Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-02-03
MISCELLANEOUS
Correspondence Of the Harrisburg Telegraph.
From Giae S.h P:s. cavalry.
CAMP 9Ta Pa. CtyALRY. EIsT TENS-
NEAK MossY GEEK s-AIIuN. jay. II. lSE.

Il about 10 start home On leave Uf absence
This affords me an opportunity, IN the en-
tire absence uf mail facilities. at dropping
yJu a llne Your letter from IndiInlpnll,
WIS received III Sparta before we crussei
the mountain. We have now been three
weeks In East Tennessee, !:aving pas ed
through Knoxville one week after the ter
miuatiOn of the >eige Oar divlsion, un-
der the command Of Gen Elliott matched
Immediately to Strawberry Plains After
a few DAYS delay, We marched 10 New
Market, nine miles northeast. Here the
two b,lgaIes separated the second advancing
on Messy Greek, and The FIRST (oursl upon
Danbridge. To reach this place we lett at
u. III the morning of the 23d, aul
arrived at-about ten. Alter stopping to
breakfast, we marched on in pursuit OF Il
b,igade OF rebel cavalry said to tie en-
can,ped in the neighborhood. About
three miles north of Dauhridge we struck
their piekets, and pushed on SO last as al
most 10 stampede the whole brigade. The
enemy retired immediately to a strong posi-
ton IN d woods, between two wooded hills,
ami near the French Road The 9lh
Penna. was thrown forward to feel the en-
emy, aud it pussble, smoke i'm out The
lst East Tennessee held the right and the
ID Michigan the left, while tw. OF or
four pieces Of artillery were holding forth
from hill in trout. Matters appeared to
e progressing finely, when apprehensive
of a snare our commander, Col Campbell,
OF the u Michigan, recalled the advance
he 9th had not reg4ned the position OF
the advance artillery, when the lei hUr,es.
servants aud stragglers came rushing for
ward 10 the utmost haste and confusion
\ rapid anl heavy firing WIS heard in the
rear. The 9th Penna being this time the
neareast to the scene Of disaster, was ordered
to charge Immediately. Col jordan grl
l4ntly led the charge with ahout one lhi
OF the regiment, all that he could get ~
in time. The troops behaved eX remedy
we'll, aud their gallant eforts were repaid
10y an immediate repl!se of the rebels. and
the rescue. at the last mnment of two o;
our guns which they had just seized. A.
the very commencement ut the chargr.
1t. Thenphius J. Maunrz. Commanding
company t. Was shot IN the face, and nj
most Instantly killed. We drove the enc
my for some distance. when the CnlOurl
commanding, fearing the return OF the
brgade ut rebels, repul>ed at the beginning
of the action, ordered the withdrawal at
the 9th, aud retreat 10y the right flank
While the troops were being rallied rni
the dead and wounded gathered together
road was discovered. and fLhting rc
treat Immediately began. The re0eis
rallied in Il few mpinent- after our charge
and renewed the attack The 9th Pa. an :
the ID Michigan covered our left fl 'nk.
and for abO0t two miles the re lel> n ii 10
he beaten back and held at hay al every
point that presented an opportunity for
defence. The situation for about two hours
was extremely critical. aud the iLhtln-
| very persistent AMI severe an both sides
/ Finally our perseverance trlnmphei, ani
! the rehes iniug they could not swallow
! uS whole, concluded to 4lve up the etrrt
! Our regiment and the lst Fast Tenn bore
! the bruut OF the fight, and to them e>pe
/ ciaIy are due the honors They have
/ been highly complinented by the cOmman1
| Ing General for their conduct on the
! occasion. Col. Jordan deserves more praise
| than any other individual. have not
| time to be more particular at present
We ID lrched over to New Market, and
came up to Messy Creek. On the 9th
our division, In conjunction with other
troops, made a heavy reconnaissance ia
front of Messy Greek Station. The nemy
held their ground so we'll, and had so good
a position, that it was not thought al
visable to make an attack. We retired Il
our camp, after making show of fSht
nearly all day. The day following our
camp was moved forward to the enemy's
positi of the previous day. Next day
! 29th December, We were ordered to tai
hack slowly from our position, in order t
draw the enemy ON better ground The
rebels took the bait very greedily aud FOL
lowed up our pck cts very closely. They
seemed to think we had lost part of oul
force, aud advanced with great confidence
As the two lines advanced with the
several lines of skirmishers stretched
across the valley, they presented very
fine sight indeed When they arrive:
within half mile of Mossey Creek Sta
ton, they were where We wished to have
them, aud our forces opened on them
They attempted to flank us both on tn,
right and left, and then ty desperate at
I tempt on our centre to take our priucipa
battery. Col Jordan, who cummande,
the right and supported the battery, mad
charge on them, which drove them back
and bafiei this attempt On the lett
where our forces were conmlnded by Col
C4mpbell. the reheIs mlde ano- her yer,
bold attempt. When they thou hit thei
object almost accomplished. they fouu'l
regiment of inf ntIy the 2ud M,ch,gal
| cavalry aud the Ist East Tennessee read