Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-06-30
DETAILS OF THE DEFEAT OF GEN sruRars.


que ara ONO rarosd at point south of Cornh destroy
the sane and engage any forces of the enemy that VI
snity. Inc forces composing this expedition were 700
ibanty WHO sixteen pieces Of artillery in three
under Col McMlan-3,350 white troops and $50 color
Cd Cen Grier OF cavalry, first brigade under Col
Waring, probably 200 strong with two rcd gus aud
Two sections OF mountain h0wiizers attached TO 4h Mis-
souri, cavalry second brigade under Col Wiusow pun-
berng 500 with two rfed guns 10th Missouri ca
salry aud two rhed guns; I'm Wisconsin hight artillery
about two hundred wagons loaded with supplies and am.
muntloG composed the train.
The morning Of the 10Th Of June found this little army
completes in organization in good spirits and undoubted
emclency encsmped together at Stubbss plantation
the Ripley road. FED
As halt past FIVE o'clock A. M Col Warnings brigade
TOOK the advance on the Futons raad, Wnsows brigade
following the Infantry and trains marching behind Two
miles beyond Stubbss the army crossed swamp known
as the Hatche river covered with water aud Astounding
IN small creeks meaGdering the road ia great diversity
no artillery and traiu wss moved into the with
out any attempt being made by pioneering render the
crossing better and before all he train had made the pas
sage the clearing through which the road was SO bdy
cur up as 70 render recrossug impossible. Two hours
wosA weuid have suced TO construct road upon which
the artillery and train could have been recrossed with
ease.
At 10 O'Clock A. NJ, tw-nty-three miles from Ripley
about eighteen miles from Tupso, and miles from Sal
tlo, at The roads at Brices plantation half mile
east OF creek pasabe only by bridge, and while the
train was but in part the Hatchie swamp ad
vance encountered the enemy which it immediately
gagged.
At IL O'Clock the second brigade Of cavalry moved into
position half mile in advance of the point of intersection
of the Fulton and Pontotoc road defending this position
he engagement had now assumed general character
the enemy apparently 10 great force, pressing with vgor
upon the whole line, while artillery holly eugaged
At O'Clock NJ. the enemy had succeeded 10 forcing
cavalry back squarer of mile from its first position
but the retirement made in good er and the new
line steadily held. At this period the infantry was
exhausted by march of five miles during the heat of the
day; at as fast gait it possible to them
rived and relieved the cavalry which was ordered BY Gen
Stuigs to fall back across the creek.
The infantry went into the fight with bravery and deter
mnaIon but exhausted by their forced march and out
numbered aud ouanked by their resher foe Fresh bat
teres placed in POSITION aud added their hundsrs to
the horrid umut The dead and wounded had been car
red to the for several hours Now the ghasy thron
grew more numerous the tide of battle surged with
greater herceness along the line. Straggier many of
them wounded, in plumbers from right and from
the approaching sounds and ebecheers seemed certain
that the rebels had turned that fa0k
Gen. Sturgs had arrived upon the field at 80 o'clock
p NJ, yet at the moment of which write numbers of our
teams occupying the bridge deep creek toward
the enemy and being parked in the field upon its eastern
bank. At3 o'clock p M. the rebels made fierce attack
along the whole ne outhankng troops the right aud
left, and driving them back in disorder
The 4th Iowa cavalry In the rear of the I'd cavalry br
gade had not yet oeded in crossing their over
the crowded bridge and pecevng the retreat Of the
fantry they dsmounted and formed upon the crest
of The hill upon the eastern bank of the creek Here with
their carbnes, under deadly fire OF musketry and ar
y, they fought for thirty mnu-s covering the retirement
their horses aud saving the fragments of two aury
regiments threatened with complete annibation cap
At o'clock 2 III tina. portion of the army not killed
wounded captured west of the bridge rereating
disorder the first brigade of cavalry taking the advance
Of the refreshing column The neg brigade formed first
west Of creek ami gave the rebels check after which
it fell in with The recedins masses.
Gen Stureis ordered the % cavalry brigade to en-
dsavor get ahead of the column stop retreat
aud it accordingly proceeded Stubbss miles west
OF Hatche and miles from the roads formed
line in front aud to both tanks efectualy stopping all
cept the first brigade, whcn had gone In the mean
tiIle remuspt Of infantry brigade had made stand
four or five mles west OF the cretk eocus!y stopping
the rebel pursuit
p-tely chuked with artillery wagons ambuances
aud dead auimals thu debris of broken army and Gep
Stureis Two miles ahead at Siubbs said that he did not
expect to any artillery, wagons Supplies and
dered ali to move forward except the second cavalry
Brigade directing Col Wnslow halt at Stubbs until ali
the army had moved past aud then take tie Of tie
column as far as Ripley saying that al that point just
beyond h ud reorganize.
At "a o'clock A. NJ of the 18th instant, Col Winslow
supposng the army all past moved his brigade slowly in
The direction Of Ripley; but bearing that portion OF the
brigade which projected the the previous night
ye. behind, the cavalry halted creek east Of
Ripley and waited for the infantry to up and pass
Here The infantry moved past the enemy made vgor
attack upon the guard. which CALAMITY met
by The Third and Fourth Iowa cavalry.
Ihs column then moved slowly toward Ripley, at which
place it fercey attacked by the enemy in the rear,
while the ads north and nth OF the town occupied
in force Here sgaIu the Third and Fourth Iowa cavalry
depoyed maooeuvrpg by squadons and baalous. meet
back into their ranks with feceness aud rspdity
tnGn equsl TO their
The cooTed brigade again pushed into action, but
after firing few voleys without chr ckng the rebel adj
vanre, 1t retrea ed down the Salem road.
The column then moved out OF Ripley, and the Sd
and 4th Iowa sgsn took the fighting severely
al hours twenty miles from CoIersvle, the second
brigade being out of ammu1non, reevtd by the Sc
cDId New Jersey and at Uiue O'clock A. NJ. Of the 18th
instant having marched seventy FIVE miles in 6ftytwo
hut-men without rest and horses without orage-the
ant Of the army arrived at Colersvle. The first
cavalry brigade bad saved it's howizers The second had
saved all its artillery smbulsnces, and wounded, aud
compaDyipg thu cavslry few infantry mounted
horses, &C., aud few who had marched from the
battlefield GOT.
Here Gen. S,urais ssid would rest until the next
morning and collect straggers aud as reinforcement Of
two thousand fresh inantry met there, not
attacked do not why it not done, but at dark
the tired troops marched seventeen miles TO White
Station, where they arrived at daylight the next morning
Here Gen Sugs ordered detail Of his exhausted cavalry
proceed back lersve and cover some straggers
reported to have arrived there
Our loss in this battle probably one thousand killed
and wounded Of the wounded falling into the enemys
hands sixteen pieces Of artillery, hundred wagons
and fifteen hundred prisoners After the abandonment OF
the trains most Of the infantry out OF ammunition and
the cavalry had but few ouuds left with source Of sup
ply all of the troops under my fought
with vaor and determination worthy Of glorious re
back, the cool and collected marching without
orgsuiz q tiou to be- cure, but without panic.
little judgment upon the part Of the commander OF
force would n the opinion of all military men present
at the retreat saved artillery and trains and am
satsed that with supply Of ammunition the second br-