Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-05-19
THE DAILY SPY.
The Grand Cavalry Raid Through Mis-
sissippi
OVER TEN MILLIONS OF REBEL PROP
ERTY DESTROYED.
Safety of Col. GriersOn's Command.


place on the Memphis and Charleston rail-
road, about fifty miles east Of Memphis, and
nearly four miles west of the junction OF the
Mississippi and Charleston railroads.
Col. Benjamin Ii. Grierson, commanding the
first brigade of cavalry under Gen. Grant, has
for u long time been DESTROYS of visiting the
rebels in Mississippi, and has repeatedly SUBJ
mltted plan with that view to Gen. Grant.
On the lst OF last month it was minated to
Col. Grerson at headquarters that his wishes
would be gratiied, and that he would be per-
mitted to take his command into the heart of
the enemys country.
In pursuance of this plan Col. Grierson
started from LaGrange on the 18th of April,
in command OF the Sixth and Seventh Him
OILS, and the Second Iowa, regiments. MAJ CHI
ing southwark, every day was one of adven-
ture and excitement On the 18TH, they left
camp at o'clock, passing through Ripley,
and moved towards New Albany. One bat
TALON was detailed under command of Can't
Graham, who took the direct road to that
place, where they arrived in time to save the
bridge across the Iallahatchie, and drive
away picket endeavoring to destroy it. They
repaired the bridge and crossed into town.
At Ripley, Miss, Col Hatch, in command of
the Second Iowa, had been detached to cross
the Ialiahatchie some five miles above New
some five six miles below New Albany,
which Col. Hatch accomplished the following
day with good success. On this day, the 18th,
the advance of the Seventh Illinois captured
four prsOners-two of Barteaus and two of
Wetherall's command.
They had reached Clear Springs, Miss, on
the night of the goth ult., without serious mis-
hap. The next morning Col. Hatch and the
ID Iowa turned eastward from Clear Springs,
with orders to proceed toward Columbus and
destroy the Mobile and Ohio railroad as much
as possible. The gallant colonel has unfor-
tunately not been heard from since, except
through the Memphis Appeal, which says that
near Okolona he was met by Il large confeder-
ate force, was himself seriously wounded and
lost fifteen men. The remainder, it is hoped,
got safely back to La Grange. 1t rained all
day on the 2lst. The two Illinois regiments
passed through Starkvllle, and camped eight
miles south OF that place. Distance travelled
by them torty-tive miles. They marched
again the next day at dawn. Captain Forbes,
OF Go. g, 7th Illinois, was detached to pro-
coed to Macon, on the Mobile and Ohio rail
road, to break up the rails, destroy the wires,
and do all the damage in his power to the en-
emyS transportation.
Before marching on the god, Capt. Graham
with one battalion, was detailed to burn con-
tederate shoe mandatory near Starkville.
He succeeded in destroying several thousand
pairs of boots and shoes, also hats and large
quantity of leather, besides capturing quar-
termaster from Port Hudson, who was get
ting supplies Tor his regiment. The distance
marceed this day was iitty-seven miles, over
the most terrible roads that can be imagined.
The march was frightful, because the swamps
OF the OkenoXubee river were overlooked.
After moving four miles south OF Louisville,
a swamp. On each side OF the road were
enormous trees, and the water was every
where from three 20 four feet deep; with ev-
cry few hundred yards ii mire hole i'll which
frequently. for a few moments, man and
horse were lost to view. The 9TH Illinois be-
ing in the rear, found these holes almost inn
passable, from the action of the large body of
cavalry which had preceded them, and they
were compelled to leave drowned some TWEEN
ty noble animals, whose strength was not
equal to the emergency. The men SO dis
mounted removed the saddles, placed them on
some other led beasts, and pushed on cheer
fully.
The day following, Col. Blackburn of the
7th Illinois was sent forward with 200 men
to Decatur, and captured two trains of cars
and two locomotives at Newton Station. The
bridges and trestles were burned six miles
each side of the station, rs prisoners captured
and paroled, two warehouses full of commits
sary stores utterly destroyed by fire, and also
four car loads of ammunition, mostly for
heavy artillery. The bridges, &C., on the
east side Of the station were destroyed by the
second battalion of the 9th Illinois, under Ma
jor M. FL. Starr. The whole command left
Newton at IL A. NJ. Of the 24th and marched
through Garlandyile to the plantation of Mr..
Bender, about twelve miles from Newton,
where they encamped The distance trav-
ersed on the 23d and oath was eighty miles,
and all this without scarcely halting.
There were no other adventures of interest
till the 9th, when Col Prince moved to Ha-
zlehurst cut the telegraph wires, and destroy
ed number of cars-lour of them loaded
with ammunition. Reaching the bank of
Pearl river at midnight, he found the ferry
boat on the opposite side. Not daring to call
out, he spoke to Il volunteer, who, with a
powerful horse, undertook to swim the river;
bat the rapidity Of the swollen stream carried
him below the landing, where there was a
quicksand, and he barely returned to shore
with his life. few moments later a man
came down from the house toward the river,
and, in true North Carolina accent, asked, in
careless way, if we wanted to cross : to
which he got Il reply-in very capital imita-
ton OF his twan9--tlat lew OF them did want
to 80 across, and that it seemed harder to
wake up HIS nlSgef 1efryndn than to catch
the ID conscrlpts The proprietor took the
bait, apologised tor the detention and woke
up bis terrynlan, who immediately brought
over the boat, which thenceiorward became
the property of Uncle Sam-the proprietor
all the while believing he was laylshing his
attentions on the First regiment of Alabama
cavalry fresh from Mobile The breakfast
given to the Alabama colonel that morning
was highly relshed and appreciated, but too
much time was not spent over it, and the i'm.
portance of speed was clearly proved, only
halt an hour afterwards, when they caught
courier flying to the ferry wi Ii the news that
the Yankees were coming, and that all the
ferries were to be Immediately destroyed.
Capt. Forbes, who had been sent to Macon
from near Starlylle, rejOined the command
Just as they had all crossed Pearl river.
Having been unable to take Macon, he fol-
lowed their trail to Newton, where he was in
formed that they had gone to Enterprise, on
the Mobile and Ohio railroad. He followed
ON to that place, and marched with his little
squad into town, where he found about 2000
rebel troops just getting off the cars. He
promptly raised a flag Of truce, and boldly
rode forward, demanding the surrender of the
place in the name of Coleael Grierson. The
commanding rebel ofscer-Col. Goodwin
asked onekear to consider the proposition,
and wished ito know where Captain Forbes