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

impossible to extricate them, and they
were left TO perish. Frequently horse
and rider would 60 down together, tie
horse drowning and the rider barely es.
Gaping with his life. No written nc.
count can convey fair idea Of the peri.
lous march on the 22d. Our men, how.
ever, with unparalleled fortitude and de.
termination, overcame all obstacles, and
continued their march until ten o'clock
next morning, when, after short halt,
they proceeded on towards PHILADELPHIA.
Miss.
After reaching that place they crossed
the bridge over Pearl river, which was
reported destroyed. 1t was found. on
examination, that the rebels had attempt
ed TO FIRE the structure on hearing of our
approach. AT Philadelphia, as we'll as
several other places through which our
troops passed, mail was taken from the
postoffice and destroyed, but nothing
else was destroyed.
On the esd, about O'Clock in the
afternoon, battalion was ordered to take
the road to Decatur; thence to Newton.
on the Southern Railroad. In shor.
time the main force took up the line of
march, and, following the advance.
reached Newton about daylight. At
Newton two trains of cars were captured
one Of 25, the other l3-loaded with
all kinds of Quartermast ter aud Commits.
sary stores; also large quantity of am.
munilion and loaded shell. The cars,
with their contents, were destroyed, and
locomotives rendered unseryceable.
After this our troops fred bridge abou,
half mile east of the place, and three
heavy trestle work bridges, ten miles
further up the road, in the same direc-
ton.
In this manner the time of our troops
was occupied until the e5th inst, when
the force reached Nicholas plantation.
about seven miles west OF Montrose.-
! Here the course of the cavalry was
changed, they moving in more south.
erly direction.
; On reaching Raleigh. halt was or
dered for the night. Here single scou.
was detached TO cut the telegraph wires
on the Southern railroad, between Lake
Station and Jackson. The man who was
sent out, after arriving within about
}. seven miles of the railroad. came upon
regiment of the enemy's cavalry, who
5 had left Brandon in search Of Col. G.'s
forces. Our cavalry scout was closely
e questioned, and although the enemy was
e on the direct route to our camp, which
! was but fourteen miles distant he sue
II ceeded in misleading them, and returned
to give information of their approach.
!, Col. g., Immediately upon ascertain.
b ing that the enemy was SO near him.
}, moved his command over Leaf river
= bridge, which he destroyed, thereby pre-.
venting the possibility of surprise in
h the rear. Our cavalry then marched on
e to Raleigh and WeIville, and crossed
h Pearl river by swimming their horses
l. and ferrying themselves over, at a point
g about ten mives distant from Westyille.
:, The two battallions in advance, under
g The command OF Col. Prince, 9Th Illinois,
K made rapid march TO the railroad st
Hazel Post Station, where our men cap.
IN tured forty cars. four OF which were load
A. ed with she'll and ammunition, the bal.
Is ance with quartermaster and comm ssary
b. stores. Had our troops been few mo.
Or ments earlier. they would have succeeded
n in capturing another train. which lef,
about five minutes before their arrival
ir Capt Forbes, company B, 9Th Illinois.
nj was detached south OF Starkyile, with
orders to proceed 10 Macon. He made q
al rapid march within short distance OF
be that place, when he found that the bridge
on had been destroyed. and that Macon wa,
NJ occupied by . considerable force Of rebels
o He then moved to Newton, after which
ne he proceeded 10 Enterprise. nearly on,
y, hundred miles east Of the main body 0
y our forces. Upon reaching Enterprise
eir Capt. Forbes sent Tag Of truce TO Col
ok Goodwin. commanding the saemy's for
c. ces in the place. demanding The surren
OF der of the town. The rebel Colonel re-
err quested an hour in which 10 letermin a
bel upon his reply. Capt. Forbes. fndin
elt' the rebels stronger than he had suppos
ed ed. and having accomplished his objec
ith which was to divert their attention, be
fore the expiration Of the hour. was on
3D. rapid gallop TO join Col. Grierson. wh
'ne was then more than days march in hi
OF advance. The Captain took westwar
'gh course, and soon struck the route take
out by the main force, al Pearl river, wtic