The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-11-05

A correspondent OF the Atlanta APPEAL, writing
fiom Holly Springs, Miss, gives an account Of the
recent movements Of Gen. Chalmers 10 that vicIn-
ity. He says:
Gen. Chaimers's whole force, having been rein
forced by Richardson's command with six pieces
of artillery passed through Holly Springs Saturday
last, en- r0ute Ut was thOught) for COiersville,
Tenn, on the Memphis and Charleston railroad
A portion Ofhis forces encountered column of the
enemy at or near North Mount Pleasant, IN Mar
shall county, and drove themba Reaching Col
liersvie they surrounded II and Chaaers sent In
demand for the surrender Of the ace. The Fede
erals refused, and Chalmers at once engaged them.
The place was garrlsoned by portion Of General
Sherman's corps of infantry from Memphis aud
about one hundred cavalry. After severe engage
Ment he took the place, captured train, which
Was burnt, about one hundred horses and mules,
tore up the railroad track, destroyed all their com
missary stores, captured one hundred and thirty
prisoners, most of whom were cavalrymen, and
fifteen wagons and teams The number Of Yam
hut IT was supposed to be heavy. One Yankee
Colonel was known to have been killed, whose
name I could not learn. Our loss was seven
eight killed and thirty or forty wounded. The Fed
erals receiving reinforcements from Sherman's
forces Chalmersfell back to ByhaiIa.
About three O'Clock yesterday Sunday Gen.
Philips, with 5000 cavalry and eight pieces Of
tiery, passed through Holly SPRING. In a full gal
lop. they came in on the Salem road and went
out on the same road that Chalmers and his troop
did the day before. One mile north OF this place
Hudsonvile road, and the other the road to NOrtl,
Mount Pleasant II was at first supposed they
were endeavorlng t. get In Chalmers's rear, bui
IL Ia now generally believed both cOlumns formed
junction at some point north Of here, and are now
engaging Chalmers ut Byhalia or In that vicinity.
CannOnading has been heard in that direction al
intervals during the entire day, and much anxiety
is felt as TO the probable result Gen. Hatch, with
500 cavalry, caMped last night at ChIsm's place,
only two and a half miles from town. They left
early this morning, but II is not known where
they have gOne..
While here the Yankees captured one Confed-
crate soldier, robbed several Of the citizens OF
witches, money, and clothing, demolished two
hand-cnrs on the Central road, and stole all the
horses and mules they could find. The Rev. MIR.
Johnson, an excellent man, was preaching a ser
mon 10 the negroes In the basement story Of the
Methodist Church when the Yankees came ill.,
They sent a negro in the Chn-ch, Tone of their
aweei-scented companions,) who told the minis
ter that he was wanted ut the door. The veneIa-
Bile minister was met at the door by hurley YAM
kee, with drawn pistol, who commanded him To-
surrender. They carried him off, and thus broke
persed Just before the last squad leit town they
released him, amer committing many indignities
upon him.
They demanded of Gen. Thos. G. Polk, a vene-
rable old Of this place, bis fine god watch, and
upon refusing to deliver II up, he was shamefuy
abused and badly cut on the head with q sabre. In
the vicinity of town they met lady and her little
daughter on their way home, in buggy, and COM
PEELED them TO get ont, when two Of the robbers
got In and drove Off, leaving them In the dusty lane
TO shin for themselves best they could, and 10 be
jeered at by every Yankee vagabond that saw fit to
insult them.
About four miles from town they set fire to the
residence Of Mr.. Branch, an old man, which was
entirely consumed, together with everything he
Their excuse for this diabOlical act was that ChaI
mers had bivOuaced on the premises the night pre-
vious Several of the struggling Yankees werc
picked up by some Of our fur oughed soldiers after
81. ana
Auiong the Yankees passing here last Sunday
were number Of the notorious Kansas jayhawk-
ers, who scrupie not at the commission OF any
crime, however hideo1s. IRey came In town In
advance of the main force, yelling like so many
iends. GallOping up TO squad of old men and
boys assembled on the corner Of the square, they
with drawn pistols, curses and threats, sought
to intfmidate and frighteA them; but failing 10 40
SO, went toward.
fRlpAy October l3.-One Of our cavalry arrived
last night from the TaIlahatchie, from whom
learned that no general engagement occurred at
Byhaia, but simply an artillery running hight, as
our forces were falling back. They reached the
Tallahatche river and crossed, dismOanted, aud
formed line of battle. The Yankees coming up,
our troops engaged them, and finally drove them
back, with fankee loss of twelve killed, ieN on
the field, and one captain q Kansas jayhaWkeD
wounded and captured. or the number Of them
wounded nothing could be ascertained. Our loss
was four or six killed, and some ten or twelve
wounded. The Yankees admit a defeat at the
river. On their retreat, passing through Wyatt,
they burned every house in the place, and would
not permit any Of the sufferers to save anything,
not even wearing apparel. In the western portion
Of the county through which they retreated they
burned all the residences and barns. They also
destroyed the little town Of ralialoosa, six miles
west Of Holly Springs, ~ they passed through II.
On yesterday, from the cupola Of the court house
In Holly springs, the smoke Of many as fifteen
or twenty hres could plainly be seen all along the
route Of their retreat, and 10 believed not sin
gle residence or barn In that part of the country
has escaped them.
On Wednesday last 25 coo infantry and cavalry,
with ten pieces OF artillery, passed through thiA
place, taking the road to Wyatt, q mile south OF
US, and It was greatly feared they would return
but they did not do 1t.
Il II said soldiers while at COlliersville, cap
tured enough boots and shoes and other quarter
masters stores to last them through the winter
II was also reported that GeR. 6heTnan was ON
the train captured At Colfieviie bat made his es-
cape.