New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-30


The above formed into one brigade, under the
command OF Col Hale Wilson Of the 9Th ILL., Cavalry.
Commander Ne. men.
9Th Missouri Cavalry. hsrkins. $50
10Th Illinois Cavary Anderson. :..'''.'.' az
Sd Illinois Iavery 90
ID Wisconsin Cavalry .LieGt.-Col Storins. 70
SIS
The last named were placed under command OF
Col. Thomas Stephens, ID Wisconsin Cavalry.
As soon as possible after landing took up my line
Of march for the Interior and went into camp for the
night about eight miles from the Mississippi River.
took with me no baggage or tents Of any kind, and
about three days ratious. l broke camp at daylight
on Friday and marched 80 miles on that day to the
west bank of the Iailahatchie River Just below its
junction with the Coldwaer During this days march
we captured several rebel pickets. We found that
reports of our landing had preceded us and the I'M
preston prevailed that we were approaching IN
Rrea; force. From negroes that We met we learned
that there was force of rebel cavalry encamped
ri the mouth Of Codwater, and that large party
OF negroes had been collected near there 10 blockade
the road and throw 10 f0TtihcailODs. Wishing 10
surprise them, if possible delayed the column slight
~ not to arrive at the river until after night
fall As we approached the ferry where they were
supposed 10 be encamped, ordered Capt. Walker,
VINO commanded the detachment Of LIST Inaisna Cav
airy, TO dismornt party OF his men and throw them
forward as quietly Us possible TO tie bank oil the
river and at the time TO det9ch hls horses IRON
his small guns aud have his run them quietly
forward by hand and we soon came IN sight OF their
camp-ires on the opposite bank OF the river and
could dstintly large numbers OF soldiers moving
around them. They were laughing, talking, slnglng
and enjoying themselves night merrily. Capt.
Walker Immediately brought MS guns ~ bear at d
distance Of about 800 yards aRd open out with all
force at once, while the dismounted men poured Il
voley into them from the river bank. Tie enemy
fed with the utmost precipitation, leaving many
horses and arms upon the ground The next day 1--WE
of them, very seriously wounded, were touud IN
houses by the roadside, and the negroes reported
that they had three killed during the engagement.
4 encamped for the night or the banks Of Tale
hatchie River. The river at this point Is deep and
sluggish, and is about 40 yards across. We here
found-a ferry, with ferry boat forty or fifty
feet in length. Is was my intention 10 bridge the
river during the mig and for that purpose took
along with me 5000 feet Of inch pine lumber and
five small boats sent from Memphis but an examination
OF the boats proved them TO be leaky and worthless
and we bad 10 delay operations TIL morning. Beng
convinced that the means furnished for bridging
wholly inadequate, dispatched parties up the
Coldwater and down the Iallahatchie to hunt for
boats. They found two large fats up the Cold
water, but they found the river full of snags and
II not until nearly o'clock p. that they
ceeded in getting them down. BY 4! P. IN. had
p the bridge completed, and by O'Clock D. N. had
my entire force Of cavalry OF the eastern bank Of the
river. My design then was to march my force as
rapidly possible TO the Of the Rebel army and
destroy his Geographic aud railway communications.
best to march directly on Grenada knowing that
there Two important railroad bndges across tho
1aIabusha RIVER the one on the Mississippi Central
and the other the Mississippi and Iennesse railroad.
The distance TO make to reach Grenada WAS 81
miles but by pushing hard l deemed II possible 70
reach there by daylight next morning. Afser pro- I
ceeding nearly east, along the IOekna Creek about
eleven miles the road forks, road going 10 Pa
nola the other to Charleston and Grenada. A few
yards from the forks OF the road, on the Pamela /
road, is ferry across tho Yockna and the head OF
my column turned down the Pamela road 10 the
ferry TO water their horses. They were at once
fired upon by heavy Rebel picket. Major Haw /
kns OF the 9th Miss ouri, Immediately brought his
small howtxers 10 bear, and soon silenced the
enemy and drove him away. We afterward learned
that they the pickets Of cavalry force Of 800
who were encamped six miles up the Pamela road,
who, On hearing our guns, supposed we were bound
Tor Pamela, and they returned 10 that point. After
leaving this point We were several times tired upon
by the pickets OF the enemy, which compelled TO
feel our way during the night. At daylight found
myself al Preston, little town 10 miles from
Grenada. When 1 arrived here i found that 1t !
would be impossible for Inc 10 reach Hardy Station,
the first station the Mississippi and Tennessee
Railroads in time TO intercept the up train, which
RscertaiGed Usually left al a. III. 1 detached Capt.
A. NJ. Sherman, % Wisconsin Cavalry, with 200 men
of the ID Wisconsin and 5tn Illinois Cavalry 10
over TO the Mississippi and 1enBesse Railroad at
Garner Station, which was only four miles distant,
and destroy the telegraph and such bridges he could
find and If possible to capture the tram. He burnt
bridge over 100 feet long and Gu, the telegraph.
lie was also instructed On leaving Garner Station 10 /
Cross through the woods to the Mississippi Central,
distance of nine miles IN air hue, aud hunt for and
destroy bridges and cut the telegraph. This last,
from the character Of the country be passed over
he found would be lmpractIcablc. The train from |
Grenada did not come up with the remainder Of the
column passed Oh down 10 Grenada About niue
o'clock a. liz. my horses being thoroughly jaded, /
found II necessary 10 stop and feed and rest them
which did for about TWO hours; then pressed on
TO Hardy Station; about half mile below the
Station / found bridge about 100 feet in length,
which l burned, and destroyed several hundred
yards OF telegraph wire, and burned one passenger
one box and ten platform cars. We here learned
tnat information OF our coming had preceded us by
several hours, and that the evening previous 100
infantry had come down the road from Pamela TO
Grenada. At Hardy Station the road we Travelled
crossed the railroad and passed down between the
Mississippi and Tennessee and Mississippi Central
Railroad. Passing down the road toward Grenada
for about two mules, we heard from the negroes
that trains Of cars were running all night down
the Central Railroad towards Grenada loaded
with soldiers. Being III perfect trap be-
tween the two railroads, III low and densely
wooded bottom with 40 knowlege in regard
10 roads, and knowing that they had had time to
send ample forces from ADbevile, i deemed il
too hazardous 10 proceed further III that direction.
here detailed Major BIje, Of the 9Th Illinois
cavalry, with 100 men, armed with carbiues, crow
bars and axes and directed him 10 crJts the country
through the woods and canebrakes until they should
strike the Central Mississippi RailFoai, and then
destroy the telegraph and all the bridges they could
find. They successfully performed the service, de-
stroyng the telegraph tearing up the rail track and
burning Que small bridge, being the only one thoy
could find, they having al uninterrupted view oi
ne track for a long distance each way. While
thus employed train OF cars loaded with soldiers
came slowly up the track from toward Grenada,
apparently feeling their way, TO find out where wo
were. They fell back On discovering Maj. Buie
and party. Mai. Buje having done all the damage
IN RAILROAD - cond fall hack Ia main