Battle of Collierville

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Battle of Collierville
Part of the Western Theater of the
American Civil War
Collierville Battlefield Tennessee.jpg
Collierville Battlefield
DateNovember 3, 1863(159 years ago) (1863-11-03)
Location 35°02′38″N89°39′52″W / 35.044°N 89.6645°W / 35.044; -89.6645 Coordinates: 35°02′38″N89°39′52″W / 35.044°N 89.6645°W / 35.044; -89.6645
Result Union victory
Belligerents
Flag of the United States (1863-1865).svg  United States (Union)Flag of the Confederate States of America (1863-1865).svg  Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
Flag of the United States (1863-1865).svg Col. Edward Hatch Battle flag of the Confederate States of America.svg Brig. Gen. James R. Chalmers
Units involved
Third Cavalry Brigade Chalmers cavalry division
Strength
850 2,500
Casualties and losses
60 6 dead and 89 wounded or missing
USA Tennessee relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Collierville
Location of Collierville in Tennessee

The Second Battle of Collierville (November 3, 1863), also known as the Action at Collierville, was fought during the American Civil War between the United States (Union) and Confederate States. The fighting occurred during a demonstration on Collierville, Tennessee, by Brigadier-General James R. Chalmers, Confederate States Army.

Contents

Background

Four minor battles occurred in 1863 in Shelby County during a three-month period. The two largest battles occurred on October 11 and November 3, 1863. The battle on October 11 was the largest land battle fought in the county.

Battle

The battle on November 3 was intended to be a Confederate cavalry raid to break up the Memphis and Charleston Railroad behind Sherman's Fifteenth Army Corps, then in the process of marching to the relief of Chattanooga, Tennessee. But, when Confederate Brigadier-General James Chalmers, leading a cavalry division riding up from Mississippi, learned that only one Union regiment was left to defend Collierville, Tennessee, he decided to attack. He supposed Union Colonel Edward Hatch possessed fewer men stationed at Collierville and at Germantown, 5 mi (8 km) to the west, than he actually did. Hatch's scouts warned him of Chalmers's approach from the south, so he ordered Collierville's defenders to be prepared and rode from Germantown with cavalry reinforcements.

Chalmers, as he had done only three weeks earlier, attacked from the south with McCulloch's and Slemon's brigades. The Union post was defended by eight companies of the 7th Illinois Cavalry and two howitzers. Hatch quickly arrived with the 6th Illinois and 2nd Iowa cavalry. The Confederates launched an attack with only part of Slemon's brigade, believing faulty intelligence that it was lightly defended. The Union's 2nd Iowa Cavalry opened fire with their Colt's New Model Revolving rifles and repulsed the attack. Surprised by the unexpected appearance of the enemy on his flanks, Chalmers concluded that he was outnumbered, called off the battle, and, to ward off Union pursuit, withdrew back to Mississippi. He reported 6 dead and 89 wounded or missing, including Colonel James Z. George, commanding the 5th Mississippi Cavalry. Hatch reported the loss of approximately 60 casualties. The Memphis and Charleston Railroad remained open to Tuscumbia, Alabama, for Union troop movements.

Notes

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from Collierville. National Park Service . Retrieved September 12, 2022.

Further reading

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