ORs: Report of Maj. Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchel, U. S. Army

ORs: Series 1, Volume 10, Number 1, Page 892-3

HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION,
Camp Taylor, Huntsville, Ala.,
May 15, 1862.

After long and continuous efforts to obtain reliable information of the forces of the enemy which had crossed the river at the ferries below Decatur, and failing in my efforts, I determined to organize a force strong enough to meet and defeat any force we might reasonably expect to encounter at Rogersville. The troops advanced in two columns—one body, under command of General Negley, from Pulaski; the other, under command of Colonel Lytle, from Athens. Colonel Lytle advanced upon the road from Florence to Athens, and expected the enemy to dispute the passage at Elk River, and while thus engaged General Negley was expected to enter Rogersville, attack the enemy in the rear and cut off his retreat across the river; but in this region, inhabited by rebels, it was impossible to conceal our movements and intentions. General Negley entered Rogersville at the very hour that Colonel Lytle reached Elk River, but the enemy obtained a few hours’ notice of the approach of Lytle's troops, and succeeded in withdrawing his guns and stores and baggage and most of his troops to the south side of the river. Negley surprised them in the act of passing over the last boat load and fired upon and dispersed them. From the best information some 4,000 of the enemy’s cavalry, with several pieces of artillery, have crossed at different points—at Lamb’s Ferry and the ferry just below the shoals. Of these, Morgan’s cavalry have been already heard from. Helm’s cavalry are on this side of the river, having penetrated toward Elkton. Scott’s cavalry, in part, are on this side of the river, and some bodies of the Texan Rangers have not been able to recross.

On yesterday, while at Rogersville, I ordered an expedition to move at 12 o’clock, composed of troops of Negley’s command, to seize the Shoal Creek Bridge. Happily accomplished. The doubt which for two weeks has been hanging over the force of the enemy on this side of the river is now removed. Holding, as I shall do, the command of the river from Bridgeport to Florence, I venture to ask that you will protect me at points below Florence. I have extemporized a gunboat, which will be ready for service this day. I hope to be able to move her upstream at the rate of 4 miles an hour, and by her assistance to prevent the enemy from realizing the boats we have destroyed. I will now give my personal attention to the mountain region east of the Nashville and Chattanooga Railway.

O. M. MITCHEL,
Major-General.

Major-General BUELL,
Camp near Corinth.

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