Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-07-24
Letter From the Army.
r....v Y 81 lava INFANTRY,

CospAsY X. 81 Iowa ISrAsTHy, -
CAup NEAR CoLp WATER, Mss, July l, 1862.
FRIEND HnpRErH When l wrote
you last, it was expected that ere this
we should be in Memphis +; but there
is not very fnc prospect OF seeing
that city At present. When our d'v''
sion arrived At Lagrange, Tennessee,
it was ascertained that q force OF
10000 rebels, under Van Dorm was
At Holly Springs. Miss. Gen. Hurlbut
determined to halt, and. should they
advance. give them battle. He occu-
pied splendid position. and sent
word to Gen. Sherman, in the advance,
who at once fell back 10 good support
ing distance.
Hurlbut's division had been rein
forced by brigade from the LIST Di.
vision, making his total force 5000
men. Sherman had under his COM
mand 10000 men all told. After wait.
ing two days and sending the teams
forward to Memphis for provisions,
strongly guarded, the Generals de.
termined to move forthwith and fight
Van Dorm in his own position. A
forced march was made to this place
where q sharp skirmish took place
between our advance, and a body Of
rebels in ambush, which ended by the
Butternuts "skcdaddling" from the
shells which Sherman sent so freely
among them. At this place Hulburts
Division camped. while Sherman went
two miles to the front and right, and
camped. ............... A..
The whole country is filed with
guerilla bands, and no act is too afro
cious for them to perpetratc. Lieu
tenant Barnes, aid to Gen. Lauman,
was out with q wagon and five pri.
Yates, when the party were fred upon
by citizens. Lieutenant Barnes was
severely wounded in the face and
breast by load of buckshot. Two
of the privates were wounded and the
wagon lost. ....
A private of the sgd Indiana went
from camp in search Of berries. He
was seized by party of citizens and
after being stripped. was most cruelty
whipped and then sent into camp as
he was, covered with blood. Hurlbut
was terribly angered ut this. He
Immediately sent out an armed force,
with orders to burn the building to
the ground, and shoot every citizen
found with arms. ....
1t was found that Van Dorm had re-
treated to Grenada, OF our approach,
leaving only Jackson's cavalry behind.
Grenada is sixty miles from Holly
Springs, almost due South. Holly
Springs is beautiful city on the Mis-.
sissippi Central railroad. Before the
war it was q noted resort for the South.
ern chivalry. 1t has . fine shady
mineral spring. and 10 we'll supplied
with water. 1t was the place chosen
by Beauregard for his general hospi.
tai, and soon after the battle of Shiloh
there were 1000 men. sick and wound.
ed, in the place. some of whom are
still there. tis fifteen miles from the
Tallahassee river. ...
We have just heard the report that
little Mac" was driven from before
Richmond, and that Halleck was to
supercede him and carry to Virginia
10000 western boys" The report
is not generally credited. If so, had
not the Government better take more
stringent measures for the early sup.
preston of this rebellion? think
CoD6scation, Emancipation, Bayonets
and artillery, should at once be applied
with vigor, and il, as they say, We can
not subdue them in ten years, we can
at least make the country SO desolate
they cannot dwell therein for ten times
ten years. Not make this o war of
Cancellation, but q war Of destruction.
Purge the North of the traitorous
scoundrels who infest it. Either show
them Forts Lafayette and Warren, or
let them test the strength of hempen
cords. After the traitors of the North
are out of the way, it will prove an
easier task 10 put down their associ.