The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-05-19
.IGEN. DODGE's OPERATIONS.
Details of his Late Movements I'm
Mississippi and Alabama.

Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial.
In former letter mentioned the fact'lhat
an expedition was being prepared to make
fofay into Dixie, supposing that before my
letter could reach you it would be thing ac-
complished. Judge of my chagrin at seeing
the document in print before tho movemens
was accomplished. nt.f
The dispatches have already told you that
Gen. Dodge left Corinth some twonty days'
ago, with considerable force, and marched
east through Iuka and Iuscumbia, along the
Memphis and Charleston Railroad. The move
mont was known beforehand, and little or no.
Lains wero taken to conceal it. But / am
quite sure that the real object was wel-kepE
secret. The object 10 view was TO aid Gons
Rosccrans in cutting Gen. Bragg's communi-
cations.
Gen. Dodge was TO drive back the force Of
the enemy 10 Tuscumbia Valley, so as 10 en-
able brigade, sent by Gen. Rosecrans, TO
start south from Tuscumbia. Ills brigade
was under command of Col. Strait. 1t came
up the Tennessee River, to Eastpor., and
joined Gen. Dodge at Bear Creek, near the
place where it is crossed by the M. q G. r, r.
We wcro very much surprised TO find that this
force, which would have to depend for its auc-'
cess upon the rapidity Of its movements, was
composed Of infantry, and that they were ex.
pected to procure horses aud mules to mount
themselves as they passed through the couu-
Try.
We reached Tuscumbia without any serious
fighting. There was very lively skirmish
the day that Gen. Dodge crossed Bear Creek.
The enemy, with som 1900 cavalry and three
pieces of artillery, under Colonel Roddy, en-.
Icavored to oppose the passage; but after get
ting in position a dash across the stream was
made by part Of our Infantry and tho enemy
retired. Gen. Dodge gavo orders to Col.
Cornyn to pursue them with the cavalry and
light artillery as far as Dckson's Station,
some three miles of, but Col. Cornyn becom-
ing animated with the pursuit, kept on. Two
pieces of artillery having exhausted their am-
muuitiou were left in charge of about thirty
men, Of the 9th Illinois, as also some forty
prisoners who had been taken, and the ball
ance dashed on. After getting some thirteen
miles ahead they came upon Roddys men,
and after some pretty severe fighting wero
driven back. In the meantime several hun
dred Of the enemy got in Cornyn's rear and
came upon the company of the 9th Illinois,
which was left in charge of the prisoners and
the two guns, and took the whole. Word was
sent to General Dodge that the cavalry was
fighting, and that reinforcements were needed.
Colonel Bane's brigade was pushed forward
promptly, and succeeded 10 recapturing one
gun, the other gun and the prisoners, horses
&C., having been run of. As soon as Colonel
Bane got into good position, Colonel Cornyn
was ordered to fall back. Roddy's men fol-
lowed him up very rapidly, but few vollies
from the infantry sent them flying back iu
dsoader. -,
We reached Tuscumbia on Saturday, the
25th. A fight was expected at Little Bear
Creek, some three miles this side, but vas
postponed on account Of the " clemency Of Tho
weather" I suppose. -, Gr.r.
On Sunday night, Col. Strait started on
bis errand, and on Monday morning, in order
TO more completely cover bis movement, Gen.
Dodge pushed on further east, and drove
Roddy some twenty miles toward Decatur.
From prisoners we learned that Roddy had
been advised of Col. Straits movement, but
.upposing the design to be TO get in his rear,
himself with retiring safe distance
east. This is like fish to our net.
There was another skirmish when our cav
airy advanced beyond Tuscumbia, but its de-
tails would not interest you. Colonel Cornyp
executed the novel and surprising evolution.
Of riding up within hundred and fifty yards
Of the enemy's battery, his force being in COLI
umn and neither fankers nor skirmishers out.
The battery opened OH him, and how he got
out the gallant Colonel hardly knew fimself.
Thanks, however, to the want Of skill Of tho
onemy's gunners, our loss was not very heavy.
Il..x IL L. -
at Town Creek, thiIteen miles from Tuscum-
bia. Our forces reached the creek on Mon.
lay evening and encamped on its hanks.
Owing 10 tho heavy rains, it was not forda-
Die. ff 't',.'-i ~ '',."
The next morning, the enemy began shell
ing our camps. Their firing did but little
damage however, and Gen. Dodge, having
placed bis artillery so as TO command the
creek, built a bridge, and crossed oyor with
ii1ing loss, the enemy retiring, ~ ~.