The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-03-17


The 9th was consumed in construct
ing pontoon bridge across Pearl
river, and in destroying a large amount
of public stores and arms, and the
track of the Mississippi Central road,
which had been. repaired short time
before by the Confederate forces. Five
of General Jaekson's couriers were
captured during the day, and from dis
patches found on their persons we
learned that their loss SO far had been
250 men killed and wounded.
On the 18th We crossed Pearl river
and marched twelve miles to Brandon.
A small force of rebel cavalry skirm-
ished with our advance guard all day,
and we took several prisoners and
captured anumber of horses and mules.
A large lot Of cornmeal and other sub
sistcnce stores, were found and de-
stroyed We also obtained late files
of Southern papers; one Of which con-
tanned correspondence from one Miss
Latham, who was expelled from our
| lines some time since for taking on
horse hairs in church. 1t made the
startling announcement to the Southern
public, that the 'Yanks' had added an
other animal to their menagerie in the
person Of Beast Mcpherson The
General felt badly but could not weep.
On the 9Th we encountered the enc
my 14,O0O strong at a point he had SC.
ected to check our progress, but a
charge made by our cavalry, and a
few rounds from our infantry, soon
scattered them, and they again march
ed eastward in disorder They formed
their line Of battle in front Of house
occupied by a family, and woman
was unfortunately killed by one Of our
skirmishcrs. Lieut.. Col. Strong under
instructions from the General com
manding, procured a coffin, and had
the body deccntly inferred,
Alargc number Of prisoners and de-
serters were brought in at this place,
who all agreed in saying that their ar
my was in most wretchcd state Of
decentralization, and that they were
determined not to fght-that every
preparation had been made here for
fighting desperate battle, and the
officers made every effort to bring
their forces into it, but utterly failed.
The men said they had been defeated
and cut to pieces by superior numbers
repeatedly under bad leadership, that
they had retreated and been harasscd
until they had no heart to fight and
would not, One regiment was disarm
ed and sent back in arrest, and when
, volunteers were called for to attempt
to hold their ground, they could not
find al hundred to the regiment who
were willing to make the trial.
The 7th Corps halted at Morton
= Station on the 9th, and the 10th corps
passed to tho front Great number:
, of dead mules and horses lay along
the road; wagons, ammunition, blank
, cts, clothing, and guns, were scattered
by the wayside, and all went to show
f the disastrous effects Of that disorder,
/, ly retreat
, We passed IIillsboro, a town of abou
20 houses, on the 10th, and on the I'll
!, r-.--. v., I1IIatuI. IJuIInt
= the day, Fosters cavalry was sent t
9 Lake Station, ON the Southern rail
). road, where they destroyed thre,
a steam mills, two locomotives, thirty
/ five cars, depot and machine-shop.
We cncamped at Decatur, dilapi
). dated old town, on the night ofthe 18th
and destroyed u largo tannery. Will,
the supply train Of the 10th Corps wa
passing through the place, Jackson
:. cavalry made dash at it, and killct
g twenty -four mules, when Il aregiment 0
i infantry camoup and sent them howl
:, ing to tho woods, with aloss of sevora
4 horses, and one man killed and on,
= wounded. During the march Of tn,
% l3th, they made a,similar attempt up
4 On the train of the 18th Corps, bu
!, were driven off before any damage wa
, done.
= On the 14th we received word from
o. the rebels that they would make II dc
d tcrmined stand. at t."Summit Hill, -
II few miles in aduance, and we began t
!. look for fight; but when we reaches
~ that point, We found Il board nailed t
7 Il tree, upon which was written i
70 trightiully unmistakablo character,
!, "l3 miles to He'll p But it proved t
|, be a migratory locality, as we move
~ discovered it, unless the fellow mean
" Meridian, which we reached on tn
n morning of the 10Th, having marchc
!. one hundred and sixty miles in Glove
/, days, with desperate foe hoverin
IF upon our front, flank and rear, durin
d nearly every hour of the march.
h Before we reached Meridian, Ger
d Force was sent to Chunky Station {
10 destroy depot, warehouses, anda larg
n amount Of trcste-work, which he nc
8 complished. lie was attacked by lee
of cavalry, but soon put them to figf
"a with severe loss. General Force cal
No tured and destroyed his train of scvc
40 wagons, all he had with him. Our los
ID was three men wounded in the 45t
a, Illinois, .i
II Meridian was a town made up
lie supply and rlroad dopots, storohousc
le hospitals, officers quarters, &c, all (
m which were burned, A large amour
a of shclcd corn, salt, sugar, meal, b;
t. con and beef was found which W
in either consumed or destroyed
.
to Detachmcnts of tho army wei
a toward Mobile, Selma, and Columbu
of Mississippi, and destroyed the trac