, 1862-03-24
FROM GEN. GRANTS. ADVANCE
... COLUMN.
Rlen STAGE OF WATER ON the
False Alarm at Cape Girardeau
Latest ffen Island No. 10, On Satar.
), : day Noon,
PROF. sTEIHER'B BAI1oON RE.
: 0oAH0IssAHCE.

loQESaaa 1AeEAAtAA W tA1 N0aIA&oAI1u9nE+j.
CAIRO, March -, 1863.
4 member Of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry,
Col Dickey, Just attiyea from savannah,
brings the following account of q skirmish
with the Confederates, in which the gallant
Fourth bore honorable part. he sayz that On
Sunday morning companies N, L and I, Maj.
Bowman commanding, left their encampment
at Pittsburgh, to make q reconnaissance In
the vicinity Of Purdy, which was being forti-
fed by tie enemy.
They pro0eded. ten miles through forest
and swamp, when they met body Of cavalry,
numbering one hundred, concerning whose
presence in that vicinity they we're previously
informed By rebel who mistook our forces for
Confederates: Tie rebels fired upon our boys
when within 3 distance Of two hundred yards,
but did no damage, their shot going long
way overhead. The squadron then formed in
line Of battle and gave the rebels volIey,
upon which they retreated, with the loss of one
of their captains. Two hundred yards farther
On, they formed in line q second time
Lieutenant Chaplin Of Chicago was ordered
to charge with company L, which be did with
great galantry, and the rebels were second
time routed. Several attempts were made by
Confederate officers to induce their men to
make another stand, but without success.
They were badly intimidated and uncontro--
able. =:
Major Bowman, fearing that q further ad-
vance might lead his forces into anbuscade,
ordered his men to retire to camp.
On Sunday evening the same companies,
7vffI, a r1nrffo,, nF{ tho n1;, r. ,nJa.
command Of Colonel Taylor, were ordered to
perfect the reconnaissance. They commenced
in the morning, and when about the same dis
tance out, met body Of Confederate
cavalry on their way to Pittsburgh,
with the Intention Of surprising and cutting
OF cur camp. The rebels fired . single vol-
ley, as before, too high, and the three COM
panies Of the 4th Illinois Cavalry, under COM
mand Of Capt Dodge, were ordered to charge
the enemy. They did SO, and delivered well
directed fire in their midst, with what result
could not be ascertained, on account Of dark
| ness:
&he rebels retreated long the road, which
| here runs diogona1ly, and when within Il
| short distance from our left, where WAS sta
toned Company ], halted, and saying to our
boys "for Gods sake don't fire into your
| brothers, Immediately discharged 4 volley,
| killing none but wounding four.
| Company returned their FIRE and the rebels
l. ded in great confusion. Two Of our boys
we're taken prisoners. The casualties Of the
enemy are unknown. Next day, on visiting
the scene Of the skirmish, there were found
Scattered over the ground hats, spurs, boots,
sabrcs, pistols, head horses, and the earth and
leaves covered with blood, showing that ous
forces had done good execution in their midst
The enemy removed their dead and wound
ed under cover Of darkness. While exarnin
ing the battle field the advance guard shot /:
fleeing rebel scout and captured two prisoners
The Lexington arrived this morning. from
Tennessee River and reports that our force
are scattering into the country round abou
Savannah, accomplishing nothing Of import
ance, besides the occasional capture Of the en-
emy's scouts, and the bringing into our line
Of prominent rebels charged with assistin;
the Confederates with money and provisions
Our forces have entire possession Of th
Memphis and Charleston Railroad in the n
cinity Of Savannah, and reintorcements car
, not be sent to Memphis and other point
Threatened on the Mississippi by that chann'
Gu n,on,a1nana ~ and ,'1 H. a;n,e;o, uaro
sooannah @ ''"''>' ''''>' '''' @A'-''''' "~Ns
cen cr.n+ toa aa+,h,;shed ,,,s he, ,aousrte,
49, 14@u' '''0 90 &'@1FHe" LID n7"oao oA4 w.
| at Pittsburgh
The high water at those points still co,
! tinues, rendering military operations impo
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