Today in History:

825 Series I Volume XVI-I Serial 22 - Morgan's First Kentucky Raid, Perryville Campaign Part I

Page 825 Chapter XXVIII. COURTLAND AND TRINITY, ALA.

posts. Eighty men of the Tenth Kentucky have been captured at Courtland. The town is now in possession of the rebels. Captain Boyl, of the Tenth Indiana, stationed at trestle work near Courtland with one company Tenth Indiana, fell back on Company B, same regiment, at trestle work 12 miles this side of Courtland, defended the train, and brought it in safely to this place.

Company E, Thirty-first Ohio, stationed at Trinity, 6 miles from this place, was attacked at 4 p. m. Lieutenant Harman stood his ground, and with the small force he had of effective men repulsed the rebels, numbering 350 men, with a loss to his command of 2 killed and 12 wounded. Lieutenant Harman is himself wounded in two places, but not mortally.

The general wishes your order as to whether he should move from here as this time.

The Thirty-first Regiment is now all under my command in and about this place, having re-crossed the river to-night.

The wires are cut, bridges and trestle work burned, between here and Tuscumbia.

M. B. WALKER,

Colonel Thirty-first Ohio.

General D. C. BUELL.

HDQRS. THIRTY-FIRST OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, Winchester, Tenn., August 3, 1862.

GENERAL: I beg leave to report that about 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the 24th [25th?] ultimo Lieutenant M. B. W. Harman, in command of Company E, Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry-having one platoon of his company, numbering 25 men, including non-commissioned officers, stationed at a place called Trinity, near Decatur, Ala., for the purpose of guarding the Memphis and Charleston Railroad-was attacked by a force of rebel cavalry, numbering about 350 men. The attack was made at a time when Lieutenant Harman and his little force were engaged in erecting a stockade fort and had not their guns in their hands. They were fired upon and several of the men wounded by the first fire. They sprang to their arms, which were stacked near by, and then commenced the most Spartan-like resistance which the history of this war so far will probably furnish, killing 12 of the enemy certain and wounding not less than 38 or 40. The precise number killed and wounded of the enemy cannot be ascertained, as they were able to carry of all but 5 of their dead and all of their wounded. Lieutenant Harman held his position, fighting himself like a lion at bay, though badly wounded in the face and painfully, though not seriously, in the left arm. His example inspired his men to emulate his conduct, and all but 2 of the 26 fought with a most desperate valor.

You will see by this report that one-half of this little band was killed or wounded in the fight. Their work of fortification had not advanced far enough to afford them any protection. They remained masters of the field, remaining upon it until a late hour at night, when they were brought to Decatur, Ala., upon the train.

The same force, as is believed, which attacked Lieutenant Harman did much mischief on the railroad the same day and took about 80 prisoners from the Tenth Kentucky Volunteers, who were stationed near Courtland to guard the railroad, driving away two companies of the Tenth Indiana Volunteers and burning bridges and trestle work along the line between Courtland and Decatur, Ala.


Page 825 Chapter XXVIII. COURTLAND AND TRINITY, ALA.