Hdqrs. Military Division of West Mississippi, Office of the Chief Signal Officer, New Orleans, La., March 27, 1865. Major General S. A. Hurlbut, Commanding Department of the Gulf: …………..General: I have the honor to submit for your information the following extracts from the daily report from this office dated March 27, 1865: Mrs. Reiley reports [...]

Guerrilla warfare in the American Civil War followed the same general patterns of irregular warfare conducted in 19th century Europe. Structurally, they can be divided into three different types of operations: the so-called ‘people’s war’, ‘partisan warfare’, and ‘raiding warfare’. Each had distinct characteristics that were common practice during the Civil War (1861–1865).

Headquarters Military Division of the West1 Tuscumbia, November 15, 1864. General Forrest, ……………..Commanding Cavalry, & c.: General: It is the direction of General Beauregard that you make to these headquarters, as early as practicable, a report of the number of scouts you have employed, where operating, how employed and organized and supplied with provisions, how [...]

Headquarters Military Division of the West, Tuscumbia, November 10, 1864. General J. B. Hood, …………….Commanding, &c.: General: General Beauregard instructs me to say that he desires you would instruct Generals Wheeler and Roddey to furnish as early as practicable the number of scouts they have employed, where operating, how employed, organized, and supplied with provisions, [...]

Circular.] …..Headquarters First Army Corps1 Near Richmond, Va., October 20, 1864. …..The attention of the lieutenant-general commanding has been directed to the large number of irresponsible parties wandering about the rear and flanks of the Federal army, who claim to be scouts of the Army of Northern Virginia. They do us no good, but by [...]

Jackson, Miss., September 7, 1864. General Braxton Bragg, ………………………….Richmond, Va.: General: In the course of the tour of inspection made by Major B. F. Jones and myself in the State of Mississippi many facts relating to the condition of this portion of the country have presented themselves and are of sufficient importance, I think, to [...]

General Orders, No.2 Hdqrs. Dept. of W. Va. and E. Tenn.1 Abingdon, Va., June 25, 1864 I. The brigadier-general commanding is informed of the disgraceful manner in which straggling soldiers, deserters, absentees, and parties grouped together under the name and guise of “independent scouts” have been depredating upon the private rights and property of peaceful [...]

Panola, August 16, 1863.1 General Chalmers: Scout reports 5 miles south Oxford, 7 o’clock last night, about 1,700 cavalry passed Water Valley road toward Grenada. THOS. HENDERSON, Captain, &c. War of the Rebellion: Serial 053 Page 0501 KY.,SW.VA.,TENN.,MISS.,N.ALA., AND N.GA. Chapter XLII. The reports and dispatches of Henderson’s Cavalry Scouts: Unlike many of the independent [...]

Panola, August 15, 1863.1 General Chalmers: Major Chalmers reports 3 o’clock: The Federal column that crossed at Rocky Ford, 1,200 strong, went into Oxford 10 a .m. The column by Abbeville, 800 and seven pieces artillery, crossed at 9 o’clock, bound for Water Valley and Grenada. He will camp at Leeter’s Mill to-night. Colonel Slemons [...]

Panola, August 15, 1863.1 General Chalmers: Scout Carman just in; reports Abbeville and Rocky Ford forces united and in Oxford this evening at 2 o’clock. THOS. HENDERSON, Captain, &c. War of the Rebellion: Serial 053 Page 0500 KY.,SW.VA.,TENN.,MISS.,N.ALA., AND N.GA. Chapter XLII. The reports and dispatches of Henderson’s Cavalry Scouts: Unlike many of the independent [...]

Grenada, August 14, 1863. Colonel W. C. Falkner, Commanding First Regiment Mississippi Partisans: Colonel: Information has just been received that a column of the enemy, 600 strong, with four pieces of artillery, passed through Byhalia yesterday for Wyatt, and another of the same strength—no artillery reported—passed through Salem for Water Valley. You will move up [...]

Panola, August 14, 1863.1 General Chalmers: Scout Givens reports from Byhalia, August 13, 4 o’clock p.m., enemy passed 600 strong, four pieces of artillery, eight ambulances, six wagons, with eight days’ rations, a number of spades, shovels, picks, and axes, and one pontoon bridge. They took the road to Wyatt and Cox’s Cross-Roads. Three car-loads [...]

Panola, August 14, 1863.1 General Chalmers: Scout near La Grange reports 600 Yankees passed through Salem, taking Beck’s Springs road 3 o’clock yesterday evening. Have four wagons, two ambulances; have six days’ rations, and bound for Water Valley. THOS. HENDERSON, Captain Independent Scouts. War of the Rebellion: Serial 053 Page 0497 KY.,SW.VA.,TENN.,MISS.,N.ALA., AND N.GA. Chapter [...]

CANTON, June 5, 1863.1 Major-General WALKER, Yazoo City: Captain [Thomas] Henderson, at Scott’s Ferry, reported Brigadier-General [John] Adams at Pritchard’s Cross-Roads last night. I suppose that the general has reported to you. I cannot suspect that he will neglect the Valley road. I have desired Jackson to send you a squadron. Send information to Loring [...]

CAMP, Between Livingston and Brownsville, May 17, 1863. [Received, May 18, in Vicksburg.] Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON: Your dispatch of to-day, by Captain [Thomas] Henderson, was received. If Haynes’ Bluff is untenable, Vicksburg is of no value, and cannot be held. If, therefore, you are invested in Vicksburg, you must ultimately surrender. Under such circumstances, instead of [...]

Hdqrs. Dept. OF Mississippi AND Eastern Louisiana, Vicksburg, Miss., May 17, 1863.1 General Joseph E. Johnston, Commanding, &c.: General: Whilst writing my communication this morning, the enemy attacked me on my right, left, and center. My troops, although strongly posted behind breastworks and protected in rifle-pits, were forced from their positions, owing to the demoralization [...]

Camp, Between Livingston and Brownsville, May 17, 1863. Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON: Your dispatch of to-day by Captain [Thomas] Henderson was received. If Haynes’ Bluff is untenable, Vicksburg is of no value and cannot be held. If, therefore, you are invested in Vicksburg, you must ultimately surrender. Under such circumstances, instead of losing both troops and place, [...]

Washington County Historical Society version (1965)1 Dec. 15—Every day they come, sometimes to Nani and sometimes to my house. I have baked bread for three days and before I can give it to the children, it is taken away from me. The children are crying. Our desperation is great. The Arkansas Historical Quarterly version (1947)2 [...]

Washington County Historical Society version (1965)1 Dec. 14—It is said the Southern troops were victorious. I don’t believe it. Last night three soldiers dressed in blue demanded admittance. I had the dog beside me, so let them in. They demanded money and when I told them there was none, they searched the entire house and [...]

The first armed clashes of the war, the fall of Fort Sumpter (sic), the subsequent route of inexperienced men and officers at Bull Run, built up the confidence of the Southern armies. One effect of such reverses was to create suspicions in the minds of many men genuinely loyal to the Union. After the equally [...]