Campaigns and Battles - U

U:  Underwood Farm, Missouri, to Utz's Ford, Virginia

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


Underwood Farm, Missouri, October 14, 1861. (See Bird's Point.) Underwriter,


U. S. Gunboat, February 2, 1864. (See New Berne, same date.) Union, Mississippi, February 21, 1864. Meridian Expedition. Confederate cavalry attacked at Union the guard of the wagon train sent from Decatur, but were driven off on the arrival of the advance of the 4th division. No casualties reported.


Union, Missouri, October 1, 1864. Confederate reports of Price's Missouri expedition tell of an attack by Marmaduke's division of cavalry on some 200 Union men comprising the garrison at Union. The Federals were routed, 32 being killed and 70 captured.


Union, Virginia, November 2-3, 1862. Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac and 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps. During the operations in Loudoun county, Virginia, the cavalry advance came up with the Confederates under General Stuart at Union. The enemy had some infantry supporting their guns and sharp fighting resulted, a caisson of one of the enemy's guns exploding and killing a number of men. The Federals Page 882 slowly pushed Stuart back on the road to Upperville, the fighting continuing until after dark. Next morning they again advanced and drove the enemy through Upperville to Ashby's gap and Piedmont . The Union loss on the 3d was 6 killed and 56 wounded. The Confederate casualties were not reported, but were fully as heavy.


Union Church, Mississippi, April 28, 1863. (See Grierson's Raid.)


Union Church, Missouri, July 30, 1864. (See Chariton Road.)


Union Church, Virginia, June 8, 1862. (See Cross Keys.)


Union City, Tennessee, March 31, 1862. U. S. Forces under Colonel Napoleon B. Buford. With the 27th Illinois and the 15th Wisconsin infantry, a detachment of the 2nd Illinois cavalry and Sparrestrom's battery of 4 pieces, Buford surprised a Confederate camp at Union City at 7 a. m., driving the enemy from it and capturing 14 prisoners, 100 horses and mules, and destroying the barracks and a quantity of arms. No casualties were reported.


Union City, Tennessee, December 21, 1862. (See Forrest's Expedition into West Tennessee.)


Union City, Tennessee, July 10, 1863. Detachment of 4th Missouri Cavalry. Two companies of the 4th Missouri, composing the outpost at Union City were surprised by Confederates between 9 and 10 a. m. and after a short fight, in which 2 of the garrison were killed and 8 wounded, the whole of the command with the exception of 2 men was captured. The number of prisoners aggregated 90. One of the enemy was severely wounded.


Union City, Tennessee, March 12, 1864. 7th Tennessee Cavalry. Colonel Isaac R. Hawkins, commanding the 7th Tennessee, reported that "On the 12th had a running fight for 10 miles with Captain Bolen's company, with about an equal number of men commanded by Lieuts. R. Y. Bradford and Hawkins, in which 2 of the enemy were killed, 1 severely wounded and 1 captured. Our loss nothing."


Union City, Tennessee, March 23, 1864. 7th Tennessee Cavalry. This affair was the first engagement of an expedition of Forrest's cavalry into western Tennessee and Kentucky. The Federal pickets at Union City were driven in about 4:30 a. m. and a charge by the mounted enemy immediately following was repulsed. Forrest then dismounted his men and three times sent them against the Union position, but each time they were repulsed. He withdrew to the shelter of the timber, whence his sharpshooters kept up a steady fire for 3 hours. About 11 a. m. he sent in a summons to surrender, and after some parleying Colonel Isaac R. Hawkins, commanding the garrison, acceded to the demand and the 481 men became prisoners. One man had been killed and 2 wounded while fighting. The Confederate loss at Union City and Paducah, Kentucky, where they were engaged next day, was 25 killed and wounded.


Union City, Tennessee, September 2, 1864. Detachment of 7th Tennessee Cavalry. Lieut. William W. Murray with 70 men came up with a Confederate detachment at Union City and immediately attacked, killing 6 and capturing 1 1 of the enemy. Meantime another portion of the regiment under Captain Murray encountered the enemy 2 miles west of Union City. The result of the latter skirmish was 2 of the enemy killed and 1 of the wounded captured. There were no casualties in either Federal command.


Union Mills, Missouri, August 20, 1862. 1st Missouri and 13th Illinois Cavalry.


Union Mills, Missouri, July 22, 1864. (See Camden Point, same date.)


Union Mills, Virginia, February 14, 1863. Detachment of 1st Michigan Cavalry. A despatch from Brigadier-General Alexander Hays, dated at Union Mills at 2:30 p. m., says: "A captain and 45 men of the 1st Michigan cavalry Page 883 were attacked an hour ago about 3 miles in front of Union Mills, toward Brentsville, by the enemy's cavalry, who were lying in ambush. Killed, wounded and missing, 1 lieutenant and 17 men, with 12 horses."


Union Station, Tenn., November 1, 1864. Detachment of 10th Missouri Cavalry. After crossing Wolf river while on a scout from Memphis the detachment drove 3 of the enemy's scouts to Union Station. From this point Lieut. Leslie Norman proceeded with 15 men, leaving 25 men with Lieut. Miles Reilly at the station. At 11:30 a. m. the Confederates attacked Reilly on the right flank as his men were in line. Reilly became confused and attempted to flee, but he and the larger part of his command were captured. The enemy then arrayed themselves in the Federal uniforms, pursued Norman's party and when it was overtaken charged and scattered it. The total Union loss was 1 killed, 4 wounded and 26 captured. No Confederate casualties were reported.


Uniontown, Missouri, October 18. 1862. Detachment of Enrolled Missouri Militia. This affair was a skirmish between a party of Federals and a gang of Dunn's guerrillas, whose camp was surprised. The outlaws escaped after losing 4 killed and 25 captured, besides 25 horses, as many guns and all their camp equipage. One Federal soldier was wounded.


Unionville, Tennessee, January 31, 1863. (See Rover, same date.)


Unionville, Tennessee, March 4, 1863. Detachments of 7th Pennsylvania and 4th Michigan Cavalry. Colonel Robert H. G. Minty, commanding the cavalry in an expedition from Murfreesboro to Columbia, states that his advance came upon a Confederate camp at Unionville where about 600 cavalry were stationed. The enemy was driven at a gallop to within 5 miles of Shelbyville, where the infantry pickets were encountered and 5 of them captured. In the whole affair the Federal cavalry had only one man wounded, and captured 51 prisoners (13 of whom were severely wounded), 17 wagons, 42 mules, 31 Sibley tents, and a quantity of commissary stores.


Unionville, Tennessee, June 23, 1863. (See Rover, same date.) University Depot, Tennessee, July 4, 1863. 5th and 6th Kentucky Cavalry. Colonel Louis D. Watkins with the two regiments proceeded from Cowan on the morning of the 4th. When about 3 miles out on the University road three companies of the 5th under Major John Q. Owsley were sent in advance and when they had gone a mile after leaving the main column they encountered the Confederate pickets. These were driven back to the main body, posted behind trees and logs in an old field skirting the road. Owsley skirmished 10 or 15 minutes and then fell back to the rest of the column, which formed in line of battle and advanced, the 6th Kentucky in advance and the 5th acting as a reserve. The Confederates slowly gave way, their opponents pursuing to within half a mile of the university. The enemy, according to the statement of one of the 15 prisoners taken, lost more heavily than did the Federals, whose casualties were 2 killed, 11 wounded and 1 missing.


Upperville, Virginia, November 2-3, 1862. (See Union.)


Upperville, Virginia, May 13, 1863. Detachment of 1st New York Cavalry. During a scout from Snicker's ferry, a detachment of the regiment encountered some of Mosby's Confederates at Upperville and captured 5 of them after a slight skirmish.


Upperville, Virginia, June 21, 1863. 1st and 2nd Cavalry Divisions, Army of the Potomac. The enemy was driven from his position on Goose creek by Vincent's infantry brigade, and retreated rapidly toward Upperville, followed by the Federal cavalry, Gregg's (2nd) division in advance. At Upperville the Confederate cavalry was massed and their artillery was placed in position at Ashby's gap. Kilpatrick's brigade Page 884 charged, but was repulsed. The 3d brigade, under Colonel J. I. Gregg, now came up and formed on Kilpatrick's left, the artillery was placed in position, and with these supports Kilpatrick again charged and drove the enemy from the town, capturing 1 piece of artillery. A short distance west of the town the Confederates again made a stand at the base of the mountain, where for a time they successfully met and repulsed Gregg's attacks, countercharging in turn, only to be forced back. General Buford, with the 1st division, was moving to Gregg's assistance, when he became engaged with a heavy force of the enemy that threatened to come between him and Gregg. Colonel Gamble, commanding the advance brigade, deployed the 3d Ind. and 8th Illinois to protect the flanks, and these two regiments poured in such a murderous carbine fire that the enemy broke and fled toward the gap, closely pressed by the entire division. About the same time the force in front of Gregg gave way and the retreat became almost a rout. The Union loss at Upperville was 12 killed, 130 wounded and 67 missing. The Confederate casualties were not officially reported, but General Pleasonton, commanding the Union cavalry corps, says in his report: "We took 2 pieces of artillery and 3 caissons, besides blowing up 1; also upward of 60 prisoners, * * * a lieutenant-colonel, major and 5 other officers, besides a wounded colonel and a large number of wounded rebels, left in the town of Upperville. They left their dead and wounded upon the field. Of the former I saw upward of 20."


Upperville, Virginia, September 25, 1863. Battalion Maryland Cavalry, Potomac Home Brigade. During a scout from Harper's Ferry through Loudoun county, the command of Major Henry A. Cole came upon the enemy 150 strong, drawn up in battle line at Upperville. The Confederates fled when Cole's men charged, leaving 1 killed, and 8 captured. The Union participants suffered no loss.


Upperville, Virginia, February 20, 1864. Cavalry Detachment of the Department of West Virginia. A scouting party under Major Cole met Mosby's Confederate command at Upperville and, after a sharp skirmish, in which 2 Federals were killed and several wounded, succeeded in capturing 18 of the enemy.


Upperville, Virginia, October 29, 1864. (See Snicker's Gap, same date.)


Upshaw's Farm, Missouri, October 29, 1864. Detachment of 2nd Arkansas Cavalry. Lieut.-Colonel Hugh Cameron of the 2nd Arkansas reports that his command pursued a party of Confederates and encountered them at the Upshaw farm in Barry county. The enemy was routed and dispersed, 50 being killed, 37 captured, besides 58 horses, 4 mules, a large number of saddles and several stand of arms. The affair was an incident of Price's Missouri expedition.


Upton's Hill, Kentucky, October 12, 1861. 39th Indiana Infantry. Urbana, Maryland, July 9, 1864. 8th Illinois Cavalry. When General Lew Wallace gave way at Monocacy the 8th Illinois, which formed the extreme left of Ricketts' division, found itself cut off and fell back skirmishing to Urbana. There a stand was made and several charges of the enemy were repulsed. Confederate General McCausland then brought his whole brigade into the action and Lieut.-Colonel D. R. Clendenin, commanding the Illinois regiment, was compelled to withdraw to Monrovia. Clendenin lost 1 man killed and 6 wounded.


Utica, Mississippi, May 9-10, 1863. Cavalry of 17th Army Corps. During the operations following the battle of Port Gibson, the cavalry in advance entered Utica and had a skirmish with a few of the enemy stationed there. As the Federals moved out of the town next morning more skirmishing was done. No casualties were reported.


Utica, Mississippi, July 13, 1864. Detachment of 1st Cavalry Brigade, Page 885 16th Army Corps. During an expedition from Memphis, Tennessee, to Grand Gulf, Mississippi, Major Shorey with a part of the detachment was attacked near Utica and driven back to the main body. There were no casualties reported.


Utoy Creek, Georgia, August 5-6, 1864. 14th and 23d Army Corps. After Atlanta was fully invested on July 23, Sherman turned his attention to the destruction of the railroads south of the city, over which the Confederate army was receiving its supplies. Two cavalry expeditions, commanded by Generals McCook and Stoneman, were sent against the roads, but they were not altogether successful, and Sherman decided to extend his lines to the right until his flank touched the line of communication somewhere near East Point, the junction of the Atlanta & West Point and Macon & Western railroads. The Army of the Tennessee, now commanded by Major-General Howard, was ordered to move on July 27 from the extreme left to the extreme right and take position near the Lickskillet road running west from Atlanta past Ezra Church. This movement led to the engagement at Ezra Church (q. v.) on the 28th. South of the Lickskillet road is Utoy creek, a tributary of the Chattahoochee river. The north fork of this creek rises near Ezra Church and flows a general westerly direction, while the south fork has its source near East Point and flows northwest. Between the two branches the ground is hilly and broken, easily made capable of defense, and it was to this rugged district that Hood extended his lines in an effort to protect his communications, forming his main line of intrenchments along the east bank of a small tributary of the Utoy. On August 2 Schofield moved to the right of Howard and took a position along the north branch of Utoy creek. Morgan's division of the 14th corps and Ward's of the 20th were stationed as a reserve to support Schofield in case of an attack. The next day the entire 14th corps was ordered to cooperate with the 23d, both under the command of Schofield. Hascall's division of Schofield's command crossed the Utoy at Herring's mill in the face of a stubborn resistance, and found the enemy in a strongly fortified position in front . Hascall intrenched under a heavy artillery fire, Baird's division of the 14th crossed and formed on Hascall's right, while Johnson's division of the same corps crossed about a mile below. Some heavy skirmishing occurred on the 4th, which led Schofield to believe the enemy's line in his front was only an outer one, not held in strong force, and he ordered an assault to be made at 6 a. m. on the 5th. Some delay occurred, but about 8 o'clock Baird and Morgan moved their commands gallantly forward, drove in the enemy's intrenched skirmish line, and captured 140 prisoners. The whole line then advanced to the west bank of the creek above mentioned, but no effort was made to cross the stream. During the night Hood strengthened his line by adding a part of Hardee's corps and felled the trees along the east side of the creek to form an abatis. On the morning of the 6th Cox was ordered to make a reconnaissance with one brigade, supporting it with the rest of his division ready to follow up any advantage gained. Reilly's brigade was selected to lead the movement, 200 men were added to the skirmish line, which advanced and drove the enemy back from the works in front of the Union right center, where the timber offered some protection. The 104th Ohio was then sent forward to support the skirmishers in a farther advance, which resulted in the enemy's being driven into his works along the entire length of the ridge. Encouraged by conditions thus far developed, Reilly now advanced with his whole brigade and assaulted the main line of intrenchments. After crossing the little creek the men became entangled in the network of fallen trees, many of which were cut only half off, then bent over and interlaced, forming an almost Page 886 impassable barrier. While the men were struggling with these obstructions they were subjected to a merciless fire from the Confederate works, where reinforcements were constantly arriving. Reilly held his ground, however, until Casement's brigade was sent to cover his withdrawal. In the meantime Hascall had moved his division to the right to endeavor to capture a battery that enfiladed Cox's position. Cooper's and Swaine's brigades were moved through the woods beyond the Sandtown road and were in position to make the assault before they were discovered. Then both brigades pressed forward and drove the enemy back into his works, though they managed to save the guns. This attack came late in the afternoon and from it Hood came to the conclusion that an effort was being made to turn his left flank, which caused him to evacuate his works during the night. No detailed statement of the casualties at Utoy creek can be made as the official reports of losses include this engagement with others about Atlanta during the month.


Utz's Ford, Virginia, October 7, 1862. A report from Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart says that 24 men of the 7th Virginia cavalry crossed the Rapidan at Utz's ford and attacked the Federal picket, killing 1, wounding 1 and capturing 6, together with 22 horses. Union reports make no mention of the affair.