The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1864-06-25
The Disaster to Sturgis.

Considerable bodies of the missing in
fantry Of S,urgis' expedition are constantly
coming in, aud our loss will probably be
cut down to less than 1000 men, all told
probably by to night the casualties will b.
pretty accurately reported. Some of the
officers blame Sturgis, and say that his
management was bad. This vii! probably
be Investigated. All coincide in stating
that the men fought with desperation, the
negro troops especially so. But they fell
into confusion, and their ammunition becom-
ing exhausted, caused panic. It is re-
ported that the rebel force which Sturgi,
encountered was en- route to Johnston +
army, when they heard of the fitting out of
this expedition and turned about to defeat
the same.
have gathered the following Informal
'ion in regard to the late expedition of Gen
Srnrgis from various sources, mostly from
officers accompanying the expedition, and
think it in the main correct. Nothing Of
interest occurred until the expedition passed
Salem, Mississippi, on the 9th, when 800
men were seut in advance, passing through
Ripley, capturing several small parties of
the enemy and moved directly upon Renzi
and Dan,ille. destroying the railroad and
turning the depot at the former place, and
after skirmi>hing with the enemy rejoined
the main column on the 9Th, with twenty.
live prisoners.
On the 9th, the main column passed
through Ripley, moving southwest. On
rhe lOih the cavalry moved early in the
morning in the direction of Guntown, Miss.
leaving the infantry in camp. After pro-
ceedlug few miles they encountered the
enemy's pickets, and soon came upon large
body of the enemy in position, and the
battle became general. The cavalry dis.
mounted and drove the enemy some dis
lance, when the latter were reinforced and
the men fought for hours against great odds
and when the cavalry came Up the infantry
retired to rest.
About p. NJ. another large body of the
enemy arrived on the railroad in sight of
he battle, which was raging furiousIy, all
our forces being engaged. The enemy en-
ieavored to turn our left, and it was soon
evident we could not Withstand such attacks
as were being made by greatly superior
force, and our men began to fall back at
about 5 P NJ, contesting every inch of
ground. The colored troops fought with
desperation, ard we're the last to give way.
The column rerrea,ed to Ripley, distance
Of twenty. miles that night, after burn.
ing large portion of the supply train and
destroying ten pieces of artillery, which i,
was impossible to move through the swamps
with the jaded animals. On the 18th the
enemy made desperate attack upon our
infantry. which was repulsed with great
slaughter, but the attack was renewed and
considerable portions of the infantry were
cut of aud captured after their ammunition
had become exhausted.
1t is stated that many Of negro troops
boarded the ammunition train as it was being
destroyed, and filled their pockets and
bosoms with cartridges, and others gathered
ammunition from the cast of Announcements
If the white trops, and thus we're enabled
to keep up the fight until they reached
Memphis.
1t is stated that one body of 1000 infant
~ which were cut off and supposed to have
been captured, we're defended by 200 ne
sroes from repeated assaults of rebel cavalry
and arrived at Collierville twenty hours
behind the main column.
Another body of 800 negroes arrived
this morning. having escaped by bye-roads
all bringing their arms An officer of the
59'h U. S. infantry (colored) informs me
that all their men have come in except
about 200 and officers. About 300 of
the 55th U. S. are missing. Our loss is
now estimated at l25 wagons, Is pieces of
artillery, and about 1900 men. Very few
animals are missing.