Numbers 6.

Reports of Brigadier General Frank C. Armstrong, C. S. Army.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE WEST, Tupelo, Miss., August 2, 1862.

Brigadier-General JORDAN,
Chief of Staff, Department Numbers 2:

GENERAL: I have the honor to forward to you the inclosed reports made by acting Brigadier-General Armstrong of two very successful engagements which he has had with the enemy in the vicinity of Courtland, Ala. I regret that the smallness of my cavalry force and the consequent necessity of concentrating it all here have compelled me to order Armstrong to return with his command to this point. I beg leave to commend him to the favorable notice of the general commanding the department and of the President.

I am, with the greatest respect, your obedient servant,

STERLING PRICE,

Major-General.

HDQRS. CAVALRY BRIGADE, ARMY OF THE WEST, Moulton, Ala., July 26, 1862.

MAJOR: I have the honor to report that I reached here on the evening of the 24th instant. After conferring with Captain Roddey, from whom I gained all the valuable information I could desire, I determined to move early on the morning of the 25th to Courtland, 16 miles north of this, on the line of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and take the place, it being the center of guards and patrols for the portion of the road between Tuscumbia and Decatur. Sending Lieutenant Colonel D. C. Kelley with 140 of Forrest's cavalry to a point 7 miles west and two Partisan companies that are in the neighborhood 12 miles east of Courtland, to destroy and ambush the road from both directions, I moved from here with about 550 men, including the independent companies under Captain Roddey, at 1 a. m. on the morning of the 25th instant. Having arrived near Courtland, avoiding all roads as much as possible, I sent two companies under Captain Roddey and a detachment of 60 men, with long-range guns, selected from the several battalions, under Captain Champion, to advance upon the flank. I succeeded, through corn fields and by-paths, in getting within 500 yards of the enemy's camp, when I charged them with the main body of cavalry, the two commands of Captains Roddey and Champion moving promptly to the positions previously assigned them. The enemy's infantry fell back under cover of the railroad and fired a volley, but I soon crossed the railroad and charged down it on the north side, which drove them from the trestle work and forced them to take shelter under the bank of a creek, where it was impossible to get at them on horseback. I immediately pushed around some dismounted men to charge them on foot. Seeing this they ceased firing, threw down their arms, and surrendered. In getting to this infantry command I had to charge through the cavalry encampment, dispersed their cavalry, taking the commander and many others prisoners, captured 2 wagons and teams, 500 bushels sacked corn, many horses and equipments, a large number of arms, all the camp and garrison equipage of four companies, and six days' supplies; de-