Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-01-22
December 9th, 1St

December 9th, 1862.
Friend Hildreth- When last wrote
you. Gen. Grant had his headquarters
at Oxford. on the Mississippi Central
Railroad, thiriy-five miles from Holly
Springs. The 18th Army Corps lay
encamped near Yonckton, on a creek
that flows into the Tallahatchie. New
bridges and culverts had been sup
piled OH the road where the rebels had
burned or destroyed them. The rebel
force was at or near Coffeevillc, some
twenty miles from our advance. 1t was
generally thought that Grant would
cnotinue his trinmphal marcI, to Jack
son, a fep thought the falling back of
the rebels was only plan to cntrap
Grant, by Gen. 10. Johnson, the new
rebel commander in the South west.
There had been hospital as well as
a general depot established at Holly
Springs; and government property had
been collected there to the amount of
two million Of dollars, under the pro.
lection Of one regiment of infantry, the
lOlst Illinois, and six compaaies Of the
2d Illinois cavalry. The post was
commanded by Col. Murphy Of the
l0lst Illinois. This was deemed suf-
ficicnt ~ force ia guard so much
property in the heart of an, enemy's
country, filled with guerillas aud ma.
rauding bands of reckless, Goddess
men
On the night Of the 18th December
Van Dorm entered the lines, finding the
pickets asleep, and spent the night at
the house of friend Early on the
morning of the 18th his force with
loud shouts dashed into town-a force
which is variously estimated at from
three thousand to five thousand--all
cavalry. 8. f-.e e.. .,a..
Col. Murphy did not fire shot, but
cowardly surrendered his force, as
did Col Mcneil of the Cd Illinois cav.
airy but the gallant Major Murdet
of our cavalry shouted" Boys, fol-
low me "and they dashed through
the rebel cavalry, losing one-half of
their number.
Then the rebels commenced burn
ing the stores they could not take with
them. They found plenty of clothing,
and more than one miserable rebel
drew on warm covering in place Of
his rags. They also destroyed large
mail
After the rebel cavalry had dashed
into town, Grants A. A. A. General,
who happened to be there at the time,
fired his Office and consumed all pa
pers of value. The rebels took and
paroled nearly 1000 prisoners. includ-
ing the sick and wounded in the hos
pital.
While the rebel troops were in the
town the ladies ~ of the place buck
led ON revolvers and resorted to every
method to insult the captured Feder-
ais. They acted more like fiends than
women. | verify believe every South
ern woman, who is secesh," is pos
sessed with triple the number of dew
ills that troubled Mary Magdalcne.
Gen, Grant has retreatcd from bis
position at Yonckton. and now has his
headquarters at Holly Springs, while
the army rests on the Tallahatchie
Instead Of pushing on victoriously to
Jackson we have shamefully fallen
back to our FIRST position. WAO is 10
blame?
The rebels also attacked the forces
at LaGrange and Bolivar, Tenn, but
were terribly repulsed at both places.
This is plain statement of facts as
they occurred. Let your readers draw
their own infcrcnces.
The railroad is still out of repair,
and the soldiers are on half rations.
The train has gone to Memphis by the
ways of Tullaloosa, Miss. The cayal-
ry are going to Memphis in the morn.
ing, and mail will leave with them
by which shall forward this letter.
Yesterday. while Gen. McPherson's
train was out after forage it was at
tackled by gnerillas. They captured
two wagons, (since recovered. eight
horses, and four men whom they pa
rolled and sent back. Their parols
are not recognized by the General
commanding. The rebel Notifications
at this place are being destroyed.
While at Oxford, Gen Mcpherson
had his headquarters in the dwelling
house Of Hon Jacob Thompson. once
Secretary Of the Interior. He had a
splendidly furnished house. and SUI
perb library from which / extracted
several choice volumes. suppose
the Hon. Thompson may not like my
borrowing propensities, but such is the
thirst for knowledge which war ere
ates WINFIELD.
A woman's tears are generally more