The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-05-31
MAJoH s. n. BowNAN.

motion.
MAJOR s. N. BowMAS
! This officer was some years ago resi-
D.! dent of Dixon. in this state. but at tho 'itao
of his appointment was practising law IN
| the city Of New York He is one of those
cool, resolute men well calculated TO insure
confidence and Judging from his successes
must be fine officer At the time our
army took possession of Pittsburg Landing
the Sd battalion of the 4th Cavalry, COM
handed by Major Bowman, was attached
to Gen. Ilurlburts division, which division
was in the advance, and it fell to the lot
of Major Bowman to scout after the enc
my, in advance of all others, in doing
which he frequently fell OH the enemy 5
cavalry, driving them back in every in
stance. The report of the skirmish OF
Black Jack forest, in which Maj Bowman,
with Sc men, attacked and drove 800 of
the enemy's cavalry, as given by Major
Sanger, of Cen Sherman's staff, had wide
circulation at the time. 1t was one Of
those bold, dashing, yet we'll directed
movements SO characteristic of western
troops, and creditable not only to Major
Bowman, but to all the officers and men
under his command But the Chickasaw
expedition was perhaps the most brilliant
scout of the war Gen. Halleck had de-
termined to cut off rebel communication
between Corinth and Charleston, S. c., by
the destruction Of part of the Charleston
and Memphis railroad and ordered Gen.
W. T. Sherman to take sufficient force for
that purpose, and proceed to Alabama and
destray certain bridge and a long line OF
trestle work, together with the telegraph.
Gen. Sherman selected for that purpose
1000 infantry, under command of General
Fry, of Kentucky, and one hundred Of
the 4th Cavalry, under command of Major
Bowman. 1t was the duty of the infantry
to follow the cavalry to support it in case
of necessity, and although Gen. Fry hur-
ried on in splendid style, ready for any
emergency, the dispatch with which Maj
Bowman and his command did up their
der was executed before General Fry could
possibly march his forces to the place des-
ignated. The cavalry dashed on after the
enemy's scouts, drove them across bridge
force stationed to protecs the bridge, set
fire to it, and, in short. executed the order
in the fullest manner, and returned to
Chickasaw before shutdown. '... -.
The Men or THE REGIMENT.
A better set of men than compose the
4th Cavalry are sci dom found. They were
mustered into the service of, the govern
ment last September, and although many
of them left their families in almost desti-
tute circumstances, they were never paid
dime until after the battle of Shiloh. They
have been called upon to perform the
most arduous duties, by night and by day,
which duties have been performed with
that cheerfulness and devotion character
istic of good men and good patriots If
this wicked rebellion shall continue, there |
are good and true men in the 18th Cavalry
qualified by the largest experience, who
will be ready to hold up the Stars and
Stripes in the face of the enemy until the
last rebel shall 60 down.
Serg. Grin W. Carter has been promoted
to I'd lieutenant in Co. +. 1t. Merriman
Co. l. is promoted to captain. Serg Mai.
R. Pike is promoted LIST. Lieutenant Co. 1.
Capt. George Dodge, Co. NJ, has resigned.
Capt. George g. Shepherd is sick at the
St Louis Hospital. s"1 sal-o eFiia'el