. Later' a squad of 15 cavalry under Captain Burrell were intercepted by 100 Confederate cavalry. In a running fight Burrell had 2 men wounded and 3 were lost in the woods, while 1 of the enemy was killed.


Norfolk, Missouri, September 27, 1861. Detachment of 22nd Illinois Infantry. A force sent out from Norfolk, to sustain some Federal cavalry out on a scout, met 400 Confederates at the Beckwith farm, 5 miles from Norfolk. The enemy fled at the first fire. No casualties were mentioned.


Nonistown, Arkansas, May 19, 1864. Brigadier-General Joseph O. Shelby, of the Confederate army, reporting his operations north of the Arkansas river, states that on the morning after he had occupied Norristown his pickets were fired into by Union troops, but upon reinforcements being sent out the Federals retired. No casualties were mentioned. North Anna River, Virginia, July 23, 1862. (See Carmel Church.)


North Anna River, Virginia, May 23-27, 1864. Army of the Potomac. The operations along the North Anna river on these dates constituted what is known as the Third epoch of the campaign from the Rapidan to the James. (For the organization of the Army of the Potomac at the beginning of that campaign see Wilderness.) On May 24, the 9th corps, commanded by Major-General Ambrose E. Burnside and composed of the divisions of Stevenson, Potter, Willcox and Ferrero, joined the Army of the Potomac, which was under command of Major-General George G. Meade, who was accompanied on the campaign by Lieut.-General U. S. Grant. The 6th corps, which had been commanded by Major-General John Sedgwick until he was killed at the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, was now under command of Major-General Horatio G. Wright . On the night of May 22 Grant directed Meade to move his army south from Mount Carmel Church at 5 o'clock the next morning, and to follow across the North Anna river should it be found that the Confederates had crossed The 2nd corps was to move on the Telegraph road to the Chesterfield ford, near where the Fredericksburg & Richmond railroad crossed the river; the 9th corps to Jericho bridge, or mills, and the 5th corps, with the 6th in reserve, to a point west of Jericho mills. The distance between Jericho mills and the Chesterfield ford is about 4 miles. Before the orders were executed they were changed, making the destination of the 9th corps the Ox ford, about a mile above the Telegraph road bridge at Chesterfield ford, while the 5th and 6th corps, the former in advance, moved toward Jericho mills. At 1 p. m. Warren had reached the mills. No enemy was to be seen on the opposite bank and Bartlett's brigade of Griffin's division was pushed over to secure the crossing. By the time the entire division had waded across at the ford the bridge train came up and the remainder of the corps crossed on the pontoon bridge. Line of battle was formed half a mile beyond the river in a strip of timber. At 6 p. m. the Confederates assaulted Cutler, who had succeeded to the command of Wadsworth's division after the latter's death in the Wilderness. He was the last of the division commanders to cross the river and had not wholly formed his line when the enemy attacked. The division fell back in some confusion, the Confederates following until they were checked by Griffin's artillery and compelled to withdraw to the Virginia Central railroad, about a mile and a half south, when Warren intrenched his position. The 6th corps was hastened from Mount Carmel church at the beginning of the action, but the fighting had about ended when it arrived on the north bank of the river at Jericho mills and it was not crossed until the next morning. In the meantime Hancock formed his corps along the heights a mile north of the river, his left (Gibbon) resting on the Fredericksburg & Richmond railroad and his right (Birney) on the Telegraph road, Barlow occupying the center. The Confederates were intrenched on a hill on the north bank of the river to guard the approach to the Telegraph road 'bridge. Birney was of the opinion that he could capture the position and was ordered to attempt it. Egan's and Pierce's brigades, in a brilliant charge up the slope under cover of the 2nd corps artillery fire, successfully accomplished the movement, driving the Page 652 enemy across the river, though the two brigades lost some 150 men. The Confederates still held the south end of the bridge and during the night made several attempts to burn it, but each time were driven back. Burnside proceeded to Ox ford, but found the enemy so strongly intrenched on the south bank he deemed it unwise to attempt a crossing. On the morning of the 24th it was found that the enemy in Hancock's front had abandoned his advanced works on the south side of the river, when the 2nd corps was at once crossed and took possession of them. Some reconnoitering was done during the day and it was discovered that the Confederate position was strongly intrenched in the shape of a V, the vertex resting on the river near Ox ford, one side opposite Hancock's corps, while the other faced the 5th and 6th corps to the west. About 6 p. m. Gibbon's division, occupying Hancock's extreme left, became briskly engaged and though its outposts were hard pressed no material advantage was gained by the enemy. The same day Burnside was ordered to seize Ox ford, but finding that it was impossible to make a direct attack as the salient of the V was directly opposite, he sent Crittenden's division (formerly Stevenson's) a mile and a half up the river, where it crossed at Quarles' mill. On the south side of the stream Crittenden formed a junction with Crawford's division of Warren's corps and advanced toward the Confederate position at Ox ford with a view of driving the enemy out so that Willcox's division could cross, but the enemy was too strongly intrenched. On the 25th the 5th and 6th corps with Crittenden's division of the 9th were thrown forward to within 600 or 800 yards of the Confederate line which was found to be well intrenched and traversed to protect it from the enfilading fire of the 9th corps artillery on the north bank of the river. The line extended from Ox ford on the North Anna to Anderson's mill on the Little river, a distance of a mile and a half. The rest of the 25th and 26th were spent by the Federals in tearing up portions of the Fredericksburg & Richmond and Virginia Central railroads and on the 26th Wilson's cavalry division was sent from the Federal right to demonstrate on the enemy's position. This led Lee to think that the Army of the Potomac was to be moved by the right flank. At nightfall of the 26th that part of the Federal army on the south side of the North Anna was started on a northward movement across that stream and by noon of the 27th the whole of the Army of the Potomac was north of the river. The Federal losses during the 4 days were 223 killed, 1460 wounded and 290 missing, though the report of Medical Director McParlin of the Army of the Potomac places the wounded at 2,100. The Confederate losses were not reported, but it is probable that they were somewhat lighter.


Northeast Ferry, North Carolina, February 22, 1865. (See Smith's Creek.) North Edisto River, South Carolina, February 12-14, 1865. Sherman's Army. In the campaign of the Carolinas the crossing of the North Edisto river was one of the incidents connected with the advance on Columbia. The Confederates had stationed detachments at all the bridges and fords and the crossing was effected only by force of arms, skirmishing occurring at various points. The 15th corps, commanded by Major-General John A. Logan, crossed at Shilling's bridge; the 17th, Major-General Frank P. Blair, at Orangeburg; the 14th, Bvt. Major-General Jefferson C. Davis, at Hovey's bridge, and the 20th, Bvt. Major-General A. S. Williams, at Jeffcoat's bridge. The engagements at these several bridges are described in detail under their respective heads in this work.


North Mountain, West Virginia, July 3, 1864. Outpost of the 135th Ohio Infantry.


Northport, Alabama, April 3, 1865. Detachment of 1st Cavalry Division, Military Division of the Mississippi; Wilson's Raid. The 1st brigade under Brigadier-General John T. Croxton moved at daylight from the Black Warrior river toward Tuscaloosa. At 9 p. m. the suburb Northport was reached, 150 picked men of the 2nd Michigan were taken close to the bridge to be hidden in ambush, and at daylight were to surprise the picket and capture the structure. As the detachment came up it was found that the enemy was already at work tearing up the planks, guarded by a force behind a barricade of cotton bales in the center of the bridge. A charge was ordered, the whole guard was either captured or killed and the 2 pieces of artillery taken. Several attacks of the Confederate militia and cadets upon the bridge during the night were repulsed by the Federals. Croxton captured some 60 prisoners, but no Federal casualties were reported.


Norwood's Plantation, Louisiana, May 18, 1864. (See Bayou de Glaize.)


Nottoway Court-House, Virginia, June 23, 1864. (See Wilson's Raid, Petersburg, Virginia)


Noyes' Creek, Georgia, June 9-29, 1864. Sherman's Armies. As General Johnston fell back before General Sherman's advance on Atlanta, he established a line on June 9 with Kennesaw mountain as his salient, his right thrown back to cover Marietta and his left behind Noyes' (sometimes called Nose's) creek to cover the railroad back to Atlanta. While Sherman was flanking him out of his position several skirmishes occurred along the creek, but the reports of these operations do not give the details as to troops engaged or casualties.


Noyes' Creek, Georgia, October 2-3, 1864. (See Powder Springs, same date.)