Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-10-31
IErrERs rRnm CoLrnRua.

There wa, some little excitement late yestcr-
day afternoon in the camp of the Shelby Light
Dragons, as, indeed, throughout the neighboring
regiments, caused By the arrival in camp Of
Rufus w. May, who had been one OF a scouting
party Of ten to leave camp on yesterday morn
ing on the Blandyille road, with instructions to
" obtain information Of the enemy and report
before dark" Mr.. May brought i~nformatiouo of
the attack oftho party some twelve miles above
this point, BY a force of Federalists who were in
complete ambush, and the ~wounding Of q NUM-
Der of cur men-how many BIr May had not
waited to ascertain. OF course the camp VAS
Immediately IN armS after the receipt Of the IN
formation, and were Clam0rOus 10 be led 20 the
support ofthe little band whom Mr.. May repre-
scented to be scattered along the road between
here and the place of attack, and in imminent
danger of being cut OF and captured by the en-
envy, or run down aud shot in detail. The line
was rapidly formed, but while waiting fov the
command to march, an order was received from
Gen. Pillow, countermanding that Of Lieut-Col.
Logwood, which left US no alternative but to let
our friends make the best Of their way to camp,
since the enemy had doubtessly already with
drawn beyond our reach, with any prisoners
which they had been able to capture. This AZ
rangement did not suit Lieut.. Maxwell however,
who, in the absence of Capt. Bslleutine, was in
command Of the Shelby Light Dragons, aud a
personal consultation with Lieut-C0l LogWood
and Gen Pillow, led to permission being obtained
tor a party to 60 out to look after the safety Of
the scouts. About this time, however, Mr..
Richard Grooms came into camp in company
with a wagon bearing his wounded eomrade,
Mr.. VIM. Henessey, a foster son Of Col. Craw-
ford, Of Memphis, who, on examination, was
found to have received a gunshot wound on the
right side, in the region Of the kidneys, the ball
apparently ranging downward. Information
was received from Mr.. Grooms that the little
band, consisting Of Sergeant W. a. Grihin in
command, A. Gwyn, Albert Hicks, Chas. Necd-
lex, J. n B. Holloway, Matthew Holt, John
EIughn, and +. Hyatt, were in a body, retrcating
in good order, with Chas. Needick, J.. N. b.
Holloway and Mat. Holt Wounded. The rein
Eorcement now started, but met the returning
scouting party before getting outside of Colum-
bus, and returned with them to camp. The
whole party were able to ride to camp with he
exception of Afr. Needick, whose wounds being
in the groin rendered the pain Of riding altogeth-
CT insupporiable, and he was left at the residence
of Mr.. jenkins, SONS eight miles ont on the
road.
From Sergeant Griffin 1 received the following
account Of the circumstances Of the attack. The
little party, after riding some ten miles out on
the Blandyile road, when they turned to the
left, intending to return by what is known as
the river road to Eliotts Mills. Therei is a point
On this road where the way leads through a de-
lille, leading into a ravine. On each side Of the
road the bank is from twenty to twenty-five feet
high, the top lined with a thick underbrush.
When the little band had reached a position
about midway of this defle, a voice, with a
genuine Teutonic accent, was heard to exclaim:
d" Halt, halt, and surrender > at the same
instant swapping the cap on the pistol which he
held presented in bis hand. On looking up the
man was seen standing almost above, though a
little in front of the party, dressed in dark blue
clothes. InToluntarily every mans hand in the
little party went to his holster, when immediate
" a volley Of fire arms was discharged from
each side of the road, tearing mp the ground on
! each side of cur men, though Do Immediate in
d~ications were apparent that any Of the shots
had taken effect. Our friends were now at a
point in the road where a sudden turn led into the
bottom below, and fearing that the road further
on was lined with the enemy, being equally
eligible for the purposes Of an ambuscade. Ser
geant Griain gave the order to 'right-about,
Wheel and Immediately commanded a
retreat, with the view of gaining the
level ground. 1t is the opinion of the
officer that as many as thirty shots
were fred on the first discharge, and a number
of shots followed the party as they left the defle
and rose to the level grounds. The care which
the Federalists took to conceal their own persons
from the sight Of our men, was evidently the
cause of so little damage being done by SO many
shots from an enemy not more than twenty-five
or thirty feet from the party assailed, which care,
together with their trepidaiion, led them to over
shoot the mark. Some three-quarters of a mile
from where the attack was made the little band
formed in line, with the exception of Mr.. Rufus
w. May, who had constituted himself the
eoauHt courier Of the party, and rode his horse to
death il order to bring the nslrs into camp. The
wounded were here thrown in advance, and
taking q by-road our friends struck across to the
Blandville road and made the best Of their way
back to Columbus, as detsiled above. Sergeant
Grimm had Il valuable horse shot under him,
which he had been offered $3.50 for a few days
previous. The casualties Of the expedition may
be summed up thus: Vim. Henessey, wounded
in the region Of the kidneys, dangerous; Chas.
NeedicL, wounded in the groin, q very painful
and serious, though not thought 70 be q danger
Gus wound; NJ. Holt, wounded in the wrist, the
ball passing between the two bones, without
fracturing either J. II. B. Holloway, wounded
in the back Of the head, the ball taking effect
just behind the ear, and CHANGING from the bone
without fracture, and lodging just within the
skin. On reaching camp Dr. Holloway had the
ball cut out and sent to bis friends, with instruc-
tons to 4" take good care Of it."
Surgeon Gen. Bell and battalion surgeon Mar
able were at camp on the arrival Of our wounded,
and after examining and properly caring for the
wounded, pronounced Mr.. Henessey's a very
critical case, though the others in camp were
thought not to be serious. DR.. Marable, with an
escort, visited Mr.. Needick last night, some eight
miles in the country, and found him resting easy,
apparently free from pain.
There has been q systematic practice here of
late to send out ten or Twelve men each day on
these roads, in such a manner as to give the
enemy a definite idel Of what number they might
| expect, Us well as where our scouts would pass.
THIS gave The enemy every advantage Of US in
laying an ambuscade, and the result Of the prac-
| tice has verified the prediction Of a lumber of
cautious men, that they would take advantage
Of this fact to revenge tue loss % their pickrts at
Paducab. Ibis bit Of experience viii doubtless
break up the practice.
] was in error in a recent letter in saying. that
Gen. Grant accompanied the towboat sampson
on her recent visit to this place to effect au ex-
change Of prisoners. The officer in command
was Col. Beaufort, of the Illinois 9th regiment
AZ ,rtba FEDERAL nri4opers in IN. Hapdz Of the