Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-03-18
SMITHS cAvA1Ry ExpEn1T1oN

\ oMll II D CAVALRY EXPEDITION.
The expedition moved from Memphis on
Thursday, the llth ult., some 1000 strong,
Brig. Gen. VIM. Smith in command. the pur-
pose being to clear the country Of struggling
rebel forces, and ifpossible, create a diversion
IN favor Of Gen. Sherman, with whose rear il
| was thought the cavalry expedition might in
due season communicate. After two days
heavy marching the expedition reached tho
Iallahatchie. He pushed boldly forward to
a point near the Pontotoo, in the vicinity Of
Houston, where he encountered some State
Confederate troops, under the command of
uholson, numbering near 500. They STAN
peded at bis approach, and our forces fell up
on Okalona. This was on Monday, the | 5th
ult The attack upon Okalona was 80 little
expected tha. several Confederate officers, at
home on visits to their families, were captur-
ei. Some Of them we're finely mounted
With the two brigades Gen. Smith swept
down the railroad toward West Point, tear
ing up the railroad completely as be advanc-
ed, and also burning all the corn he found.
There were vast quantities OF this, cribbed
and ready for transportation. The amount
destroyed could not be much less than two
million bushels, and was possibly much great
err Two thousand bales of cotton were also
devoted to the flames.
Two miles north Of that place Smith came
upon bridge Of the enemy drawn up in line
OF battle to receive him. This was on Wed
nesday, the 18th ult., at about p. NJ. Our
forces charged in gallant style and after a
sharp engagement of some fifteen minutes
duration, drove the enemy back through the
town into the Suchstoucha Swamp, on the
right Skirmshing continued on the border
OF the swamp! during the remainder Of the
evening until dark. Meanwhile the whole
federal force was being brought forward into
position. Through his scouts Gen. Smith
ascerteined that the enemy was upon his
front in powerful force, that he held every
one of the crossings of the swamp on his
right and on the line of the Octibbeha in the
front. Hewas confined on the left by Tom
bigbee, which it was impossible to cross
His force was heavily encountered with the
pack trains. horses. mules captured, to the
number of full three thousand, and an equal
number of negroes. Gen. Smith did the best
he could under their circumstances. He
made strong demonstration upon the reh-
ell centre, and while sharp lighting was going
on, drew all his encumberances and the main
portion of his force rapidly back toward Ok
alona, covering his rear with a we'll organ
lied force, which fought the enemy from every
line of concealment that offered on their
march, and made desperate attempts to over
whelm the rear guard, but without success.
They also failed in attacking the main force
in flank, which they several times essayed,
but were as often foiled.
All their best maneuvres were thus hand
somely checkmated, and Gen. Smith soon had
the fighting all in his own way until he reach
ed Okaona. At this place, after the pursu-
ing force had been three times repulsed by
the 4th United States regular infantry,
whole brigade was sent to support the 4th,
and was thrown into confusion by stampede
of the I'd Tennessee cavalry, Lieut.. Cook,
who had fifty men killed in all, and was him
self mortally wounded. In The precipitate
flight from the field of this force, battery OF
small howitEers-six guns of Perkins Illi-
nois battery-were run off the road into
ditch where the carriages were so badly
smashed up that they were unable to get off,
and they fell into the enemys hands. All
the ammunition Of the battery was destroyed,
all the harnesses cut, carriages destroyed,
guns spiked, and horses saved.
1t was with the greatest difficulty that this
uncalled for panic could be broken down, and
order restored. Organized forces were thrown
to the rear as quickly as possible, and the ad-
From crest to crest of hills the fighting was
resumed and continued for over ten miles,
with the utmost determination on both sides.
Cen Smith succeeded in bringing off all
his captured stock pack trains, negroes, and
other spoils, having performed a march OF over
sixty miles without rest. Our loss is report
ed as having been light, the heaviest being in
the 4th regulars, which lost thirty-fve.-
There were quite a number of our men cap
tured while struggling catching chickens and
performing acts not legitimately in the line Of
their duty.
Forrest in this fight, or series Of fights, had
four brgades OF cavalry and mounted infant
ry, reinforced by Gholson,s State troops, 600
strong, and, it is said, portion of Lees COM
msnd. His total force when at West Point
was over 5000. Gen. Smiths expedition re-
turned to Memphis after just fourteen days
absence, having made march out and back of
about $50 miles, with the result above set
north.
CffRrnUa SroRr or TVckcv-Tn tho