Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-08-24
DIR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
Frcra the Second CaYalTy-Its part il General
SloeuEi's Expedition.
CANr ID WIS. CAV, VIcEsspRs, NIsS-,t
JrTv 9Th. 1864

which started from this place on the first of
this month for Jackson, Miss, under command
OF Brig. Gen. Dennis, that the troops that
took the most active part in skirmishing and
d. some Of the most stubborn fighting while
out, were left entirely out of the ring. and
that none got praise or scarcely mention save
Illinois regiments Therefore, may not pre-
sent much that is new in regard to the gener-
al details of the expedition, yet l hope to
show that the I'd Wisconsin Cavalry has been
tried in the fire" and not found wanting. The
following are some items from journal kept
BY one Of the soldiers;
On the Ist of July, '84, our regiment with
two days rations, took the advance of the
grand column of cavalry, artillery and infau-
try, beside large train Of wagons. Co. sc"
taking the advance IF the regiment, met the
enemy's pickets about three miles to the other
side of Big Black River, diminishing with
them, drove them back to Champion Hill, and
from the road where the command camped.
On the morning Of the 4th the ID Cavalry
formed the rear OF the column Co ''F' the
rear guard The advance BY a brisk little
fight, drove the enemy from Clinton The
enemy appearing in the greatest force In the
front and took up position three fourths of
mile in advance of the column on the Jack
sou road and prepared TO camp for the night
The enemy fell back out of sight, when the
boys began strolling out from camp for black
berries which were abundant, when the rebels
advanced, fired a yolley in among the an
suspectIng straglers when they ran back for
their arms and rallied under command of 1t
Hamilton, OF Co. " ~ and drove the rebels
back about two miles. The enemy formed
In line to check them, but lost both ground
and men, seven Of them being killed to one
wounded on our side. Our men returning 20
camp the rebels soon followed and secured a
safe position behind railroad grading Can't
Ring, with about seyeuty-hve men, relieved
the Lieutenant with his volunteer force and
finally thinking that as it was near night the
rebels would not make further demonstration
fell back to camp, when TO the surprise of all
Col Scott, (rebel) with about six hundred
men, charged into the camp of the Second, |
compelling the men TO saddle their horses
and form their line of battle under the enc
my's FIRE. Cos. G, NJ, F, forming quickly, held
the enemy at bay from their own ground, but
the left, more unfortunate, gave back when
the rebels took possession OF their supper of
hot coffee, hard tack, forage for horses, &c.
A few yolIeys from the companies that held
the ground on the enemy's flank compelled
him TO fall back, and then the whole regi-
ment charged In line, breaking that of the
rebels, and the 9th Illinois cavalry on the left /
Of our line being all mounted followed up
the rout All hOstllJies then ceased for
the night.
On the morning of the 9th the 18th Illinois |
cavalry taking the advance, skirnishiug i'm /
mediately commenced, and one of their Cap /
talns and a sergeant were killed. Infantry
now took the front, and the cavalry took an /
other road TO protect the infantry's flank; |
the 9Th Illinois still keeping the main ad !
vance of the cavalry, while the IIth Illinois |
cavalry and Companies l., II and b of the I'd
Wisconsin were depIoyed on the right OF the
road skirmishers. After advancing about
three miles Companies I and of the End
reinforced the right and advanced still an
other mile, when the rebels were discovered
IN considerable force on a commanding emf
nenCe, and in possession Of "a peach orchard,
across an open field. Lieut.. Hamilton In CON.
mtnd Of Companies ", +, / and 10 the
right and the IIth Illinois on the left our
gallant men moved on il the shower of bull /
lets. as though il was "a hail storm, though /
they brought death to many as they tipped
through the air, aud the wounded pressed
back 10 the rear. Our BOYS fought rapidly and
long enough to empty their cartridge-boxes.
The rebels fell back slowly until they could
support and use their artillery. Our men
then advanced dism0unted, In support Of our
artillery, under a severe fire from the enemy.
The infantry making a flank movement on
the rebels. they were compelled TO abandon
their position, and reJreated through the city
of Jackson, part o. them across Pearl river.
The Mayor come out to our forces with flag
of truce and surrendered the city 10 them,
and we marched in and took possession.
Major Gen. Slocum, who with his staff Off
GERS overlook the expedition at Champion
Hill, and had assumed chiet command learn
ed by rebel dispatches from Gen. Adams to
:, col Scott and captured by our scouts that
ha va4u 10 OIL ytfrh
three thousand men if he could hold the Yam
KEGS a short time.
Having accomplished all that was intended
bY the expedition and having limited sup
ply Of rations, our forces on the afternoon of
the 9Th, commenced the march back towards
Yickstu arg
Gen Socum ordered Major Richmond,
Who was in command of the % cavalry, TO
move To the front, and subsequently, ordered
Lieut.. Hamilton, in command of five compa-
MES, to remain as rear guard 10 the main
column. As soon as our forces we're on the
move the rebels dashed upon them from all
sides. Fierce fighting commenced IL front,
anu the Lieute naut with his five companies
being ordered TO the front moved along by
road On the lets of the main force. when the
rebels opened upon him with shell from their
battery, many Of the shots striking on all
sides but doing no great damage, and he
formed for battle under cover of a grove of
timber. The 9th III. and sd Miss. (ColOred(
cavalry were III line of battle on the crest Of
! hill, and protected somewhat by a fence
repulsed three desperate charges made by
the rebels. They, in one OF these, discover
ing that portion of our forces were negroes,
the rebel commander leading the charge was
heard TO give the order 10 Kill every id
one Of them, when 4 negro sergeant shot
him dead on the spot and a well-tImed volley
from these troops staggered the rebels and
Hav fol N IN
with his detachment Of the ID received or
ders and formed his men near a railroad en-
5ankment while she'll fl, II the rebel battery
SIS passing through bis line, and he then
moved under constant fire farther to the front
ta hold in check an expected charge by the
enemy, and in his new position was exposed
Is open and easy range Of their guns, but the
boys With great GOODNESS closely watched the
SMELLS they came with their scream of
death aad avoided them a. much as possible
by running 20 the right OF left 70 give them
room (" pass, but dab not break their line of