Battle of Hatchie's Bridge

Warbox
conflict=Battle of Hatchie's Bridge
colour_scheme=background:#ffcccc


caption=Second phase of the Iuka-Corinth Campaign
partof=American Civil War
date=October 5 1862
place=Hardeman County and McNairy County, Tennessee
result=Tactical Union victory
combatant1= flagicon|USA|1861 United States (Union)
combatant2= flagicon|CSA|1861 CSA (Confederacy)
commander1=Edward O. C. Ord, "wounded"
Stephen A. Hurlbut
commander2=Earl Van Dorn
Sterling Price
strength1=Department of Jackson
strength2=Army of the West
casualties1=500
casualties2=400|

The Battle of Hatchie's Bridge, also known as Davis's Bridge or Matamora, was fought on October 5 1862, in Hardeman County and McNairy County, Tennessee, as the final engagement of the Iuka-Corinth Campaign of the American Civil War. Confederate Major General Earl Van Dorn's army successfully evaded capture by the Union Army, following his defeat at the Battle of Corinth.

Van Dorn's (Confederate) Army of Tennessee retreated from Corinth, Mississippi, on October 4 1862, but Union Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans did not send forces in pursuit until the morning of October 5. Maj. Gen. Edward O.C. Ord, commanding a detachment of Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee, was, pursuant to orders, advancing on Corinth to assist Rosecrans. On the night of October 4-5, he camped near Pocahontas. Between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. the next morning, his force encountered Union Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut's 4th Division, District of Jackson, in the Confederates’ front. Ord took command of the now-combined Union forces and pushed Van Dorn’s advanced element, Maj. Gen. Sterling Price's Army of the West, back about five miles to the Hatchie River and across Davis's Bridge. After accomplishing this, Ord was wounded in the ankle and Hurlbut assumed command. While Price's men were hotly engaged with Ord's force, Van Dorn's scouts looked for and found another crossing of the Hatchie River. Van Dorn then led his army back to Holly Springs. Grant ordered Rosecrans to abandon the pursuit. Ord had forced Price to retreat, but the Confederates escaped capture or destruction. Although they should have done so, Rosecrans's army had failed to capture or destroy Van Dorn's force.

Order of Battle

Union
District of Jackson - Major General Edward O. C. Ord
*4th Division - Major General Stephen A. Hurlbut
**1st Brigade - Brigadier General James C. Veatch
**2nd Brigade- Brigadier General Jacob G. Lauman
**Provisional Division - Colonel Robert K. Scott

Confederate
Army of the West - Major General Earl Van Dorn

Price's Corps - Major General Sterling Price

Other

The battlefield site, known as Davis Bridge Battlefield, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

References

* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/bycampgn.htm National Park Service battle description]