New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-11
Grierson's Raid In nississippi-Pastfeais
Of the Brilliant Exploit.
Of The Chiczgo Tribune


CAMP TEE 2D Iowa CAyALns.l
LAGRANGE, Tom, April 10 l9a. }
As you are already aware OF the great fctivlsy
prevailing In this region Of Rebellion, will give
you sketch Of what our regiment with Others, have
been doing lately.
On Friday, the 18th inst, our brigade, consisting
of the 9th and 9TH Illinois Cavalry aud the ID lows
Cavalry, started southwark with five days rationsf
and were to trust 70 Providence, through Rebel
generosity, for ham, which, by the way, was most
bountfuy supplied. At noon we passed the WELL
known Dick Smith plantation, at which place one OF
our 9Th Iowa Infantry boys was most brutaily mur>
dered last January, and III retaliation for the murdeS
Gen. Denver ordered his residence burned, with ak
his household effects. He had an excellent library
and much valuable property. Destroyed. We enc
camped for the night @ few miles west Of Ripley
AT noon on the second day We stopped and
took dinner with Col. Joel Il. Berry, one OF the
Mississippi delegates to the Charleston Convention,
who voted the State out cf the Union. lie bad
heerd that we coming, and left AT midnight we
night before. He had been colonel In the Rebel
army, but resigned, and now enjoys private life.
His servants, of which we have several, gay tbat
the old fellow has been in the habit Of akedaddins
whenever our forces came anywhere near, but IL 90
happened thar we came unexpectedly by bis place.
called, and took him, his horse, revolver carbine,
and several fine mules. We took him along, but
through some fair promise he was released.
Our regiments each take separate route and
NEE. ut stated poin,s for several reasons. We get
all the shot-guns rifles muskets mules, and horses
that we cam break the sbooringirous, and Tell the
negroes 10 mount Tho nnleS aud f0iow. quickly
do they 90 at our bidding
The news of our advance went some Six or eight
miles ahead Of u.s. and the whole country was panic.
stricken. Rich old planters would fly and leave
everything except one or two loads OF valuable
property[silyer plate fine clothes, &c. We over.
hauled quite q number and searched them. OF
course they were not harmed, and were advised 70
return home and take care Of their property. Ono
place we stopped AT, all was deserted. There was
no one to ask protection for private properly or any
other kind. There was plenty of corn, fodder, ham,
-four, meal, lard dried apple, peaches sugar and
molasses nice cans of butter honey, and preserves.
or course the boys went in-who wondn't'
A few miles from this place. squad OF six Of ouP
boys stopped at large plsnUtion. The old aristo-
crat bad LETT tie night before, taking with him some
thirty horses and mules Intte high state OF excite
menf that he was Iaboring under before be started.
be ordered one Of his men servants to 20 along.
The servant refnsed 10 60, on account OF bavings
wife and young child, which ne did not wlsh TO
leave Upoa the iefusal the old chap shot bis slave
dead upon the spot ard our boys saw the corpse be-
fore II was buried next day. Why the boys did not
bnrn him out cannot tell.
We passed through Pontotoc late Sunday evening,
the 9th Illinois On the advance. they had. gu en-.
terpg the place. shot two rebels dead. This caused
the citizens 10 BIZ much alarmed. Large quantities
of salt bad been found ard scattered over the Streets
ia every direction. The streets were perfectly
white Dsrkifs said " sit had come down TO day.
Yesterday it was $50 per bu.hel." ohSes and
stores were opened in search OF rebel supplies, pa
pers aud books were distributed, aud the darkies in
high gee gathering boxes Of ribbon, brce, and fine
fixtures generally.
From Pontotoc we passed on to Houston, Chick
asaw County, leaving Osaions some twelve miles
10 our left or east. Twelve miles southeast Of
Houston Col. emerson lett with the 9th and 9TH
Illinois and four pieces Of light artillery.
Il is said that he Intended TO go on to Meridian,
the great iuncture Of the hiecord of tae existing
Il 4 k,,en sd i'll
dust generally lheu Il he thought the chance OF
getting back to this place hazardous be would strike
for the Mississippi River below Vicksburg. This is
bo.d stroke. but in perfect keeping with the man,
aud we hope he will soon turn up all right, after
having turned Meridian and the railroad In that VIE
cinity wrong aide up. Yet up 10 this date he has
not returned, nor have we any definite news from
the expedition.
Our regiment, after leaving Grers0u, went on
soms - miles southeast Of Houston, were attacked
by about 500 shot gun cavalry, which were soon r..
pulsed BY our riHemen and little bull dog - the
boys cali t) two. pound cannon, that Col. Grierson
turned over 10 Col Hatch. for use on special occs-
stone. At this point we turned directly north
crossed moot dismal swamp, swan = oeep creeH,
il is said to avoid battery in waiting Tor u.s. ou'
this dodge delnded them. and also drew tnsii a1'en
ton from Col. Grlerson, who was then wsnding n''
way southwark
At sunset, 3d. we went into Okalons, oil eoures,
unexpected by all Tor only the day previous SoGsh-
srn cavalry and artillery haa psss;r SUN, sha
so,, their buildpas used for hospitals, and shame
aayv citizens that few in terror and let the
Iva run along fences and get to number OF very
10 rss,denees while ten minutes labor would have
.av.d all. SO be 1T 1t made most beautiful
blaze. AZ.
and horrorFtricken. They say the Aboh-
ion bordes are turned loose upon them, and they
NOW not where TO find q hldiog place. A squad