The daily bulletin. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn) 1862-1863, 1863-01-14


ped the train, Sixty cars and two
locomotives We're then fred and destroy.
ed
After the complete destruction Of all
public property about the place, and
after each man had supplied himself
with suitable quantity Of clothing and
boots, at six O'clock in the morning the
march was renewed, and Davis mill
was the next place attacked Here the
enemy were entrenched, and sheltered
themselves in a block house and fort
formed Of cotton bales. The cavalry
were commanded to charge, and at
tempted to do 30, but the swamp and
intricate lagoons breaking off in front
of the enemy'sposition would not per.
NIT it, The Yankees opened fire with
some effect from their fort, and were
supported by a nine pound rife gun
mounted on ant iron clad railroad car,
forming a railroad battery. The Tex
ans were again ordered to charge, and
Major Dillon, Of Van Dorn's staff, whose
gallantry during the expedition was
particularly conspicuous, attempted to
lead them to the attack, but the men
refused to follow, believing the way i'm.
passable and the position too strong for
cavalry demonstrations alone. Col, NJ
CuIlough, of the Missouri cavalry, was
ordered to get in the rear Of the rail.
road battery, cut the track to prevent
its escape, and capture it, | believe
they succeeded in cutting the road, but
our forces were compelled to withdraw,
and the steam battery was not taken.
The forces then pushed on to Middle
burg and Bolivar, and attacked both
places, but found them too strongly de-
Tended and garrisoncd to succeed in
taking either Of the points. The gal,
lantry Of Col. Mccullough and his com.
mand the I'd Missouri cavalry, Pinson's
and Saunders Mississippl battalons, is
especially mentioned by Maj. Gen. Van
Dorm.
) Major Ffat,lsr-4frmsttoug ana Major
Phiter cont, ibuted much to the success
Of the expedition, both being dashing
cavalry leaders and members Of tho old
army with the rank they now hold. 1t
is Il great piece Of injustice that tho
government d es not make these dar-
ing and experienced officers Brigadier
Generals CT cavalry, which this army
is sadly in neod Of Major Armstrong
will be remembered as the successful
leader Of the expedition against Deca-
tur and Bolivar last summer, and Phiter
as acting Brigadier of an Arkansas bri.
gade at the battle of Corinth. Maj.
Kimmcll, Maj. Schaumberg, and Lieut.
Sullivane, Of Gen. Van Dorn's staff, are
highly complimented for their gallant
conduct.
When the command turned back after
lis unsuccessful attack upon Bolivar,
the onemy sent force of 10000, COM
prising three branches of the service,
out after Van Dorm, and made great
efforts 10 flank and cut off his force,
but this dashing officer was too wary
for them, and succeeded in returning
with four hundred head of captured
horses and mules, laden with booty
taken from the enemy. '...
The presence Of Gen. Van Dorm with
the cavalry expedition the Yankees
could not understand, and they be.
Iieyod he WAS advancing at the head Of
the whole army.
The people of Tennessee are repre-
sented as having been almost frantic
with joy at the appearance -four forces
once more upon their borders. They
fed or soldiers with bountiul hand,
and wept for JOY. "Thank God, you
have come at last!" one and all ex-
claimed. Their hospitality was not u
little surprising to our soldiers, who
have boon so uniformly swindlod and
extorted from in Mississippi. The peo.
pie Of Tennessee had been induced to
believe that Gen. Grants headquarters
were at Jackson, Miss, and that our
whole army had been captured. Judge,
then, of their surprise when they were
visited by Van Dorns command.
Van Dorm did not form Il junction
with Forrest rs Wn were lo1 IN hpliAvp