Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-06-21
The Defeat Of General stnrris.
NagnlNfenl lgAliag " "a Meqf0 Ntoog.

Magnificent fighting by The Negro TyOops
CINCINNATI, Thursday, June lG, 1854.
Tho following information 10 regard to III,
iaie expedition Of Gen. Sturgis is gathered most
~ from officers accompanying the expedition
and is mainly correct.
Nothing of interest occurred until the expe.
dition passed Salem, Miss, on the 9th inst
when 800 men were sent in the advance, and
passing through Ripley, they captured several
small parties Of the enemy.
onward they kept, moving directly upon
Menli aud Dansile, destroying tho railroad and
burning the depot at the former place, and con.
slaniy diminishing with a considerable body of
the enemy. -
They rejoIncd our main column on the slb
inst, having captured 25 prisoners.
Oh Tie Vth, our main column passed through
Ripley, moving southwest
on inc lOtil, our cavalry moved in the drec
hon ef uantown, leaving the infantry in camp.
After proceeding few miles, thcy eneountcr-
cd the enemy's pickets, and soon came unoa n
i"rge body OF the enemy in position, and the
battle became general.
Inc cavalry dismOunted, and drove the onemy
some distance, when the lnttcr were re- enforced
and our men fought for four hours with the great.
desperation, and against greatly superior odds.
Onr infantry soon came up when the cavalry,
at p. NJ, retired.
Another large body of the Rebels arrived on
the railroad just ut this time, in sight of the
battle, which WAS now raging furiousiy. ali our
forces being engaged
1t soon became evident that we could not with.
slaud such attacks as were being made by vastly
superior numbers, and our men began to fail
back, oontesiing every inch of ground.
1t is said that the colored troops fought with
inc most determined desperation, and were tho
last TO give way '''
~ Our forces reIreated to Ripley, a distance Of
30 n'rs' that night, after burning large por-
non o, ,he supply train and destroying ton pieces
o' afhllefy, which they were unable TO move
forward through the swnmps,
va tue llth the Rebels made . desperate nt
iach on our infantry which was repulsed. bnt
'io hltAoG was ahorily aiterward renewed, and
co. siderable portions of our infantry were ent
oil aud captured. SN'
II ll sla'ei that after the ammunition had he
come eHhsused many Of the Negro troops bonrd- |
el ihe ammunition train US 1t was being Se.ttov
cd mud filled their bosOms and pockets with car
Hiugesi aud that others Of the Negro troon.
gathered ammunition from the cast awav al
couirenents OF the white troops, and thus were
Memphis. 's1'"su
1t is also stated that one body Of 600 infant
~ which were cut of aud supposed 10 have |
been captured, were defended by 200 nearo |
troops from the repeated assaults Of the Rebel
cavalry, and arrived at Collieryille soon after
the muin column arrived there.
Another body OF three hundred negro lroops
came in this morning, having escaped by various
roeds' All brought their arms and aocoutre.
ments with them. 1''''
"a 91r loss is now estimated at 125 troops Killed,
and ID pieces Of artillery. ''
About l,bOO men, all of tho 59tb United
s,otes ,aa oolored troops, have come in There are
ioO men aud six officers missing.
Three hundred of the Goth United States CO.
Ored troops are missing. '''''