Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-22
FEDERAL REPORTS From NORTH
MISSISSIPPI.
Special Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.
IN H ADVANCE, SEVEN MILES FROM I
ABRFVHJF Miss Dee 1850 {

ABREVHLE, Miss, Dec. ] 1e62.
Ny lest letter was dated Holly Springs, and
in il | gave an imperfect account of the Occupa-
ton of that village. As l suggested, we moved
early yesterday morning, Colonel Lea, with his
cavalry brigade, comprising the 9TH Kansas, 4tb
Illinois, Sd Michigan, a detachment of the ID
Iowa, and & battery of artillery, in advance as
usual, followed by the infantry divisions of Gen.
Macarthur and Gen Ross.
The cavalry were expected to DO the skirmish-
ing, and 1 accompanied them. IF they thought
to reach the Tallshatchie without 6ght they were
| grievously disappointed, for not a foot of the
! ground hes been marched over which tss not
been Obstinately contested. The column started
st nine o'clock Saturday morning, with q line Of
disT aanted cavalry thrown out on either side of
the road, presenting q front three miles in ex-
tent. Three miles from Holly Springs, shots
extending along the front, indicated that the ball
was opening. We had come upon the enemv's
pickets, nd the dead body of q butLemut lying
by the roadside showed that we had met them
to some purpose. a little further on, the main
body of the enemy's rear guard wss reached and
volleys were Exchanged, without damage to US.
Just as we reached the brow of q hill, at the foot
of which was a deep rAvine, we discovered one
hundred and fifty men drawn up in line Of bat
tie. A detachment of company f 3D. Michigan,
under Capt T. Reese, q former employee Of the
| Tribune, was ordered to charge upon them.
They numbered but fifteen men, but in obedi-
ence to orders, they charged upon them most
vsliantly. Fifteen men against $50 is tremen-
dous Odds, and cur boys were soon compelled to
retire. The bullets whistled about our ears, and
it was deemed but prudent to retire until
more troops could be brought forward. We did not es-
cape unscathed. Theodore G, Henshaw. Of company
f, was struck by a rife ball Just below the temple, and
instantly killed HIS effects We're taken possession Of
by some Of his comrades, aud the body tenderly taken
and laid by the road side where it was deeently Inferred
soon after by a detachment sent by the infantry column
in our rear. Our sklrmishers then poured a deadly FIRE
into their ranks snd the enemy broke and ran Tie
word was given to advance, and we reached the high
ground opposite Lrmpkin $ mills, without any incident
worthy Of record, except that shots were given end re.
ceived By the skirmisheFs of both armies. with no effect
so far as we were concerned. The enemy were arned
with shot guns and their shot fell far short Our men
were armed with the revolving Sharpe's rifles. with a
range from One-half 10 three-quarters of a mile, and az
the latter distance several saddles were emptied. While
securing the woods we came across The bodies Of sew
eral rebels, shot dead by the unerring rides in the hands
of the skirmishers
Arriving on the.brow of the hill above mentioned. we
could see, with q field glass, what appeared 70 be 8 Tesi.
ment Of cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, to the
right Of the brick church and cotton gin. stationed on
These buildings eonstit ate the town OF Old Waterford.
Here was'sn excellent chance to plant our battery. and
Colonel Lee ordered up a Parrot gun belonging to the
Sd Michigan, aud directed a few shells to be throWn into
their midst These missiles eX plodlDg on the other side, |
caused the snemy TO draw his men to his right, cirectIy
in I ont OF the church. where appeared q body OF cav
airy evidsn ~ masking q battery. We advanced slowly
a quarter of q mile, and reached the brow Of a hill
directly opposite, where We stationed the gun. Before |
we had time to fire a shot, the enemys cavalry dsplcved
to the right and left. and Immediately q dozen shell
came sing ng over our heads in dangerous proximity /
The first shell exploded in the top Of a tree not twenty 4
feet from where l was standing, and from prudential
reasons | concluded TO retreat in good order to the
rear" Iretred a dozen rods or so when another shell
exploded just in front of me. This created the impress
sisn that I was the especial obi Ct OF their attentions.
and 1 concluded to take my ehrnees, The thisd shot,
and the balance fell a long ways wide Of the n ark.
By this time cur gun was in position. The first sheli
exploded in the ravine-the second WAS landed direcflv
in the midst of their gunners, dismonnting the brass
piece, and, as we afterwards learned from citizens. kill
ing and woundhng several of their men. This caused
them to fall back, and the explosion Of several shells in
the rear OF the retreating column, added haste to their
movements. The dust arising in clouds to the south in
dicated that tall time was made by somebody. While
we were firing a rebel solder came down the hill to
bring back a wounded man, aud was killed by tile
In this rsvine was the old camping ground
OF Jaekson's cavalry, and in the huts occupied by the
were discovered the bodies Of several rebels killed
by eur skirmishers. AT JaeksOn's headquarters-s
a half mile b-yOnd-the rebels made another
stand, but our mn easily drove them Here LENT
Weber, Of company G., 4th Illinois cavalry, while d.
rseting the movement of the skirmishers, was shot in
the fsshy part OF the neck. The wound is a serious
although not necessarily dangerous. One OF his .
was slso wounded in the side, not dangerously.
A,mile further en- we reached " Ebenez-r church" a
small, uupretending wooden structure, situated Just in
the edge OF the timber. The road 70 MalOne's tank
crosses the Abbevile road about a mile beyond this
church and our men " re leisurely marching and Skim
shing az they advanced, When within q hundred wards
IF the crossroads, y vOlleV of Crane and eanIsteF vvsg 8
into their midst. Fortunately ne one was injured.
A second charge passed directly through the house of !
=" Ebenezer7 In our rear. We drove the enemy a
sgain with our gun, and reached the top of the eminenee .
3 mile in advance, when night coming on, we Withdrew l
and eneamped for the night. \
To-day we move 20 the Tallahstehie and will probably
meet with rough usage. Prom all accounts, the enemv I
are there in force aud disposed TO dispute our advance.
He Is said to have ten thousand cavalry and several bat
-erles this side Of the river, and the bulk Of his infantry 7
n the other side, very advsntageOusly located. /
The foree which leaves our camp this morning under r
Col Lee and Col. Duhoig of Geu HaV,fItovraa&.a Ill l.
consist of all the cavalry, four regiments of infantry, !
md another battery. 1t IL not expected that we shall 4
the TaHahatehie todsy. Properly speaking, thfs q
noyere nt may be considered a reconnaissance in force. .
ien. Hamilton headquarters are five miles TO our rear, D
md Gen. heAFther Is three miles behind US. Gen. a.
army IS marching on the road pa-gnsl to Y
be one upon which we are marching, six miles to the Z
Gen. Sherman's column is still farther to the
The affairs becoming Interesting, and theirs y Il
Undoubtedly be a fight or a foot race within three DAYS.
All the bridges and tressels on the Miss; ippi Central {
abroad, from Holly Springs to AbbeyyiIe, were yes
erday fired.
/ neglected TO mention, il is order that Capt. Reese, O
Z company F. took possession of tae town of New {
Waterford, and captured = rebsl mail, several prisoners. I
nd a dozen good horses and mules.