Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-05-21
CHE Obio 6tatesnram
THE RIDE OF GRIERsON,S CAVALRY
Arrival of the Force at Baton Rouge
Eight Hundred Miles i'm sixteen
DayE-A Bold Stroke,


Arrival of the Force at Baton ROuRs
DayE-A bold Stroke,
BY the New Orleans papers of May Q, VIZ
have particulars of the arrival at Baton Rouge
of the Sixth aud Seventh Illinois cavalry nine
hundred strong Colonel Grierson'd expediton)
who cut their way through the whole length OF
Mississippi. They started ft0m La Grange
Tennessee, on the morning OF the 18th ult., and
reached Baton Rouge on the evening of the Cd
of Mey, performing the whole diatlnce in six.
teen days. They made zig Course through
the State, sometimes striking east, sometimes
west. hut pushing south the whole time. In
this way they Travelled probably about eight
hundred miles, averaging over forty miles a
day. During part of the journey they travelled
eighty miles in twenty-eigbt hours, had three
encounters with the enemy, destroyed two
bridges, tore up the track and SWAN two rivers
The force consisted of the Sixth Ilinoa cav.
airy, Lieutenant Colonel Loomis; the Seventh
Illinois cavalry, Colonel Ed. Prince, md BIZ
pieces of artillery, two pound GalibFe, the whole
under command of Colonel Grierson of the
Sixth Illinois. On their way from La Grange
down through the center OF Mississippi, they
destroyed bridges, railroads, depots, 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 60
complete was tho destruction, and 80 rapid and
mysterious their movements, that tho rebels
were beRlldered, and thia band Of heroes were
In Baton Rouge before tue rebels knew who
they were, or what they we're, or where they
came from.
The force at starting included the Second
Iowa cavalry, Colonel Hatch, as we'll ss the
Sixth and Seventh Illinois, already mentioned
comprising about seventeen hundred men,
From La Grange they marched nearly due south
halting OF night five miles north Of Ripley, in
Marshall county. Next morning the column
moved to Ripley, whence the Second Iowa
started for New Albany. At Clear Springs in
Chicasaw county, Colonel Hatch, with his COM
maDd, started southeasterly to West Point, in
Lowndes county, on the Mobile & Ohio rail
road. After that Colonel GrieFsoa heard n0sh-
ing OF the Second Iowa, except occasional
rumoTs through the rebels,
| BRISK WORK
Near New Albany the Tallahatohie Ia oross.
ed by bridge, where they first met signs Of
the enemy. On the opposite aide Ia 0 steep
hill, whion would have enabled fey men to
hold at bay o large force, Instead of charg.
ing on the bridge they threw out skirmshers
aud fortunate enough they did, for they found
the bridge partly destroyed, The pickets were
driven off, aud the skirmishers IeIoined the
main column lower down, when the whole force
entered the town.
They then moved on to P0ntotoc, where they
destroyed some salt, the camp and garrison
equipege Of cavalry company, and also g
gunsmth' q chop. A mail from the postOfice
Was secured, and alao q large quantity Of onts
ON the morning of the 20sh about one hun
dred and seventy.five Of the men who we're the
least effective, with some prisoners, under com
mand OF Major Love, were sent back TO La
Grange, with orders TO send scouts to cnt the
telegraph wires at Oxford
| A few miles beyond Starkville tannery,
containing number of army boots, 1hoea, sad
dies, brides, and O large quantity of leather,
was entirely destroyed. The value Is estimated
at twenty-five thousand dollars. In the build
ing they found q negro chained to the floor,
with On iron collar round his neck, and thero
kept at work day and nights ss punishment for
running away. That man was taken through
to Baton Rouge
march OF twenty six miles brought the
forces TO Louisville, Winston county Most of
the route lay through dense swamp, frequent
ly TO the horses' bellies in water. At one point
iE was so deep the horses swan over, and me
got drowned, with a narrow eecanc of their
riders. They then pushed ON to Pniladelphis,
Neahobs county, where there ia a bridge over
the Pearl river, which the rebels UNDER ook to
destroy, but they precipitstely a ed as our forces
approached.
Later in the day brigade under Colonel
Blackburn and Major Graham was semitic strike
the railroad at Decatur, Newton county Here
they captured q train OF thirteen cars, which
was just about starting, loaded with quarter
masters and commisssry stOrea, including am.
munition and bomb.shells in large quantities
They had scarcely secured this tram and got it
on Che side track when another train OF twenty
five cars, loaded 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 meahs the boiler burst--the
torch was applied TO the train of cara contain.
ing the ammunition and about three thousand
shells. When these were fired the main column
was four or five miles of, and the noise of their
explosion led them to suppose the rebels had
opened on the advance column. They hurried
on, and sOOn found out their mistake. Major
Starr moved his battalion east, and destroy ed
three bridges and lot of trestIe work extend
lug over two mile5, the track torn up, rais
broken and burned, and telegraph destroyed for
five miles.
Near Gallatin iourteen hundred pounds OF
powder, two wagons, twenty-six yoke of oxen,
and thirty.two pound Parrott gun, were cap
tured. The gun Was spiked.
AT Union Church, tuTty-two miles from NAt-
chez and twenty from Port Gibson, akiimish
occurred with Adams's Alabama cavalry, in
wLioh several OF the enemy sera wounded, she
rest retreatiDg to Port Gibson,
AT Bro0khaven Camp OF instruction tour
companies, unde; command OF Majoe Starr,
took two captains one lieutenant, Que surgepn,
aud nineteen privates prisoners. They also
captured lot Of Mississippi rifles, males, OK
teams, $4,000 worth OF commissafy stores and
$25. 900 worth OF army clothing.
AT the crossing Of Pearl river Colonel Prince
captured courier with instructions TO destroy
all bridges, etc., which fortunate circumstance
added somewhat to the safety OF the command.
AT Hazehurst Colonel Pfince OF the 7lh Iii
nois captured train of about ten cars, several
of which we're loaded with shell and ammuni-
tion. Another train, which had just arrived,
escaped by the backing out Of the train by the
engineer before he could be captured.
About four miles east of Gailstin battalion
was detached 10 strike the New Orleans and
jackson railroad at Bshaia station, where water
tanks, cara and other property were destroyed.
AT Walls's station, on the Tiokfaw, o regi-
fhent OF rebel cavalry wasdiscovered, who we're
routed with several killed and wounded. Our
loss was one killed and five wounded; among