[Excerpts from "The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies", Series I, Vol. 19, Part 1- Reports, Correspondences, etc., War Dept., 1897] [transcribed by Mark Murphy, 5 Nov 2001] p.7 January 16-February 20, 1865-Scouts about Franklin, Tenn. Reports of Lieut. Col. Alvin Matzdorf, Seventy-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry. Headquarters U.S. Forces, Franklin, Tenn., February 11, 1865 General: I have the honor to submit to you herewith the report of two scouting expeditions ordered by me to clear the neighborhood of the bushwhackers which infest it: On the 16th of January I ordered Lieut. C. Haserodt, with a squad of my mounted infantry, to secure the arrest of John Burke, a notorious bushwhacker, who was reported to be with his gang on the Wilson pike, fifteen miles from Franklin. At the house of a Mrs. Cherry Lieutenant Haserodt fell in with five mounted men, whom he ordered to surrender, three of whom did so at once, but the other two took refuge in the house. On asking Mrs. Cherry whether she had seen said Burke she replied she had not, "but you are welcome to search my house." Lieutenant Haserodt then ordered Sergeant Mehring and two men to search the upper part of the house, but before they reached the upper rooms they were fired upon and Sergeant Mehring was fatally wounded [error- Sergeant Mehring was mustered out with his company]. Burke and another man by the name of Birch were both wounded, but Burke made his escape through a window n the back part of the house. Another of the band was killed instantly. After the affray Lieutenant Haserodt ordered the inmates to leave the house and set fire to the house. On the 29th of January I ordered Lieutenant Briggs to proceed with twenty mounted men to the neighborhood of Spring Hill, Maury County, in search of a band of guerrillas who were reported to be there stealing horses and committing other depredations. Lieutenant Briggs with his men struck their trail three miles east of Spring Hill and followed it up the country to Leiper's Creek, in Williamson county. They came up with Bob Rigg's gang (twelve in number) at Edmund Dodson's on Leiper's Creek. They fled at the approach of my men, who pursued them three miles up the creek and suceeded in killing the leader, Bob Riggs, and another of his band, whose name could not be ascertained. I regret that the small force at my disposal and the numerous other duties required of them prevents me to scour the country more frequently, which should be done every day to exterminate the bushwhackers now infesting this neighborhood, and who always commit their depredations when they know my men are otherwise employed. I have the honor, general, to remain, most respectfully, your obedient servant, A. Matzdorff, Lieut. Col. Seventy-fifth Pennsylvania Veteran Vols., Comdg. Post. Brig. Gen. R. W. Johnson, Comdg. Defenses on Tennessee and Alambama Railroad. -------- Headquarters U.S. Forces, Pulaski, Tenn., February 12, 1865 Respectfully forwarded for information of the major-general commanding the District of Tennessee. I shall increase the mounted force at Franklin by 100 men, R.W. Johnson, Brigadier-General.