White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1864-10-06

(For the Chief.)
Carr 7rH Kansas CAVALRY, ]

infer, because We are again in our old camp, |
that We have been idle. Who ever heard oil
the 7th being idle, when there was hard fight |
ing and hard march,, g to be donef This would |
be thing unpreced ented In the history Of tie |
Regiment. Ever since the Sturges disaster. |
there has been hari work for the gallant little \
army Of this Department. We were not salts |
fed that the prestige Of victory ehould rest
with the reoel General Forrest and his rags- |
mullins, and 90 sn expedition under Gea. A. ]. |
Smith. known a. the "old war horse." was |
sent to hunt up the ubiquitous Forrest. Well, |
We succeeded in finding him at Tupeilo, Mis-
sissippi, somewhat to our surprise; for his pol |
icy generally has been to draw Us Is far As
possible from our communications, then By .
quick movement strike some exposed point
where he Was entirely unlocked for. Thus, -
his command 10 all mounted, and - every SET
tier ia the country 10 . spy for him, he has
many times been successful. But in this in
stance he seemed to have changed his policy;
instead Of working - usual to get in our rear,
he came boldly out and offered battle. Hris-
oners taken in the Hght. informed US that Gen.
Forrest made them = speech, in which he told
them that be would again lead them TO victory;
that our army was composed of hundred day
men, and few regiments Of veteran cavalry;
and that he would give US much moro severe
drubbing than he had given Sturges. His men,
laboring under this delusion. pitched in. and
We had the exquisite pleasure of tanning their
dirty og.skins in manner that they win not
soon forget: and il We bad had rations. we
would have completely used them up, or driven
them entirely ont of the country; but our "a.
tons gave out, and We were compelled to re-
turn. On this trip. the Seventh Was always at
the point of danger; sometimes in front, skir.
mishing with the enemy; again in the rear.
protecting the column. And as We ever have
tried to do our duty, We will never bring dis
grace on the glorious old stars and stripes, nor
the little State that sent rs out to represent her
in this struggle for national life.
After short rest, We again started from
Lagrange. On the lst of August, vs compile.
ted the railroad 70 Tsllahatchie River. On
the 9Th Of August, our advance commenced
diminishing With Forests force south Of the
river. the Seventh moving on the right flank
After quite . brisk fight, the rebels gave way
We followed them some fifteen OF twenty
miles, and encaaped for the night in the then
beautiful village Of Oxford. We returned the
next morning to the river, but were hardly un
sad lied before the rebs. we're upon 10 again
We went out, and again drove them al. Thil
kind of warfare vas carried on until the 18th
A.. when the entire expedition started out. W.
] vent a. far as Oxford. where i despatch VA
Q received for us to retarn; that Forrest had at
tackled Memphis with his entire force. Gen
Mower had placed guards over many Of thu
houses in town, upon his arrival; but upoI
hearing this news they were withdrawn, ant
the BOYS were not slow to take the hint. Cham
bersburg came ve-y forcibly to our memories
b. also, the three or four thousand helpless wdmel
and children that we're left without roof &
cover them; and when We left, Oxford va
\ numbered among the things that we're. W
, moved SLOWLY back to the river, and found tn
u temporary bridge that we had built PARTIAL
washed away; sd we must needs build ne'
one In the evening, after our arrival, tn
rehs., thinking that we were all across, save
few stragglers whom they might gotble, dash
!. ed in upon our rear. two thousand strong Bu
. thew counted without their host this time. Tw
"a veteran infaAtry regiments were waiting Il
:, them; they suffered them to come up unit
}, within close musketry range, and then opcne
upon them. You may bet they skedaddle
% out of range Of those muskcts on double quicl
!. but not without leaving a number Of deaf
70 wounded and prisoners in our hands.
' mentioned above, that nearly every perso
70 ia this country was spy for the rebels. Anon
4. the wounded taken in this fight. was very Of
"a man, who lived but short distance from OF
es pickets. he claimed to be Union man, a.
was frequently within our lines. When
thought he could do 90 with safety. be toe
D. his gun and piloted the rebels in. After Il
/. rebels fell bach, he was recognized BY some
ve the boys. Gen. Mower, learning the circur
20 stances, paid the old gentleman a visit, Al
n politely advised him to die. that night, If pc
O. sible, of his wound; for. aaid he, "If you I
tn not, will have you shot in the morning" m
ut Reb. died that night-report saith not how.
ty After this attack upon our rear guard. d
," Seventh Kansas alone maintained runni
ci fight with the resreating rebels for six milf
h, Alonxo Dixon. Orderly Sergeant Of Co. H., y
silled in this fight. He was . noble You
H. man and brave soldier, and his life has be
ng freely given in q noble cause. After this
n-i ID sude