OCTOBER 28TH, 1864: The USS General Thomas engaged Confederate batteries near Decatur, Alabama, on the Tennessee River. It sustained damage but passed the batteries and with the Army gunboat Stone River poured such a withering crossfire on the Southern positions that they were abandoned.
They deserted their guns with a portion retreating to the main Confederate lines and others trying to hide among trees along the bank. The guns of the Union ships, double-shotted with canister and at a distance of less than 300 yards, poured on a terrific fire.
As the Confederates under General Hood neared the Tennessee River in their campaign to divert Sherman by invading Tennessee, patroling Union gunboats, invaluable not only for guarding against river crossings, but also in collecting invaluable information about troop movements, were attacked by mobile field batteries with increasing frequency and intensity.
--Old B-R'er
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