Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-05-30
THE RIDE OF GRIERsON'S
CAVALRY.
Arrival Of the Forces at Baton
EsOuge-Eight Hundred Miles
fn Sixteen Dnys-A Bold

nave particulars OF the arrival at Baton
Rouge of the Sixth and Seventh Illinois
cavalry, nine hundred strong Colonel Grier-
sons expedition), who cut their way through
the whole length of Mississippi. They
started from La Grange, Tenn, on the morn
ing of the 18th ult., and reached Baton
Rouge on the evening of I'd May, perform
ing the whole distance in sixteen days.
They made zig-zag course through the
state, sometimes striking cast, sometimes
west, but pushing south the whole time. In
this way they travelled probably 800 miles,
averaging over forty miles u day. During
part of the journey they travelled eighty
miles in twcnty-cight hours, had three en-
counters with the enemy, destroyed two
bridges, tore up the track, and swan two
rivers.
The force consisted of the Sixth Illinois
cavalry, Lieutenant Colonel LOOMS; the
Seventh Illinois cavalry, Colonel Ed. Prince,
and six pieces of artillery, two pound cali
brc. the whole under command of Colonel
Grierson of the Sixth Illinois. On their way
from La Grange down through the centre of
Mississippi, they destroyed bridges, railroads
dcpots, engines. cars. rebel stores of all
kinds and in immense quantities. Their
route embraced breadth of more than
twenty miles. and everything that could be
used by the rebels that fell in their way was
destroyed. The telegraph, too, was cut in
an immense number of places in fact so
complete was the destruction, and so rapid
and mysterious their movements, that the
rebels were bcwitlcrcd, and this band of
heroes were in Baton Rouge before the rebels
knew who they were. or what they were, or
where they came from.
The force at starting including the Sc
cond Iowa cavalry, Colonel Hatch, as well as
the Sixth and Seventh Illinois. already men
toned, comprising about seventeen hundred
men. From La Grange they marched nearly
due south, halting at night five miles north
of Ripley. in Marshall county Next morn
ing the column moved to Ripley, whence
the Second Iowa started for New Albany
At Clear Springs. in Chicasaw county, Col
Hatch, with his command. started south
eastcrly to West Point. in Lowndes county,
on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad After
that Colonel Gricrson heard nothing of the
Second Iowa. except occasionally rumOrs
through the rebels.
BRISK WORK.
Near New Albany the Tallahatchic Is
crossed by Il bridge, where they first met
signs of the enemy. On the opposite side is
a steep Hill. which would have enabled II
few men to hold at bay a large force. In
stead of charging on the bridge they threw
out skirmshers. and fortunate enough they
did, for they foun,i the bridge partly de
stroycd. The pickcts were driven off. and
the skirmishcrs rcjoincd the main column
lower down, when the whole force entered
the town.
They tncn moved on PontotOc, where they
destroyed some salt, the camp and garrison
cquipagc of cavalry company. and also n
gunsmlth's shop. \ mail from the Post
office was secured. and also u large quantity
of oats.
/ On the morning of the Goth about one
hundred and seventy five Of the men who
were the least effective, with some prisoners,
under command Of Major Love, were sent
back to La Grange. with orders to send
scouts to cut the telegraph wires ut Ok
ford.
\ few miles beyond Starkville tanncry,
containing number of army boo.s shoes,
saddles. brdlcs and large quantity OF
leather was entirely destroyed. The value
j. estimated at twenty five thousand dollars.
In the building they found negro chained
TO the flo)r, with an iron collar round his
neck. and there kept at work day and night
for running away. That man was taken
! through to Baton Rouge.
a march of twenty six miles brought the
forces to Louisville, Winston county. Most
OF the route lay through dense swamp,
| frequently to the horses bellies in water
At one point it was 80 deep the horses swan
over, and some got drowned, with n narrow
escape for their riders. They then pushed
on tn Philadelphia. Ncshoha county, where
there is ii bridge over the Pearl river, which
the rebels undertook to destroy, but they
| prccipitatcly fled as our forces approach
ed
Later in the day brigade under Colonel
| Blackburn and Major Graham was sent to
strike the railroad at Decatur, Newton coun-
! ty. Here they captured a train of thirteen
cars, which was just about starting, loaded
with quartermastcrs' and commissary stores,
including ammunition and bumb-shells in
large quantities. They had scarcely Sc
cured this train and got it on the side track
when another train of twenty-five cars, load
ed with railroad ties, came into the depot,
which was also secured Wood was piled
up around the engines and tenders, set fire
to, and by that means the boiler burst-thc
torch was applied to the train of cars con
tanning the ammunition and about three
| thousand shells. When these were fired,
the main column was four or five miles oil,
and the noise OF the explosion led them to
suppose the rebels had opened on the adj
vance column. They hurried ON, and soon
found out their mistake Major Starr moved
his battalion east, and destroyed three
bridges and lot of trestle work extending
over two miles, the track torn up, rails
broken and burned, and telegraph destroyed
for five miles.
Near Gallatin fourteen hundred pounds Of
powder, two wagons, twenty-six yoke of
oxen, and thirty-two pound Parrott gun,
were captured. The gun was spiked.
At Union Church, forty-two miles from
Natchez and twenty from Port Gibson, IA
skirmish occurred with Adams's Alabama
cavalry, in which several of the enemy were
wounded, the rest retreating TO Port Glib
son.
Al Brookhayen Camp of Instruction four
companies, under command of Major Starr,
took two captains, one lieutenant, one sur
geon and nineteen privates prisoners. They
also captured lot of Mississippi rifles,
mules, OK teams, 5000 worth of commits
sary stores and S25, 600 worth Of army cloth
ing.
At the crossing of Pearl river Colonel
Prince captured courier with instructions