The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-05-27
SAFE ARRIVAL AT BATON ROUGE
A MARCH OF 500 MILES IN
SIXTEEN DAYS.
Details of their Extensive Operations.

n abundance of news the most exciting, however, |
is the arrival at Baton Rouge of the 9th and 7th H.
linos Cavalry, 600 strong, who have cut their way
through the whole length OF Mississippi. They
started from La Grange, Tenn, on the morning of
the l7th ult.,and reached Baton Rouge the even
ing Of ID Of May, performing the whole distance in
sixteen days. They made zgzag course through
the State, sometimes striking cast, sometimes west,
but pushing south the whole time. In this way
they travelled probably about 800 miles, averaging
over forty miles day. During part Of the jour
nsy they travelled probably 80 miles in twenty eight
hours, had three encounters with the enemy, de-
stroyod two bridges, toro up the track, and swan
two rivers.
Tho force consisted of the 9th Illinois Cavalry,
Lieutenant Colonel LoOmis; the 9TH Illinois Cav
airy, Colonel Ed. Prince, and six pieces OF artillery
2pound caliber, the whole under command Of Col.
Gricrson Of the 9th Illinois.
No language | am master Of can properly de-
scribe this most extraordinary event Of the war
nor can we to-day estimate its value TO the cause.
On their way from la Grange down through the
center Of Mississippi, they destroyed bridges, rail
roads, depotS engines, cars, rebel stores OF all
kinds, and in immense quantities. Their route
embraced n breadth OF more than twenty miles, and
everything that could be used by the rebels that
fell in their way was destroyed. The telegraph
too, was cut, in an immense number of places in
fact so complete was the destruction, and 80 rapid
and mysterious their movements, that the rebels
were brwildcred, and this band of heroes were in
Baton Rouge before the rebels knew who they were
what they were, or where they came from.
But must try and give you complete idea of
the expedition, and what IL accomplished. You
will please remember that they only had one full
nights rest he ,ohoe time that they travelling
through the heart Of the Cnemy's country. When
they started they had no more idea of reaching Ba
ton Rouge than We here had Of seeing them.
Some time since Colonel GrersOn planned an ex
pcdition to 20 into the interior Of Mississippi, and
destroy railroads, stores, &c, which plap was sub
mittcd to General Grant. At that time Colonel
Griorson's cavalry was an unattached brigade in
General Grants army, and was stationed at LA
Grange, Tenn, on the Memphis and Charleston
Railroad, fifty miles east of Memphis and throe
miles west of the junction of the Mississippi Cen
tral and the Memphis and Charleston Railroads.
The force at starting included the ID Iowa Cav
airy, Col. Hatch, well the 9th and 7th Illinois,
already mentioned comprising about ZOO men.
From LA Grange they marched nearly due south,
hating ut night five miles north of Ripley, in Mar
shall County. Next morning the column moved
to Ripley, whence the I'd Iowa started for New
Albany. At Clcar-Springs, in Uhickasaw County,
Colonel Hatch, with his command, started south
cnsterly to Wsst-Pemt, in Lowndcs County, on the
Mobile aud Ohio Railroad After that Colonel
Grierson heard nothing Of the I'd Iowa, except
occasional rumors through the rebels.
Near New Albany the TallHhatchie is crossed
by bridge, where they first met signs of the en-
cmy On the opposite side is steep hill which
would have enabled few men 10 hold at bay
largo force. Instead Of charging on the bridge
they threw out skirnshers, and fortunately enough
they did, iur they found the bridge partially de
stroycd. The piukcs were driven oil, and the skr-
mishers rcioned the mann column lower down,
when the whole force cUtJrtl thJ town,
They then moved on pontotoc, where they de
srOyol some salt, the camp and garrison equipage
of II cavalry company, and also gunsmiths shop.
mail from the postollicJ WAS secured ,and also a
large quantity of oats.
On the morning of the 10th, about Ia of the men
who wcrp thc toast effective, with some prisoners,
under command of Major Lave were sent back To
LA Grange with orders to scnd scouts Ia cut the tel
cgraph wires at Oxford.
\ few miles beyond Slarkvillr, tanncry, con
tanning a number of army boots, Shoes saddles bri-
dies, ana large quantity of leather, was entirely
destroyed, The value is estimated at 1900.
In the building thoy found negro chained to the
floor with an iron collar round his neck, and there
kept at work day and night rs punishment for
running away. That man was brought through to
Baton Rouge. You may bo sure he il loyal Ia the
old flag,
march OF twonty tive miles brought the
forces to Louisville, Winston county. Most Of the
route lay through dense swamp, frequently the
horses bellies in water. At ono point it was so
deep the horses swan over, and some got drowned
with narrow escape for their yiders, Thoy ther
pushed no to Philadelphia, Neshoba county, where
there Is u bridge over the Pearl river, which til,
rebels undertook To destroy, but they prtcipitately
fled rs our forces approached.
Later IN the day, u brigade under Colonel Black.
burn and Major Graham was sent to strike the rail
road of Decatur, Newton county. Here they cap
turcd u tram OF thirteen cars, which was Just abou
starting loaded with quartcrmastcr and cOmmiSarN
stores, including ammunition and bomb shells il
! large quantities. They had scarcely occurred thi
train and 90, il on tho side track when another trail
ut twenty five ears, loaded with railroad ties, cnm
| Ia the depot, which was also secured " uod wa
! piled mp around the engines and tenders set fir,
/ t,, and 10y that means the boiler burst the torcl
! WAS applied 70 tho tram ot uapS containing tn
ammunition, and about 5000 shells. When thes,
/ were fired, the main column was four Or five mile
, oil, and the noise of their explosion led them L
suppose that the rebels had opened on the adv anc
| column. They hurried ON, and soon found oNt lhoi
mistake, Major Starr moved his battalion east. am
destroyed throe bridges and lot Of testie- -wor
extending over two miles, the track tern up, rail
broken and burned, aud telegraph destroyed ia
five miles,
Near Ganatin, 400 pounds of powder, . wagon
90 yoke Of oxen, and 32-pouud Parrott gnn, wer
captured. The guu was spiked
At Union Church, IL miles from NatCheG and |
from Port Gibson, u skirmsh occurred with Adams
Alabama Cavalry, IN which several ot tho enem
were wounded, the rest retrratng tn Port Gibson
At BNokhsvon Camp of instruction, four con,
panieS, under command Of Maor Starr. took tw
capatus, one lieutenant one surgeon and ~ private
prisoners. They also captured Il lot of MiSSissipI
rifles, mules OK teams, $4,000 worth of commisSar
slorcS and $4,000 ofworih army clothing
Atlhe crosSingot Pearl river, Colonel Prince oAI
tured \ courier with instructions to destroy a
bridges Nc., which fortunate circumstance ad
dsd somewhat Ia the SaiGty of the command.
: AT Hazelhurst, Colonel Prince, Of the 7th lllmo!
- captured train of about forty cars, several ,
which were loaded with shell and ammunition
Another train, which had just arrived, escaped l.
the backing out OF the train by the engineer beloi
. he could be captured,
About four miles east Of Galatr batallio
was detached To strike the New Orleans and Jacl
son Railroad at Bahala Station, whcrr water tank
cars and other property were DESTROYED.
D Al Walls Station, ON TicklAw, regiment
rebel cavalry was discovered, who were route
with several killed and wounded. Our loss wa
! one killed and five wounded among them wa
/ Lieutenant Colonel Blackburn, at the Jlh lliuai,
il" WAS shot in the thigh and slightly in the hoa,
. lie was lch with several OF the wounded, ut
house, with the injunction thar, il not kindl
, treated when our boys returned they would tai
/ their revenge
, At summit large amount of Government 5,
gar, wood and locomotives, Ac., were desirOYe
The camp ot Hughes and Mlhurn's Partisa
Rangers, on Rig Sandy creek, was attacked 81
destroyed and large number Of horses CaptureC
trOm here they moved ON the Grconvillo Sprir
road toward Ration Rouge, About nine miles fro
/ Baton Rouge the entire command Of StuMts ca
airy, II ollicsrS aud 81 men, were captured. III
men made very little resistance, reueatug to Il
/ river, whore they were surrounded.
ltis almost impossible to give YOU anything Ill
perfect sketch OF the sixteen DAYS march OF th
baud of heroes. How they managed ~ endure an
hold out under the AtigucS Of So long and perilo,
= a march through the cnemy's country living
they best could sleeping but an hnurOr twa at
If tmc is one Of tn mos, remarkable events in Il
| history of human warfare. In comparison, Il
deeds NJ Stuart, jackson, and other Conledcra
n cavalry, dWludle into .hr most coulemptble atIi
5 not worth speaking Of
.. At out place number of old grey headed ma
came ou, % rssi>, the cavalry with shot Suus an
81 hrod several shots net she, WAS fired in rstuu