Numbers 10. Report of Lieutenant Colonel William W. Wier, First Confederate Veterans.

HDQRS. FIRST REGIMENT CONFEDERATE VETERANS,
December 30, 1864.

MAJOR: I have the honor respectfully to report my movement since leaving Mobile, under the following order:

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE GULF,
Mobile, Ala., December 15, 1864.

Colonel W. W. WIER:

The major-general directs you assume command of the troops now under orders for Corinth, Miss. O'Neal's regiment and either you battalion or Metts' will move this afternoon at 4 o'clock.

Very respectfully, colonel, your obedient servant,

GEO. G. GARNER,
Chief of Staff.

King's battery going on board the train when I received the order, I placed O'Neal's regiment and Mett's battalion on board, leaving my regiment at the station, to move next day (Sunday) at 4 p. m., at which time, I was informed, transportation would be provided for them. Owing to the character of the troops I thought it advisable to go part of the way with the first train. I reached Enterprise about 4 a. m. Monday. The troops all being quiet and orderly, I placed Lieutenant-Colonel Burke, commanding O'Neal's regiment, in command of the whole, and remained over to bring up my own command, as I was fearful that many of them would stop off the train. The greater portion of them having homes or friends near the line of railroad, and being mixed troops from almost every regiment in the Tennessee army, they required close watching. The train having my regiment aboard reached Enterprise at 4 a. m. Tuesday morning, two hours behind schedule time. We reached Meridian about 6.30 a. m. Major-General Gardner came aboard, and I immediately reported to him. The train being heavily loaded caused many delays, and when we reached Macon the conductor had lost his schedule time and had to wait until freight schedule (4.30 p. m.). We left Macon about 5 p. m. and arrived at West Point about 10 o'clock get some information of the enemy.

About 11.30 o'clock I received an order to get my command aboard as soon as they had something to east and move up the road and report to the senior officer at Egypt. As soon as possible I had my ammunition and command on the cars, waited some few minutes for steam, and moved up the road about 2 a. m. At Prairie Station the conductor called on me for a detail to bail water for the locomotive. I immediately furnished the detail, and went in person and superintended the works, which was a very slow process, having only three small buckets and the water to draw from a deep cistern. I ordered up fresh details to keep the buckets constantly moving, but with all the dispatch used it was 7 o'clock before the engineer thought we had sufficient water to last him, and not endanger the train. We then moved up as rapidly as possible. About two miles below Egypt we met the train from above, having on board King's battery. They reported the enemy in full pursuit, and that they had to leave part of their train behind; also, that General Gholson with his entire command were captured. I immediately moved up the railroad at a double-quick to an eminence about half a mile in front. When I gained this position the enemy were formed and moving down upon me, my skirmishers already firing on them. They then moved around my right flank, causing me to change my front. From this position they bore down upon me at full gallop. My men were steady and cool, and with a well-directed fire scattered them in every direction. They then fell back to their former position near Egypt, but in full view. They immediately formed their line of battle across the railroad, two other columns moving out of the woods to join them. I took immediate steps to fortify my position, requesting Major Hope to take train down to Prairie Station, get some water for the locomotive, and return with the battery immediately. The enemy remained in this position about two hours, then withdrew out of sight. Having no horse I could get but little information.

About 4 p. m. Captain Shoup reported to me with a few horsemen, and I soon ascertained that the enemy had moved west, leaving their wounded at the station. I remained in position, sending out scouts in every direction, until 9 p. m.; then moved about two miles down the railroad to get some provisions for my command.

I remained in this position until Wednesday, 12 m.; finding the enemy moving west and probably south, I though best to move down to West Point.

The enemy left 7 dead on the field and 1 stand of colors. My loss 3 wounded.

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. W. WIER,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.
OR V45, Pt. 1, pp. 870/1

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Numbers 2. Report of Colonel Joseph Kerge, Second New Jersey Cavalry, commanding First Cavalry Brigade.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, CAVALRY DIVISION,
Camp Karge, January 12, 1865.

SIR: I have the honor to forward their official report of the proceedings of my brigade during the expedition into Mississippi under Brigadier General B. H. Grierson.

I started at 7 o'clock ion the morning of the 21st of December, in the following order: Seventh Indiana Cavalry, 7 officers, 160 men; First Mississippi Rifles, 4 officers, 84 men; Fourth Missouri Cavalry, 1 officer, 103 men; pack train, 65 men and 90 animals; Second New Jersey Cavalry; 18 officers, 724 men; effective officers and men, 1,101. I marched on the State Line road to Collierville, where I overtook the other brigade and camped three miles east of Collierville, having marched twenty-seventh miles. on the 22nd of December I marched at 6.30 a. m., and at 2 o'clock turned off ont he Early Grove road. Here I dispatched Captain Hencke with the Fourth Missouri Cavalry to watch the crossing of the Wolf River at Moscow and to remain there until sunset. The First Mississippi Mounted Rifles captured 3 prisoners during this day's march. Camped seven miles southwest of La Grange, Tenn. Distance marched, nineteen miles. Moved at 7 o'clock on the morning of the 23rd of December, passed through Lamar and Salem, and camped eight miles southeast of the latter place, having marched thirty miles. Resumed the march on the 24th of December at 6 o'clock, on the Ripley

Page 847 Chapter LVII. EXPEDITION FROM MEMPHIS, TENN.
OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 45, Part 1 (Franklin - Nashville)

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Theodore William Henke, Captain, Company B, 4th Missouri Cavalry, captured at Egypt Station, n.d., declared exchanged at Vicksburg, Miss. April 8, 1865, sent to Benton Barracks

M405: Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in OrganizationCard 39