Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-12-12
Letter from Capt. Maxson.
NATcHEz, Miss, Nov. II. 1868.


and giving himself up. He possessed
rare talent, and was PREF AIRED to estimate
coming events connected with the Rebel
lion, better than most well informed men.
Thinking his Address to the citizens Of
Arkansas, might be ofinterest, and COM
ing from Member of the Rebel Con-
gress, coupled with his statement that he
belonged to a Union organization which
numbered, as he then stated to me, very
respectable minority of the Confederate
Congress, large numbers of men of wealth
and position in the South, whom he rep
resented rs then inside our lines; and
now that his position is before the public,
| send the accompanying Address, which
| clipped from the Natchez Courier
THE Address referred to, is printed on
the fourth page Of this paper.-ED.
As | stated to you last summer, Un-
ionism in the Rebel States, means not
only the sustaining of the Government,
but the utter humiliation of the cause of
the war. A man here claiming to be
Uuion, but holding to keeping Slavery,
is classed among the doubtful. Those
men in our country who will dig the
deepest pit for Northern Copperheads,
are the very men Tor whose prospective
support the Copperheads have lost all.
A little affair came off just outside our
lines yesterday, in which the Sixth Miss.
Rcgt. (colored,) figured.
Capt. Hitchcock and SO OF his men were
sent into the country as guard to'a for
age train, the Capt. and the two Lieuts.,
comprising all the white men Of tho Co,
going along. After going five or six
miles beyond our lines, the Capt. and
Lieuts. being mounted, rode in advance
a mile or two, ms rebel cavalry were in
the vicinity, the Capt. taking side road
while the Lieuts. rode on together. The
Lieuts. were soon confronted by CO Cav
airy, and not Jelshing Libby Prison, they
turned and got up good speed for their
train, holly pursued by the Rebs. On
reaching hailiug distance Of the Corps de
Africa, they shouted "Into Line" which
was instantly obeyed, and the teams start
ed for town. The rebs did not slacken
their speed, but rode right on to the line,
depending on their superior numbers and
prestige of white over black men, to
crush the negro squad. TO their chagrin
and disappointment, tho lire preserved
itself, except in cases where the weight Of
the horses upset darke' They met more
than they had contracted for. The blacks
received them on their bayonets after
having poured a volley into their ranks.
During this scene on incident occurred
worthy of note. One of the darkies hav-
ing been rode down, and struggling I'M
der tue horses feet, sadly bruised, being
observed by the Capt. of tho Rebs. the
Capt. made at him with the exclamation,
"You id black son of b-h, if you
are not dead, l will finish you," when
the wounded darkie raising his gun, shot
the Capt. through the head, and as be
fell, commenced using the butt Of his gun
on him, exclaiming, IF you're not dead,
I'll kill YOU"
Tho Rebs were repulsed and fell back
to the crest of hill, where for a short
time skirmishing was kept up. The ne
groes then fell back to place bridge be-
tween them and the enemy. On reach
ing the new position. they discovered the
enemy had divided and passed around
through some timber to reach their rear,
cut off their retreat and place them be-
tween two fires. A double quick was
ordered, so our men gained a point in
the road beyond where the rebels were
compelled to enter it, when halt was
ordered and line formed, at which point
they received two charges similar to the
one mentioned. Finding they could not
tcrrify or scatter the dalkies, they left
the field.
The darkies exhibited courage not
often seen in such an exposed position
and against two to one. They exhibited
much the traits of the wounded wolf
One of the officers told me he actually
saw them eat the blood of the slain.-
Such was their fury they would have
died sooner than have left the Rebs in
possession of the field. Seven dead rebs
were picked up on the field, three mor-
tally wounded, and one wagon load Of
wounded carried away. One prisoner,
Major, was brought in, though they had
seen one Of their own men taken a few
rods.to the rear and brutaily murdered.
70, who had received two gun