The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-11-17

TIRED within their forsiiossioos. We
camped At the Asylum. During this day
. detachment was sent to Pearl river.
which dessroyed portion of the railroad.
cut telegraph Communication, DO.
July l1th We left camp ct I p. II. for
Canton. Eleven miles out Ne struck the
Jackson l. N. O. Railroad and DESTROYED
half mile Of the track. Next morning
We arrived 1t Calhoun, and burned two
locomotives. twenty five cars, the depot,
containing 100 bales of cotton. aud tore
up and destroyed the road for half mile.
When within two miles Of Canton the en-
envy was found in force and admirably
posted. Alter diminishing awhile to feel
them, it was ascertSined, through prison
ers, that We were contending against
Jackson's entire division, some 5000
strong. under jackson himself. His po-
sition being very strong one, and out
numbering us six to one, the attempt to
enter the town was given up, ard the ex-
petition returned to camp, via Beattie's
Bluff and Vernon on the 18th.
| July 10th 1000 cavalry, including the
Sd Iowa and Woods brigade of 1000
infantry, with four pieces c. artillery, all
under Col. Bussey, again marched on
Conton, the destruction of railroad com.
munication there being considered des-
deratum by Gen. Sherman in his opera
tons against jackson. On the march a
detachment Of cavalry destroyed the ferry
a. Grants Mill on Pearl river, and anoth-
er detachment destroyed pontoon bridge
four miles above. At Calhoun we de-
stroyed another mile of road and burned
railroad bridge.
July 18th, arrived within two miles of
Canton and found the enemy in line Of
battle over mile in length, along the
edge of the timber skirting Bear Creek.
A movement to flank US and capture our
wagon train (sixty wagons) was met and
repulsed with slaughter BY the cavalry
and one gun. The infantry deploy.d IS
skirmishers, forcing the enemy back to
the opposite side of the creek, burning
the bridge as they fell back. Constant
firing was kept up with loss on both sides
for seven or eight hours, the enemy
using two rifled pieces, q six and twelve
FOUNDER, Till darkness stopped all further
proceedings. The bridge was repaired
under cover of our sharpshooters. We
lay on our arms that night.
July 18th, marched into Canton early
in the morning without opposition, the
enemy having retreated across Pearl river
during the night. The day was put in
destroying everything that could be of
use to the enemy. Several miles of the
New Orleans & Jackson and Mississippi
Central roads were destroyed, and q de-
tachmen. of cavalry was sent to destroy
the railroad bridge over Big Black. which
they did, as we'll as over a mile of trestle
work. la Canton We burned tile celebra-
ted "Dixie Works. Confederate man
ufacturing establishment, thirteen extern
sive machine shops and machinery, FIVE
locomotives, forty cars, 100, 900 feet of
lumber and all buildings, captured fifteen
prisoners of war and paroled fifty conva-
lescent soldiers found in and about the
place.
July 10th, returned to jackson, and
shortly after, Johnston having evacuated
the place, the "Expeditionary Army" re-
turned to Black river for fest aud re-
organization. On the return the Cavalry
brought up the rear and we've the last to
recross the river. The 81 Iowa had for
over month been constantly in the sad.
die, and the consequent wear. and tear
showed plainly in its diminished number
of "duty men," This season of rest was
of great benefit, aud lasted until the late
expedition to Grenada.
On the 10th Of August an expedition
Of 900 Cavalry, including all Of the Sd
Iowa st for duty, under command of Col. |
Wipslow, of the 4th Iowa cavalry, was
sent to CO operate with similar force un-
der 1t. Col. Phillips, from La Grange, in |
a raid against Grenada, Miss, at which
point the rebels were said to be concen. |
traliug railroad stock to run to their east
ern lines. l will here remark that the
instructions given to Phillips and Wins
lows forces were antagonistic. Phillips was
ordered to destroy all cars, DC, that fell
into his hands while Winslow was in.
structed to preserve them and run them
north.
Our expedition reached Yazoo City.
where they were to receive rations fo- the
march. After waiting two days for them
they started for Grenada and Memphis
without rations, relying on obtaining sup.
plies from the country through which
they marched. Passing through Licking,
ton they struck the railroad about twelve
miles out and captured train of loco-
motives and 50 cars which we're taken to
the next station. where they captured two
more locomotives and l3 cars. While
there the rebels at Grenada, some 90
miles distant, hearing reports of our ad-
vance IN that direction, sent locomotive
down on reconnaissance, which having
discovered US, retired to convey the in
formation, destroying on their way
bridge, which precluded our taking our
prizes further, and they were nsequent.