Hunts Mill  Skirmish 
"Mill Fight"

James S. Carden made this statement about Hunts Mill: "We were skirmishing nearly all the time. at what is known by us as the "mill fight" in the fall of 1863, we got cut up badly, several were wounded and others got scattered. A portion of our company got badly routed. There were too many for us. We had to run and skedaddle out of it."

This statement was made by Ephraim Latham on 17^th September 1883. "….That in the latter part of the month of September 1863, he was ordered by the ___ Commanding officer, from Stevenson, Ala to Hunts Saw Mill, situated about twenty-three miles west of the post on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, the said mill being used at the time for cutting lumber for the use of the Army; that while there to wit: On or about the 26^th day of September 1863, he had an attack made upon his company by a regiment of the enemies cavalry, and in consequence of the superior force, and the complete surprise, was surrounded and overpowered, laying in killed and captured, from sixteen to eighteen men; that in order to avoid capture himself, he, with a number of his men, cut his way through the enemies line and to elude the superior force, which was in hot pursuit, was compelled to make a forced march several miles distant…."

Statement made by Thomas Frasier on the 26^th day of September 1883. "….that during the year 1863 the Federal forces were encamped along the Memphis and Charleston Rail Road and held and used the Road for the use and benefits of the army but that the country contiguous to the Rail Road was held by the Rebel forces who occupied the mountain fastness and kept up a Guerrilla warfare on the troops along said line of rail road firing on the trains and attacking small bands of soldiers whenever an opportunity was given, that at this time he was a member of the Co. A. 1^st Vidette Cavalry Commanded by Capt. Ephraim Latham, and that in the latter part of September the said Company was ordered from Stevenson to Hunts Mill 23 mills west of said Post on the M & C (Memphis and Charleston) Rail Road that said saw mill was engaged at the time in sawing lumber for the army and a short time after reaching that point they were surrounded by a greatly superior force of the enemy’s Cavalry and attacked and lost in killed and wounded something near twenty of the company.  The remainder fought their way through the enemy and by a seven mile forced march through the mountains reached Guess Creek Valley some thirteen miles distant from Hunts Mill, a place of Comparative security, but being in the enemy’s country was so surrounded by the Guerrilla forces of the enemy as to be cut off from any communication with the main army…."

back