June 17, 1862 Skirmish at Smithville, Ark. (Cos. D, F and L).
Report of Maj. Abel H. Seeley, 5th Illinois Cavalry
Smithville, Ark. June 18, 1862.
Dear Sir: We had a fight yesterday evening; captured Captain Jones and seven men, who are in camp. The dead and wounded have not got into camp yet. There were several wounded and four or five killed. What shall I do with the prisoners? I cannot keep them here well. I will give details as soon as I get them all in. I sent to regiment and got more men. They are hovering around us. They say Coleman is coming down to clean me out. I will give them a warm reception if they come.
Your obedient servant,
A. H. Seeley, Maj., Commanding Post.
H. Z. Curtis, Assistant Adjutant General, Batesville.
Smithville, Ark., June 18, 1862
Dear Sir: This morning I gave you a condensed account of the fight last evening near this place. Yesterday morning I sent out Lieutenant Wilson of Company D, with 15 men, for some beef cattle and to assist a Union man with his family and effects into camp. They had collected the cattle and started for town, when a woman came out from a neighboring house and informed them that there was a force of 100 men after them. They retreated toward camp and sent a messenger in. I immediately dispatched a force to their relief, under command of Capt. H. A. Organ, of Company D ; Capt. H. P. Mumford, of Company F, and Capt. H. D. Caldwell, of Company L. They followed them to the residence of one McKinney, where they were taking shelter. On the approach of our troops to the house the rebels commenced an attack by firing a volley into our men. To prevent their escape it was necessary to make a charge by the house, within 12 feet of the same. The nature of the country was such as to prevent their escape. They captured Captain Jones and 11 men, killing one and wounding two, and took nine horses.
We had one man killed, two mortally wounded and five slightly wounded. Lieutenant Dorothy of Company F was slightly wounded.
Great credit is due the officers and men for the courage and bravery displayed on the occasion, as the circumstances were perplexing and knowing nothing of the strength of the enemy. It rained in torrents during the whole engagement, and the enemy was concealed in log buildings.
I have the honor to be, in haste, your obedient servant,
A. H. Seeley, Maj., Commanding Post
H. Z. Curtis, Assistant Adjutant-General, Batesville, Ark.
MARCH 3-11, 1865.--Expedition from Memphis, Tenn., into Northern Mississippi
Report of LtCol. Abel H. Seeley, 5th Illinois Cavalry
Headquarters, 5th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry
Memphis, Tenn., March 12, 1865
COLONEL: I have the honor herewith to report the part taken by this command during the late expedition into the State of Mississippi: After arriving at Ripley, on the 6th of March, instant, I was ordered to proceed with my regiment and 50 men of the 4th Illinois Cavalry (leaving packs and disabled horses) and march to Booneville on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, destroy the same from that point south to Baldwyn, and then return on the Baldwyn road so as to arrive at Ripley by 12 m. of the third day. I moved from camp at 6 a.m. on the 7th and arrived at Booneville, a distance of 35 miles, at 4.30 p.m. of the same day. I found the road very bad, and at the crossing of the East Hatchie nearly impassable, a recent heavy rain having flooded the swampy bottom, and washed the road entirely away. On arriving at Booneville I learned that the railroad track had washed away at points both above and below, and that it would require some time to repair it. I was also fully convinced that the railroad was operated under a flag of truce, and only for the purpose of carrying supplies to needy citizens living north of Booneville, and that no Confederate supplies nor Confederate troops were permitted to be carried over the road. This arrangement was in consequence of an agreement entered into between General Thomas, commanding Union forces, and General Forrest, commanding rebel forces. Under these circumstances I did not feel justified in destroying the road, and, as I was informed that the Baldwyn road was impassable, I returned by the same road that I moved out on, camped two miles from Booneville, started on the morning of the 8th at 5.30, arriving at Ripley at 5 p.m. same day. During the day gave chase to three mounted rebels, capturing two of them. I could hear of no force of rebels nearer than Tupelo, where Forrest was said to be. During the entire expedition my command has captured eight mules and six horses, which have been turned over to the quartermaster, and has lost 20 horses, which we were compelled to abandon.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. H. Seeley, Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Regiment
Colonel Cameron, Comdg. 1st Brig., Cavalry Division, Department of the Mississippi
Seeley, Abel H. of Centralia, Marion County, Ill. c.1821 born at Cambridge, Vt. 1860 carpenter in Marion county; mechanic, married; Sept. 28, 1861 enlisted at Camp Butler, Ill. as maj., 5th Ill. Cavalry Rgt. Oct. 10, 1863 ltcol. Oct. 27, 1865 mustered out at Springfield, Ill. wife Mary A. Seeley, c.1826 born in Massachusetts; Henry Seeley, c.1846 born in Massachusetts; Charley Seeley, c.1850 born in Massachusetts; Belle Seeley, c.1853 born in Massachusetts; John Seeley, c.1854 born in Vermont; Alfred W Seeley, c.1858 born in Illinois