The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-04-26
Reconnoisance towards Corinth.

We copied several weeks ago from til,
correspondence Of the Chicago Times
brief account Of a reconnisance towards
Corinth by porty of the 4th Illinois cav
airy (Col. Dickeys) and detachment 0
Ohio cavalry-in the course Of which |
superior force of rebel cavalry were en-
countered and repulsed. The bearing o
our troops in the matter was so gallant
that Gen. Sherman requested his aid
Capt W. D. SANGER, who accompanied the
expedition as volunteer, to write out a
particular report of it. A manuscript
copy Of the report, thus made, has been
placed in our hands, and as the brunt 0.
the affair was borne by cavalry companies
made up from this region, we are conf
dent our readers will be pleased to have
it laid before them. The reportwas made
to Gen. Hurlbut: i-s
Sir The expedition set on foot for the
purpose eofintercepting communication on
the Memphis and Charleston Rail Road
started about six o'clock on the evening
of the 10th of March, and proceeded from
Pittsburg Landing on the road toward
Corinth in the following order:
! Major S. NJ Bouman having the right
in command of detachment of the 4th
I Illinois Cavalry, Sc men, Co. NJ. Capt Geo
I Dodge at the head of the column, followed
! by Co. l., Lieut.. Merriman comma nding
and all followed by detachment Of the
( 9th Ohio Cavalry $50 men in regmental
order, commanded by Lieut. Col Thomas
! T. Heath. --'t -
| Lieut.. Chas Chaplin, with platoon Of
f. Co. l., of the 4th Illinois proceeded the
column as advance guards. t
/ Col. Johnson of the 18th Illinois. and
| the undersigned accompanied the expedi
ton, Lieut.. Col. Health having the chief
command.
The march vas conducted with the ut
most caution to guard against surprise,
and had proceeded without interruption
distance ofabout five miles when at place
known as Black Jack Forest About
clock the presence of the enemy was dis
covered by Lieut. Chaplin, across and near
the road, with their pieces ready to fire
on the advance guard. Lieut.. Chaplin with
great presence Of mind, Instantly discharg-
ed his pistol, 4 was Immediately seconded
by the discharge of a carbine by one of
the men which had the effect to frishten
his fire, and thereby save the advance
guari from the raking fire of buck shot
and bolls prepared for them. Major Bow
man with the utmost promptIlude, de
played his entire command into line, and
advanced rapidly on the enemy, driving
him As far as he could be seen
After retreating a short distance into
the Forest, the enemy made q stand part
ly in front and partly on our right flank
Thus far the only force engaged was Co
NJ, commanded BY Capt Dodge, and it is
but just TO say that this officer, aided by
Lieut.. Allshurse, conducted this advance
upon the enemy amidst all the difficulties
of'he night time and through the Forest
in a most fearless and gallant style, and
that his men behaved with all the cool,
ness and bravery of veterans
BY this time Co l and the remainder of
Co. L came up in perfect order, ranging
in front of that part of the enemy force
thirty yards of his line
But it was impossible to telle at that
distance. whether we might not he look
ing at our friends instead of the enemy,
and our fire was reserved Cor that reason.
We We're not however long kept in
doubt in that subject. for very socn the 1
enemy poured his fire into our ranks and
over our heads, making the woods lumin |
our along the whole line, to which re-
SPONGE was made by our carbines such as
caused him 10 break and run in every di- |
rectlon leaving Us in possession OF the !
field.
Co. received the heaviest part Of this
fire. and in reply delivered the charge
which first broke the enemy's line.
1t IL difficult to conduct an action by
night on horse back, and in forest 1t
Is much more hazardous to pursue under
like difficulties a retreating foe in his own
country and over his own ground. 1t
was therefore deemed prudent not to pur.
sue.
We took two prisoners on the spot
Four of our men were wounded, none
serious, and none killed. Two of our
horses We're killed and several wounded |
Our guide upon whose knowledge Of the |
country we were wholly dependant, was !
wounded at the first fire, and rendered in |
capable of going on.
The 5th Ohio Cavalry being in the rear, |
had no opportunity of engaging in the ac-
ton We had no means of knowing the !
extent of the epemy's force or the result |
Of the action until the next day, when it /
was ascertaiDed from, the concurrat tes-
timeny of the inhabitants on the several !
roads over which the enemy had passed |
and from the prisoners, that his force was
500 strong 1t was also ascertained that
he imagined himself met by large force
of Cavalry, Infantry and Artillery. That
he fled with the utmost rrecepetation !
without any regard to roads, leaving evi-
dence of his fight scattered for miles
around e aH-. r1- r-f
1t was further ascertained he contem
plated night attact on our encampment
at Pittsburg Landing, which design was
completely frustrated. We recovered sew
eral horses at leat ur,,miles from the bat
tie ground. which had been mired down
in a swamp and abandoned by their riders
in their extraordinary flight
We could not ascertain the number of
their killed and wounded nor is it impor-
tant- The great moral fact is palpable,
that small force of Sc Cavalry, me: on
his own ground, and in the night, 500 of
the enemy's Cavalry, and put him to rout
Very Respectly Your oht Servant
~. .--Ie--s.e w. D. SANGER,
Maj, 55th Illinois, Aid-de Camp to Gen.
Sherman. @ ..n
To L. A. HURLBuT, .,s..- -,. as
Brig. Gen. Comd s 4th Division.