Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-05-15

We are permitted to make the following ex-
tract from letter from Capt G. G. Horton,
to his parents: ......-.-.
LA GRANGE, April 2sth 1868.
** We have been some one hun
dred and fifty miles south of this point. Our
brigade marched together the first three days,
when Col. Hatch's regiment, with one two
FOUNDER, took the back track for several miles,
and then turned to the Southwest. By this
move we covered the path of the 9th and 7th
Illinois, and brought all the cavalry who were
in pursuit, upon ourselves.
They attacked US the next day, some fifteen
hundred strong, at Palo Alto After an en-
gagement of thirty minutes, they were re.
pulsed, with several killed and wounded -
Our loss, none. Company G had been sent
out after horses, and finding it impossible to
join us, they took circuitous route, and af-
ter some hard running, all but five succeeded
in joining US. One man, named Kennedy,
the rebels, shouting '.Raly boys rally the
Yankees are in our rears' They took him for
one of their own officers, and instead of rally
ing, scattered in every direction. j.
Twas sent out with three companies after
them. We found heavy column of rebel
cavalry passing on our right, about half a
mile from u.s. To avoid them we crossed a
horrible swamp and swan the river Com
pany A was in the advance, and succeeded in
crossing before dark. We constructed float
ing bridge and took the piece of artillery ever.
The next.day we reached Buena Vista. My
company being on picket, was charged on by
a squad Of guerrilias, which we drove back,
capturing fine horse from them. af5
On our return we were again attacked, by
Chalmers at Birmingham. We had but four
companies, as Major Coon was five miles dis
tant. with the others. Co 8 A and @ sup.
ported the little gun, forming the rear guard !;
the led horses and prisoners in the rear. The
rebels would charge en- us and after repulsing
them we would fall back, but no sooner would
we retire. than they would rally and charge
again, only to be again repulsed. The last
time they charged, they sent sharp-shooters
on our TANKS, and charged US in the centre.
Our boys held their fire until they were within
sixty yards of US. Then you should have
seen the /" rebs." tumble out of their saddles.
They were repulsed, leaving some thirty or
forty killed and wounded Here again we
came off without a scratch. We now reach
ed bridge over a creek, where we found Maj.
Coon. We were nearly perished with thirst.
We had but little trouble after this the con-
tinued skirmishing being at long range. ,s-
Every citizen was mounted on his best
horse, and armed with shotgun and pistols
We took about three hundred horses, and
used up nearly all that we started with. Three
men are missing from my company. They
were after horses and did not rejoin us. We
heard of them several times on the road We
last heard Of them at Ripley. They were pro.
badly taken by the citizens; their names are
George Ridgway, A. Mills, and John Shafer
There is bare possibility that they may
make their way in. BIZ 1a@ % %
The 9Th Iowa are being mounted, and are
to be brigaded with us. Col. Hatch com
manding. Haa z.3f .f'fa ''sE57 ibn***