Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-06-22
STURGES, DEFEAT.
FULL DETAILS OF THE MARCH AND
CATTLE.
CAMPING IN A GRAVEYARD :
MARCHING IN MUD-FIGHTING
AGAINST FATE.

0N NlANO4 n
The following extracts from q private
letter give the most detailed account Of
the disaster to our forces under sturgss
that we have yet received:
MEMPHIS, TExH., June IA.
l have been away on q
march, in smother battle and in one Of the
hardest retreats that our army has ever
had. 1 have come out safe. and sound, al
though one half Of our regiment was cap.
tursd.
On the morning Of the frst Of June,
our regiment left camp, proceeded to ihe
depot and took the cars and went to Col
herSViils or 8 few miles beyond and camp
ed for the night in graveyard. 1t FAined
all night, and in TACT during the twelve
days was out; not day or night passed
over our heads but that it rained. We
kept on by way Of Lamar, Salem, Ripley
and other places too small TO mention, all
the time in the rain. At one time 1t was
two DAYS before l had dry 0 itch of cloth
ing on me; mud up to cur ankles, snd
sometimes knee deep. When night came
on we would throw down rubber in the
mud and another one over US and lie there
in the rain until morning. In the morn
ing make strong cup OF coffee, eat hard
cracker aud q piece Of raw, salty bacon,
try to dry our clothing, and get ready for
the days march. Some nights it would
only rain for an hour, and some days
only little, and at some times it was
like po lring river of water on us.
The day before the fight we sent back a
train Of forty wagons with our sick, and
msrehed thai day about fifteen miles. and
next day resumed cur march for GuntoWn.
When the infantry were about six miles
from that place, the cavalry, which we're
in the advance, were attacked and driven
in. We we're ordered forward at the
double.q quick for i've miles in the hot sun.
Many dropped out along the roadside, sun
struck; but OF We went, until We were
within q mile Of the battle field, when
they found they had to stop the men or
kill them sll before we got into the fight.
vet my head with water, put leaves into
my hat, and felt better, and, as my csnt0en
was filled with strong coffee, gOt along
very well, becsuss did not drink any
water.
After resting about five minutes, we
we're ordered forward again, and our regi-
ment being in advance, we Wers the srst
in the fight. We were perfectly exhausted
when we get there, while the rebels had 8
picked position, besides being fresh and
knowing the country better than We. Bus
in we went with cheer, drove the rebels
piece, and were engaged twenty minutes
bsfore any other regiment came in. The
rebels had us just where they wanted us.
We were surrounded on three sides. They
were in the form Of q horse shoe, and ell
they hsd to do was to close up the space
where we came in, and they would have
had US all prisoners. They were four 10
one Of us, but we held our ground until
we got them in front Of US, when we re-
treated.
1t Was worss than q retreat 1t was a
regular Bull RuA. The men destroyed by
our General A baby could have managed
better than no did. He had blocked up the
roads with the wagons, and we had been
on half rstions for three days, when we
hsd train Of hundred wagons, half Of
which were hlled with provisiong We
lost everything and left nearly all our
wounded on the field They followed us
until it was go dark they could not see 10
she'll us. .-af
We travelled all nighta and the next morn
IIRg got 70 Ripley. We we're not in more
t-@- 4o'2iei u az 1EV~-- t-~s--- uara
attacked again Our men we're used up
and out Of ammunition anS Leg
Der were captured or killed. Those Of
us who had horses or mules fed We
travelled all that day and part Of the night,
and arrived at Colliersville the next az
ternoon, where we got rest and food, and
arrived at Memphis this morning.