The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-04-05

SHARP SKIRMIsH on THE TENNESSEE
A correspondent of the Chicago Times
gives an interesting account of a skirmisb
at Black Jack Forest on the Tennessee
river, in which portion of Col. Dckey's
cavalry bore an honorable part.
On Monday night, 9th ult } an expe-
dition was sent out from Pittsburg land
ing, to reconnoitre the road towards
Corinth, consisting of $50 Ohio cavalry
under LIT. Col Heith, and Sc men of Col.
Dickey's Och III cavalry, under Major
Bowman. At the same time force of 500
OF the enemy's cavalry appear to have
been sent to the same road to reconnoitre
towards Pittsburg. .s .ltr. .ss
In the march, on our side, Major Bow
man commanded the right; Lieutenant
Chaplin, with part of company l., consti.
tuted the advance guard company NJ
Captain George Dodge, had the head of
the column, and company I, Lieutenant
Hapeman, and a platoon of company L,
| Lieut.. Merriman, follwed Next came
the Fifth Ohio, commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel Heith and Major Ricketts,. Maier
Sanger, of Gen. Sherman's staff, accomDa-
med the expedition.
Inc collision occurred at Black Jacl,
/ Forest, about miles this side of the Mis-.
sisslppl line. The enemy fired into the
advance guard, wounding the guide and
some OF our horses, which was the first
lntiination we had that the enemy was
/ upon u.s. The advance guard stood firm
ana returned the fire Immediately Mai.
Bowman instantly threw his whole com
nd N In safI Al
rapidly; the enemy fell back and fred a.
he went, our forces returning the fire
with great promptitude They Tell back
farther and farther into the forest. and
hnaIly seemed to make a stand, and when
/ they discharged their double barreled shot
guns Noaded with buck shot and baln
they revealed by the light of their fire a
( long line immediately in front, and not
10 exceed sixty yards from US This fire
was immediately returned with carbines
which threw the enemy's line into con.
fusion when they broke and fled in grea,
disorder apparently.
The next day Gen. Sherman. with a
small escort examined the groilnd. when
. 1t appeared the enemy had left the battle
held ia extraordinary haste that they
lett their hats, guns, pistols, sabres, saddles
and horses IN every direction for at leas,
SIX miles beyond; that in some cases the
brave cavaliers had dashed their steeds
down steep precipices, against the roots OF
up-turnei trees, and into swafnr)s. whore
they remained until extricated by Gen
/ sherman order In short. i appeared
by the evidences palpable by daylight.
that the ront was the most extraordinary
ever heard of; that the brave. chivalrous
rebe! cavalry. who never asked ANYTHING
better than 10 be pitted against the COW
aruiy northerners in the proportion oil
one against fee, being in fact moro than
five TO one, were driven back and fright
ened out Of their wits, and actually de
stroyed themselves, like the herd of swine
who ran down into the sea, being possess
ed of the devil
/ The detachment OF the Third Battalion
under command of Major bowman, was
the only force employed on our side by
/ the Ohio cavalry being, in the rea, really
had no opportunity Of bearing hand
I Gen. Sherman has expressed himself in
! the highest terms Of commentator IS to
/ the bravery, judgement and skill OF this
! battalion, and has made application to
} Gen. HUrlbut TO have this cavalry trans
/ ferred to his division