The Mississippi in the Civil War Message Board

Sherman's Miss. Campaign book - weird scholarship?

I was perusing the book by Buck T. Foster titled "Sherman's Mississippi Campaign" (2006; Univ. of Alabama Press)last night and detected some strange scholarship on pages 46-47.

Here Buck describes the resistance made by Wirt Adams' cavalary against the Federal hordes on Feb. 5, 1864. For some strange reason (perhaps the actual O.R. report by Wirt Adams was misread?) it is stated that Major Stockdale and Colonel Dumonteil commanded the units directly resisting Sherman's soldiers that day.

However, this does not jive with what is recorded in Margie Bearss book or in the actual O.R. report by Wirt Adams. Instead of Stockdale and Dumonteil, it was Griffith and Stockdale who were directly resisting Sherman that day (see excerpt pasted here and URL given below).

Dumonteil (and Akin) were apparently in reserve that day.

Oh well.....maybe the book was a "rush job" to meet a publisher's deadline..????

y.v.o.s.,

Kenneth Byrd

Battle Report of Brig. Gen. Wirt Adams, C.S. Army, commanding Cavalry Brigade, of operations against Sherman’s Expedition to Meridian, Mississippi, February and March, 1864.

From the O.R., Series I, Volume 32, Part 1, pages 371-374.

[CAPS emphasis by me, KEB]

"Before daylight on the morning of February 5, I resumed my position, directing Captain King to train his rifled pieces on the bridge over Baker’s Creek, 800 yards in my front, and posted COLONEL GRIFFITH'S [Eleventh] Arkansas Regiment on the right and MAJOR STOCKDALE'S battalion on the left, both dismounted, as supports for the artillery. I held COLONELS WOOD AND DUMONTEIL in reserve, the former dismounted and forming a second line; the latter mounted and in column in the road."

"At 7 a.m. the enemy advanced in column across the bridge in my front, when I directed CAPTAIN KING to open fire with his two rifled pieces, which did not, however, check the enemy. He pressed steadily forward, deploying to the right and left in the open field. A rapid artillery fire was maintained for some time, and when within range COLONEL GRIFFITH AND MAJOR STOCKDALE engaged his whole line, offering the most determined and stubborn resistance and maintaining their position to the last moment, COLONEL GRIFFITH AND MAJOR STOCKDALE, as usual, distinguishing themselves by their gallant and fearless bearing. After offering all the resistance possible to the largely superior force of the enemy, I withdrew COLONEL GRIFFITH'S AND MAJOR STOCKDALE'S commands, ordering COLONEL WOOD to cover the movement. COLONEL WOOD was relieved by COLONEL DUMONTEIL AND MAJOR AKIN successively as the command retired in perfect order along the Clinton road."

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Sherman's Miss. Campaign book - weird scholarship?
Re: Sherman's Miss. Campaign book - weird scholars
Moorman's Battalion in Wirt Adams cavalry....
Moorman's Battalion also at Concord Church....
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Moorman's Battalion casualties info......
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Pre- Moorman's Battalion
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Re: Sherman's Miss. Campaign book - weird scholars
Sherman's Miss. Campaign book - sloppiness...
Re: Sherman's Miss. Campaign book - sloppiness...