The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-08-06
CAMP 2D Iowa CAVALRY, MD11PHIs,
TENNESSEE. July %. 1884. I'll

CAMP % Iowa CAVALRY, MnHPH1s, l V
TENNESSEE, July q, 1884 il f
EDITOR HAwK-EYE:-Gen. A. J.. Smith
with the forces accompanying him on his
late Tupello expedition, returned to Mem
phis yesterday: AS you have learned by
way Of Capt. Simmons, my last letter be-
ing heresay, was faulty. I will now re-
port what saw, and hence know 70 be 90.
The forces comprising tho expedition con-
sisted Of shout $4,000 infantry, including
three regiments Of colored troops, and one
division of cavalry, say 5000 strong, Gen.
Smith commanded MI, Gen. Mower COM
mandsd the infantry, and Gen. GEierscu
and Charleston railroad as sfAr as La
Grange, q which point the e1pei1itienito0k
south. Waleft the railroad, y uly. 6th.-
The weather was very hot, but rendered
supportable by frequent showers. On the
morning Of the 7th our company x, Of the
I'd Iowa cavalry, were in advance. We
found the rebel pickefs abont O'Clock, ..
M. some ten miles north Of Ripley. They
drove stubb0rnly for. some i've miles,
when they made determined stand upon
Z strong position on . hill, commanding an
open field across which we must advance.
Our battalion now dismounted and adj
vanced to play them tune with our sew
en- shooter carbines. At first we moved
with caution, but not finding ., foe we
view thinking the sJonnie febs'' had left,
but we soon had unmistakable evidences Of
their presence, for when within 150 yards
Of the timber in which the foe lay conceal.
ed, they opened upon Us . perfect leaden
shower, fortunately for us we were within
a jump or two of ditch, into which all
sprang and there found ample cover. Had
they opened upon Us twenty paces farther
back, or let US advanced that much over
the ditch before apprising us Of their
whereabouts, our loss must have been fear
full, but as it was not Q man was scratched.
We fought in the ditch for some time, when
our fiankers winging around on the rebel
TANKS. alarmed them and they Left US in
undisputed possession of apoeition ct great
natural strength They LEFT six dead be-
hind them them, and deaerters say that
Col. Greene was killed THERE This ended
the fght'for that day, nota, drop Of Yam
kee blood having been split. The rebs told
the citizens Of Ripley, that they more than
salivated the Yanks, and lost but 20 men
themselves. On the 9Th we moved throu9h
Ripley. Smiths mode Of moving an army
deserves notice. The infantry take the
main road, brigade Of cavalry march on
the nearest parallel road on each aide, with
q regiment Of CavAlry4n front and rear on
the road taken by the infantry. All move
together, % that = surprise 10 Simply i'm.
possible. There was no fighting by the
main columns on the Sth except slight
diminishing in front, but the Sd Iowa cav
airy while on patrol on the left found the
enemy fosfifyng on another road, and 4
am toldl0st three msnin an encounter with
them. Mua4s 3s.EI
Thesntire army crossed the Tallahatchie
on the 9th without OppOsitiOn. On the 10th
we moved on towards Pontotoc. the 9TH
Kansas cavalry in advance. The 7th skir-
wished with them all day, but lost none.
The rebs made another stand just north Of
PontOtOc, but Smith camped on Cherry
Greek. and let them enjoy the pleasing
notion that they had checked the fanks,"
until the morning of the llsh, when he
again moved forward. The Rebs were
quite disinclined to drive, and few shots
from our. cannon we're required before
they, would obey Smiths order Of "for-
just a Smith neared Pontotoe from the
north, 0riersons came up by another road
on the left flank. with the I'd Iowa in adj
vance, Coming in sight of town, we saw
it was still full Of Rebs, who opened upon
US from the houses. Col. Coon, command
ing our brigade, here turned to Capt. Ban
d., and said: DANDY take your conlpa-
.'Shau Icharge themf" replied the Cap
tain. "DOust care q d-n what you do
replied the Colonel. IN ssaHn4ss
We skirm:shed with them for few
rounds, when Capt. Bandy saw that they
bad the advantage Of us In this, and order.
| ed . charge. At them we went in columns
OF 4s, and 1t would have done you GOOD e
see them rum. In. one minute but three
rebels occupied the town, and they wers
dead. We lost none. The rebels had non
fallen back over 40 miles, and been diver
from two lines Of battle, taken upon strone
natural position, and not . man got hnrj
on our side save the three OF the Sd Iowa
spoken Of above, which WAS done In an en-
tirely different action, far from the lef
flank. while ten dead rebels were left il
our hands. Still the rebels had alread,
reported two nice victories over us. AND
they had made the eitisens along the roac
believe that one more victory would result
in our entire capture. -, :. s.. =
Forrest now massed his entire force or
very strongly fortified hill, fortified
mean by nature. This hill is some fv.
miles south of Pontotoc. Here he told hi.
men it was where he would capture Wits
~ SMITH, as the rebels called him. AS oul
army needed rest, Smith halted in Ponto
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