The railroad bridge at Strawberry Plains.  Photo from The Library of Congress

Civil War in New Market

 

No 1

Report of Brig Gen Jacob D Cox

US Army New Market

Tenn March 6 1864

General: In the skirmish yesterday the rebels lost 9 killed including a major. We lost 3 killed, 1 badly wounded, and nearly 20 prisoners. We have 2 rebel prisoners. No further news from the front

JD COX

Brigadier General

Major General Schofield: 1864

Second Division commanded by Brig Gen Henry M Judah

February 24 the division marched from Knoxville Tenn to Strawberry Plains

February 28 crossed the Holston River

February 29 marched to New Market

 

On the 15th [Janurary, 1864], Hood's and Buckner's divisions were advanced to a position to meet the enemy's move and at the same time to threaten his base at New Market. On the 16th, he made an effort to throw his cavalry in rear of ours, but the cavalry came in contact with these divisions of infantry and was driven back in some confusion. On the l7 th, a part of Hood's division was moved down to the enemy's immediate front. The sharpshooters of this division were ordered to advance against the enemy's left flank and Martin's cavalry dismounted were ordered to follow this move advancing in the enemy's front. The battalions of sharpshooters were closely supported by the main force of the division, the immediate object being to gain a favorable position for future operations. The flank movement was handsomely executed and it was handsomely followed by the dismounted. As the infantry had had a good long march before reaching the ground, we only had time to get our position a little after dark. During the night, the enemy retired to New Market and to Strawberry Plains leaving his dead upon the field. The retreat seems to have been made somewhat hastily, and not in very good order. We only got some few arms and equipments and a little ammunition. Our infantry was not in condition to pursue, half of our men being without shoes. Our cavalry is almost as badly off for want of clothing and the horses are without shoes, or nearly half of them. It was sent forward however with orders to make the effort to distress the enemy and if possible to drive him from this side of the river. The enemy is much demoralized and seems to have been in our power again, had it been possible for us to avail ourselves of this opportunity. The weather has been very severe for the past three weeks and we are now having a snow storm. Our men suffer a great deal for want of clothing even in their huts and some few have been severely frosted. (Source: The War of the Rebellion: v.1-53 [serial no. 1-111] Formal reports, y United States. War Dept, Henry Martyn Lazelle, Leslie J. Perry, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1891, p. 93-94)

 

 

 

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