REPORT 4

Report of Col. George B. Hoge, One hundred and thirteenth Illinois Infantry.
 

COLONEL: I would respectfully submit the following report of my command, the Thirteenth U.S. Infantry and the One hundred and thirteenth Illinois Infantry, in the skirmish on Deer Creek, near Rolling Fork, March 22, 1863:
     While marching, as per order of General Sherman, when within about 3 miles of Rolling Fork, my advance guard, under command of Captain Washington, of the Thirteenth U.S. Infantry, were fired into by the enemy. I ordered Captain Washington to deploy his command as skirmishers, and advance in a southwesterly direction about 200 yards. I then marched my command forward to within a short distance of where the first skirmishing took place, and there formed the line of battle. Previous to forming the line of battle, I ordered Captain Williams, of the One hundred and thirteenth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, to deploy his company as skirmishers, his right resting on Captain Washington’s left. After line of battle was formed, I ordered Captains Ewing and Irish, and Lieutenant Knox, of the Thirteenth U.S. Infantry, to deploy their commands as skirmishers on the line running north and south. I then advanced my command in line of battle about 200 yards, when I halted, awaiting a report from the skirmishers, which was brought to me by the adjutant of the Thirteenth U.S. Infantry. I then advanced till I came close on to the skirmishers, when I varied the direction somewhat of the skirmishers, inclining to the north, and ordered all the skirmishers to keep their commands as nearly on a line as possible. The skirmishers having driven the enemy very rapidly, and not being able to follow them in line of battle, I changed my command from line of battle into the march by column, and followed the skirmishers as closely as possible. When within about 1 ½ miles of Rolling Fork, I halted the column and drew in the skirmishers. I then marched my command in a southeasterly direction until I came to the Deer Creek road, when I again halted, and the skirmishers all reported. I then countermarched, and marched down Deer Creek road, when I had the honor to report to you.
     Casualties, 1 man wounded in the ankle, in Captain Washington’s company, Thirteenth U.S. Infantry.
     I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
 

Col. GILES A. SMITH,
                  Commanding First Brigade, Second Division

Sources:
Text and Maps:
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION: A COMPILATION OF THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR, BY BVT. LIEUT. COL. ROBERT N. SCOTT, THIRD U.S. ARTILLERY AND PUBLISHED PURSUANT TO ACT OF CONGRESS APPROVED JUNE 16, 1880.
The US Government Printing Office
Volume: XXXVI: Pages 430-667

Photographs:
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