, 1863-11-21
FROM NaTCHEZ.
A A6kirmlsL-Scccsh Cavalry II Houted by
the ColoFcd TEoops-GallantrY OF the
Negroes.

NATcHEz, Miss., Nor. 14th. 1868.
The peaceful denizens Of this city we're
thrown into quite state Of excitement yes
terdsy In consequence Of q spirited little en-
gsgemeut between Co. q, 72d Illinois, and
few volunteers Of the 9Th regiment Mississippi
infantry, Of African descent-in all shout 45
mep-and Adams and Mo.by's cavalry. The
circumstances are as follows: The wagons Of
the aboTe command were sent ont for forage,
the company just designated was detailed as
an Escort, and left camp at Reven a. N. After
prccet ding about one mile and half small
force Of rebels we're seen, the company halted
s1d messenger Ens dispatched to inform
the COME and1ng cfflcer, and report for In
tt1uctions. Immediately on receipt of the
1ewa, Col s1nith-than whom brayer man
1eyer ttepped-took tie camp guard and pro.
cecded ont On the Washington road. came u?
ordered it forward. 1t is necessary here to
State that tlis read leads to village, bearing
the Eanc name, come Fix miles distant from
this place, and two miles ont it intersects the
Palestine read, both Of which run quite close
marched on 10 tbs. "forks.'' when it WIS
decIced that Capt. o. b. Hitchcock, with his
company. should proceed with The traIa
towards Pa1essjne-as was originally
intel ded. Col Smith, taking the guard, tol-
lowed the other road and after marching
more than mile, ordered halt, and threw
out picket ttlll further on, as the enemy
had been there but fnw moments btfore.
Presently rolley Kas heard, then anosher,
ard still another. He Immediately t'double
qu1cked'' his men back but arrived too late
to participate In the engagement. Lseuten-
ants Richards and Green, who we're some
distance In advance of the train, on ho.ee-
In rms a al nf f4fffhf $nr
coming. around teLd In the road
at full speed. They therefore fell back
holly pursued by the 'trehs." who
when they came il eight Of the parry
Immediately fed, and On meeting their
& mIaets. they all Joined aud came back, and
pared to give them a hearty reception which
vas given accordingly. Capt. Hitchcock not
61oWiDg the atretgth Of bis opposers, fell
back short distance, and the enemy rallied
and charged fnrioue1y again. The ''secesh''
Captain ordered Hitchcock to surrender,
fIiIg at the same time his reTclyerst Corpo-
krees, and Eenta ball through the mlac1eant's
breast, which proved fatal. It was rather
hard for "Sonthern chivnl1y' who have
maee their boast tl2t one Of Nens was able to
whip fire Yankees, to be "cleaned ont" by
an equal number Of negroes; but they
stances over which they lad 70 CONTROL"
compelled them to retire. Rebel citizens
state that the opposing tosce numbered fifty
n.cn, and acknowledge their loss to be one
Captain, SERGEANT, and two priFntes killed,
sEd eight waunded.
Our loss WAS as follows:
GeH Gs1 2si 4ayIo! ef H. 5sasI Rsss f5sot aosxa f.
WOUNDED,
VIM. Calm, B, Zeno Callahan, II.
HeB.y Brown, q, Duncan Turner, Il,
NIL lFcktord, H. John Bodily, Il.
Wm. Hsedou, II,
Total, four killed and seven wounded. The
9th Mississippi hare been every day for the
lat month at work upon the Notifications,
the officers Of the guard drill the relief not
Immediately on duty, daily; this Is pretty
much oil tic instruction they have received.
The tecesh in this neighborhood have been
taught 10 respect this force; they did we'll
for even veteran troope, and contideling their
Jack Of military education, they behaved
tplendio]y, and surpassed the most 6auguine
expectations The rctre&ting enemy LIFT sey-
eral Gardner AID guns. a1eo 3 shawl and somo
other articles Ct clathing. They took seven
prisoners, but all escaped except one, whom
they heat to death, no bullet h1yiag en-
ttred rial part, Niegers will fight,
Ca1dfd minds must acknowledge It ut present;
t1Eer m,nce Will, in time, Tie wounded re.
ceire all the atte1tian possible to tobebsetoTed
on them By careful and attentive surgeons.
EYE Witness