The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-06-02


spiked.
About FIVE miles east OF Gallatin, Col
G. detached battalion with orders i'm
mediately to march to the New Orleans,
Jackson and Great Northern Railroad al
Bahala. The work of this battalion was
exceedingly destructive to the rebel in.
,erests. The railroad for some distance
was destroyed. Several cars, water
tanks, and considerable amount Of
other property were burned, and tele:
graph wires cut.
At day light on the 9Sth, the advance
moved towards Brook Haven, and enter
ed that town SO suddenly that two hun
dred rebels were surprised and taken
prisoners. Some of them were found
asleep in their quarters. A large num-
Der of muskets, packed and ready for
transportation, also FIVE hundred tents
at the camp Of instruction, were destroy
ed. The camp is said to have been one
Of the most extensive and beautiful in
the State.
After leaving Gallatin our men en-
.countered Garland's cavalry, when a
slight skirmish ensued, which resulted
in loss to the enemy of several killed
and taken prisoners.
A faint having been made towards
Port Gibson, with view to deceive the
enemy, and similar movement made in
the direction Of Natchez to menace that
place, the main body marched on to
Book Haven, already occupied by our
advance.
Col. Grierson, on the 30th ult,, NOV
ed his forces along the railroad in a
southerly direction, destroying all the
bridges between Brook Haven and
Bayue Chic Station. At the latter if
teen freight cars were found standing on
the track, partially loaded with army
stores, which, with the depot and other
railroad buildings, were fired.
After completing the work Of destruc-
ton, Col. Grjerson marched rapidly on
the Summit, where he destroyed twenty
five freight cars, and finding no other
Government property, again left the line
of tie railroad for point between Mag
nolia and Liberty, with the view 10 reach
the Clinton road Information was re-
ceiyed that regiment of rebel cavalry
was moving toward Wappalla. After
some search they were found at Wallis
Bridge, on the Tictaw. Our cavalry
Immediately dashed in among them, kill.
ing eight or ten, wounding quite num-
Der, and completely putting the balance
to route. In this engagement Col. Grier-
sons loss was one killed, and five wound
ed. Lieut. Col. Blackburn, Of the 7lh
Illinois, who had been conspicuous for
his bravery during the entire expedition,
was among the latter. He received a
wound in the thigh, and slight ones in
the head and breast. 1t was believed he
would soon recover, but it was deemed
advisable to leave him at house by. the
roadside. A surgeon and one man re-
manned with him.
After dispensing the rebels, our fore
es proceeded east Of the Tictaw for a
short distance, when they changed their
course and went directly south.
AT Edwards Bridge, they encounter.
ed another regiment of the enemy's cav.
airy. which had been posted purposely
to dispute the passage of Col. Grierson
and his men. One battalion was sent
70 engage the enemy, while the main
force marched on in the direction OF
Greensburg. AT Edwards Bridge the
enemy could not be made to fight, ex.
cept in skirmishes, in which they lost
several killed and wounded. With our
usual good fortune. not one man was in.
iured.
Thus far. during this unprecedented
march. the appearance Of our forces in
most instances was complete surprise
to the rebels wherever they were found !;
but deliberate plan had been laid by
the enemy for the capture of Col. Grier-
sons command. Up to this time the
the rebels evidently thought, and SO ex-
pressed themselves in their public prints
and private correspondence, that it was
the intention Of our forces to return TO
Lagrange. and every effort was made
with view TO their interception on such
return. The rebels. at last becoming
convinced that it was Col. Grierson's in
tention to pursue his hazardous march
entirely through their country, deter
mined to stop, if possible. his further
advance. 1t was well known that to
proceed farther south it would be neces.
r. e