, 1862-03-15

:: In Dixie's land well take our stand,
And i've and thrive in Dixie"


The Scout is lively little sheet, devoted, |
Of ccurEe, mainly to an exposition Of the busi~ |
ness Of the regiment, and to the wants Of those
who compose it. As matter Of historical !
Justice to the gallant boys, We copy their ac-
count Of the way in which they occupied their
present quasters-the honor of being first In
having been claimed for the crews Of the gun
boats:
TIE WAY COLUMBUS WAS OCCUPIED
On the evening Of Sunday, the ID inst, Gen.
Sherman ordered The seven companies & CT me me
Second Cnsalry. then in Paducah, to take tour
days rations and proceed to the vicinity of
Columbus and ascertain if there WAS any truth
in the r1mor that the rebels were cyacuating
the plaee. .-..,
Accordingly we set out upon our expedi-
| tiou about dark, and after plod1ing our way
| for some seven miles through the mud aud
| intense darkness, occasionally losing 3 horse
and his rider in the bitches, our progress
Was suddenly cut short by creek so much
. swollen By the recent heavy rains as to ren-
! der it impossible. Just here let us mention
the daring act Of the iron-wIlled captain OF
| Company E: Though the air was intensely
cold, and momentarily growing more so, Cap
head, sPurred bis horse into the water, and
swan him to the opposite shore and back
Thus finding the water too deep to cross IN
tie dark, We biyouacked on the bank, and re-
suming our march in the morning, we passed
through Ioyelaccyille, stopping long enough
tforwa1d," was then given in the stentoEian
! tones Of Col Hosg, and on VIC went to Bland
VILE. Nothing was asccrtained here, and
we were soon on our way again Uur rapid
| travcling soon brought us to 3filburn, thlr-
teen miles distant from Columbus, where
We learned that this, the Manassas of the
West,'' was actually being evacuated. Our
undannted Colonel, drawing: us up into
line, told Us it was his Intention to proceed
direct to Columbus, and TINT we might per
haps meet some OF the rebels on the way.
ST We do,n said tie Colonel, "dou't use your
pisrols, but gire them the cold stall The sa-
Ire is the arm for cavalry to rely onp' Then
came tie command, 'sForssard to Colum-
bus!'' from our Colonel, echoed By our fear
less Major, and re-echocd By eyerg officer Of
the line. Animated by the prospect Of be-
ing sfirst ju ut the DEATH" all, both officers
and men, felt capable Of performing deeds Of
: kright-e t-errantry. On re went, Jehu-like,
J Capt. Tipton's squadron, composed OF E and
+ F, in the advance, al1 '*eager for the fray, -
but fearing that the rebels would all leave be-
fore We had an opportunity to pay our respects
to them.
. We reached the Qualifications ! little before
! sundowr, md Seeing no emmy, neither stop
: ping to consider whether there was any danger,
e we drew onr sabrcs and dashed into town and
r run up the Stars and Stripes, amid deafanipg
and Major, who had SO successfully led us info
l the strongest hold Of rebellion in the West.
: The next thing on the programme was to Sc
= cure quarters, which was no difficult matter,
:. as empty houses and stables were abundant
Company Er-neFeE behind where there is
anything to get-estlb|:sled themselves in {
; hotel, and their horses in Il livery stable, feel
8 ing fully competent to rEn the Institution
themselves. The other companies also found
= con,mcdious quarters, and plenty Of forage
y also sugar and molasses in abundance. SeE
! eral stores were left without owners, consc
Il qucntly the boys felt it their duty to taxi
c charge Of many little items Of which they hat
d | especial need
y Learning from the dcserters that jeff
e Thompson was supposed to be in the neigh
Is borhocd with large cavalry force, we though
o likely VIC would have an opportunity to II.
our hand With the rebels bclor. morning. "
:. numbered less than 200 all told, but our horse
:, were too much jaaed to think Of retTcating, s.
We determined 10 defend ourselves as best u
"a could in case Of an attack; but We were no
- disturbed.
~ The next day, feet OF gunboats and tran:
- ports, bearing Gen. Sherman and three reg
ments Of Infantry, made its appearance, II
:, moving all apprebeDsfons of au attack.
= II seems that tue feet knew nothing Of th
~ evacuation, as it appeared very cautiously Ill
4 In battle array. Col Rufosl, Of the 9th I'll
- nois volunteers, and who nlw has cnmn1au
- - Of The post, was Somewhat chagriued Ehcn
= found the place il possession of the eayalr,
Columbus to his celebrity acquired just acros
IT. the river.
~ Thus fell into our hands Columbus
~ -, great terror CT the Federal solaiuss-oy whie
~ ~ the Mississippi is unlocked and the long -chc
~ ~ | iShed hcpes of the rebels forever crushed