, 1864-06-20
STURgES' DEFEAT
Full Details Of the March
' and Battle.
Camping in 8 Graveyard-Ma,ching
in Mud-Fighting against Fate.

The following extracts from prlvatt let.
ter received In this city give the most de-
tailed account Of the disaster to our forces
under sturges that We have get received;
MEMPHIS, TENN, June IA.
! have been away on
a march, in another battle and in one Of the
hardest retreat8 that onr army has ever had.
l have come out safe and. sound although
one balf Of our regiment was captured.
IN the morning Of the first ol June, our
regiment left camp, proceeded to the depot
and took the cars and went to ,Oolliersyille
or few miles beyond and camped for the
night IN graveyard. It rained all night;
and In fact during the twelve days was out;
not day or nighto passed ever our heads
Lamar, Salem, Ripley and, other places too
small TO- mention all the, time In the rain.
At one time 1t Was two days before had
dry stitch OF clothing on me; mud up to our
ankles, and sometimes knee deep. When
night came On we wou1d throw down = rub
ner IN the mud and another one over us aud
liethere IN thetrain until morning. In the
moning make strong cup Of coffee, cat hard
cracker and piece Of raw, salty bacon, try
to dry our clothing, aud ret ready for the
days march. Some nights 1t would only
rain for IN hour, and some days only little,
and at some times it Was like pouring river
Of water On us.
The day before the fight We sent back
train Of forty wagons with our sick, and
marched that day about tifteen miles, and
next day resumed onr march for GuntoNn.
When the Infantry were abont sir miles from
that place, the cavalry, which were in. the |
advance, were attacked and driven In. We
were ordered forward At THE DOuDLE-Qu1oK
FOE FIVE NILES in the hot sun- Maav
dropped out along the roadside, sus struck; but
on We went, until We were within a mile of |
the battlefield, when they found they had to |
stop the men or kill them all before We got |
into the fight. wet my head with water,
as my canteen YVES filled with strong coffee, l |
got along very well, because did not drink
any water.
After resting about five minutes, we were
ordered forward again, and our regiment be
a'gSt fang n Ws ADVANCE, We We1e the first IN the
We got there, while the rebels had picked
position, besides being fresh aud knowing
the country better than We. But in We
went with q cheer, drove the rebels piece,
and te1s engaged t.cvnsy 0.inuss, before any /,
othsr regiment came in. The rebels had NJ
rounded on three sides. They were in the
form Of horse shoe, and all they had to do
Was to close up the spuce where we came in,
and a. they would have haa us nlI prisoners.
They we're four to one of US, hut We held
eh.gg or ground or until "e got themin front ofus,
It was worae than retreat II .aas rsq-
.!!dr Bull Ran. 1he 1aea destroyed by otr
General. 4 baby could dare managed batter
than hedid. he had blocked up the roads
with the wagons, and We had been on half
Fations for three daJs, when we had train
m oi hundred wagons, half Of which were
dlied with provisions. We lost everything
md left nearly all our wouaded on the field. |
They follow US until 1t was SO dark they
could not see to shell us.
We Travelled all night and the next morn
ng got to Ripley. We were not in more
'has quarter OF an hour before We were at-
acked again: Our men were used up and out
:aptured or killed. Those Of Us who had
lorses Or mules fled. We travelled all
hut day and part OF the night, and arrived |
It Colliersville the next afternoon, where vel
;:ot rest and food, and arrived at Memphis
his morning.