The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-11-16
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
From the Ist Indiana Cavalry.

PILoT KNOB, Nov. II, 1861.
EDIToRs JOURNAL: the lst Indiana
Cavalry do not get a chance to distinguish
themselves often, it must not be inferred
that we are idle. If the boys are not kept
continually in the saddle, they come so near
it that it would not be far from the truth to
say SO. Day before yesterday a party of
about I25 men got back from an eight days
scout, through the so1rhern part of the
State. where no Union troops have before
made their way The party included part
of Capt. Hawkins independent cavalry
company, consisting of men who have been
driven from their homes in this part of the
State. When the party reached Greenville
we were immediately drawn up around the
Court House, and q close scrutiny and
search commenced for anything suspicious
In the vicinity. Il was not long until some
lyax-eyed Hoosier discovered some six or
eight men on the top Of hill overlooking
the town, who-were evidently watching our
movements, with q great deal of interest.
a small party was Immediately despatched
from our cavalry, with one or two of Haw-
Z. kinss men as guides, to reconnoiter, and if
possible make soue captures. They were
not long ia coming back, with several pris-
oners; among them one who figured pretty
extensively as beef contractor for jeff
( Thompson's army. In the Court House
several sick secesh soldiers were found, who
were left there by JEFF in his memorable
flight from Fredericktown. After admin
isterIng the oath to several of the inhabi-
tants, we started for the Black River coun-
try, noted secesh stronghold.
About eight miles from town we camped
for the night, and took fresh start early
in the morning The provision wagon was
sent on some ten or twelve miles with a
guard of Is men, and ordered to wait there
for the balance to come up The body was
then divided into three or four squads, and
a general securing of the country took
place, starting secesh from places where it
was fondly hoped it could not be easily
found. The forces all united about two
o'clock P. NJ. eat dinner and again spread
over the country The provision train now
determined to have some fun, and started
ahead as fast as possible, chasing secesh
from house to house, capturing horses, and
finally drawing up at the house of a noted
leader, among the rebels, doctor. 1t was
now quite dark, and although the nest was
warm, the bird had flown. In the graphic
| language of a negro wench found on the
premises, he heard us coming and took for
1 the tall timber. The Doctors wife tried to
| frighten US of by large tales of huge forces
of rebels that would surely capture our
small party, but failed to do il. During the
| night our scattered band ali collected to-
gether, having captured some Is or 20 pris-
oners, a quantity Of arms, &c. When the
| Doctors wife got up in the morning and
/ found her six stand OF bees pretty effectually
4 robbed, she strIiebtway showed her spunk
/ by hurrahil4f tGr jeff. Davis, and bsrating
/ rs HoOsiers v andaIs soRndly. Finally we
| got safely home, with the exception of one
| man, who received shot in the shoulder
! making bad but not dangerous wound.
Adiutant Neal having resigned, the Ser
| gent Major, Edward Smith, has been pro-
NOTED 10 the place. The Posey county
! company being without Captain and 1st
I Lieutenant, they held az election a few
! days since, and elected Lieut.. Owen, Cap
| tain !; Sergent Metropolis, (who got baliy
| wounded in the Fredericktown skirmish
| day or two before the battiel Ist Lieut.;
and Corporal McCauly, I'd Lieut.. Company
! F from Spencer county, having lost their
! Captain and I'd Lieut. by resignation, elect
| ed their Ist Lieut., Samuel s. Lamar, Cap
| tain; Sargent James A. Pine, 1st Lieut., and
| bugler G. A. Denneman, I'd Lieut..
%. Most of our regiment are now absent
| with an expedition which has gone to
Bloomfield, TO try TO entrap JEFF. Thompson.
They started while we were absent on our
eight days scout, which is the reason the
balance Of us are not along with them,
I greatly to our disappointment But my
i letter is already too long, and 1 viii wind
! up by saying that it is the ardent wish of
the regiment to get back to Indiana, or
rather Kentucky, where the rebels seem to
be threatening our Hoosier homes. We
| would like TO be among those that drive
the insolent foe back to his Southern lair.
For the present, good bye