Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-08-04

MISSISSIPPI pIAgS "a wAN8ssAs--s
sRILLFUL Use on ''TOoTHs
PECAs.fS
Occasional" the Washington sorEespon-
dent OF the Baltimore Sun, gives the follow
ing graphic account OF the experiences exhibit
ted by the Mississippi boys in the use of that
terrible, death-dealing, Yankee terrifying i'm
plement, usually known az the "toosh-pick."
The scene of the tragedy is laid at Manassas :
WASHINGTON, July 25.
One Of the New York Fire Zouaves, who
was wounded at the battle Of Manassas on
Sunday last, a stalw iTt, hardy fellow, of con-
siderable Intelligence, passed though this city
yesterday, an route hOmewaTd, remaining here
severel hours waiting for the cars. He, Of
course, has the privilege, like all others, OF
telling his own tale, without apprehending, for
the present at least, successful. contradiction.
From him | obtained a thrilling narrative of q
renconter between his regiment and a Tegi-
ment OF Missiasippiana.
After the battle had been raging for some
hours, according to the account OF this
Zouavian hero, be saw an immense body Of
Mlssisgippiang, accompanied by some (believ-
ed to Beg Baltimoreans, rush furiously over The
confederate Tampars. Thew at once saw the
conspicuous uniform OF the Zouaves, and made
a. NHCW' AbC rAtoStsslppldubs dIttE d fpIOdCL-
Ing near enough, sent a terrible volley from
their rifles into the Z'ulve ranks. This done,
they threw their guns aside and charged on
ward IN u each contending enemy met face TO
face and hand to hand in terrible combat. The
Mississippians, having discarded their rifles
after the first fire, fell back upon their bowie
knives. These were OF huge dimensions,
eighteen to twenty inches long, heavy in pro-
portion and sharp, or twO-edged at tie point.
Attached 70 thn b9D1l- urou a Ioo-o ~or-1 rfuhF
to ten feet In length, with one end securely
wound round the wrist.
My informant says when these terrific war
rioTs approached to within reach of their lassO
not waiting 70 CON in baYonet range, they
threw forward their bowie knives at the Z0u-
ayes after the fashion Of experienced baTpoon-
eTs striking at a whale Frequently they
plunged in, and penetrated through a soldiers
body, and were ierked out, ready to strike
again while the first victim sunk into death.
On several occasions the terrible bowie knife
was transixsd In P Zouave, and the Zouave's
bsyOnet in the MisslssiPpian, birth impaled
and falling together. So skillfuly was this
deadly instrument handled by the Mississip-
plan, that he could project it to the full lAsBo
length, kill bis victim, withdraw it again With
9 sud en- impulse, and catch the handle uner-
riDgly.
II by any mischance the bowie-knife missed
ANH @iA1f u SAh laHhCAAA= u ~ a II Ms
or fell to the earth, revoIveFs were next resort
cd to and used with similar dexterity. The
hand to hand closing in with both pistol and
bowie-knife, cutting, sIashing, carving and
shooting almost at the same moment, was awful
beyond description. Blood gushsd from hum
dreds of wounds, until amid death, pitiful
groans and appalling sights, it stanehed the
very earth My Zouave champion says him
self and comrades did hard fighting, stood up
p onFUlir 70 tko D,,rJo-or1 c,pAfoE kpE pavror
before knew what undauntsd bravery and
courage meant. He felt no further ambition
TO engage in such rencoU'ers. Having been
shot through the wrist by a revolver, after es
Gaping the fearful Mississippi weapons, and
disabled from further active participation in
the struggle, be willingly retired to reap the
glory won, Convinced that to fight against
Mississippians with howie knives and pistols,
after receiving a volley Of their sharp crack
ing Tihea. ia no ordinary fDn-