MAGAZINE — INTERNET SUPPLEMENT — This is a Special Supplement to the Fall 2003 issue of Blue & Gray Magazine (Vol. XX, Issue 6). The Feature Article was written by Ed Bearss, with a Driving Tour by Dave Roth, Editor of B&G, with Steve McDaniel and Jim Weaver of the Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield Association. If you are not a subscriber, you can purchase the issue by visiting the Online Store section of our website, or check your local bookstore. SUPPLEMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS0 Officers Mentioned in the Supplement..............................2 Regional Base Map............................................................3 Eyewitness Account: Adolph Engelmann, USA................4 Salem Cemetery Battle Map..............................................6 Eyewitness Account: Leander Stillwell, USA...................7 Preservation at Salem Cemetery.........................................8 Eyewitness Account: Dan Beard (aka Baird), CSA...........9 Trenton Tour Map.............................................................11 The Battle of Parker’s Crossroads Base Map...................12 Eyewitness Account: John Watson Morton, CSA............13 Preservation at Parker’s Crossroads.................................14 Nathan Bedford Forrest, CSA Cyrus L. Dunham, USA Officers Mentioned in the Supplement John W. Fuller, USA John P. Strange, CSA Robert G. Ingersoll, USA, postwar (left) H. J. B. Cummings, USA and George G. Dibrell, CSA, postwar. Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield Assn. Jeremiah Sullivan, USA 2—BLUE & GRAY MAGAZINE—FALL 2003 INTERNET SUPPLEMENT Regional Map BASE MAP DER 3—BLUE & GRAY MAGAZINE—FALL 2003 INTERNET SUPPLEMENT — EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT — Letter from Col. Adolph Engelmann to his sister about the Battle of Salem Cemetery Bolivar, Tennessee December 26, 1862 Dear Sister: Since I wrote you last I have led a rather active life, and Mina has had the experience of being in the immediate vicinity of a skirmish. On the morning of the 18th [of December 1862] we rec’d orders to go to Jackson with all available men, leaving only 2 cannon and 250 men (Art., Cav., & Inf.); those necessary to man the most important positions. Mina had to stay in her little house here at Bolivar. At noon [Brig. Gen. Mason] Brayman left with the rest of the troops—he had 4 cannon, 80 Artillerymen, 275 men of the 43rd [Illinois Inf.], 225 of the 61st Ill., 80 of the West Tenn. (on foot), making about 700 or more counting the officers. That evening we were getting ready to sleep when I rec’d orders to move out on the road toward Lexington (east of Jackson) with the 43rd and 61st Ill. and to assume command, not only of these Reg’ts but also such other U.S. Cav. as I might find. On the 9th [18th] the 11th Ill. Cav., one Batt. of the 5th Ohio Cav., one troop of the 2nd West Tenn. Cav., and 2 cannon had gone out on this road to meet the enemy. Col. [Robert G.] Ingersoll of the 11th Ill. Cav. was in command. Two miles beyond Lexington they had come upon the enemy who outnumbered them 5 to 1. They were driven back step by step, lost their cannon and 150 men were taken prisoners including Col. Ingersoll and other Field Officers— Adolph Engelmann, USA nor was the loss in dead and wounded unimportant. Three and one-half miles from Jackson I came upon the Cav., dead tired and ‘A’ where he took a good position and exchanged some telling discouraged from their long fight against such great odds. A mile carbine fire with them before being compelled to retreat further. further on I came up to our farthest outposts and from there could The enemy then brought up their cannon, two smooth bores, and see the camp fires of the enemy burning merrily. I forbade our one of those captured from our men the day before. The other, our men to make fires, and when the 61st tried it, I scattered the wood men had disabled before it was taken. I had told Funk not to expose myself. It was bitter cold (vinegar cold) and it was hard to deny his men and as now they were throwing shells under his horses’ our men fire when the Secessionists dared to have their fires feet with skill and calmness, (one might almost say goodnaturedly) burning. I proposed to Lieut. Col. [Adolph] Dengler [43rd Illinois he retired to ‘B’ back of a small rise but as the enemy appeared in Inf.] that we attack them by their fires but he advised against it for numbers at ‘A’ and the shells were again falling near, he had some the reason that we were not at all acquainted with the lay of the of his Cav. retire to our left while the rest passed thru our lines on land and that night attacks were risky things at best. His arguments the road. ([Now a] few Rebel riders appeared to our right at the were good so I gave up the idea. Cotton Press but a few shots from our skirmishers drive them After consultation with [Lt.] Col. [Bazil] Meek [11th Illinois] away.) The above is Adam Graber’s story—he shot at the negroes of the Cav., Dengler, and Maj. [Simon P.] Ohr of the 61st Ill., it at the Cotton Press—there was no enemy there. Now there was a was decided to move the Infantry back to a well concealed position moment’s rest—only the shells falling nearby, especially about and endeavor to draw the enemy to us with our Cavalry. The road the 61st where some of our Cav. was to be seen—but fortunately from ‘A’ to Salem Cemetery (about the same width as that of ours only a few of the shells exploded—some went over our heads into at home) ran between two good fences with fields on either side. the woods and hit trees and exploded, but we suffered no loss. Behind us about a hundred steps wide was a strip of timber and It got too hot for our Cav., however, and they withdrew from some little hills. The infantry was formed to the right and left of our flanks toward Jackson. At ‘B’ there now appeared a mass of the road, hidden by the timber and the fences. The 5th Ohio Cav. Cav., and in a moment they charged upon us. They were met by a was on our left flank and another Cav. Detachment, the 11th Ill. deadly fire from the 43rd and 61st—nevertheless they came on and the 2nd West Tenn. on our right. Major Funk [Otto Funke], until in the vicinity of the large tree marked on the map. Here with the remainder of the 11th Ill. Cav. was to coax the enemy several of the leading riders fell from their horses and those into the trap.* following drew up—1/2 doz. riderless horses went thru our lines. At daylight the enemy began to move forward, with the strong flanking parties at least 1/4 mile ahead of the main force on the *The reference ‘A’ and subsequent references to ‘B’ and ‘C’ are to Engelmann’s hand-drawn map that he road. Funk retired before the very carefully following enemy to enclosed with the letter, a facsimile of which, in color, produced by B&G, appears on the Page 6. 4—BLUE & GRAY MAGAZINE—FALL 2003 INTERNET SUPPLEMENT Dave Roth of B&G Tornado-damaged Salem Cemetery—see the Preservation Message on Pg. 8. Below is the Union monument at the cemetery. Dave Roth of B&G 5—BLUE & GRAY MAGAZINE—FALL 2003 INTERNET SUPPLEMENT Those following still crowded up. Here was a congestion in which our bullets did much damage. Anyone who was his own and his horse’s master could not afford to loiter there. The fences were broken down and the fields were filled with (and without riders) horses. I was sitting on my horse “Bragg” in the middle of the road between the 43rd and 61st. The lively gunfire had made him nervous and when the riderless horses came up the road he went crazy and ran away with me. When we had passed all the runaways I finally got him stopped and returned to the fighting where I belonged. In the meantime a column of Cav. on our left flank moved past our position and 1/4 mile toward Jackson. With 500 Inf. I was opposed to an unknown number of Cav. with at least 5 cannon, the shells from which were always falling nearer. The men were expressing the fear that since our Cav. had withdrawn from our flanks the enemy would outflank and surround us. I Michael Lawler, USA (left) and Mason Brayman, USA ordered skirmishers out on our flanks and two Co’s. of the 43rd back a couple of hundred yards to the rise on this side of the valley in. In the meantime their Artillery was improving their fire—one toward Jackson to cover our rear. Then Lieut. Col. Meek sent me man of the 43rd was wounded and in the 61st one was killed and word that the enemy was going around on both sides and advised three wounded. As the enemy showed no signs of coming within me to retire. However, I waited for a half hour watching the enemy range of our muskets I decided to withdraw my men out of range Cav. in hopes they would charge again. Three Secessionist of their cannon. This was done in good order and according to all Cavalrymen who had had their horses killed under them were lying rules and regulations. Such was the fight at Salem Cemetery. About in front of us—equally afraid of us and their own shells which 4 P.M. Gen. Brayman with 3 Reg’ts.