The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-05-23

hOuBt Oh Nue OH anu . tu lilluOlh OdNeltIg
SEQ strong, who had cut their way
through the whole length of Mississippi.
They started from Lagrange, Tenn, on
the morning OF the 10Th ult., and reached
Baton Rouge on the evening Of the I'd of
Nav, performing the whole distance in
sixteen days. They made zigzag
course through the State, sometimes
striking east, sometimes west but push
ing South the whole time. In this way
they Travelled probably about 500 miles,
averaging over 40 miles a day. During
part Of the journey they travelled 80
miles in twenty-eight hours, had three
encounters with the enemy, destroyed
two bridges, tore up the track, and swan
two rivers.
The force consisted Of the 9Th Illinois
Cavalry, Lieut.. Col. Loomis the 9TH Il
linois Cavalry, Col. Ed Prince, and six
pieces Of artillery, 2-pound caliber, the
whole under command Of Col Grierson
of the 9th Illinois.
No language am master of can prop
erly describe this most extraordinary
event of tho war; nor can we to-day
estimate it's value TO the cause. On their
way from La Grange down through the
center of Mississippi, they destroyed
bridges, railroads, dep0ts, engines, cars,
rebei'stOTes of all kinds, and in immense
quantities. Their route embraced a
breadth Of more than twenty miles, and
everything that could be used by the
rebels that fell in their way was de-
stroyed The telegraph, too, was cut in
an immense number of places in fact, 80
complete was the destruction, and so
rapid and mysterious their movements,
that the rebels were bewildered, and this
band Of heroes were in Baton Rouge be-
fore The rebels knew who they were, or
What they were, or where they came
from.
But must try and give you a com
pleie idea of the expedition, and what
it accomplished. You will p'ease 70
member that they only had one taB nights
rest the Dliole time; that they were travel
ing through the heart of the enemy's
country. When they started they had no
more idea of reaching Baton Rouge than,
we here had o. seeing them.
Some time since Col. GriersOn planned
an expedition TO 60 into the interior of
Mississippi and destroy railroads, bridg-
es, stores, etc, which plan was submit
ted to Gen. Grant Atthat time Colonel
Grierson'a cavalry was an unattached
brigade in Gen. Grants army, and was
stationed at La Grange, Tenn, on the
Memphis and Charleston Railroad, fifty
miles east of Memphis and three miles
west Of the junction of the Mississippi
Central and the Memphis and Charleston
| Railroads.
The force at starting included the End
Iowa Cavalry, Col. Hatch, as we'll as the
9th aud 9Th Illinois, already mentioned,
comprising about 100 men. From La
Grange they marched nearly due south,
hating at night five miles north of Rip
ley, in Marshall county. Next morning
the column moved to Ripley, whence the
I'd Iowa started for New Albany. At
Clear Springs, in Chickasaw county,
Col. Hatch, with his command, started
SOU heasterly TO West Point, in Lowndes
county, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad
| After that Col. Grierson heard nothing
of the I'd Iowa, except occasional rumors
through the re bells.
Near New Albaay the TaIlahatchie is
crossed by bridge, where they first met
|
side is a steep hill, which would have
enabled few men TO hold at bay large
force. Instead of charging on the bridge
they threw out skirmishers, and fortu-
nately enough they did, for they found
the bridge partially destroyed. The
piokets were driven of, and the skir-
mishers reioined the main column lower
down, when the whole force entered the
town.
They then moved on POntotoc, where
they destroyed some salt, the camp and
garrison equippage of cavalry compa-
ny, and also a gunsmith's shop. A mail
from the postOfiice was secured, and al
30 a large quantity of oats.
On the morning of the Goth, about 175
OF the men who were the least effective,
with some prisoners under command of
of Major Love, were sent back to La
Grange, with order to send scouts to cut
the telegraph wires at Oxford.
A few miles beyond StArkyille, tan.
merry containing q number of army boots,
shoes, saddles, brides, and large GUAM
tlty OF leather, was entirely destroyed,
The value is estimated at $4,000. In
the building they found a negro chained
to the floor with an iron collar round his
neck, and there kept at work day and
night as punishment for running away.
That man was brought through to Baton
Rouge. You may be sure be is loyal to
the old flag.
A march of twenty-five miles brought
the foi ces to Louisville, Winston county.
Most of the route lay through dense
swamp, frequently to the horses bellies
In water, AT one point il was so deep
that the horses swan over, and some got
drowned, with a narrow escape for their
riders. They then pushed on 70 Phila.
dephia, NeOshO county, where there ia
a bridge over the Pearl river, which the
rebels undertook to destroy, but thew
precipitstely fed as our forces approach
ed.
Later in the day, a brigade under
Colonel Blackburn and Major Graham
was sent 10 strike the railroad of De-
tur, Newton county Here they can
tured a train Of thirteen cars, which was
just about starting, loaded with quarter
masters and cOmmissary stores, in
GLIDING ammunition and bomb shells in
large quantities. They had scarcely
secured this train and got II on the side
track when another train Of twenty five
cars, loaded with railroad ties, came 90
the depot which WAS also secured. Wood
was piled up around the engines aud
tenders, SET fire to, and by that means
the boiler burst-the torch was applied
70 the train Of cars containing the ann
aud about 1900 SD lis. When
these we're fred, the main column was