EXPEDITIONS AT THE CLOSE OF 1864.
Several expeditions of importance were undertaken at this period, which had important bearings on the movements of the grand armies, but our limits will not permit extended details.
Destruction of Federal Depot at Johnsonville, Tenn.—On the 28th of October, General Forrest reached the Tennessee at Fort Hieman, and captured a gunboat and three transports. On the 2d of November, he planted batteries above and below Johnsonville, on the opposite side of the river, isolating three gunboats and eight transports. On the 4th he opened his batteries on the place, and was replied to from the gunboats and the garrison. The gunboats became disabled, and were set on fire, as also were the transports, to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy. The fire extended to the levee and the storehouses, and property to the value of one and a half million dollars was consumed. The place was not occupied by the enemy, who withdrew on the following day, crossing to the north side of the Tennessee river, above Johnsonville, moving towards Clifton, and subsequently joined Hood’s army, near Franklin.
Destruction on the Mississippi Central Railroad.—Soon after General Sherman commenced his march from Atlanta, two expeditions, one from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and one from Vicksburg, Mississippi, were started by General Canby to cut the enemy’s line of communication with Mobile and retain troops in that field. The expedition from Vicksburg was under the command of Brevet Brigadier-General E. D. Osband (Colonel Third United States colored cavalry). He reached the Mississippi Central railroad on the 27th of November, and, after an obstinate engagement, destroyed the bridge and trestle work over Big Black river, near Canton, thirty miles of the road, and two locomotives, two thousand six hundred bales of cotton and one hundred and sixty thousand dollars worth of stores at Vaughan station. About the same time an expedition organized under the direction of General Canby, consisting of a cavalry force under General Davidson, left Baton Rouge. Thence it marched to Tanghipiho and destroyed the railroad to Jackson, burning bridges and railroad buildings. Thence it moved to Franklinville, capturing a mail and prisoners. Thence it moved to West Pascagoula. These movements caused a great panic in Mississippi, and created alarm for the safety of Mobile, thus effectively cooperating with General Sherman.
A cavalry expedition, under Brevet Major-General Grierson, started from Memphis on the 21st of December. On the 25th he surprised and captured Forrest’s dismounted camp at Verona, Mississippi, on the Mobile and Ohio railroad, destroyed the railroad, sixteen cars loaded with wagons and pontoons for Hood’s army, four thousand new English carbines, and a large amount of public stores. On the morning of the 28th he attacked and captured a force of the army at Egypt, and destroyed a train of fourteen cars; thence turning to the southwest he struck the Mississippi Central railroad at Winona, destroyed the factories and large amounts of stores at Bankston, and the machine shops and public property at Grenada, arriving at Vicksburg January 5.
Foster’s Expedition up Broad River, S. C.—On the 29th of November, 1864, General Foster, commanding Department of the South, also sent an expedition, via Broad river, to destroy the railroad between Charleston and Savannah. The troops were commanded by Brigadier-General J. P. Hatch, and a naval force under Commander G. H. Preble formed a part of the expedition.
The transports arrived at Boyd’s Point a little after daylight on Tuesday morning, the 29th, and in a short time men, horses, artillery and supplies were on shore. On the next day the enemy were encountered in force on the Grahamsville road, at a place called Honey Hill. The batteries of the rebels were intrenched in the woods, and great bravery was evinced by the naval brigade and by colored troops in several charges which were made, in which they suffered severe loss. The musketry fire was terrific. For seven hours the din was kept up, almost drowning the artillery discharges. The position of the rebels at Honey Hill proved too strong to be carried by General Foster’s command, and the Federals were compelled to retire. The total casualties of the Union force numbered eight hundred and ten.