Tuesday, January 10.
Colonels Mitchell, Malloy, Salm and Thompson were in motion at 4:30 A. M., continuing the pursuit.
I reached the column of Colonel Mitchell soon after dawn of day. Colonel Thompson's command was thrown off to the left to Lawe's Landing.
About eight miles from Guntersville the head of Colonel Mitchell's column struck quite a force of the enemy — probably a hundred were in sight.
Two battalions were thrown into line, and, with the small cavalry force which was taken from Larkinsville, was pushed for them.
They broke to small squads and ran away to the hills and woods on each side, and down the road in great confusion.
But few shots were fired.
The gun-boats on the river were at this time shelling the woods on the north side, near Gunter's Landing, and below.
The enemy could be seen running about in small detachments, in almost every direction and without any order, but being well mounted, kept beyond musket range.
The column was pressed steadily towards Gunter's Landing, with patrol parties in every direction on the flanks, and the enemy chased in towards the river.
They all, however, that were on the left of the road, crossed it in advance of the columns, and, with those on the right, left rapidly by the roads running down the river.
Some were driven into the river bank, but, being mounted, could swim the lagoons in the bottom that could not be waded by infantry.
Here they encountered the gun-boats; a few abandoned their horses, and they were captured by the boats.
General Lyon had reached Clayville, opposite Gunter's Landing, the evening before, with the greater portion of his command and the piece of artillery.
Citizens reported that he had abandoned his command during the night, and had crossed the river by a scow, with the piece of artillery and a portion of his staff.
It is probable that about two hundred of his command crossed during the night at Lawe's Landing, and at a point about one and a half miles above Claysville, in canoes and by swimming their horses.
The rest of his command at Claysville was collected at the head of the island above, on the eleventh, attempting to cross, and was alarmed by the coming down of a gun-boat, and dispersed.
A portion of the command, under Colonel Chenoweth, left Claysville about twelve M., in direction of Deposit.
My advance reached Claysville at two P. M. Colonel Salm leaving his men who were barefooted, was sent on immediately to-wards Deposit, with instructions to make that point, or the creek, and beyond, if possible by daylight.
He marched his command vigorously pursuing the enemy retreating as squads, and making the points ordered.
The ambulance, wagon and artillery harness, which General Lyon had with him, were captured, as well as those wounded at Scottsboro, viz.: one captain and three (3) soldiers.
Patrol parties were sent from Colonels Mitchell's, Malloy's and Thompson's commands, to scour the woods along the river, and to watch the various ferrying places in the vicinity.
Lieutenant-Colonel O'Brien's battalion of the Fourteenth corps detachment was placed opposite Gunter's Landing.
The few cattle and sheep the country afforded were collected by the commissary, and distributed to the command.
The gun-boats on the river had no cooperation with me. I was able to get on board but one of them, the “U. S. Grant,” I think.
The commanding officer was informed of the nature of my dispositions, and all the intelligence that had been obtained.
By some mistake, one of the gun-boats, as Colonel Thompson reported, threw some.
shells into his camp at Law's Landing, fortunately without hurting anybody.
The rebels were much alarmed by the shells of the gun-boats, but there were no casualties from them that could be heard of. Being satisfied that none of the rebel squads had gone up the river, Colonel Harrison was ordered to march to the railway at the nearest point, and load his command for Chattanooga.
