Maj. Main and His Troopers at Egypt Station
Carte de visite by the Washington Gallery of Vicksburg, Miss. Edwin M. Main is one of the rare individuals whose Civil War service spanned some of the earliest and last operations of the Civil War. In July 1861 he served as a special orderly to Gen. George B. McClellan during the Battle of Rich Mountain, Va. As a sergeant in the 4th Illinois Cavalry, he distinguished himself in the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh. According to a biographical sketch, "He was several times wounded, the most serious being a gun-shot wound in right shoulder, and a compound fracture of right wrist, the latter received in a charge, his horse being shot and falling on him. He carries the bullet still in his shoulder, it being impracticable to extract it."
But it was his last stint as the major of the 3rd U.S. Colored Cavalry, from 1863-1866, that prompted him to write a history of the regiment.
In The Story of the Marches, Battles and Incidents of the Third United States Colored Cavalry, A Fighting Regiment in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-5, Main wrote with pride of the accomplishments of his regiment. The volume was published in 1908. Included here is a passage about the participation of the Third at Egypt Station, Miss., one of the actions in the successful raid on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad led by Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson from Dec. 21, 1864 to Jan. 5, 1865. Main mentions the mortal wounding of Confederate Gen. Samuel J. Gohlson during the fight. Though Gohlson was severely wounded and suffered the amputation of an arm he died not die as a result of his injury. In fact he lived until 1883.
Here’s Maj. Main’s account:
The command was early in the saddle, the First brigade taking the advance, the Third brigade following, with the Third U. S. Colored Cavalry on the right, the Second brigade, or a part of it, remaining in the rear to guard prisoners and the pack train. The first brigade soon encountered the enemy's cavalry, which being ably handled by its commander, General Gholson, stubbornly contested the ground, but the First brigade pressed on, the sharp crack of their carbines being answered by the defiant yells of the enemy as they retreated from tree to tree, giving shot for shot.
Emerging from the timber into the open prairie, Egypt Station, with its formidable defenses, depot, and a few scattering buildings, came into view a mile or so distant. On being driven out of the woods into the open prairie, the rebel cavalry fell back under cover of the guns of the fort.
The First brigade on reaching the open ground, closed up in column of squadrons and charged the stockade directly in front, while the Third brigade diverged to the right, the Third U. S. Colored Cavalry coming into position on the south side of the stockade. The Fourth Illinois Cavalry, however, having been detached as the brigade came into action, became hotly engaged with the rebel cavalry, driving them back and around to the rear of the stockade, where they mortally wounded General Gholson, and killed and wounded many of his men. In the meantime the First brigade received a disastrous check. As this brigade charged the stockade one thousand muskets belched forth a murderous fire through the loop-holes of the stockade, before which many men and horses went down.
At this critical juncture Major Main, commanding Third U.S. Colored Cavalry, was ordered to dismount his men and charge the stockade on the south side, which order was promptly executed, the men responding with a yell as they came to the front midst a shower of bullets, but before they reached the fort a white flag was hoisted over it in token of surrender, when the firing ceased and the fort surrendered.
To the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, however, more than to any other portion of the command is due the credit of hastening the surrender. This regiment, riding down the rebel cavalry, swung around to the rear of the stockade, which being open and unprotected presented a good point of attack, which the Fourth Illinois Cavalry was not slow to take advantage of. and with their customary dash they charged into the gap. Thus assailed in front and flank by the Fourth Illinois Cavalry and the Third U.S. Colored Cavalry, the garrison hastened to avert the final knockout blow by hoisting a white flag.
The surrender, however, was effected none too soon, as almost simultaneously with the raising of the white flag over the fort, a 12 pound shot came hurtling through the air, heralding the approach of the promised re-inforcements. As the train bearing these re-inforcements slowed up about half a mile from the fort, it was discovered that they had two pieces of artillery, which were mounted on a flat car in front of the engine. The train backed up to the edge of the woods, where the troops, several regiments of infantry, were disembarked and formed line of battle on the open prairie, deployed a heavy skirmish line, and advanced in battle front. In the meantime the two' pieces of artillery on the flat-car kept up a rapid fire, evidently meant as a bluff, as they did no damage, except to the railroad track. To have trained their guns directly on our men would have endangered the lives of their own men, now prisoners in and about the fort. As the enemy continued to advance from the woods, Major Main was ordered to move with his regiment, the Third U.S. Colored Cavalry, and hold them in check, but to avoid bringing on an engagement if possible. The regiment, 800 strong moved out over the prairie in column of squadrons in echelon, presenting a formidable appearance. On nearing the enemy, one company was deployed as skirmishers, and were soon exchanging shots with the enemy, who still continuing to advance, the skirmishers were recalled, and the regiment moved forward front into line with sabres drawn, at which the enemy, evidently expecting to be charged and not relishing the sight of so much cold steel, feel back to their cars, where they reformed under cover of the woods. In the mean time the dead were being buried, the wounded cared for, and the prisoners marched to the rear. Major Main received orders to hold his position until the entire command had withdrawn, then to follow in the rear, which he did, the Third U. S. Colored Cavalry being the last to leave the scene of their late engagement. The enemy were in no condition to follow. The Union loss in this engagement was 70 killed and wounded, thirty of the wounded, too severely hurt to be moved, bad to be left behind. Besides this, the command lost over 100 horses killed.
The enemy's loss was, prisoners between 800 and 1,000 killed and wounded 60 or more, among the killed being their commanding officer. General Gholson. The command bivouacked that night near Houston, the night being well advanced when the Third U. S. Colored Cavalry reached the camping place.
Maj. Main lived until 1917.
I encourage you to use this image for educational purposes only. However, please ask for permission.
Maj. Main and His Troopers at Egypt Station
Carte de visite by the Washington Gallery of Vicksburg, Miss. Edwin M. Main is one of the rare individuals whose Civil War service spanned some of the earliest and last operations of the Civil War. In July 1861 he served as a special orderly to Gen. George B. McClellan during the Battle of Rich Mountain, Va. As a sergeant in the 4th Illinois Cavalry, he distinguished himself in the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh. According to a biographical sketch, "He was several times wounded, the most serious being a gun-shot wound in right shoulder, and a compound fracture of right wrist, the latter received in a charge, his horse being shot and falling on him. He carries the bullet still in his shoulder, it being impracticable to extract it."
But it was his last stint as the major of the 3rd U.S. Colored Cavalry, from 1863-1866, that prompted him to write a history of the regiment.
In The Story of the Marches, Battles and Incidents of the Third United States Colored Cavalry, A Fighting Regiment in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-5, Main wrote with pride of the accomplishments of his regiment. The volume was published in 1908. Included here is a passage about the participation of the Third at Egypt Station, Miss., one of the actions in the successful raid on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad led by Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson from Dec. 21, 1864 to Jan. 5, 1865. Main mentions the mortal wounding of Confederate Gen. Samuel J. Gohlson during the fight. Though Gohlson was severely wounded and suffered the amputation of an arm he died not die as a result of his injury. In fact he lived until 1883.
Here’s Maj. Main’s account:
The command was early in the saddle, the First brigade taking the advance, the Third brigade following, with the Third U. S. Colored Cavalry on the right, the Second brigade, or a part of it, remaining in the rear to guard prisoners and the pack train. The first brigade soon encountered the enemy's cavalry, which being ably handled by its commander, General Gholson, stubbornly contested the ground, but the First brigade pressed on, the sharp crack of their carbines being answered by the defiant yells of the enemy as they retreated from tree to tree, giving shot for shot.
Emerging from the timber into the open prairie, Egypt Station, with its formidable defenses, depot, and a few scattering buildings, came into view a mile or so distant. On being driven out of the woods into the open prairie, the rebel cavalry fell back under cover of the guns of the fort.
The First brigade on reaching the open ground, closed up in column of squadrons and charged the stockade directly in front, while the Third brigade diverged to the right, the Third U. S. Colored Cavalry coming into position on the south side of the stockade. The Fourth Illinois Cavalry, however, having been detached as the brigade came into action, became hotly engaged with the rebel cavalry, driving them back and around to the rear of the stockade, where they mortally wounded General Gholson, and killed and wounded many of his men. In the meantime the First brigade received a disastrous check. As this brigade charged the stockade one thousand muskets belched forth a murderous fire through the loop-holes of the stockade, before which many men and horses went down.
At this critical juncture Major Main, commanding Third U.S. Colored Cavalry, was ordered to dismount his men and charge the stockade on the south side, which order was promptly executed, the men responding with a yell as they came to the front midst a shower of bullets, but before they reached the fort a white flag was hoisted over it in token of surrender, when the firing ceased and the fort surrendered.
To the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, however, more than to any other portion of the command is due the credit of hastening the surrender. This regiment, riding down the rebel cavalry, swung around to the rear of the stockade, which being open and unprotected presented a good point of attack, which the Fourth Illinois Cavalry was not slow to take advantage of. and with their customary dash they charged into the gap. Thus assailed in front and flank by the Fourth Illinois Cavalry and the Third U.S. Colored Cavalry, the garrison hastened to avert the final knockout blow by hoisting a white flag.
The surrender, however, was effected none too soon, as almost simultaneously with the raising of the white flag over the fort, a 12 pound shot came hurtling through the air, heralding the approach of the promised re-inforcements. As the train bearing these re-inforcements slowed up about half a mile from the fort, it was discovered that they had two pieces of artillery, which were mounted on a flat car in front of the engine. The train backed up to the edge of the woods, where the troops, several regiments of infantry, were disembarked and formed line of battle on the open prairie, deployed a heavy skirmish line, and advanced in battle front. In the meantime the two' pieces of artillery on the flat-car kept up a rapid fire, evidently meant as a bluff, as they did no damage, except to the railroad track. To have trained their guns directly on our men would have endangered the lives of their own men, now prisoners in and about the fort. As the enemy continued to advance from the woods, Major Main was ordered to move with his regiment, the Third U.S. Colored Cavalry, and hold them in check, but to avoid bringing on an engagement if possible. The regiment, 800 strong moved out over the prairie in column of squadrons in echelon, presenting a formidable appearance. On nearing the enemy, one company was deployed as skirmishers, and were soon exchanging shots with the enemy, who still continuing to advance, the skirmishers were recalled, and the regiment moved forward front into line with sabres drawn, at which the enemy, evidently expecting to be charged and not relishing the sight of so much cold steel, feel back to their cars, where they reformed under cover of the woods. In the mean time the dead were being buried, the wounded cared for, and the prisoners marched to the rear. Major Main received orders to hold his position until the entire command had withdrawn, then to follow in the rear, which he did, the Third U. S. Colored Cavalry being the last to leave the scene of their late engagement. The enemy were in no condition to follow. The Union loss in this engagement was 70 killed and wounded, thirty of the wounded, too severely hurt to be moved, bad to be left behind. Besides this, the command lost over 100 horses killed.
The enemy's loss was, prisoners between 800 and 1,000 killed and wounded 60 or more, among the killed being their commanding officer. General Gholson. The command bivouacked that night near Houston, the night being well advanced when the Third U. S. Colored Cavalry reached the camping place.
Maj. Main lived until 1917.
I encourage you to use this image for educational purposes only. However, please ask for permission.