The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-06-04

struck Marshal county in Mississippi,
passing in succession through the fol-
lowing counties !: Tippah, Pontotoo,
Chickasaw, Oktebbeha, Winston, Nox-
ubee, Neshoba, Newton, Jasper, Smith
Simpson, Copiah, Lawrence, Pike and
Amite, and Helena, and East Baton
Rouge in Louisiana.
At several points the enemy tried to
catch or surround them, but in vain.
Thirteen hundred cavalry were sent
after them from Mobile, a thousand
came south of Port Hudson, Pearl
River at Columbia, and two thousand
came from the vicinity of Greenwood
and Granada, to cut off their retreat tn
LAGRANGE. They all fell to the rear
supposihg Colonel Grierson would re.
turn
Col. Grierson says, that had he
the means, or had it formed part of
his plan, he could have had at least
two brigades of colored men who were
anxious to join him, if he could have
armed them, another proof of the de-
sire of the negro to be free, and his will
lingness to serve the Union cause. AS
it was, about 500 negroes, and 1000
horses were brought in, besides cat
tie. r 49, oa8
am indebted to Col. Grierson, and
his Acting Asst. Adjt. S. L. Wood
ward for all these particulars, and
many more, if thought you had room
for them.
When we first got the news here of
their arrival at Baton Rouge, the story
seemed too improbable for belief; it
seemed too much like some of the reb-
ell stories we had had. SO often. MANY
would not believe it unless they saw
the men and spoke with them. On
Tuesday morning, Col. Grierson, Col.
Prince, Major Starr, Adjt. Woodward,
and one or two privates reached the
St. Charles Hotel. Late in the after
noon it became known to few, and
about dark / started, in company with
the correspondent of The Boston Tran
eller, to fetch the band of the 47th Mas
sachusetts, in camp below the Half
Way House, on the Shell Road, to
serenade Col. Grierson and his COM
panions-although no arrangement lad
been made, as it was not generally
known-yet by 9 o'clock there was
such gathering of Union men, and
such hearty, earnest congratulations on
the success of the expedition, as it was
never before my lot to witness. 1t was
more than victory. The ST. Charles
steps, hall, rotunda, and gallery-in
short, every inch of standingroom-
was crowded to its utmost capacity.
The band played on the balcony, then
in the rotunda fireworks, rockets, &C.,
were let off from the front, aud present
ly Col. Grierson was introduced to the
vast assemblage by Surgeon Smith.
The Colonel made few remarks. He
gave credit to the officers and men un-
der him for their daring and endurance.
He would rather face an equal number
of rebels. Lieut.. Woodward was then
introduced by DR.. Doztie, and also a
private of the 7th Illinois, who were
received with unbounded applause,
after which Major Starr of the 9th Hi
nois, was introduced. After a short
address, Col. Prince of the 9th Illinois
cavalry was introduced, who gave a
brief sketch of the expedition, particu-
larly some of the lodges they resorted
to to deceive the enemy, such as send
| ing ont scouts in butternut uniforms
sending false messages on the telegraph
to various places in their vicinity for
the purpose of putting them on false
track. At one place they telegraphed
about the movement of the enemy,
when large force started from their
camps, the Union cavalry marched
direct to the camp the rebels had left
and destroyed it, and thus avoided this
large force at the same time. Several
short speeches from citizens were got
off, and the Union flag was unfurled in
the hall of the St. Charles for the first
time since the capture of the city. The
band played all the popular national
airs during the evening, and after the
meeting had dispersed the officers and
leading citizens retired to the gentle.
mems parlor, where there was gen.
eral introduction, enlivened by sundry
| oioSA OOeeiOo, ShO COutCueo VI WulCu
were distributed very freely. Still
later, select few adjourned to the
ladies' parfor, where number were
waiting to be introduced, after which
Colonel Grierson astonished and graft
fed all by playing on the piano and
singing in manner that proved he
was as we'll able to handle piano as a
cavalry corps. The details of what
happened the next night, in the shape
of presentation of a magnificent horse
and equipment, to Col. Grierson, and
also set of equipments to Col. Prince,
| leave to g. A. A.
A SKETCH OF COL. BENZ. h. EMERSON.
Col. Benjamin H. Grierson is a
native of Pennsylvania, having been
born in Pittsburg in the month of July,
1927. Consequently he is nearly thirty
: six years of age. At very early age
he removed to Trumbull county, Ohio,
in which State he resided for nearly
fifteen years, and then moved to Jack
sonville, Illinois, where he resided
when the present war broke out. HI
was in the produce business, and to use
his own words, "was also musician
l. l. l. \