White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1864-08-11
CAnp 7rH KANSAS CAVALRY,
j. 4. PICKETT,
D. 8. Detective, N. e. No.

CAnr 7rH Kansas CAvALRY,l
Memphis, Tennessee. July 26, 1864.
FsrESD MILLER:-Thinking perhaps word
from the 7th Kansas would not be unwelcome
to your readers, have taken the liberty to ad
dress you. The 7th is again at the front, and
BY no means idle. After enjoying our furlough.
our regiment being recognized, We were Or.
dered to st. Louis. Here We received our out
fit. horses, arms. &c. At this time We expect
ed to remain in Missouri, to protect that State
and our own borders from the guerrilla depre-
dations with which you are now threatened; /;
but the powers that be directed otherwise, and
We were ordered to our old campaigning ground
in Tennessee.
We arrived At Memphis shortly after Gen.
Sturges' expedition had started out. Loyal
men seemed to expect important results from
this movement; but As Kansas men, We did
not look for Sturges to accomplish anything
tremendous, yet We did hope (knowiog the ma
terial Of his army that he would returh his
command somewhat in ship-shape, il be did
fail 70 whip the rebels. But even in this rss.
sonable hope We we're doomed to disappoint-
ment. He met with disgracefM defeat At
the hands Of the enemy, lost bis artillery. and,
wose than all, this noble little army felt the
disgrace Of being beaten BY an inferior force.
They made their way into camp in squads Of
from five to fifteen. Many of them were bru.
tally murdered BY the guerrillas and citizens
on the route. Some of the latter even hunted
our stragglen With hounds. Talk shout the
Union sentiment in the South! You can put
it all in your eye, and see - we'll - ever. We
were employed number Of days in picking up
and bringing into camp these poor fellows. and
had to listen to many tales Of horror and un-
heard Of brutality; and We have since acted
upon the principle that if these things are to
be righted, We. nust stop talking and go to
work; and We now propose to see this thing
through.
The Seccsh in these parts we're jubilsnt over
Forests victory, and became bolder than ever.
They were not aware that there was q storm
brewing that was likely to engulph the mighty
chieftain. A new expedition was speedily ct
ted out, under command Of Gen. A. J. Smith,
with the somewhat laeonic order from Gen
Washburne, to hunt until he found Forrest, and
whip him. How we'll he executed this order,
the public prints have already informed yos.
His dispatch. after the fight, was a. much to
the point a. the order under which he started
out. 1t said: al have met and whipped For.
rest, and am coming back all right" During
this march, the Seventh Nas either in the ad.
vance or protecting the rear, fighting almost
continually. The command passed over por.
tion Of Sturges' battle field. and saw many
graves. where our brave soldiers are sleeping
that last, long sleep. Who is to blame for this
needless slaughter7 There is something wrong
somewhere. and unless miss my guess, there
will be day of reckoning.
As we came 70 the houses of those ci.;zens
who had chased our men with hounds, they
were pointed out BY the men who had man.
aged to escape. A few brief words will dis
pose Of them-1Aey nil ehsss FEDERAL soldiers
no more!
After the return Of the regiment, and . few
days Test. they are ordered on another raid to
sons part Of Dixie, tho land Of chivalry. Bah. /.
Such chivalry, where not one in twenty can
write his own name, The negroes call them
shs"poos white trash," ard yet they eight wish
an obstiuacy worthy Of better cause; but
notwithstanding every effort they may make,
their doom 10 sealed. and the Southern Con
federaey will soon be kaown oaly - some.
thiag Of the past. Hoping how soon thil
nay bappsa. remain yoan. B.C.C.