February 24th, 1864
Demopolis, Ala
General Bragg,
I beg to inform you of the actions of the 1st and 2nd Mississppi/Alabama Cavalry Battalion in the face of Sherman's Forces in eastern Mississippi. As you know we're trying to round up all the parolees from the fall of Vicksburg and most of us reformed in Demopolis, Ala knowing that Sherman himself was headed from Jackson to Meridian, Miss. We suspected he was to meet Stoneman in Meridian and head across Alabama towards Georgia.
We headed at once at your directions towards the little town of Quitman, Miss to defend the stores and railhead there. As well as assist the Hospital ran by the state of Texas for it's troops. We rode hard and arrived just in time to acquire a small navy boat and put up a shallow breastwork around the depot and storehouse.
On Feb 22nd, a Yankee Division attacked our embedded battalion in a head on attack. With the aid our gunboat, we filed over the works and ended up surrounding the entire force, killing many like they were ducks on a pond, ripe for the killing and feasting. We captured their gun battery and took over 400 prisoners. We placed the prisoners on an island that evening and laughed as the froze their rear-ends off when the temperature dropped that night.
The men were full of cheer and that evening we ate well and danced with the womenfolk of Quitman. Whiskey was found but I will say that no one overdid it. These men have upheld their honor.
Sunday the 23rd, the Yankees returned with 3 Divisions. I, Sir, beg to report that we could NOT hold the position in the face of such odds. We attempted to flank them every which way from Sunday but the incompetence of the commanders you placed over us...Sir, I beg to submit to you that I will never draw my sword under them again. Should you command me to join forces under these men again, I will personally run them through with my own saber and lead my men into a charge against them.
Sir, we await your orders here in Demopolis, hopefully under a different command.
I beg to remain your obedient servant,
Lt. Col. C. A. Bodenheimer
Wheeler's Corp
1st Division
8th Confederate Cavalry
Comments