New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-08
THE LATE GRJERsON AND SMITH
RAID THROUGH MISSISSIPPI.
Correct Account from STAFF Omccrs-The
Object OF the Expedition not fully Ac-
eompiished-Great Destruction OF Rebel
Property Immense Fighting with
Forrest.


Property - Immense Fighting with
Forrest.
Correspondence Of III. N. Y. Tribune.
! hEsruIs Tenn, Feb. %, 1894
Many false reports have been put i'll circula-
ton with respect the late raid Of Brig Groson
and Smith through Mississippi Although the raid &c
far as il extended emincnty successful the mission
upon which il started not fully accomplished. This
owing 10 the presence OF two commanders having
control instead Of one Not that they were jealous OF
each othes but where there two heads Of equal i'm
portance, there will be two opinions and where there
two opinions such occasion the end aimed at
| IL seldom obtained.
| II Gen. Grerson alone lad been 10 command the
forces now here would have Joined Gen. Sherman In
Merriam Miss. ten days ago. do not say this in dis
arrangement of the ability ef Gen Smith, for he is good
officer being Chief Of Cavalry attached 20 Cen Grants
staff but he was not well acquainted with the ooun
try a. Grier~on nor knew he well how 10 push
through the difficulties which surrounded him How.
ever the damage done the Rebels by making 200 OF them
prisoners taking 900 negroes confsoang 800 horses
and mules and destroying n 600 bushels OF corn 600
bales OF cotton tannery and coo hides Of leather be
er IN ,5s ~ r ,Sn ,H "-- ,ts " rIa'e
portion Of the expedition started IA parallel columns
rom Germantown and Couieryie Tenn. souihw ardly
There were three brigades, Col wsring commanding
Crlis the third Gen. Smith, accompanied BY the 18th
H. Cavalry. occupied the center; and Gen Grier-
son was on the hight with the I'd BRIGADE, II was
81 his power 20 control the general movements Of
the force-of this fact Gen Smith Wa informed.
Acting in concert with this force brigade Of in
sny under q Of G Ms ssc aS Sy1 %9"
Miss, making a demonstration on the hitter place
where q few companies Of guerrillas were posted
Having crossed Cold alter uuder ~ the lnfsntry
the cavalry forded the Tallahatchie at New Albany.
marched on IN Pontotoc, where they remained few
DAYS and then went forward toward Houston Within
thirteen miles 81 the latter point II was aeertained that
the enemy had strong position In the rear Of Houlla
Swamp. To divert them, the 18th Tennesseo was sent
on W Houston while tho main body Of the command
moved on rapidly b. OEalona ~ which place IL was
formed into two columns the let Brigade advancing
toward Aberdeen, and the tt and 80 down the Mobile
and Ohio Railroad.
AT Obalona the oh Illinois captured nm important
mail and a Rebel quartermaster named Barber. Nov
ing In advance the gallant 9th then dashed into Aber
deem. seizing several Rebels among them major and
captain The citizens Of Columbus fearing 4 demon
siration being made to croes the Bigbee river.
cured up and quit their homes In hasty confusion eay
ing the stars and bare behind them.
Moving further down the Mobile and Ohio railroad
10 Prairie Station, the brgades encamped within sup
porting distance Of each other until information
received that the enemy had concentrated his forces at
Illinois under command o. the gallant Lieut. Col Starr
adv anced ~ Loohaton destroy ing cu erts aud bridges
well vast quantities Of cotton aud corn Here the
pckets Of Forrest were met and heaVJ shirmlsh im'
stinacy but were steadily driven from their position
AT West Point. Forrest wheeled and made bloody
charge upon forces ere the brgades were properly
disposed. So reckless were the Rebels In their on
siauyht that they galoped over battery and swept
everything before them Ike whirlwind Tor few min
utes, when they were checked In their Wild havoc by
the quick movements Of the cd Brigade under
Gricrsun. After desperate fight OF four hours the
enemy driven from West Point out on the Houston
road TO the Sookataunchie River our forces encampng
on the battle ground.
Here tho great mistake was made Of not allowing
Gen Grerson. at bis own request TO follow up the vic.
tory with his old brgades, composed Of the 9TH 9TH and
9Th Illinois and I'd Iowa and make lis way through TO
Gen Sherman's command nj Meridian. This was the
main object Of the expedition, and Grierson would hnvo
accomplished IL II allowed 10 proceed according 10 his
own Judgment. But Gen. Smith. hearing that Gen.
Sherman occupied the railroad north and south Of Me
ridian and being incumbered with heavy train Of
contrabands horses and mules concluded to return "
Okolona, and from that place back 10 Memphis. Ac
cordingy the forces began retroTade movement the
4th Regulars and 81 Brigade, under direction OF Gen.
Smith in advance, the Ist Brigade IN charge OF the
trains and the ed Brigade under Cen Grerson, In the
rear.
Although Forrest was driven across the Sookataun
CHE River at the point Of the saber when columns
began TO move back he reerossed followed closely and
engaged Ut at every opportunity Notwithstanding his
gaantry lie was sorely repulsed In every attempt by
the % Iowa assisted by detachments from the 9th, 7b.
andI9th Illinois Still he persisted IN bis pursuit until
midnight Of the 2lst inst when he was ambushed and
severely punished by Lieut. Col. Burgh commanding
the 9Th Illinois Next morning. as our forces resumed
again. He fought up TO the village Of Oklahoma whore
Gen Grerson with the 4th Regulars 9TH Indiana, and
5th Kentucky, gave him good lhrashing.
The 80 Brigade then took charge Of tho rear and and
while Col. McCrellis was drawing Oft his command the
enemy dashed desperately at his front and TANKS scat
tering the I'd Tennessee and stampeding the whole
brigade. Through the efforts Of Gen. Grierson the
Rebels checked and after the LIST and I'd Brigades
into ection, Forrest was repused on every side
The slaughter terrific the attacks continuing until
dark Our columns we're halted at Pontotoc aud there
obtained few hours rest
Alta the 23d. while leaving Pontotoc. another
desperate charge made our rear guard. Anuci.
paug this. battalion had previously been dsmounted
and placed adysnageOusly and as the enemy came on
with seemingly irresistible force murdcrous voley
from carblnes threw them into confusion ana they
precpatey fed leaving numbers Of dead and wounded
on the field.
After this. Forrest troubled forces no morei 80
they proceeded quietly TO w.Albany crossed over
tho Tallahaichie and arrived IN the vicinity OF Mem
phs on the evening Of the 26th inst.
Our loss in killed. wounded and missing ~ about ~
wh,le that Of the enemy Ia estimated at 200 The
damage done In the destruction Of property, etc,
mentioned In the commencement Thus ended the
much Of raid Of GreJfcp and snth through the
swsmps Of Mississippi Iba