The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-07-19
La GRANGE. Tenn, July 9, 1862


the SD have gone with the Division) to
holly Springs, Miss, expecting to meet
the enemy In some force at or near that
point
The march was quite an eventful one.
Unfortunately, for me, / was not with the
regt., having been detached for service
here; but l have gatherted the main Incl
dents from a reliable source, and give
them to you somewhat condensed.
Both the 4th (Gen. Ilurlbuts,) and the
9Th (Gen. Sherman's,) divisions went, the
latter taking the lead, preceded by bat
tallion OF cavalry under Maj VIM. L..
| Gibson. The first and only real opposi-
ton met with was by the Majors cavalry,
which rode clear up to the rebels before
| they were s>.n, when the rebels fired,
killing one man aud wounding several,
two or more shots striking the Major s
horse, but fortunately not hitting him.
Our men returned the fire, killing four
and wounding Il considerable number
how many is not known as they were car
ried Oft the field. There seemed to be
some treachery here, for man - n
house near by informed Major Gibson
that he had not seen any rebels, although,
as it proved, they were posted but a few
rods from his house There as serious
stripping him and his plantation OF every
thing available, they let him 60 Four
horses, with their trappings ard some
arms, were taken, and singularly enough
a carbine, pistol, and sabre, lost by the
4th cavalry at Shiloh, were recaptured
After going within miles Of Holly
Springs, the division hailed, and the next
day Col. Cushman was sent out with his
regiment and squadron OF cavalry, some
IL miles on an armed Reconnaissance No
enemy was found, and the force was quiet
ly returning when, as they were halted
for rest short distance In advance of
Shermans division, they were seen by
some of the (ith) cavalry pickets, who
Immediately posted in giving the alarm
saying that the enemys cavalry and in
iantry, some 10000 strong, were advancing
Meanwhile Lieut.. Edward and Lieut.
of cavalry were sent forward to look I'D a
good road and while they were parlavins
with the pickets about assing their lines
the Colonel with his glass observed a great
commotion in the advance, and fearing
there might be some misunderstanding,
ordered the color bearer 10 get uron a
fence and move our colors Just in time
as 1t afterwards appeared, to prevent our
boys from icing all cut to pieces by our
own folks
Col. Taylor, of Sherman's division. soon
rode up aud said, Colonel, you have
frightened US well we saw your colors
just in time, for in Il minute more we
should have opened our batteries upon
you On reaching the division, every
thing was found TO be in battle order the
artillery all ready for action, with the
infantry under arms to support them, and
10 oil
loaded on wagons, which had been sent
to the rear. As our boys passed those of
the division, they were cheered Justify,
while some cried out, 1" Here come the
rebes. You scared us badly, but we
would have pitched into you in minute
more, " hat shall we do for our sup
per Your have made US send all our
provisions Oft, and we can't begin to guess
where they are now dc, DC General
Hurlbuts division being further Oft, was
not in so much confusion; but th.-erms
were all stacked ready to be seized ht "A
moments notice, and the baggage was
loaded ready to be sent off should occasion
require. 1t is we'll enough to add here,
that ! have seen Gen. Hurlbut get out his
men in line of battle more than once, and
it has always been done with as much
GOODNESS as though he was calling them
Jul ioi uISsS lJ'lIdlc VI ISNItN
While the division was encamped at
Cold Water, D miles from Holly Springs, a
foraging party, consisting of Gen. Ian
mans Aid, Lieut. Barnes, @ II. Burr and
others, went out, purchased load of vege-
tables, &c, and were returning peaceably
when they were fred into from a house
by party Of gucrillas, four of the shots
taking effect. Lieuts. Barnes and Burr
were wounded and two orderles. All,
however, managed to ride off but Lieut..
Barnes, who soon fell from his horse into
the road. While lying there, one of the
rascals came close to him, and absolutely
pointed his gun at him when the Lieut..
spoke and said: lou are not going to
shoot me again, are you? / should think
you had shot me enough for once" Reb.
replied. Yes, you ID rascal; you are
a id Yankee. and have no business
here Just then he thought he saw some
one in the road, and added, leave you
to the tender mercies Of those who are
coming; they will soon use you up"
After short time Barnes managed to
crawl up to a field where a niger was
blowing, and with the darkies assistance
he managed to get upon a horse and
started for the camp, when he was met
by party sent out after him 1t is now
thought that a ! who were shot will re.
cover, though it is somewhat doubtful as
to Lieut. Burr. Diligent search has been
made for the dastardly assassins, but as
yet without effect Some of them are
spotted" and ever they do fall into our
hand, a 'short shift and stout cord"
will be their doom. Our boys marched
into Holly Springs; found a beautiful
town, the residence of many apparently
wealthy people, all intensely secesh, and
bitterly detesting us Yankees O as they
call us.
Some avowed that they never would
give up, 4hey would fight us 20 years first,
though some admitted that we might per
haps starve them out
This point begins to have a powerful
effect upon them, for the exorbitant prices
they have to pay for all manufactured
goods, the scarcity of salt and provisions
generally, except corn and few veceta-
bles, is more than they are willing to en-
dure much longer even for their bastard |
" Confederacy," accustomed as they have
been heretofore to all of the luxuries of |
life, and to depend upon us almost ex.
for everything which REQUIRED |
skill and ingenuity to make. l observe !
many fields Of cotton as we march through |
the country, though the most rabd plant. |
ers do not have any
This, look upon as significant, for as
they can neither manufacture nor eat |
their cotton, and as raising it for fuel don t
pay, they must of course expect to sell itin
order to purchase articles they can neither
raise nor make, and they know full we'll
by this time that they can not do this
until Uncle Samuel resumes his sway over
their Internal country.
once expected to find large number
IF Unionists here, and was very fearful
that they or their property might be in
ured. Now, am convinced from what
zee and hear every day, that the said
UnionIsts are not visible to the naked ere
n this latitude, or in the expressive words