Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-24
- re.an. b alIs.issippI.

The part borne by the Texas cavalry in the stirring
events connected with the Federal movement from the
river tosrd Grenada and the falling back Of our army
from Abbevile has for the first time been made public
by the publication Of the report of LieutenantGooneI
Griffith. in the Galveston Ncos which, q matter Of
Justice to the gasatry Of the troops engaged We copy
at length
HrtpoUARTERs 1sT TEXAS CAVALRY BRIGADE,
Camp Wharton, Miss, December 2, le61.
GENERAL: /: IN obedience TO your orders LEFT Toby
Tubay's ferry Oh the 29th ult, with the lst exss
leqion numbering ASS men, under coEnand Of Lieut.
Col Hawkins; the Sd Texas gmeaf Numbering 43l
men ander command Of Lieut.-Cos Rogers the 6th
Texas regiment under command OF Capt Jack Nrar
tom and Cant McNallys battery Of four guns under
command Of Lieut.. Huggins. On the Both arrived,
after forced march At Oakland, aad hearing that
body Of 600 of The enemy airy had crossed the
Memphis and Grenada railroad five or six mi es south
of tn point en- route for COffeeve and to destroy the
Central railroad between this place aHd Grenada gave
pursuit but the enemy hearing OF my apProaeh ned 20
Charleston and Mitchell crossroads. near Birds ferry
on the Yalabusha On the lst December went down
on the je of the Central railroad to Grenada re-
storipg confidence and Gent up several trains to TIE
arny then retreating; called on General WINTER, III
c,rnT,snd at hat point who Informed that the en-
er1 were ia Trenton in strong force Determined 10
o. tbere and attack and harrass then and possible
keep them off our train then coming 1oTn the Centra
railroad to Grenada, knowing that if they proved too
stror for me that could shw them that Texans could
rtrsf ns well fight when necessary Ia c9nse aence
If heavv rs ns tbs roads bad leti my battery
with BODY of men whose horses nal gwen out Oy rae
on.inued forced marches hGd made from pillow TO
order the impression tnat We na0
jarg, force IN this section On the secono hgnl ose0
mo Preston and found the enemy had fallen back TO
Witebes crossroads on hearing that had arrived at
Grenada. ,,,
where learned shat body Of the enemy under Con-
Wsshburn numbering seven or eight thousand' con
sting Of infantry and cavalry were mo ing upon that
rrf determined to fight him at the junction Of the
Rad be was travelling with the Charleston road and
half mile beyend town, ordered Col Rogers 10 Il axe
demonstrat0n his left hank and rear, Capt w sar-
ton on the left on the Charleston road and Col Hawk
ns and Major J. H. Br0a ks, who was in command OF the
ordnauce guard composed Of three companies, TO the
.ler Major Irookg being iu advance sged the en-
emv Co Es~kins djsmounhng his legion under cover
/ of small hl, moved up on the right TO his AdeJGr
BrooksO assistance Gen. Washburn moved mp Though
Innp sne and arriving within two hun ired yards OF
Us opened IRE upon poutng n grape aud canister ~
fearful rate, AID wtAsa raIid.y tns ezeellea any
thrag ] ever saw before. oraefed tle e'lse' ~ @ a
with wild fant shout the command double qUeAee
IT, .ook tho bat cry, drove back its support anu ssi
,,nshed on While this battery was Dei8g taken the
Ttnav planted another their right ana commenced
! cross f upon me. Iimaediaeiy ordered capt NhsI-
-r, "a 5izr5ount and akethe battery. He dismounted
with the usua eRgerness which ne asPAysln ". ''s
/ charge Of his duty in the time OF danger
At this particular iuncture was informed inst tne
enemy were hankng on my LETT, ana h@Vlng Igugn
than spirited battle Of some my mlhulesi 49, 80
my uaeu to horse. The safety OF the command
| ar immediate Withdrawal, which was done IN soou ~
! der to Oakland where 1 again tofhea az tssS y =
fght wounded all of whom brought on tne hee
save two who were severely wounded and were lelt d,
private house The enemy lost several kAled' ana
learned since eighteen wounded some Of the h9lsea y
the battery having been killed could bring on put on
piece Of artillery and four prisoners S.Ssnootess, oo
blankets hats etc. dropped in suc rich prolaslon 0.
General Washburns body guard were picked ap p al. az
borne away in triumph by y boys Tenlaineo az m tll
mace sooe half an hour and finding the enemy bad con
csutratsa his forces fe back eight miles te ace
safety that ny might rest, as they haa hao gu
little sleep for ge days ald nights IN
On the following morning moved up 10 nght ~ hsI
sgain but found he had gone back 70 the cross Ioau
occupied the place till night, and tel oaeS anu y. =
am obliged for the promptness with which they oDeye
my orders their misfortune and not thsii iae
that they were not under FIRE to Colenel haklas ie
i bis skill es well gasnhy, and to Major j. H. bfeok
who displayed ia eminent degree those two trals
: character abs lutey necessary in mihtAiy coi
4 mandsr, prudence, combined with desperate courage