The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-05-04
THE FEDERAL RAID INTO EAST MIS-.
SiSS1Pcl.

SiSSIfFl.-
The Yankees are improving on raids. Their
last was from Pontotoc, Mics, nearly $50 miles
into the State. They cleaned up the country
generally As they passed, aiming to capture
Houston, the county seat of Chickasaw CO.,
Miss, and the treasury of the same, with 4i0,- :
600 in funds including $4,000 in gold. TIE
Mobile Tribune gives an account OF the raid
which the telegraph has In vain been attempt
ing to explain
"Reports were brought to Oka'ona on Sun
day, 18th inst, that the Yankees were an.
preaching by way of Pontotoc, said to be 200
strong-aIl picked cavalry. Coils. Barlow and
Ioge had skirmish with them on Saturday
afternoon, not far from Chesteryille and Biz.
minghan, and checked them simmediasely,
posting q courier 10 Okaasna FOR rsjnforce
menss stating that he tCol Bsrtow) would hold
them in check until help came. His loss in the
fight was said to be thirty one killed, wounded
and missing. 1t is eaid the militia behaved
very badly. They broke and ran after the
second fire, leaving Barlow and Inge to bear
the brunt
"On Tuesday another party of Federals-
about aO0-came suddenly on Okalona They
"a Alabama cavalry, who were ont west of
Okalona hunting for them. The boys had
passed through Okalona Oh Monday, but were
poorly armed. Nearly all had eabres, and
their pistols and shot guns were go divided
that nearly every man had something to shoot
with. They number 960 men, but not more than
40 could 80 GU. after the Yankees. Our men
a!ao had a battery eight miles east of Okalopa,
but for lack OF horses could not move 1t with
the cavalry. On Monday the Yankees arrived
10 Houston, Chickasaw county, and captured
the treasury, $40 900, among which was saidto
be $1,000 in gold.
They captured and paroled number of
citizens who come under our ccnscript laws,
This they have done all the way down. They
destroyed all the records of the county, and
| their depredations were conducted in their
captured a Mr. Smith, who is eection maeter on
the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. and German
named Charley, who attends the taLk. They
threatened to burn the depot house and tank,
but Charley told them if they destroyed the
road there that he and Smith would have to 90
into the Al ny to make living, but by saving
the houses and roads the Yanks would have
two men less to fight. After this kind of rea-
soniDg the Yanks thought best to let the road
| and wires alone the operator. Mr. Walker, hav.
ing just Made his escape with the instruments
They also made feints on West Point, Ar.
tesla, and came within two miles of Macon
They threatened several other points on the
The manner in which this raid hiss been con
Quoted proves tnat the Yanks are greatly i'm
proving in the art of raiding for they would
send ont email parties with big etories and
threaten points on the Mobile and Ohio Rail
road, while their main body was striking q
Zee line for the Southern road, thus drawing
| our forces up the road and away from the rea
point of attack.
"They struck the Southern road at Newton
about O'Clock Friday morning. They ar
rested the agent there, but he managed q
have his son ran down the road TO yarn the
trains from Meridian Of their danger in time
to save them though they caught freight
and construction train, burnt the depot, q
large amount of sugar and molasaes. and otheI
| stores; and damaged the road for three miles
by burning the little treetle works, the largest
being about 20 feet in length. The damage
| to the road does not amount TO near 30 much
as was at first thought They then moved to
| ward Enterprise Keeping stheir main body
back, they sent 78 men into the town to de
mand its surrender, and gave the Mayor one
hour, and during this hour they made thei1
| escape for Gen. Loring was after them from
| Meridian, with two regiments of General
Buckner's pets, the ID and 7th KY and the
18th La.
Gen Loring started with his men on foot
having heard that the Yanks were in line o1
battle about seven miles from Enterprise, bu
after double quicking that distance the Fedi
were non est, and the boys came back quite
put out because they could not catch the scoun
dlels. This alarming body Of cavalry, " hiIe
| at Newton, were numbered, and they had
600 men all told, and four light pieces of ar
,illery. Hut they are well mounted, and armeG
as only Yankees are, and help themselves te
| fresh horses wherever they can find them
"But now question arises, how are they
going to get QUIT The last heard of them they
were about twenty miles from Enterprise
going west. 1t does seem that they ought Il
be caught. There was no necessity for the
great alarm which prevailed; for surely thes'
IeYankees have got themselves in predicamen
in which they are very liable to lose all TIT
glory they have won in the bold raid, if th'
game is only played right at them"