WAR REMINISCENCES
SOUTHERN SENTINEL
Ripley, Mississippi
June 28, 1894
The Battle of Ripley
The only fight of any consequences occurring
in Ripley is denominated as above, although strictly speaking it was not
a battle but a skirmish. It occurred in June 1864.
The defeated army of Gen. Sturgis overwhelmed
and routed at Cross Roads by Gen. Forrest’s gallant troops, passed through
Ripley on their hurried retreat, closely pursued by Forrest's men.
At the ford of King’s Creek, about one mile south of
Ripley and near the present residence of A. M. Gaillard, the rear guard of
Sturgis was overhauled and the attack opened at once. The firing was
very rapid, but the shooting was mostly done by the pursuing Confederates
as the attention of the Federals was largely taken up in getting out of the
way. Forrest pressed them without mercy, and just west of the public
square, overhauled and captured the last piece of their artillery, the remnant
of a fine battery with which they had started on the ill fated expedition.
There were 13 Federals killed, nearly all of whom were
colored, and the number of wounded is not known. Not a single Confederate
was slain but three or four were wounded, including a Col. Wilson, of Tennessee.
Col. Wilson was carried to the residence of R. J. Thurmond, then standing
west and opposite the present site of the Baptist Church. Here he was
waited upon by Dr. J. Y. Murry and remained until restored to health.
Mrs. Thurmond nursed the wounded man very faithfully.
Col. Alex Chalmers, a brother of Gen. J. R. Chalmers,
of Memphis, commanded a regiment of Forrest's men that day. At Town
Creek, one-half mile west of Ripley, the horse he was riding was shot from
under him. Turning to a pale-faced, powder-smoked boy of his command,
he told the boy to dismount, give up the horse for the Colonel's use and
return to town. The boy did so, while Col. Chalmers mounted the horse
and followed on in pursuit. He afterwards stated that his object was
to save the boy's life who was thoroughly exhausted by the hard service through
which he had gone, but whose valiant spirit was still undaunted.
Another incident of the fight was told by a citizen.
A negro soldier had hidden under a house, first pitching his gun in the cedars
in the yard. He was discovered and ran, but a bullet from a gun of
one of Forrest's troopers out-traveled him, bringing him down at the distance
of 100 yards, mortally wounded.
Twenty-five Federals were captured in the town and this
number was largely added to during the day as the pursuit kept up, until
not less then 200 prisoners were taken. These were all brought
back to Ripley.
Another citizen, J. V. Shepherd, was in Col. Hovis' residence
in time of the fight. A troop of Federal cavalry formed between this
residence and the jail, which is the same building now used for jail purposes,
and very near Col. Hovis' residence.
This troop of cavalry sent a volley or two in the direction
of the Confederate line and then retreated up the street north. As
soon as they started off, Mr. Shepherd, accompanied by Col. Hovis' little
daughter, now Mrs. H. P. Tigret, came out on the brick pavement in front
of the residence. The Yankee troopers were trotting up the street and
were about the spot directly between where the residences of Capt. Spight
and Dr. Carter now stand. Mr. Shepherd, looking south saw a dismounted
Confederate leap the fence into Mrs. C. E. Hines' yard and run behind a stubby
cedar. Almost immediately a puff of smoke issued from this cedar and
looking at the retreating Federals he saw one of their men reel and fall
from his saddle. The Federal troopers soon reformed and sent a volley
at Mr. Shepherd and his little companion, covering them with brick dust,
when they retreated in the house.
After the fight Mr. Shepherd examined the body of the
dead soldier just referred to. He said the bullet of the sharpshooter
had entered the seam of his coat, directly between the shoulders. He
was a fine looking young man, this soldier whose life was thus suddenly cut
short.
WAR REMINISCENCES
SOUTHERN SENTINEL
Ripley, Mississippi
July 5, 1894
Battle of Whitten Branch
This engagement occurred on the 7 day of July, 1864,
3 ½ miles west of Ripley on the Ashland road.
Gen. A. J. Smith with a strong column of Federals had
come out from Memphis, via Holly Springs, on their march toward Tupelo.
The 7th. Miss. Cavalry, commanded by Col. Hiams formed
his men along the brow of the hill with the center resting on the Ashland
road.
On the night preceding, Lieut. V. A. Grace with seven
men had been left on vidette at or near the residence of James McDonald,
15 miles west of Whitten Branch where Ashland, the county seat of Benton
county, is now located. These videttes had sat their horses the entire
night in hearing of the enemy, who camped near by. Next morning they
fell back before the Federal column and reached the regiment a short time
in advance of the Federal advance guard, bringing information as to the great
strength of the enemy.
Any one who has traveled this road will remember this
high and somewhat precipitous hill. It was a fine position, but, of
course, the small force stationed there could not hope to hold it long against
the overwhelming numbers of Smith's command.
W. M. Horton who was a member of Lieut. Crook's company
of the Seventh Cavalry, stated to the writer that this company was detached to
watch the Holly Springs road, which joins the Ashland road just in rear of
where the skirmish was had. Mr. Horton said his company was in a position
where he could watch the approach of the Federal column as the advance guard
of cavalry came marching down the hill on the opposite side of the branch.
Col. Haims' men reserved their fire until the front of the column began crossing
the branch, pouring in a volley then that sent the skirmish line forward
when a hot skirmish ensued, lasting two hours or more. During a lull
in the firing, Col. Hiams withdrew his regiment, with the loss of one killed
and two wounded, leaving a strong picket, and formed a line near the south
corporation line of Ripley. Here they remained all night.
There is a sad story connected with the death of the
gallant young Confederate who fell at Whitten Branch.
He was a Virginia soldier at home on wounded furlough.
His wound had nearly healed when Smith's raid came in the vicinity of Holly
Springs, where lived his father, who was a member of the 7th Miss. Cavalry
and the young soldier, apprehending that hot work was ahead, induced his
father to allow him to take his place. His father agreed and his noble
young life went out in the first fight.
He was buried on the spot where fell, near the Ashland
road, and his rude grave is still to be seen on the roadside, where the earth
was sprinkled with the life blood welling forth from his brave heart.
The remains should be removed to the cemetery and a suitable
slab erected to commemorate the heroism of one who laid down his life for
his father.
The Federals evidently thought they had come in contact
with Gen. Forrest's command for they also went into camp and waited for the
entire command to come up.
Next morning they advanced in strong force. They
brought the bodies of two of their soldiers killed in the preceding day's
fight, and buried them in C. P. Miller's yard, now a vacant lot just north
of Dr. Murry's residence.
The Federals then began a work of vandalism by applying
the torch to nearly every unoccupied building in town.
The courthouse, first and then the Methodist church,
Masonic Hall, Odd-Fellow's Hall, Dr. Murry's drug store, the Cumberland Presbyterian
church, the residence of Dr. Carter, Col. Falkner, Richard Prince and R.
F. Ford, besides many smaller buildings, became a prey to the devouring element.
It was a brutal and useless destruction of property for which no excuse can
be offered.
Having completed the work of destruction, they took up
the line of march down the New Albany road. Col. Hiam's regiment had
taken position on the Cotton Gin road expecting to skirmish with them during
the day and retard their march, but were thus flanked and forced to make
a night march in order to get in front. Soon after followed the bloody
battle of Harrisburg.
Mr. I. H. Smith, who was a member of Co. C of the 7th
Cavalry, participated in these skirmishes and also in the bloody unfortunate
battle of Harrisburg which occurred near Tupelo a few days later. In
this battle the 7th lost 10 men killed and 30 wounded. Mr. Smith was
in a few steps of Lieut. Crook when the latter was killed. His body
was picked up Sam Jumper, a member of Co. C. who at first thought it was
his brother. W. M. Cox, another citizen of Tippah and a member of Lt.
Crook's company was also slain in the same engagement.
WAR REMINISCENCES
SOUTHERN SENTINEL
Ripley, Mississippi
June 12, 1894
The Fight at Ruckersville
Ten miles north of Ripley there stood before
the war a village on the Pocahontas road called Ruckersville. Nothing
now remains but one residence and dilapidated storehouse, the latter long
unoccupied.
The place looks quite and sleepy enough now -- the birds
sing their melodies in the old plum thicket and the rabbits hop fearlessly
along the fence rows.
But on the morning of the 6th of October, 1862, things
wore a different aspect. On that day the embattled hosts of Price and
Rosencrans met there in a brief conflict and those peaceful hills and vales
resounded to the deep tones of artillery and the rattle of small arms.
In order to get a correct idea of this fight we must go back a little.
On the 3d. and 4th. of October, 1862, the combined armies
of Price and Van Dorn made their desperate attack on the entrenchments of
Corinth, mantled by thousands of blue coats under the command of Gen Rosencrans.
How the Confederates swept line after line of entrenchments ---how Gen. Villepigue's
brigade entered the streets of Corinth--and how at last they were forced to
retire, leaving the ground strewn with friend and foe, "in one red burial
blent," these are matters of history with which the reading public
are tolerably familiar.
Then ensted (sic) the retreat westward of Price's army,
down the south side of the Memphis & Charleston railroad. It was
the intention of "Old Pap," as his men familiarly termed the gallant old
Missourian, to cross his army over Hatchie at Davis Bridge, near Old Matamoras,
but when he neared this place he found the army of Federal Gen. Hurlbut,
from Bolivar Tenn., already in position with a strong force and ready to
dispute his passage. A heavy artillery battle at once began, lasting
several hours on Sunday, but it was evident that a crossing at this point
was impossible.
Scouts had in the meantime been dispatched up Hatchie
for another crossing and soon returned with information that it was possible
for the army to cross Hatchie at Crum's Mill, so thither by forced march
the Confederates directed their course. The bridge had been fired,
at one time and Gen. Price's scouts had arrived just in time to extinguish
the fire and save it from complete destruction. Had this not been done,
all the artillery and baggage of the Confederates must have been captured.
But the force of trained workmen soon put the bridge in good condition and
the crossing began.
Meantime the army of Gen. Rosencrans, following in pursuit,
began to press the rear of the Confederates but the crossing was effected
with comparatively small loss of men and material.
With the view of checking this too ardent pursuit, the
cavalry brigade of Gen. McCullough was formed along the brow of the hill
about one fourth of a mile from the village of Ruckersville on the Ripley
Pocahontas Road, where Jas. Holcombe now lives. McCullough's brigade
consisted at the time, according to the statement of H. Whollenben, now of
Oxford, and a participant in the skirmish, of the 1st. 3d. 6th and 9th Missouri
and 1st Miss.
The enemy approached with a strong skirmish line but
in a careless manner as though expecting a small force, but they found out
their mistake when McCullough's veterans opened on them at short range and
drove the hill in disorder and with considerable loss. They returned
a feeble and scattering fire after reaching the valley and a desultory skirmish
continued for some time until McCullough withdrew his troops, having accomplished
the purpose for which the stand was made.
Mr. Wohlleben related an amusing incident of the fight
to the writer. He was on vidette in company with Eli Miller, both members
of the 1st Miss. Cavalry, when a lone Yankee, who had evidently lost
his reckoning came suddenly upon them.
They ordered him to throw down his gun and approach but
he hesitated, looking over his shoulder at his comrades who were slowly approaching
from the rear. Finally Wohlleben told him if he did not march promptly
up he would blow out his brains, and then he came forward and was forced
to mount behind one of the troopers and be carried back to the main column
and into capability.
Having held the enemy in check for two hours, Gen. McCullough
withdrew his brigade and followed on down the Salem road after the retreating
Confederates.
The following incident is related by Mr. W. M. Horton
whose father lived near the scene of the skirmish just narrated: The
Federal army followed on after McCullough's brigade. Soon the latter
retired from their position on the hill. Mr. Horton, then a boy of
16 and too young for the service, was sent by his father to see after the
horses that had been hidden in the woods to prevent them falling into the
hands of the Federal troops. He had gone about one fourth mile, or
about half way to the place where the horses were concealed, when he saw
a company of Yankee scouts coming into the old field. The scouts saw
him about the same time and started in his direction.
Young Horton dashed into a brier thicket and, jumping
into the branch run, crawled up under a shelving bank. The Yankees
beat the brier thicket and then rode down the branch, passing directly over
the spot where the boy lay crouched with beating heart. A hoof of one
horse penetrated the overhanging bank and sent the dirt rattling on the fugitive's
head. He felt sure he would now be discovered, but not so; the scouts
passed on, but it was quite a good while before young Horton felt safe in
crawling out from his hiding place.
The Federals returned from the pursuit of Price's men
in about ten days. On their return they indulged in thieving and robbery
of citizens to a large extent. They stole horses, killed cattle and
hogs and robbed residences of bedding and wearing apparel.
Among other places visited was that of Reuben Ray.
Mr. Ray had an old negro named Jerry. Jerry had a lot of nice quilts
and blankets in his cabin. Some of the Yankees spied these and started
to carry them away, but Old Jerry clutched his precious bed-clothes and held
them with a death grip. In vain did the Yankees draw their sabers and
threatened to cut off the old negro's arm -- nothing could induce Jerry to release
his hold so they finally left him and his quilts behind.
Frank Ray was a son of Reuben Ray and at that time was
a lad of 14. When he saw the Yankees coming he was sitting in the front
gallery. He fled through the back door and took leg-bail for a mile
through the field to a neighbor's, falling there exhausted. His heart
beat so loudly that he imagined its thumps were the hoof beats of the approaching
Yankee Cavalry. As he expressed it, he "was scared enough to last till
the war was over."
Thanks to Tommy Covington, librarian at the Ripley Public Library, Ripley,
Tippah County, Mississippi who transcribed these articles and allowed me to put
them online.
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