, 1863-05-07

they were not harmed, and we're advised to
return home and take care Of their property.
One place we stopped ut. I'LL was deserted.
There was no one to ask protection for pri- |
rate property or any Other kind. There WAS
plenty Of corn, fodder, hau,, flour, meal, lard,
dried apples. peaches, sugar and molasscs,
nice cans of butter, honey and preserves. OF !
course the boys wcnt in, who wouldn't:
a few miles f1om this place, n squad OF six |
Of our boys stopped at alarge plantation. The
old a1istocrat had left the night before, taking
with him some thirty horses and mules. In
the high state Of excitement that he WAS Ia
boring under before he started, be ordered
one Of his men servants to go along. Tho
servant refused to 20, On account of having d
wife and ouug child, which he did not wlsh
to leave. Upon the refusal, tho old chip shot
the corpse before 1t was buried no1t day.
Why the boys did not burn him out canaot
tell.
We paseed through Pontotoc late Sunday
evening, the 9th Illinois on the advance. They
bad, on entering the place, shot two rebels
| dead, this caused the citizens TO be much
| alarmed Large quantities Of salt had been
found and scattered over the stFeeta IN eTcry
| direction. The streets were perfectly white.
| Darkics said "aalt had come down to-day.
| Ye.terday it was $50 per bnshel." Offices and
! Btores we're opened In search Of rebel supplies,
| papers and books wcro distributed, and the
| daIkie5 in high g1ee, gathering boxes OF r1o-
bon, lace, and enc fixtures geneFans; n..oo
| From PonfatIc nc passed on TO houston,
| Clickasaw county, leaving Oklahoma aone
twelve miles to our left, or east. Twelve
miles southeast of Houston, Col. Grlerson
left as with the 9Th and 7th Illinois and four
| pieces Of light artillery.
FITS said That he Intended to 70 on to Mcr-
ldian, the great junctnre Of the life cord Of
the existing rebellion-capture the place,
burn and kick up dust generally Then, if
he thought the chance Of getting back to this
place hazardous, he would strike for the Mis-
tissippl River below Vicksburg. This is a
bold stroke, but in perfect Keeping with the
man, and We hope he will soon turn up ali
right, after having turned Meridian and the
railroad in that vicinity wrong side up. Yet,
up to this date, he has not returned, nor have
We my definite news from the expedition.
Our regiment, after leaving Grierson, wcnl
on come twenty five miles southeast Of Hous
ton, we're attacked by about 500 shot gun
cavalry, which were Eoon repufsed by oul
ritlemtn and q Qittle bull dog, as the boys cal
; i,) two pound cannon, that Col. Griersot
, turned over 10 Col. Hatch, for use on spccia
. occasions. At this point We turned directl,
north, crossed most dismal swamp. swami
!. deep creek, It is said to aroid a battery i,
| waiting for us, but this dodge deluded then
and also drew their attention from Col. Grier
son, who was then vending his way south
ward.
At sunset, 22d, VIC went into Okalona, Q
5 cou1se, unexpected by all, for only the da
+ previous Southern cavalry nnd artillery ha
e passed down South after us; but here We are
T. burning their depots,, their b3fracks, thei
{ the crazy citizens that flew in terror and le
), / the FIRE run along fences aud get to q numbt
Is | Of very fine residences, while ten minnie
/. labor would hare saved all. So b. it; it mad