Alan J. Pitts
Re: Last 2 weeks of April '63
Tue Jun 5 11:17:52 2001


More than a little helpful -- I cannot thank you enough!

You have posted the Confederate view of this little-known expedition, which was designed to cover Streight's raid. It also allowed Grierson to move south without concern for Confederate pursuit from this quarter. Most of us know about Forrest's pursuit of Streight and the destruction of La Grange Military College, but little else.

The Federal "batteries" captured by Roddey were two 12-lb. howitzers of Battery "I", 1st Missouri Light Artillery. Cornyn says the battery expended all its ammunition that morning (125 rounds), and he gave orders that a fresh supply be fowarded. Meanwhile he wanted the guns out of the way of his cavalrymen and directed that they follow in the rear. Instead the battery remained where it was, supported by one company of the 9th Illinois Mounted Infantry. The battery's table of events says it was attacked and overrun by 800 of Roddey's men. One howitzer was carried off by Roddey; the other gun was disabled. I will try to post the battery's account later.

Incidentally, the battery account also mentions the action on April 23rd as takig place at the "railroad cut" rather than the "Rock Cut", as it is officially recorded. This further confirms the view that most of these encounters took place on or near the Memphis & Charleston Railroad line. I'm informed that there is a roadside park today near the "Rock Cut". The present-day rail line should be just north of Alabama 72 near a community called Pride.