, 1864-06-21
STuRCIS' DEFEAT.
Details Of the March and Battle.
Gross Incompetency and
Fatal Blundering,
OUR ARTILLERY AND TRAINS
hEEDLESsLY LOST.
Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.1


MEMPHIS, Tenn, June Is, 1854.
In Justice to the brave troops engaged by
Brigadier General Sturgis in the late dlsas-
trous battle with the rebel Forrest ut Brlc.'s
Cross Roads, near Guntown, Miss, I, an eye
witness and particlpator in the engagement,
with present facilities for full data and In
formation in regard to the object, fo.c., CON
duct and management OF the expedition, the
valor with which our troops fought, and the
manner In which the retreat was conducted.
can not refrain from submitting the follow
Ing truthful narrative Of events, just as they
occurred, for publication.
General 4turgis was ordered to strike the
line OF the Mobile and Ohio Railroad at
point south Of Corinth, destroy the samo,
and engage any forces of the enemy In that
vicinity. The forces composing his expedl-
tion were 4. 700 infantry, with sixteen pieces
Of artillery, in three brigades, under Colonel
white troops and 1850
colored; Gen. Grierson's division of cavalry,
LIST brigade, under Col. Waring, probably
], eco strong, with two rl1led guns and two
to 4th Missouri eagalry1: s I'd 6rtsaSe, Ss under
Col. Wfnslow, numbering 500 men, with
two riffed guns; 10Th Missouri cavalry and
two 1if3ed guns; sth Wisconsin light arsil-
lery. About two hundred wagons, loaded
with supplies and ammunition, composed
the train.
The morning Of the 10th ofJnne found this
little army, compile in organization, in good
spirits and undo oubted efficiency, encamped
together ut Stubb's plantation, on the Ripley
road. AT 51 O'Clock, a. m., Col. Warnings
Brigade, took the ndvanco on the Fulton
road, Winslow's brigade following, the in
faptry and trains marching behind. Two
miles beyond stubbs', the army crossed
with water, and abounding in small creeks
meandering the road in great diversity. The
artillery and train Was moved into the
swamp without any attempt being made by
pioneering to render the crossing better, aud
before all Of tho train had made the Passage
the clearing through which the road run was
60 badly cut up 81 to render recrossage i'm
possible Two hours' work would have suf-
Heed to construct road upon which the nr.
ullcry and train could have been reorossed
with case.
At 10 O'Clock, a. M. % miles from Ripley,
from Saltillo, at the cross roads ut Brice's
plantation, halt 3 mile east OF q deep creek,
passable only by bridge, and while the
train was but In part across the Hatcutc
swamp. the advance encountered the enemy,
which 1t Immediately engaged.
AT - O'c1och lH6 ~ plIe6aue ~ CdsAAy
moved into position, half mile IN advance
Of the point of Intersection OF the Fulton
and Pontotoc road, defending this position
The engagement had now assumed general
character, the enemy apparently in great
force, pressing with vigor upon the whole
line while the artillery was hotly engaged:
Ats o'clock P. m., the enemy had succeeded
In forcing our cavalry back IL quarter Of q
mile from Its first position, but the retire.
ment Was made in good order, and the new
line was steadily held At this period the
infantry Was exhausted by a march Of five
miles during tie heat Of the day, at Us fast 8
gait Us it was possible to move them, arrived
and relieved the cavalry, which Was ordered
by Gen. Sturgfs to fall back across the creek.
The infantry went into the fight with brav-
cry and determination, but exhausted by their
forced march, and outuumbercd and out
fanked by their fresher foe. Fresh batteries
were placed in position and added their thun-
ders to the horrid tumult. The dead and
wounded had been carried to the rear for
eevc1nl hours. Now the ghastly throng grew
more numerous as the tide Of battle surgcd
with greater ferceness along the line. Stragg
glers, many Of them wounded came in num-
bers from our right, and from the approach
ing sounds, and rebel cheers it seemed certain
that the rebels had tu1ned that flank. Gen.
Sturgis had arrived upon the field at 1870
o'clock, P. M, yet, at the moment Of which
ing the bridge Of the deep creek towards the
enemy, and being parked In the field upor
| its eastern bank. At three o'clock, p. m,
| the rebels made fierce attack n1eng tht
whole line, out1anking our troops to ths
right and left, and driving them back In dis
The 4th iowa cavalry in tho rear of the 2i
cavalry brigade, had not yet succeeded II
crossing their horses over the crowded
bridge, and perceiying the retreat Of the in
fantIy, they were dismounted aud forme
upon the crest OF the hill upon the easter
under deadly frc Of musketry and artillery
they fought for thirty minutes, covering th
retirement Of their horses, and eaTing til
fragments Of two infantry regiments thrcat
eued wltl, eomPleto aunih11aiioa or caPtu1
. by the victorious rebels. Wish to remar
Ger of prominence that while our entire arm
was in full retreat, and great portion hu
already crossed the crossed the creek, Gel
: sturgis told him that Co1. iAc3fV1an scas dri
: At4 o'clock p. m. that portion Of the arm
g the bridge rctreating In disorder, the !
4 brigade Of cavalry taking the advance of Il
c retTeating column. The negro brigade fori
: ed first west of the creek, and gave u
= rebels check, after which it fell in with Il
d receding masses. Gen st1r9is now order
the I'd cavalry brigade to endeavor to G
ahead OF the column and stop the retire
Y miles west OF the Hntchfe and ten miles fri
q the CROSS roade, formed line in front and
both fIanks, effectual1Y stopping all exec
: the LIST brigade, which had gone on. In
!. meantime q remnant Of an infantry briga
t. had made a etand four OF five miles west
r the creek, efectua1ly stopping the rebel p
~ suit.
u About o'clock p. m. the Hatehie swar
% was completely choked with artillery, ca
Id sons. wagons ambu1ance9 and dead autma
" the debris Of a broken army, and Gen. ST.
~ giB tive miles ahead at Stubhs' said that
~ did not expect to save aDy artillery, wage
~ or supplies, and ordered all to move for vi
10 except the End cavalry brigade, direct
u Col. Wiuslow to halt at stnbbs' uuttl NIL
army had moved past, aud then take the +
of the column ns far as Ripley, saying Il
ly at that point or just beyond he would re
y At 2k O'Clock q. m. Of the 11th inst.
nc moved bis brigade slowly In the direction
Ire Ripley, but hearing that o portion of
be brigade which. protected: the rear the previt
~ Eight WAS yet behind, the cavalry wes hal
to- al creek east OF Ripley and waited for
ss 1 infantry to come up and pass. Hers as =
'e orous attack upon the rear guard; Tnsn ~ n.1
y Tho colnmr then moved slowly toWal
Rinicy at which place It was flerce1y
r. tackled by the ene@{h ~ - ~ ts ftea1, wai!e
-, roads north ana eoulu VI ln0 lo""s"efe
st cIPe Hs1o, again, the Sd and 4th Iowa cayal
r. depIoy, manenyering by squalrons and b,
= taliona, meeting the foe with Tolley for VI
ley, and sending the bullets back Into th'
(, ranks With a ferceness ard rapidity mo
"a tban equal to their own. The colored brl
- ade was again pushed into action, but aft
= firing few vo1leYs without checking t
g. rebel advance, 1t retreated down the Sale
road.
The column WIS them moved out OF Ri
ley, and the Sd and 4th Iowa again took
II rear, fighting severely for several houl
- Twenty miles from Colliessvil1e, the I'd brl
ade being out Of ammunition, was relieY
II BY the ID New Jersey, and at 8 o'clock q. !
C. Of the 18th inst, having marched seyent
ir five miles in tifty-two hours-men witho
r Eest, and horses without forageIthe re-
Is The LIST cavalry brigade had saved Its howl
i'd ers. The I'd had savcd all its artillery, a
ir balances and wounded, and accompany
IN the cavalry were few infantry mounted
:. mules, horses, &c, and few who had mart
"a ed from the battlefield on foot.
I'd Here Gen. Sturgis said we would rest M
ut the next morning, aud collect straggglers, a
"a. met us there. and We wore not attack
- do not see why 1t was not done, I
L. at dark the tired troops were marcf
L. II miles to White Station, where they arFi1
r. at daylight the next morning: Here GcLe
~ Stu1gis ordered a detail Of his exhaus
~ cavalry to proceed back to Collersvill a
" " cover come stlaggleEa reported to have
u Our loss in this battle was probably I.
10 | killed and wounded, most OF the W0una