Skirmish at Hatchies Bridge
Second phase of the Iuka-Corinth campaign
| date | October 5, 1862 |
|---|---|
| place | Hardeman Counties and McNairy Counties, Tennessee |
| output | Union victory |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
| Troop strength | |
|
about 8,000
|
about 7,000
|
| losses | |
|
570
|
450
|
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The battle at Hatchies Bridge , also known as Davis' Bridge or Matamora , took place on October 5, 1862 in Hardeman County and McNairy County , Tennessee and ended the Iuka-Corinth campaign in the American Civil War . After their defeat in the Second Battle of Corinth , the West Tennessee Confederate Army under Major General Earl Van Dorn was able to successfully evade capture by Union forces.
course
Van Dorn's West Tennessee Army fled west after the defeat at Corinth , Mississippi on October 4, 1862. The next morning, Major General William S. Rosecrans hired Union forces to pursue Van Dorn. Major General Edward OC Ord , of the 4th Division Ulysses S. Grant's West Tennessee Army commanded, advanced to Corinth to support Rosecrans. On the night of October 4th to 5th he camped near Pocahontas. Between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. the next morning, his forces encountered the 4th Division of the Jackson, Tennessee Defense District, with which Maj. General Stephen A. Hurlbut was already in touch with the Confederates. Ord took command of the combined Union forces and drove Van Dorn's rearguard, which consisted of Maj. General Sterling Price 's Western Army , over five miles back to the Hatchie and across Davis' Bridge. Ord was wounded in the ankle and Hurlbut took command. While Price's forces fought with Ord's forces, Van Dorn's scouts sought and found another crossing over the Hatchie. Van Dorn led the army back to Holly Springs , Mississippi . Grant then ordered Rosecrans to ruthlessly pursue her. Ord had forced Price to evade, but the Confederates escaped capture or destruction. Although Rosecrans' army pursued her, she failed to capture or eliminate Van Dorn's forces.
Order of battle
Union District of Jackson - Maj. Gen. Edward OC Ord
- 4th Division - Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut
- 1st Brigade - Brigadier General James C. Veatch
- 2nd Brigade - Brigadier General Jacob G. Lauman
- Provisional Brigade - Colonel Robert K. Scott
Confederate Army of the West - Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn
Price's Corps - Maj. Gen. Sterling Price