Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-06-05

cor uu,ruroN,n CAvALnY RAID.


cor. GnnEnsONs CAVALRY RAID.
The succossful cavalry raid Of Colonel Grier-
son and his men through the centre OF rebel Mis-
sissippi, reads more like romance. than reality.
II is tho boldest dash Of the war They were
sixteen days in she heart Of the eneniy's coun-
trv. swan fourteen creeks and rivers, passed
around the rebel ssroneholds Of Vicksburg and
Port Hudson, repulsed every force that was sent
against them, and suffered but very StriAing loss.
We make the following interesting and amusing
extracts from private letter to one Of the edi-
tors Of the Hartford COsrani from an officer
with Colonel GriersOn throughout the exciting
raid:
S Some Of our adventures were quite amusing.
Once we came upon the camps Of a large force
that had been sent TO cut us OH took the tletach-
ment that was left TO guard it, helped ourselves
to what we wanted, and burned the rest. STRAIT
egem was often restored to. From the prison
ers taken, some Of our men got uniforms for a
disguise; these were employed in various ways.
When pursued by superior force. one Of these
men, dressed in the Confederate uniform, rode to
1t and gave false information as to the direction
his comrades had taken, and threw them off the
AGENT. They rode in advance Of the main body
too, and passing themselves off as Confederate
cavalry. easily gained all the information they
wanted about the roads, the Rebel camps and
forces. They came to one small town, whers
there was cavalry battalion forming, armed
with double-barreled guns.
The advance, dressed in gray jackets, rode in
said that some Confederate leader with his com
mand had captured the Yankee force, and would
supply them with carbines from those captured
il they would be collected to receive them; tber
riding back and joining their party, they made
a charge in through the town, and took the
whole force collected there prisoners paroline
tbem and breaking their guns against the pill
ars Of the verandah of the principal hotel of th'
place. One Of the trains was captured by mean
ofa decoy dressed in Rebel gray, who elaine,
the fears Of an engineer, who was somewhat sus
picious and was about to back his train away
mounted on the engine, drew his revolver, an,
made him prisoner One camp was surroUnde'
and captured in the same way, and our men en-
loved the breakfast which the Rebels had beel
preparing for themselves.
The wounded, who were low, we've brough
along in carriages picked up by the way. Whe
horse broke down the saddle was shifted to
frosh one seized on the nearest plantation i
the same way we levied on the country throug
which we passed, for carriage wheels 70 suppl
the flying artillery which accompanied us who
any broke down on the march. We started wit
four pieces which were brought through safely
When obliged 10 cross deep stream the me
strapped the piece to mules back, swan hit
across, and foated the carriages and caisson
over. A large body of contrabands, mounte
on mules and horses and armed with double
barreled guns, followed, and 400 or 500 morse
were also brought in. Ofcourse we ssubsiste
entirely on the country passed through, some
times, when the people were civil, paying fo
what we wanted in Confederate notes.
Among other things, the expedition destroye
quantities ofammunition,a a manuiaetory farm
and large siege-piece on its way to Port Hud
son.
The men are the heartiest, healtbiest lookin
set of fellows seen for long while in these part
and do not appear worn down or exhausted b
their long ride and adventurous life. All are i
high spirits and would follow their commando
anywhere. The day before our arrival, in
fight with body ofrebel cavalry, Col. Grierso
had personal encounter with the rebel com
mander. They exchanged several shots wit
their rovolyers, when Col. Grierson brought hin
down.