Chalmers Attacks

By 1865, General Nathan Bedford Forrest had been promoted cavalry chief for the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana under General Richard Taylor, and as Wilson advanced into Alabama he had to determine Wilson's objective and consolidate his far-flung command to block the invader. On April 2, Forrest was still missing all the brigades of General William H. Jackson and two brigades of General James R. Chalmers. About 4 p.m., elements of Chalmers's two missing brigades attacked General Long's rear near Keenan's Mill. Major General Christopher Columbus Andrews recalled that the signal for the advance was to be a single gun from Rodney's Battery once General Upton's turning movement had developed, but before that plan could be carried out, Long learned that a strong Confederate cavalry force had been skirmishing with his rear and threatened a general attack on his pack train and led horses. He had left six companies of the 72nd Indiana Infantry, reinforced by one battalion of the 3rd Ohio Cavalry, well posted at Valley Creek northwest of the city in anticipation of that movement. Fearing that this affair would compromise the assault upon the main portion, Long decided to attack at once and ordered the advance without waiting for the signal.

Valley Grande, Alabama · United States