Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-17
LETTEH FRou KeNTUOKY.
KAyrIrLD, GRAVES County. ky


from Paducah, and 30 milea from Columbus,
the county site for Graves county, and in
pOrtant in a military view as the most effective
point from which 10 operate against Psducah,
or hold the Lincoln army now occupying that
place ia check. IT will be remembered that
the Shelby Light Dragons, Cspt. Ballentine,
left Memphis on the 22d day Of August.
Our first movement was to Fort Polk, at the
head Of Island Ten, on the Tennessee side,
where The company was engaged for time as
a picket guard for the better security Of the
post, but on the advance Of the main force Of
the Second division to Columbus, the necessity
no longer existed, and we received marching
orders for Colunbus. We reached Columbus
by land on the 1Ob inst, where we found
everything alive with military preparation.
BY special order, The army has been organized
as follows: The first brigade is composed Of
the regiments OF Colonel P. Smith, Colonel
W. Z. Travis, Colonel T.. J. Frsemsn, Colonel
Charles Carroll and the battalion OF Lieaten-
ant-Colonsl Blythe, and will be commanded by
Brigsdier-G General B. F. Cheatham; the sec
ond brigade is composed Of the regiments Of
Colonies Bowen, Marks. Scott and Nicely, and
will be commanded by Colonel John T.
McCown; The third brigade is composed Of
the regiments of Colonsls r. NJ. Russell,
Wright and Pickett, and will be commanded
by Colonel Russell the fourth brigade is
composed Of the regiments OF Colonies Ste
PhsRs and Douglas, apd will be commanded by
Colonel W. Fl. Stephens. The field batteries OF
Captains Hudson and Smith compose a part
OF The first brigade; The field batteries OF
Captains Bankhesd and Stewart compose a
part Of the second brissds the field battery
Of Captain Jackson composes a part Of the
| third brigade; the field battery OF Captain
Polk ccmposes . part OF the fourth brigade.
| TIE battery Of slege s%rtillsry Of Captain
Hamilton is under the immediate orders of
Br;gadier General Pillow, who commands the
whole column. Major Miller's battalion Of
cavalry, and the separate companies Of cav
slry commanded by Captains Hudson, Cole
and Klein, SIRE organized into one battalion,
and in Bdditton to Its major, have elected a
Iieutsnsns.eol0ns The six companies Of
Tennessee cavalry, commanded by Captains
Logwood, White, Nicely, Haywood, bil and
Ball.ntine, and two companies Of Alabama
cavalry, commanded by Captain Bowie and
CAPTAIN Faulkner, are organized into a bat
talon BY the election OF a major and ~lieuten-
ant colonel. The election for field officers OF
the Tennessee battalion having been suspended
By appeal, and the necessity Of the public
service demanding battalion organization, this
organization became a necessity, and the cleo
ton resulted in favor OF Captains LogwoOd
and Hill as lieutenant-colonel and msior.
Issw in camp numbers Of our citizens Of
Memphis who hsd bucsled on the armor Of
the soldier, and exchanged P%eaceful for militia
~ pursuits. Indeed, one would almost think
from the thropgs Of our business men seen in
Columbus, that the streets Of Memphis were
deserted,
Some excitement was felt in Columbus on
the 18Th, in consequence OF a littls bout be-
p tween our gunboat sud a division Of Genera
Thompson's command, who were stationed or
? the Missouri side, and the Lincoln gunboalsi
, The result Of which was the loss Of a leg By
: one Of Thompson's men by the explosion Of a
she'll. We were unable to learn the damage
{ to the enemy.
o. the evening Of the 18th, the Shelby Lighi
Dragons received orders to prepare three days
. ~rstions and report themselves, in readiness t
march, at headquarters The following moEoin!
, a. daylight. The mornings dswR found tn
/ command prepared sgreesbly TO orders. 80 al
> escort to Col. Williams, Gen. PJlk's abide
r camp, buj for what point we were Of cours
:, entirely ignorant. A thousand imProtSb'
~gurmisss were anosi, smsnc which / nay men
ten that We were to proceed 70 snd drive th
= LincolEites from Psduesh, fest @hieh tverrI.
believe the command wouldhtvs chesIiuily IN
"a dertsken, Notwithstanding it's inprGeticability
;s al the instance Of our gallant cIptala. Later
70 the diy, however, it became generally know
. through the ranks that this was our place O
destination, and also a report tha' the rlac
20 was occupied by about four bundled sbolttion
d lists. This no,hing dampened the order OF ii
men. however, although madame umor mad
the enemy more than quadrupIe cur littl
20 band. When within about six mi'es Of GU
|, destination, the bugle sounded the charge, an
the remainder Of the distance to within sbou
NJ a halt mile OF Msyf.le was made at "2:4O
time. Here our little bEnd we're dispersed in.
p the woods. and the Advance guard, headed b
a, our gallant captain and Col. Williams, pro
cseded to r~econn0itsr. Once again runner wa
- found nisinIormcd, ard on The bugls soundiu
:. the advance, The body marched forward, pas
i, ing through the principal street Of the yiIlag
~ Our first care after arrival was to place o;
structions in the way Of an advance Of tt
;, LtncoInitss from Paducah, ard to this end
"souadD was detached to run down the raj
road Cd hand car, and burn the railroad bride
spanning Msyheld creek, some twelve mil,
from here, aud about the same distsnt
b from Paduesh About II P. NJ. they return
and reported the task accomplished, md todd
). E like disposition was made Of the bridge
the public road. This is done - 3 precautio
sry measure till we can be reinforced, which
, momentarlly expected. II is now rumor
here that our road to Columbus Is occupied
the 4" Bslck Church A" by some four buDdr
Llncolnites, snd c%ourisTs are sent out to asce
~ tain the facts, but At the time Of writing ID
have not returned. It is also Tumorsd h
Tho there are thirteen uunCreu Lincoln coVhiy q
n. vancipg upon US from Paducab, but this rum
like a thousand others, lacks confrmatic
Whatever the result of the expedition may
you may expect to hear that the Shelby Liz
Drsgoors have done their whole duty. 7
.st people in this immediate nsighborhood se'
.rk well disposed toward the cause we repress
and sre profuse in their offers Of every mater
tie az l%Istauce.
f., You will excuse the disiointed character
the this epistle, as it is written under very uni
in vorable circumstances. Through the klndu'
vas of Mr.. Algeo, Of Memphis, ard DR.. ssunds
ths Of Psducab, who bss been driven from
ned home, l am enabled to dispatch you withc
hat the aid Of the mai's, and | have embraced
Md occasion with all Of is drawbacks.
vERITAs
viii FATAL OCrURRENcE.-Mr. Benjamin FraT
lin Martin, Esq Of Columbia, Tennessee, u
t. killed at New Orleans q few days ago. ]
tor Crescent thus describes the unfortunate
.Wo currence:
We This Young man, we learn, was in the c
nto ployment Of Capt. Samuel o. Risk, to rece
-