The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-01-20
FULL ACCOUNT OF VAN DoRN's
- - BRILLIANT RAID
GRENADA. MISS u


Thestown is in a furore Of excitement at the
return IF Major. General Earl Van Dorm and his
dashing command, from the brilliant raid upon
Holly Springs, which has been so stupendously
disastrous to the enemy, and so importantly success
full to our own arms. Gen.-N an Dorm started from
this point thirteen days sihce, having first supplied
his Cavalry; command of 2,700 with fifteen days
raticrs, to support and satisfy the inner man. and
q bottle of turpentine and box of matches each;
to enable them the more perfectly to carry out
their work of destruction upon Abolition property.
Striking out Northeast the command passed
through Pontotoc, and having no time to devote
to the Yankee narauders who were at the time
South of them the Mobile and Ohio Railroad
having much more important work on hand, Van
Dorn's forces marched on through New albany
and started out on the Ripley road in order to
perfectly deceive the enemy. Two hours after the
! force passed through Pontotoc, ], 100 of Yankee
cavalry, which had been on a raid down the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad, returned with train
heavily laden with the punder they had stolen
They informed that Van Dorm had only
passed an hour before, with Is, 900 troops Taking
few minutes to destroy their train, they took the
shortest route for Cornth and left on fear-impeng
wings. MEANWHILE Van Dorm left the Ripley
road to the left and took by-way and meahdering
route through the swamp; and came within eight
miles OF Holly Springs, in the evening, where he
when he moved cautiously into town, leaving the
Texas Brigade upon the heights 'out-side as
reserve. As our forces dashed in from all sides,
the entrance proved complete surprise, and
breaking streaks of daylight sh owing the Yankee
tents with their yet undsturbed sumberers. a
charge was ordered upon them and the torch
applied to the canvass which covered them
The rapidity with which the tents of the enemy
were vacated was marvellous; and impelled by
h,rp 4; ,ok. ooces l.
the Iankees took no time to prepare their toilets
but rushed out into the cool atmosphere of
December morning, clothed very similarly to
Joseph when the lady Potiphar attempted to
detain him. The was wild, exciting and
tumultuous Yankees running, tents burning,
torches flaming, Confederates shouting, guns
popping, sabres clanking, Abolitionists begging
for mercy, "rebels" shouting exultingly, women
er, disho6We clappine their hands, frantic with
joy, crying, "Kill them, kill them"-a heteroge-
neous mass of excited, frantic, frightened human
beings, presenting an undesirable picture, more
adapted for the pencil of Hogarth than the pen Of
q newspaper correspondent.
The surprised camp surrendered 800 men and
$50 commissioned officers, who were Immediately
paroled. And then commenced the work of
destruction. The extensive buildings of the
Mississippi Central Depot, the Station House, the
Engine houses, and immense Store houses were
stores Outside of the Depot, the barrels of -four,
estimated at half mile in length, one hundred
and fifty feet through and fifteen feet high Spirits
turpentinc was thrown over this, aud the whole
amount destroyed. Up town, the court house
and public buildings, livery stables and all capa-
cious establishments, were filled, ceiling high with
medical and ordnance stores. These were all fred
and the explosion of one of the buildings, in which
was stored one hundred barrels Of powder, which
Lroo ii Ill he hill tbo
South side of the Square. Surely such scene
of devastation never before presented to the
eye Of man. Glance at the gigantic estimates.
100000 fixed cartridges and other ordnance
stores valued at 81 500, 900, including 5000 rifles
and 1000 revolvers
One hundred thousand suits of clothing and
other quartermasters stores, valued at $500, 900;
5000 barrels of -four and other commissary stores
valued ai S500,000.
100000 worth Of medical stores, for which
invoices to that amount were exhibited, and
1000 bales of cotton and 100000 worth of
suffers stores
As there was time to remove these immense
stores from the buildings containing them, they
were all destroyed, comprising the Mississippi
Central Depot, engine houses and store houses
the most elegant and capaeious in all the South,
the court house, livery stable, and the largest
buildings on the public Square.
" nlie tue capture VI tue camp, VI INC
prisoners aud destroying of the store houses were
going on, the Texas Rangers comprising the 9th,
9th and 3rd Legions, became engaged with the
Michigan Cavalry, and drove them pell-mel
through town and run them off North, with
considerable loss to the Aboltonists, and loss of
thirty killed and wounded on our part.
The Ladies rushed out from the houses, wild
with Joy, crying out: There's some at the Fair
Grounds. Chase them, kill them, for Gods sake!
One lady said: .'Thc Yankee Conmandant Of
the Post is now in my house, come and catch him."
and search instigated, but without success,
when the noble woman insisted that he was there,
concealed and finally, after much ado, the gallant
(save the mark. Col. Murphy the intrepid Yankee
Commandant of the Post of Holly Springs, was
pulled out from under the bed, and presented
himself in his nocturnal habiliments to his captors
The Provost Marshal was also taken, and in
addressing Gen. Van Dorm, he said: 'WelI GenIl,
you haze got US fairly this time. knowed it.
| was lying in bed with my wife when heard the
firing and at once said, well, wife, it's no use
closisg our eyes, hiding under the cover; we've
gone up.
Our attention was given to Grants Headquarters,
which be had left twenty -four hours before AIT
his papers, charts, maps, &C., were captured,
together with his splendid carriage, which was
burned. Among his papers were found pass to
pass the bearer over all Railroads and Steamboats,
In the United States, at Government expense; to
pass all pickets and squads; and other papers at
once interesting and valuable. Mrs Graft was
h,,t m ;nd;1n;fv ofFered IN hav