The numbers were certainly larger. Just came across a reference to show that Willis' Texas Battalion participated in this skirmish. Here's a summary of this action:
Event: Oct. 27th – Skirmish at Little Bear Creek.
Location: Franklin [modern-day Colbert] County, Ala., atlas 149:E-3/4.
Campaign: Operations on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, Oct. 20-29, 1863.
Units engaged: CSA, led by Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Lee.
Alabama – 4th (Roddey’s), 5th, 53rd, 56th & Forrest’s Cav. Regts.
Arkansas – Owens’ Battery.
Mississippi – 12th (Inge’s) Cav. Battn.
Tennessee – 17th (Sanders) Cav. Battn.
Texas – Willis’ Cav. Battn.
USA, led by Brig. Gen. Peter J. Osterhaus.
Illinois – Batteries “A”, “B” & “H”, 1st Art. Regt.; 13th, 55th, 116th & 127th Inf. Regts.
Indiana – 83rd Inf. Regt.
Iowa – 1st Battery; 4th, 9th, 25th, 26th, 30th & 31st Inf. Regts.
Missouri – Battery “F”, 2nd Art. Regt.; 3rd, 6th, 8th, 12th, 17th, 27th, 29th, 31st & 32nd Inf. Regts.
Ohio – 4th Battery; 5th Cav. Regt.; 30th, 37th, 47th, 54th, 57th & 76th Inf. Regts.
West Virginia – 4th Inf. Regt.
United States – 3rd Cav. Regt.; 1st Battn., 13th Inf. Regt.
Strength: CSA, estimated 1800 officers and men; USA, estimated 8300 officers and men.
Casualties: CSA, not reported; USA, not reported.
References: OR 31 1:16, 21, 23, 28 & 763.
Report of Brig.Gen. Peter J. Osterhaus, 1st Division, XV Army Corps, U. S. Army:
On the morning of the 27th of October, I received the general's order to delay my attack until a brigade of the Second Division, which was to cross the creek farther up, in order to get on the enemy's left flank, could co-operate with me; the Third Regular Cavalry was detailed to assist in this flank movement. We consequently took up our position of last night, excepting that the Parrott section of Fourth Ohio Battery (Captain Froehlich) was ordered to the right, with Landgraeber's battery of howitzers, while four 20-pounder Parrotts, of the Second Division, took the position occupied by Captain Froehlich's guns the day previous.
The enemy's line likewise appeared in the same order as yesterday. We, however, soon observed a commotion on their left, and it did not last long until I heard musketry fire in that direction. I immediately ordered my batteries to open and my whole line of infantry to advance. The practice of the Parrotts was brilliant, and the rebel sharpshooters along the creek in front gave way before the fire of my skirmishers. The fire on my right became very brisk and approached very steadily. The enemy, seeing his left flank exposed, repeated his maneuver of Cane Creek, that is, he retreated, pursued vigorously by the Fifth Ohio Cavalry (Colonel Heath), which I had ordered forward. A rebel force seemed inclined to make a stand on the west side of Tuscumbia, and formed in front of some high timber; the Fifth Ohio Cavalry formed and advanced through the open fields on both sides of the Tuscumbia road, supported by one section 6-pounder field pieces of Griffiths' (First Iowa) battery. The rebels, however, disappeared and we pushed on, Tuscumbia being in our possession by 11 o'clock. In all these engagements both officers and men behaved most gallantly. Our losses were very slight….