Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1863-01-21
5sWell, wife, it's no use closing our eyes, q
hiding under the cover we've gone up !,


quarters, which he had left twenty.four
hours before. All his papers, charts, maps,
etc. were captured, together with his spled-
did carriage, which was burned. Among
his papers was found d pass, to pass the bear
er over all railroads and steamboats, In the
United States, at Government expense to
pass all pickets and squads; and other pa.
! pers, at once interesting and valuable. Mrs.
Grant was also captured, but no indignity
Twas offered TO her. s.a
Nearly every store on the public square
was filed with sutler stores, and after our
men had helped themselves, the balance Of
the goods were burned. aS
Then our force first reached the depot,
| there was aStrain ABOUT leaving. The en-.
giueer jumped Of and run aRay, and one
aof our men took his place, shut the throttle
valve and stopped the train. Sixty cars
and two locomotives we're then fred and
destroyed.
After the complete destruction of all pub.
llio property aboutlthe place, and after each
man had supplied himself with suitable
quantity Of clothing and boots, at 9 o'clock
lin the morning, the march was renewed,
Eand Davis Mill was the next place attacks
led. Here;tbe enemy we're entrenched, and
sheltered themselyesina block house and
fort formed Of cotton bales. The cavalry
were commanded to charge, and attempted
Ito do SO, but the swamp and intricate il.
/ Egoons breaking off in front Sof the enemy's
position would not permit iit. The. Ysn-
KEGS opened fire with some effect from their
fort, and we're supported BY q 8 pound ii.
fed gun mounted on an iron. clad railroad
car, forming railroad battery. The Tex
ans were again ordered to charge, and Maj.
Dillon, of Van Dorn's staff, whose galIantry
during the expedition was particularly con-
spicuous, attempted to lead them to Che at.
tack, but the men refused to follow, believ-.
ing the way impassable and the position too
strong for cavalry demonstration alone, -
Col. McC Cullough, Of the Missouri eavalry,:
was ordered to get in the rear Of The rail-.
road battery; cutthe track to prevent ita
escape and capture it. I believe he suci
ceeded in cutting the road, but our forces
were compelled to withdraw, and the steam:
battery was not taken. The forces then.
pushed on to Middleburg and Bolivar, and
attacked both places, but found them too
strongly defended and garrisoned to succeed
in taking either of the poidts. The gal.
lantry Of col5 Me- Cullough fand his DOM.
mand, the "a Missouri cavalry, Pinsons
and Saunders Mississippi battalions, is es.
peoially mentioned by Maj. General Van
Dorm.
Maj: Frank Armstrong and Maj. Phifer
contributed much to the success of the ex-
pedition, both being dashing cavalryaeaders
and members Of the old army, with the
rank they now hold. Itisa great piece Of
injustice that the Government does not
make these daring and experienced officers
Brigadiery G Generals Of cavalry which this
army is sadly in needsof. Maj. Armstrong
will be remembered as the successful leader
Of the expeditions against Decatur and
Bolivar last summer, and Phifer as acting
Brigadier Of an Arkansas brigade at the
battle Of Corintb s Maj. Kimmell, Msie-
sohaumberg apA Eisss: sr.ssiifh7aSe, Of Gen.
Van Dorn's STAFF are highly conplimented
for their gallsa conduct. l. so
When the esris .atueaed back after its
sausucoessful attack upon Bolivar, thessne.
my sent a. force Of 1o, 900, comprising the
three branches Be tie service, out after Van,
Dorn, and made great efforts to flank and
cut off this force but this dashing officer
was too wary for them, and succeeded in
returning with 400 head of captured hor.
ses and mules laden with spoils taken from
the enemy.
The presence of Gen. Van Dorm with
the cavalry expedition the Yankees could
not understand, and they believed that he
was advancing at the head Of our whole
army.
The people of Tennessee are represented
as having been almost frantic with joy at
the appearance of our forces once more
upon their borders They fed our soldiers
with a bountiful hand, and wept for JOY
eThapk God, you have come at last J" one
and all exclaimed. Their hospitality was
not q little surprising to our soldiers, who
have Been so uniformly swindled and ex-
tortsd from in Mississippi. The people Of
Tennessee had been induced to believe that
Gen. Grant'sheadquarters were at jackson,
Mississippi, and that our whole army had
been captured. Judge then of their sur
prise, when they were visited by Van Dorn's
command.
ivan Dorm did not form a junction with
Forrest, as we were led to believe, but their
forces were at one time within a mile Of
each other. Forrest captured Trenton, and
completely destroyed the railroad connec-
Istion between Columbus and Humboldt, and
Ivan Dorm did the same between Bolivar
and Grand junction.
The enemy are now, beyond doubt, fore.
ed to fall back to jackson, and Forrest, in
all probability, will accelerate their move.
ments towards Columbus, Kentucky.
Gen. Van Dorn's raid proved entirely sue.
cessful, and is to be regarded as one Of the
most important, if not the most important,
cavalry demonstration of the var. He has.
caused the enemy a less ofs6tores which IT