Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-15

nSitoss Journal
Tired, sleepy and weary, we returned
to camp last night, after four days
trip, ia which We were completely sue.
eessf1l On the evening Of the 9th the
infantry part Of the expedition, 500 men,
started out on the Mount Elba road. With
train of wagons, which we're loaded
with pontoon bridge. The next mora
ing dstschmants from the three cavalry
regiments here, the lst Indiana, 5ih
Kansas and 1th Missouri--500 in all
with Col Clayton in command, followed
/ after
1 Tho combined force reached Mount
/ Elbs, on tbs Saline river. before DARK
\ detail Of a fatigue party sas immedi-
+ aleiy made, and pot 10 work 10 lay the
i ponioou. Some buildings wers torn
down, and furnished an abundance Of
material At daylight the cavalry cross
ed over. We went about six miles, when
we we're ordered into camp, scouting
| parties being sent out in all directions.
/ Previous to the expedition leaving
/ Pine Bluff, on the morning Of the 26th,
Lieuts. Greathouse aud Young started
for Monticello, where the enemy were
stationed. several thousand strong. They
only had 100 mon with them Their or
ders were to attack the enemys pickeis,
and spread the news that the Federals
we're advancing in force, and then to
report at Mount Elba next day, all of
which they did.
On the morning Of the Goth they we're
ordered to procure so men each from
their respective regiments, (lst Indiana
and 5th Kansas and proceed to Long
view, IS miles below Mount Elba, on the
Saline river, where the rebels had a
splendid pontoou bridge. They we're to
destroy the bridge, and return as soon as
possible.
On their war down they passed through
q small place called Warren aud eaptur-
ed a number Of prisoners, and when
within six miles Of their destination they
met forage train Of SIX wagons with q
guard of twenty-five men. These we're
aH quietly taken in, and from them they
learned that large train had just cross-
ed over and we're camped on this side
with a guard of several hundred men.
Leaving twenty-five men with their pris-
oners they pushed on with seventy-6ve
men, arriving at the bridge between sun
down and dark They found the enemy
husily employed cooking supper, and
without firing gun they dashed in among
them and ordered them to fall into line.
Completely bewildered, some almost
doubling their own senses. others sup
posing them 70 be some of Shelby's men
they hesitated and stood gazing with
open eyes and wide stretched mouths a.
if endeayoring to make up their minds
what course TO pursue. Just then tbs
sharp clicking of revolvers and the sterT
command repeated by our boys of fal
in, fall in, gave them to understand tha
they must obey or fight They chose Il
obsv, and two hundred Of them quickly
fell into line They were then ordered (
Law down and 8 guard of fifteen or twenty
men placed over them. The remaindel
J fastened down TO the bridge where th'
train was still coming over. 1t was ncv
so near dark that the enemy across tlI'
river were unable 10 distinguish our meI
from their own, and everything had beer
done so quietly that they had no suspi
eion of how matters stood.
The Lieutenant "hollered to then
. to hurry over as the bridge needed re
pairing and they wanted to get to work
= as fast as they came across they wer
taken possession of-their guns beisI
taken from the escort aud dropped IN th
river. Fifty more prisoners were seeur
ed in this way aud large number q
' wsgonk As last, growing fearful ths
thsy would have more shaa they eoul