The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-08-13

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lions TO the infantry and rested the aali.
imals. Il rained heavily until one O'Clock
P. m., making the roads almost fmpassa-
bic. Moved headquarters to the Widow
Spights house, two miles west Of Salem
and Colonel Hoge's brigade Of infantry "a
hobinson's house, four miles from salem,
SUNDAY, June Infantry and train
started ct half-past four O'Clock .. m. is
sued rations to the cavalry, and fed the for
age collected by them. Infantry remained
IN camp during the day. Cavalry moved
to the intersection Of the La Grange and
11pley, and the Salem and RuckersvilIe
Roads. Colonel Joseph Kar1e's ID New
Jersey, with four hundred men, started at
. p. M, with Instructions to move via Kip
icy to Reinga, to destroy the railroad; to
proceed north, destroy the bridges on the
TEscumbia, and to join General Grierson
at Ruckersville. Heavy showers during
the afternoon.
MONDAY, June e.-Infantry and train
moved at O'Clock q. m, on the Fuckers
vile Road commenced raining a: q. m..
and continued at intervals all day. Pro-
gress very slow. Marched thirteen miles,
and made headquarters at Widow Child.
ers' at intersection OF the Salisbury and
Ripley, and the Ruckersville and Salem
roads. Cavalry moved to Ruckersville.- -
The advance Of the infantry encountered q
small party Of rebels about noon, and pur-
sued them towards Ripley on La Grange
and Ripley Road.
TUESDAY. June 2-Upon information re-
ceived from General Grierson that there
was no enemy near Corinth, directed him
to move toward Ellistown, on the direct
road from Ripley, and Instruct Col. Karge
to join him by way of Blackiand and Car
rollsville. Infantry moved to Ripley and
cavalry epcamped on New Albany Road,
two miles south. Encountered small par
ty of rebels near Widow Childers', and
Of the enemy and drove them on the New
Albany Road. Cavalry encountered about
regiment Of rebel cavalry on that road
and drove them south. Several showers
curing the afternoon, and the roads very
b3c.
"WEDNESDAY, June s.-Received infor-
nation at four O'Clock a. M, that Colonel
karge was on an island in the Hatchie riv-
Or and sent him five hundred men, and
two howitzers, for reinforcements. Wins
lows brigade Of cavalry moved six miles
ON the Fulton road. Infantry and train
moved i've miles on same road. Colonel
Warnings brigade remained in Ripley
AWAITING the return of Colonel Karge, who
joined him at i've o'clock p. m., having
swan the Hatchie river. Rained hard du-
ring the night.
THURSDAY, June e.-sent back 10 Mem
phis four hundred sick and worn out men.
and forty-one wagons. Cavalry and in
fantry moved to Stubs, fourteen miles
from Ripley; issued five days rations, lat
previous camp;) rained two hours in the
evening.
FRIDAY, June O.-Encountered the ene-
my at Brice's Cross-rcad, twenty-three
miles from Ripley, ana six miles from
GuntOwn.
At Ripley il became a serious question
in my mind as to whether or not l should
proceed any further. The rain still fell in
torrents--the artillery and wagons were
literally mired down, and the starved and
exHAusted animals could with difficulty
drag them along. Under these circun1-
stances. Icalled together my division COM
manders, and placed before them my
views Of our situation. At this interview,
and two members OF my staff were Incl
present, also. ! called their at
tention to the great delay we had UNDER
gone on account Of the condition of the
roadside exhausted condition Of our ami :
mails. the great probability that the enemy
would avail himself of the time thus of
fered to concentratean overwhelming force
against Us in the vicinity of Tupelo. and
the utter hopelessness OF saving onr train
or artillery in case Of defeat, on account of
the narrownsss and general bad condition
of the roads, and the imp0ssibility of pro-
curing supplies OF forage for the animals.
All agreed with me in the probable conse-
quences Of defeat. Some thought our only
safety lay in retracing our steps, and aban-
d0ning the expedition. 1t WAS urged,
however, tand with some propriety, too,)
. ~An& ;,,n u~rh~ Y had Ah AnA
lar expedition only . few weeks before,
and given as my reason for 80 doing, 1.-THE
utter and entire destitution Of the coun-
try" and thatin the face of this we were
again sent through this same country, il
would be ruinous on all sides, to return
again without meeting the enemy. More
over, from all the information General
had acquired, there could be no
force IN our front, and all my
own information led to the same conclu-
sion. To be sure, my information was ex-
meager and unsatisfactory, and
had returned. would have been totally
unable to present any facts to justify my
course, or TO show why the expedition
might not have been successfully carried
forward. All could have presented would
have been my corjec.nres as 70 what the,
enemy would naturally do under the cir
and these would have availed
bat little against the idea that the enemy
was scattered, ard had no considerable
force IN our frcnt.., Under the circurn-
stances, and with sad foreboding OF tie
consec nences, determined to move for
ward, keeping my force as compact as pos
s;DIe, and ready for action a; all times,
bo,ing that we might suce-4J, and feeling
hat il we did not, yet or I,ssss asight At
most be Insignificant, = e0irrssr son ~ sAe
great benefits that might accrue to .le., sral
Sherman by the depletion Of Joanzton's
4 my % 50 large an eNtart. On the
aveninr Of .he s.h, one day beyond Rip
,ey. / sssmhied the commanders Of
infantry brigaies at The Headquarters Of
Col. McMii,en, and cautioned them as -
tie necessity Of enforcing rigii discipline
IA 1aair camps. keeping their troops always
in lad, aa'f ready to &C: Oh a moments
a not:cs-tnat j. was impossible 10 gain any
a.curs.e or reliable Information OF the ene-
ny. acI ila. il bshooyei us 20 move and
act constantly as though in his presence;
that we were now where ne might encoun-
.e- him at any moment, AMI that we must,
under no circumstances, allow ourselves to
b. surprised. On the morning of the lOsh
the cavalry marched at half-past five
O. clock. the infantry at seven-thus allow
ing the infantry to follow Immediately il
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