Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-10-03
rmEEKnrRALa ~ pnEnrIss.
CAM LoBDELL, Mississippi, Z
September II, 1862. s

September II, 1852.
EDITORS APPEAL: Last Sunday, the 14th
inst, will be aday long to be remembered by tie
citizens of this vicinity. About half after three
o'clock P. NJ, the pickets in the court house at
Prentiss, Bolivar county, Mississippi, discovered
the smoke of boats up the river, which was evi
IDENTIFY coming down. A courier was immedf-
stely dispatched to Captain c.. R. Moyson, COM
manding a detached squadron, consisting of
company E, Captain Moyson's own company,
with detachments from companies A and B.
Starnes' cavalry, informing him of the near ap-
proach of the enemy's feet Immediately upon
the captains receiving the information, "bOots
/ and saddles were sounding, when the COM
mand marched to the river, Just below General
Charles Clark's plantation, and concealed them
| selves in a grove Of tim Der, and quietly awaited
the arrival of the foe. They were not long kept
in suspense, for about five o'clock P. NJ, one
/ gunboat passed them without interruption, then
came a transport, on which no troops were to
be seen. She, too, passed unmolested. Then
here~come a transport literally covered and filed
with Hessians. As she got precisely opposite
our force. Captain Moys0n, in q loud aud dis
tinet voice, gave the omman fire" which
was responded to by a Yolley from the entire
on 1aA0L 0OAA1 Va 11A 1AA aA4 IA AAG
second time. The enemy returned some fires
from the boat, bat with no effect. A retreat by
our forces was then ordered, as nothing more
could be accomplished by remaining in our
present position. Captain Moyson fell back to
a convenient and safe place to watch the move
ments of the enemy 1t was expected they
would drop down to Prentiss, about one mile,
and land their forces. A strong picket guard
was, therefore, kept as near them as was deemed
.---l.--k - ] a. - IL
be discovered, and timely preparations accord
ingly made to give them an appropriate reeep-
ton, in case they should see fit to pay us a
passing visit. But 10, and behold, our surprise
when their true object was discovered, which was
fully developed about dusk, in the burning Of
the town of Prentiss without leaving a house.
After Captain Moyson fred. the gunboat" o."
which had nearly reached Prentiss, turned
and went back TO the assistance of the trans
ports, when she commenced a furious Smelling
of the whole country around town, which was
kept up until about dark, when they Landed
opposite Prentiss, sent out a flag of truce, tell
ing the people, who consisted principally of help
less women aud children, that they had thirty
minute to leave the town. The ladies met the
officer bearing the dag and begged for more
time, but be positively refused any longer time,
and told them they would not be permitted 20
re enter their houses to get q single article
THUS they had to leave their much loved homes,
without taking a single article except what they
had on their persons. At the expiration of the
thirty minutes they commenced plundeTing the
houses, and after taking everything they wanted,
they set fire to the whole town. They also fred
the court house and Jail. The only prisoner in
Jail was q negro Of Capt. Lees, of the steamer
Kentucky who had been csughtin attempting to
get to the Yankees, they burnt him alive in the
jail. Thus, Monday morning last the sun rose
to find the little town of Pfentiss in ashes. The
enemy's feet lay at the landing all night, and
the town was set on FIRE. No more disturbances
was made during the remainder Of the night
Captain MOyson had the place besieged all
night, ready to attack them IN case they should
leave their boats far enough to give him a chance
at them this, 1 am sorry to say, they did not
do.
Our forces remained near town all day Mon
day, until they left, which was about IL o'clock.
About 8 o'clock Monday morning their boats
moved up the river L early opposite the residence
of Mrs. Coffee and landed a small force and sent
them to burn her residence, which they did in
the most infamous manner possible. Her resi-
dence is only a quarter OF a mile above PreDtiss.
When they came to Mrs. Coffee's they found no
one there but two negroes-and old negro man
aud g boy. They put their bayonets against the
negroes and demanded them to tell where their
mistress money was buried. Upon being in
formed that she had none buried about there to
their knowledge, they ordered the negroes on
board their boats, which order they both posi-
lively refused to obey, and after some little
parleying the negroes were permitted to remain,
They told the negroes the reason they did the
burning was because they had been Gred into
by the damned "secesh'' and three of their men
killed, among them a fine officer, and seven
wounded During the morning they buried two
opposite Mrs. COffee's on the bank of the river,
one q corporal, the other q private, both men,
bers OF the 33d regiment Illinois volunteers.
the night Sunday, a gunboat that had
gone down to Yicksburg. ONE time since, under
q flag OF truce, came up and acted next morning
in harmony with the others, hauling down,
during the night, her flag of truce which she
came up with. l do not know the name of this
boat, but she was marked IL"
When they left Prentiss they crossed over to
Napoleon aud landed. They told the people
there that they had three men killed, and among
them one of their best officers, and seven
wounded. 1t IS believed they sent their dead
officer and wounded up on the gunboat a."
went up when the, others went down.
This regiment $3.50 IllinOis) have rendered them
selves, in COahoma county, notorious for plumber
ing. They seem to be nothing but a band of
and thieves, whose only object is to steal
aud burn where they go. They showed no in
whatever to fight while at Prentiss, and
seemed only bent upon burning and robbing.
Seven of the gunboats and transports thst
passed down under a flag of truce, went up to-
day. l am informed that this regiment, 33d IL
linois, have promised to burn and destroy every
hing on the river as they return.
Yours truly,
ONE OF THE MoYsoN DRAGooNs.