Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-18
The Late Expedition Of Gen. Stur-
gis-The Particulars of His De
FAINT

SiS-1ne PARTICULARS Oh HIS nc
feat.
MEMPHIS, June 14.-The following infor-
nation in regard to the late expedition of
General Sturgis, is gathered mostly from
officers who accompanied the expedition
and is materially correct. Nothing of in
terest occurred until the expedition passed
Salem, Miss, on the 9th, when three hun
dred men were sent in advance, passing
through Ripley, capturing several small
parties of the enemy and moving directly
on Rienzi and Danville, destroying railroad
and burning the depot at the former place,
constantly skirmishing with considerable
body OF the enemy. They rejoined the
main column on the Sth, with twenty-five
prisoners. On the 9th, the main column
On the morning of the 10th, the cavalry
moved in the direction of Guntown, leav-
ing the infantry in camp.
After proceedinga few miles they encoun-
tered the enemy's pickets, and soon came
upon large body of the enemy in position
and the battle became general. The cavalry
dismounted and drove the enemy some dis
tance, when the latter were reinforced, and
our men fought four hours against great
odds, when the infantry came up, and the
cavalry retired at p. NJ. Another large
body of the enemy arrived on the railroad
in sight of the battle, which was raging
furiously, all our forces being engaged. 1t
was soon evident we could not Withstand
such attacks as were being made by such
superior numbers, and our men began to
fall back contesting every inch of ground.
The colored troops fought most desperately,
and were the last to give way.
The column retreated to Ripley, dis
ton Of fsya f,,ilac thot nj inht otta
burning large portion of the supply train
and destroying ten pieces of artillery which
they were unable to move through the
swamps.
On the 18th the enemy made desperate
attack on our infantry, which was repulsed,
but the attack was renewed and considera-
BILE portion of our infantry cut off and cap
tured.
After ammunition had become exhausted
it is stated many of the negro troops board
ed an ammunition train as it was being de-
stroyed, filling their pockets and bosoms
with cartridges, and Others gathering am
munition from cast off accOutrements OF
white troops, and thus were enabled to keep
up the fight until they reached Memphis.
1t is stated that one body of ], 900 infantry
which were cut off and supposed to have
been captured, were defended by 200 ne
groes from repeated assaults of rebel caval.
ry, and arrived at Collyersville, soon after
the main column. Another body of SOC
negroes, arrived this morning, having es-
capped by by-roads, all bringing their arms
Loss now estimated 125 wagons, Ia pieces
of artillery, and about l,500 men. All OF
59th u. S. (cOlored) have come in except
200 men, and officers; 300 of the 55th U. S.
Regulars are missing.
Among casualties, the Second New
Jersey Cavalry, Captain REILLY, killed
Lieutenants Rudolphs, Brada, Smith, Rainer
Appleget and Asst. Surgeon Krautz, miss
ing.
Seventh Indiana Cavalry, Lieut.. Colonel
Brown and Captain Elliott, wounded.
Ninety-third Maryland, Lieut.. Colonel
Pool and Adjutant Moody, killed; Captain
Courvaissier, and Bees, wounded and miss
ing.
Ninety Ohio, Captain Allis and Lieut.
Kelton, killed; Capt. Hanson, wounded and
missing.