Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-05-21
nnrv.

wherever they met with opposition. They
killed and wounded great number of the
enemy, and destroyed over four millions
OF dollars worth of property which would
have been Of immense assistance to the
rebels in the prosecution OF the war. On
two important railroads they completely
cut of all communication with the strong
holds OF the enemy, They took over
thousand prisoners, captured over twelve
hundred horses, and menaoed the enemy
at points where they were least expected.
An idea Of their activity may be formed
from the fact that they travelled seventy
hive miles, fought four battles, skirmished
considerably, forded river, and all of the
time neither men nor horses had anything
TO eat.
Every effort was made by the rebel
Generals Gardner and Pemberton for their
Surprise and capture but in every in
stance the enemy was completely outH.s...-
ted by Col. Grierson's strategems and
rapid marches. The mails and couriers
captured kept our forces constantly in
possession of the latest news concerning
the movements of the rebels, and their
intended plans for our capture. During
their march an effective force of at least
five thousand cavalry were sent against
them, which, whenever met, was defeated
by our men, with heavy loss to the reb-
els. The expectation Of the rebels was
that Col. Grierson would attempt to return
TO Lagrange even after he had reached
Hazleburst. They in consequence laid
most of their plans to capture him on his
return. OF course they were chagrined at
their miscalculation, as well as surprised
at the boldness of Col. Grierson in march
ing through to Baton Rouge.
Our troops, although they in many in
stances passed themselves off for Van
Dorn's or Jackson's cavalry, whenever
recognized by the country people were
treated IN the most respectful manner, and
on number of occasions the strongest
demonstrations were voluntarily made of
Union feeling, which is evidently still ex-
listing among the people, Our men were
frequently cheered, and invited to share
inequalities in the name of the old flag
all showing that it is only necessary to
once more establish the authority of the
government to bring back to its allegiance
the noble State of Mississippi. In many
instances the inhabitants along the differ
ent routes taken by our cavalry, when
they found we were not as we had been
escribed---namely, robbers and assas-
sins, insultsrs OF women and children and
everything else contemplate - 'oade us
God speed, and acknowledged that they
had been bitterly deceived. In every in
stance private property was respected,
unless found in the hands of grerriias.
On one occasion sepel of Col Grier-
sons scouts stopped at the house of a
wealthy planter to feed their iaded horses
Upon ascertaining that he had been doing
. guerrilla business on his own account
our gnen encouraged him in the belief that
as they were the invincible Van Dorn
cavalry, they would soon catch the Van.
KEGS The secession gentleman heartily
approved of what he supposed to be theiI
intentions, and enioined apon them the
necessity of making as rapid marches as
possible. As our men had discovered two
splendid carriage horses in the planters
stable, they thought, under the circum.
stances, they would be justified in making
an exchange, which they accordingly pro-
ceeded to do. As thew were taking the
saddles from their own tired steeds, anf
placing them on the backs of the wealthy
gaerrllla's herses, the proprietor discover
ed them, and AZ once objected. He waa
met with the reply that, as he was anx
ious the Yankees should be speedily over,
taken, those, after them should have goot
horses. @Ail right, gentlemen" said tint
planter II VIII keep your animals un
I'll you return. lsuppose you will b.
back i'm two or three days at the farthest
When you return yeu'll find they hav,
been W ell cared for Our soldiers wer,
somett nes asked where they got Their
blue coats. They always replied, if they
were travelling under the name of Vai
Dora's cavalry, that they took them a
Holly S'prings of the Yankees. This al
ways e:ycited great laughter among the
secessionnsts. Our scouts, owever
usually wore the regular "secesa" uni
forms.
Capt. Forbes, of Grierson's cavalry, lief
the main body for scout, with 50 men
while goi.ug through Mississippi, and rode
into the town of Enterprise, where h
found alb, ,nt three Thousand rebel troop
jus. gettir,g off the cars. He promptly
raised a Il sg Of truce, ard boldly rode for
ward, demanding the Surrender of tn
place, in lh g name Of Col Gr;erson. Th'
commandlng. rebel oficer--Col. Goodwin
asked one boar to eons,aer the PROPOSE
ton, and wished to know where Captar
FORBES weul1 be at that time. The Cap
tain answered that he would go hack
with the reply to the reserTe-wh On he
did sretty rapidly, after having shrew ly
ascestSined the strength of the enemy -
1t is not known whether Enterprise ever
surrendered or not, or whether the rebel
Colonel is still trying TO find the ''reserve"
TO make his peni,ent bow, but one thing
certain is that Capt. Forbes, with his hit
tie sauad Of 35 me did not intend to take
those 3ato rebels p risobers-that-time at
seast-.-ana was | aughing in MS sleeves
many mile. off lille those Enterpfise-ing
people were trem bling in their boots. The
Mobile Register, IN the depth of its con-