The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-06-05
KENOsEIA, WISCONSIN, THURSDAY, JUNE 5,1S62


that from so to $50 cavalry of the enemy ha
passed along in the night before us,-and tina
eight had passed along that morning. TIL
cavalry had said that we were after them.-
about P. NJ. we reached Shoal Creek bridg
and were surprised to fnd it uninjured. w
left company to guard it. We proceeded a
double quick to the Ferry, three miles distant
Our cavalry, artillery and wagons dashed down
a most precipitous lane to the Tennessee River
we arrived at shutdown. The enemy had pass
ed over that morning and had kept the ferrJ
boats on their side of the river. A camp wa
seen on the other side and the ferry man told
as that a cavalry force was there, commanded
by man named Spred, from Chattanooga Thu
guns were placed in position, and two shot
4 were fired at the camps Under the cover O.
1 our guns, four boys of our regiment went ovel
in skiffs at very great risk, and took possession
! of the fiat boats brought them over and des
I troyed them About 49, midnight we came w
into the main road which led to Florence,-
/ hungry and wearied we lay down on the GROUND
and slept. q fze sts a.0 EH u Ela
! On the morning of Thursday we proceeded
4 three miles towards Florence,-a countermarch
was ordered and we returned to Shoal Creek
bridge, here we biUouacked and remained Thurs-
! day night, and on Friday morning started for
| Florence seventeen miles distant. We dashed
into this beautiful town at rapid speed and took
| possession of every avenue leading out of town
J A squad was sent to take the telegraph office,
a piece of ordnance was placed in the street
commanding every approach. The General
| (Starkweather, a company of cavalry, with a
piece of artillery dashed down to the ferry mile
distant ' 'a O.
The enenny's advance picket from Tuscumbia,
only four miles distant, was posted in view
across the river. Between the two banks of the
river at this point there is island, on the side
of this island, hid to our view two ferry boats
were concealed. Our boys soon took them, al
though they were threatened by the enemy on
the other side of the river. Our piece of artil-
lery, however, stood all ready, and had dog
barked across the river these pickets would
have been killed or scattered. Is .a...
While we were engaged in this work, Gen
Negley arrived with his advance guard from
Rogersvlle. He was evidently surprised to
find our command in the possession of Florence
he addressed the writer, and asked for our
Colonel. He inquired if "the inhabitants were
much alarmed 2" I replied, that they had clos
ed their stores. Col. Starkweather was left in
command Of the place until Saturday morning.
He was then ordered to march northward we
knee not where. We cut across the country
to all sorts of unknown places in the direction
now of northeast towards Lawrenceburg. We
camped Saturday night at a creek called Blue
water, just two hundred yards from the Tennes-
see line Headquarters were made on the piazza
of log cabin, in front of which was the creek
bed, very gravelly. Our men began to lie down
for the night on the hard gravel, my God,"
said our Alabama host, "are those men going
to sleep there 2" We had travelled 81 miles
IL. PTAI- i
start about six o'clock. This day we march
ed over dreadful roads or by-paths within eight
miles of Pulaski, and camped at Hurricane
creek. We arrived in Pulaski about II O'Clock
Monday morning. We heard all along the
road that a body of rebel cavalry were keeping
in advance of us. To the east of Pulaski we
heard cannon firing very distinctly.
Even the driving commander of our Brigade
was not expected in Pulaski before the next
day. ....... ....... ......... .-..-
Our Colonel telegraphed to Headquarters in
of Pulaski, on Monday afternoon. We did so
at P. NJ. Here train of wagons for General
Mitchell passed by-250 in number-ths was the
largest train that l had ever seen. 1t was
guarded by companies of the 18th Illinois and
10th Wisconsin We were glad to meet with
many acquaintances.
On Monday the 18th; about sundown dis
patCH WAS I6CGlVeU lIoIl I16ACq UdrLefS at C6l-
umbia, that portion of the command should
march all night for that place! Cavalry artiI-
lery and twenty-three wagons for six companies
of infantry were got into line. We started
about 9 P. NJ. We had deep creek to ford in
the dark. A wagon turned over in the creek,
and Lieut.. Mitchell of Co d. was injured in the
back,-we hope that he will recover soon.
1t raned terribly from 10 o'clock until A.
NJ We were all drenched,-yet notwithstand-
ing this, the officers fell asleep on their herses
and the men i'll the Wagons, tho over the most
rocky roads.
We arrived in Columbia to the surprise of
everybody, early in the morning of Thursday.
the goth. We were ordered at once back u
miles J.! At this order the men and officers
were much grieved. The men lay down in the
road many of them, Gen. S. had to persuade
to resume the countermarch. We did not go
back the ~ miles, however, but camped five
miles south of Columbia. Seven miles from here
is bridge to be built and guarded We must
do it, probably.
Here ends the meagre account of an expedi-
ton, that has probably not been equalled by
the endurance of hardships and discomfort, dur
ing this NJ
P. S. l should have said that, we learned at
Florence, from rebel sources, that our Smelling
at Shoal Creek had killed IA, and wounded sew.
era.
Major General Mitchell telegraphed the re-
suit of this expedition to Washington. He has
sent complimentary circular to our officers
Praise from such source is worth something.
We travelled over 200 miles
q.