Alan J. Pitts
Roddey-Forrest battlefields endangered by interstate hwy....
Mon Jun 4 10:36:52 2001


Nearly all the actions and skirmishes which took place during Dodge's expedition, April 15-May 2, 1863, occured within a short distance of the railroad. Highway construction shown on the web page Hoyt Cagle listed seems to follow Alabama 20 & 72 to the Mississippi line, very close to many of these. However, presuming the current rail line follows the one in use at the time of the war, and right-of-way for the rail line remains undisturbed, most of these sites may be okay.

As for exact site locations, there are no first-hand Confederate accounts for Dodge's expedition in the Official Records. General Bragg says Roddey contested Dodge's advance with one regiment (presumably his own). Dodge's reports are vague and confusing, but Col. Florence M. Cornyn of the 10th Missouri Cavalry provides detailed descriptions of several conflicts. His report of the fighting at Leighton and Town Creek mentions Julian's and Baxter's Battalions, so they must have been available to Roddey. I'd also expect Hannon's regiment to have been in the area, but this is just my assumption. Perhaps Mr. McClendon will comment. Forrest arrived in time for most of his brigade to contest Dodge's advance over Town Creek.

Dodge's command included four infantry brigades, three batteries, and five good mounted regiments, perhaps 8,000 officers and men in total. Streight's command was not involved and isn't counted here. Even with Hannon's regiment, Roddey had little more than 1,000 troops for duty (plus Farrell's Battery) available during Dodge's expedition. Forrest didn't cross Brown's Ferry until April 26th and left Dibrell's regiment and one of Morton's guns north of the Tennessee River.

As an aside, Dodge reprimanded Cornyn for unauthorized destruction between Tuscumbia and Town Creek, but reports forwarded up the Federal chain of command include congratulations for Dodge laying waste the "garden spot of Alabama".

I'd be pleased to list these skirmishes if anyone's interested. The official list frequently contains inaccuracies, such as the skirmish at Burnsville Alabama (April 14, 1863). Of course Burnsville is well over the line in Mississippi. A skirmish is listed at Town Creek on April 8, 1863, which likely never took place. The National Archives review relates this reference to the action at Town Creek on April 28, 1863.

Also, Dodge mentions fighting at a place called "Lundy's Lane", presumably a site in Colbert County. Of course Lundy's Lane was the name of a War of 1812 battle. Cornyn doesn't mention it, and I have to wonder what was going on in Dodge's mind. Does anyone recognize this place name?