Whitening Civil War History in the Annual Confederate Rebel Wirt Adams Aborted Raid on Natchez Every Year at Historic Jefferson College natchezdemocrat/2014/11/02/come-to-wirt-adams-reenactment/ Compare the normal and annual write up by sponsors to the official report of Rebel Wirt Adams. What is missing in the newspaper announcement that is left out each year and does not appear in the historical correct information nor physical appearance at Historic Jefferson College. If after reading Wirt Adams on report below, please make comment about what is missing from the newspaper announcement: HEADQUARTERS BRIGADE, Near Kingston, December 7, 1863. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to present the following brief report of the movements and operations of this command since leaving Gallatin up to the present date: In obedience to orders from the commanding general of division, I marched from Gallatin on the 1st instant in the direction of the Mississippi River, and took the shortest road from that point to Natchez, by way of Union Church, at which place Colonel Wood joined me with his regiment on the 2d instant, raising my total effective strength to 1,059 men. From that point I moved rabidly to the vicinity of Natchez, halting east of and near Washington on the afternoon of the 4th instant, and threw out active scouts and spies in and around the city, with the view of attack if the strength of the garrison and the state of its defensive works afforded reasonable prospect of success. Reliable information, obtained during the afternoon an(1 night of that day, was procured to the effect that the garrison consisted of 1,200 white and 1,500 negro troops, all inside the fortifications, which were completed, or nearly so, and mounting six heavy guns, commanding all the practicable approaches. These works were perfectly protected on the river side by a precipitous bluff of 100 feet running their whole length, thus preventing ingress of a dismounted force from that side, which I deemed the place of attack most promising of success. A dash into the city by either a part or the whole of the force promised no compensating result. I therefore determined to move my command by the nearest practicable route to Ellis Cliff, 10 miles below Natchez in a direct line and by the river, and take position there with my battery to obstruct navigation. I reached that point on the evening of the 5th and found a gunboat stationed there; but selecting a favorable position for the battery I awaited on the evening of the 5th and the entire day of the 6th instant the passage of transports. None passed, however, during daylight, and but two at night, which, owing to the elevation of the cliff and the slender prospect of inflicting injury by the fire of the battery in the dark, I did not open on. About 7 p.m. of the 6th instant, I received reliable information that the enemy had been re-enforced at Natchez by a brigade of infantry and one of cavalry from Vicksburg, and that, relying upon the difficulties of my position between Natchez and the Homochitto River, which is impassable owing to the destruction of its bridges, he meditated a movement to occupy the only two routes of egress and attack me with his infantry and cavalry forces. It is proper to state, however, that previous to marching to that point I fully considered these probable difficulties. When, therefore, I learned last evening that he had posted his cavalry force of 1,000 to 1,200 on the Kingston road within 4 miles of my encampment, and was to move an infantry and artillery force this morning directly against me, I at once got my command in readiness to attack and force my way through his cavalry at daylight this morning before the remainder of his forces could be brought up. With this view I kept the two roads from Kingston and Natchez strongly picketed during the night, and moved my whole force and trains by a plantation road to within a mile of his position. Obtaining as accurate information of this as the darkness permitted, I made my dispositions for attack and moved forward as soon as the dawn permitted me to distinguish objects. The enemy occupied a very strong position along the crest of a ridge east of the creek, with a broad slope and open field toward the direction of our approach, thus completely commanding the road along which I was moving. But after a slight skirmish with the Eleventh Arkansas Regiment, dismounted and deployed, under the gallant Colonel Griffith, and a few artillery shots, the enemy gave way and fled with great precipitation in the direction of Natchez. I ordered the Fourteenth Confederate and Stockdales battalion in pursuit. These commands followed at a gallop for 6 or 8 miles, but such was the rapidity of his flight that they killed and captured but few. Guns, haversacks, shoes, poultry, &c., were picked up along the road by which they escaped. I moved my command to Kingston, 16 miles from Natchez, and shall move from here to-morrow morning in the direction of the Mississippi River above Natchez, endeavoring in passing the latter place to draw out and engage the enemys cavalry force. I have been burning all buildings, cotton, &c., upon the plantation of certain traitors about Natchez, and removing negroes, stock, &c., for the use of the Government. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WIRT ADAMS, Brigadier-General. [Capt. GEORGE MOORMAN, Assistant Adjutant-General. ]
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 14:43:19 +0000
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