The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-05-21
rho netafISof Col. straiRh1s Exploits
md Gen. Dedge's Expedition.
rrs.Dondence Of the Chicago Evening Journal.

In comparison with the great events winch
are taking place on the Rappahannock, our
movements are ofno great consequence. sui
MANY of our friends may wish to know all that
has occurred on our line, to be assured OF the
safety of Corinth, which is the most important
s~traGetic point in the Southwest, Vicksburg
and New Orleans only excepted.
At last accounts from this district, 0eneral
Dodge was in possession Of Tuscumbia.I-
When Dodge reached Tuscumbia, Colohel
Straight, from Rosecrans' army had reachGu
the Tennessee river, opposite Passport. ne
crossed over to the left bank, ana joined
Dodge on the 26th Of April. lie ad a large
force Of cavalry and artillery. On the 28th,
he moved east, accompanied by the 10th Mis-
souri cavalry, 18th Kansas cavalry and 9Th
Illinois infantry, (now Mullish Lanciers,) and
proceeded to Town Creek, about 10 miles
Southeast Of Tuscumbia. There a small force
of rebels were found, who were shelled out in
due time, the artillery.doing all the work,not
even a bushwhackiug skirmish having been
brought on. a.,
The next day, 28th, Col. Straight pushed
on with his own troops, those Of Dodge's com
mand returning to Tuscumbia. In regard to
Straight's movements afterwards, we cannot
be particular as to dates nor plans but, when
the secesh acknowledge a licking, we may,
reasonably conclude they got it. From rebel
accounts, Straight made his way to Moulton,
Alabama, some thirty miles southwest from
Decatur, without molestation. .
The noted guerrilla chief in this section OF
country, is one Gen. Roddy, and considerable
Of a fellow he is too. He resides in Moulton.
He was up in the hills cas- of that place, wait
ing for Straight to pass into the extremely
broken and difficult country. Roddy had
aforetime promised his fellow townsman that
no Aboliti0nist should ever set his foot i'll
chat thar town." and when Colonel Straight
came in, the inhabitants, though taken by
surprise, were not frightened out of hatred
for the Federal cause, and they were loud in
their abuse-the old women calling our boys
s'darned Yankee Abolitionists," who had no
right s'a-goin around invadin other peoples
housen," and that Roddy would have ''the
last burned sculp on 'em when they attempted
to pass them thar hills thar" Col. Straight
was not much alarmed at those threats, but
remained at Moulton as long as suited his
convenience, and left without doing any dam
age in the town. While in town he heard
enough to convince him that by 'them thar
hills thar was not his safest rout. He there
fore, took another, shorter and far more diff
cult pass, passing by Roddy's flank. Roddy
at once gave chase. Straight made all haste
though he found it very difficult to get his
artillery through so narrow and rough apass.
However, he oppressed on, Roddy following close.
When suddenly, Straight turned upon Roddy
and gave him fight. 1t was in a deep. mar
row valley, and Straight had so completely
alnbuscaded Roddy that the fight only lasted
about an hour, when the rebels made their
way back in the best time they could, with
the loss of many killed and wounded, and
over 900 prisoners and 400 horses. The pris-
oncrs were at once parolcd or sent home, and
that Straight went on his way without furth-
er hiudrance from Roddy or his gang is GER
tain. Where Col. Straight was bound, or
when he will return, are secretes only known to
himself and Gen. Rosecrans. Whatever du-
ty he may be upon, we wish him all possible
good luck. This story of Straight's ambus-
cading Roddy was told by a party Of secesh
who came back to bury the body Of a Lieuten-
ant who had been killed in that very fight.
On the 28th Gen. Dodge withdrew from
Tuscmnbia, and with his whole force returned
to Corinth. Gen. Ellet, with the Miss. Marine
Brigade, and gunboats and transports, went
down the river at the same time, abandoning
all the points to the rebels who may occupy
them until such times as we may need them
again. The object of our movement had
been gained, and the troops were required at
other points.
On the return of our troops from Tuscum-
bia, they destroyed immense quantities Of for
age and some provisions. That region would
have subsisted our whole army two months
which certainly does not look as though the
rebels were on the point Of starvation. 1t is
estimated that we destroyed 800, 600 bushels
of corn in a strip of country not over ten or
twelve miles wide. We found the poorer
people rather undecided in their politics, lean
ing think towards the Union, but the rich
were all bitter, bitter seccsh.
On the End instant, an expedition, consist
ing Of the 10 Missouri cavalry, part Of the 7th
Kansas cavalry, q company Of Stuart's Qll.)I
battalion, and part of the 9th Ill. infantry,
(mounted) all under the command of Col.
Cornyn, oil the 10th Missouri, were sent to-
wards the south. They reached Tupelo, ON
the Mobile and Ohio railroad, 80 miles south
of Corinth, and there found quite a force ofreb-
els under a Brig. Gen. Ruggles. \ skirmish
opened Immediately, i'll which our forces
drove the rebels. Lieut.. Col. Bowen of the
10th Missouri, with five companies of his
own regiment, and one company Of the 9TH
Kansas 0ayhawkers) made a splendid charge
upon a full regiment Of rebels and drove them
five miles, killing some and capturing pris-
oners and horses. Meeting a heavy force OF
the enemy drawn up for his especial benefit
and being far from support, Col. Bowen re-
turned to the main body, where the lighting
had been quite brisk. The skirmish lasted
about three hours and until nightfall, when,
learning that Gen. Ruggles had received
reinforcements, Col. Gornyn fell back, and
next day returned to Corinth, bringing SO
prisoners, and about one hundred good
horses.
Our troops feel quite proud of the fact that
many of the prisoners were wounded with the
sabre, as it goes to prove that our dragons
are getting to be quite efficient with their own
weapon, the sabre.
We destroyed a great number Of shot guns
saddles, etc, and some tents and stores and
forage. Our loss was very light, not over
four or five killed, and six or eight wounded.
From Gen. Grants ATmy-A Great Bat