The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-20

least one point IN tt, respecting which the
truth sh0uld be known. Recently several
regiments Of colored troops, belonging to
General Hawkins brigade, were removed
from Goodrich's Landing and Milliken's
Bend, on the Mississippi Rivsr, 70 HaiDes'
Bluff, on the Yazoo. The troops are in
excellent condition, fne spirits, well
drilled and anxious to meet the enemy
in fair and open conflict The oficers
are tried men. Nearly ell Of them have
bssn in active service, as soldiers, for
more than two years. They have been in
numerous pkirmishes, and IN many hard
fought battles, such as Pea Ridge, Forts
Donelson and Henry, Shiloh, Belmont
Cbickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post,
ThOmDsOn's Hill, Champion Hill, Black
River Bridge, Vieksburg, Jackson, &c.
You may judge Of the spirit Of such
men, they have Voluntarily accepted
positions in cOlored regiments, and now
feeling, mere than ever before, that If
again called into action, they must go
forward to conquer OF to die.
On Monday, the 1st day Of February,
an expedition started from Vicksburg up
the YazOo. Five gunboats and four
transports, having on board both white
and cOlOred troops, were employed in
the expedition. About l o'clock the next
day sn order WAS issued from this
brigade headquarters, to four regiments,
three Of infantry, viz: lst Arkansas, 10Th
Louisiana and 81 Mississippi. and one of
cavalry, the 1st Mississippi, to get three
days rations and prepare 20 march i'm
mediately. At two o'clock the order to
march under command of Colonel w. F.
Wood, Of the 1st Arkansas, was given.
and the column moved out with great
enthusiasm.
This is very rough, billy and broken
country. Oar road for the most part was
along the ridges. We marched about
twelve miles and then halted for the
night. Tra~3s of the enemy were soon
discovered. Evidently some pickets had
been surprised, for fresh blood was seen,
aud dressed hog was found, which they
bad left behind. Fortunately The hog
vas made TO serve better purpose than
that Of satisfying rebel hunger, for IL
afforded some nourishmsnt 70 true Uaion
soldiers of sable complexion. Soon our
camp fires were blazing the lights Of
which could be seen for miles, telling the
enemy that they must prepare 70 fight or
run.
Between three and four o'clock on
Wednesday morning the troops were
aroused BY the sounding Of drums, and
soon all we're up and busy, pFeps'ing bot
coffee, previous 70 a renewal Of the march
By Eve o'clock breakfast was over and
TIE colu1n ia forward motion. Onward
we m0vs6, tue soldiers iauEhi1g, 5hiag.
and singing. "The Year Of Jubilee hiss
Come" and '0id john Brown" Occa-
siOBslly the column halted for q time,
while our officers ferreted out rebel sym
pathizsFs and brought them into our
ranks. Seven citizens were thus picked
up, six Of whom We're rebels. They we're
not hurt, but we're kept With as until we
we're hslf way home sgain. When they
were released they appeared very much
pleased, ore Of them remarking that he
wss thankful that it was no worse with
them.
About ten o'clock We began to hear
tbe booming Of cannon. Then we knew
that our gunbosts bad engaged the enc
nv IN bis concentrated position.
Oar destination was Mechanicsburg,
about three miles from the encmy's main
position. Before noon our advance
reached the place, snd there fell upon the
rebel pickets. Picket firing and skir-
mishing Immediately commenced. Soon
a squad Of rebel cavalry, about twenty
five IN number, were seen about half q
mile distant. Oar cavalry made charge
on them. The rebels fed. Bat our
darkies pursued them with great deter
miaatiOn. Onward they vent, for four
miles or more, when two Of the rsbeis,
being sorelY pressed, surrendered. In
the meantime our piekeis were thrown
out al. aFound Mechanics burg, snd our
msin forea marched into the place. 4
poor, desOlsts-lookiDg place it il, con-
tanning two inhabited houses, and five
or six cid frame buildings in ruins
fair sample Of too Southern Confederscy.
Oar cavalry brought the prisoners into
csmp, and they were placed under guard.
Il was said that one Of them was 3 Lieu
tenant but there was nothing about bis
dress to indicate that he was. The
other vas private, and both belonged
10 the 9th Texas Cavalry.
Soon after We went into camp Il was
discovered that, from one to two miles
bsck. afqaad Of fur Of The rebel caval-
~ bad come upon . poor straggier-a
eolored soldier Of the 81 kississippi-
who bad been unable to keep up with
his regiment The rebels murdered him
in cold blood. They took some Of bis
clothes and ace0unterms1ts, fifed his
pockets, and left bis body living By the
side Of the road. Some persons living IN
q house nesr the place witnessed The
whole trauascffsu- lQhaa The infarma-
ton was communicated % Colonel Wood
he rssolved upon retalistioD, IL The re-
port should prove correct The Colonel
said thst It was not the first time that
such brutality bad been manifested;
bat on former occasions both officers and
soldiers Of bis own regiment had been
thus cruelty murdered.
Time passed on, until he Colonel, hag-
ing Satisfied himself that his mission 10
that place was accomplished gave orders
to prepare to march. But before leaving
the place, be told the two prisoners TIE
information that be had received respect
ing the murder; and assured ;bem that
IL il should prove true, they both must
die upon the spot where the deed was
Derbetraied He told them that their
time was short; If they had any business
70 settle, any message 20 send 70 friends,
or if they wished 20 make thsir psace
With God, they had better attend 70 these
things 81 once; adding, also, that there
were two Chsplains present, With whom
they might consult II they desired. A
little While longer and the order 10 march
was given, md the column set out on iis
return march. Very soon We cane up 10
the place where the body Of the murder
ed soldier lay. The column halted
Surgeons examined she body, and pro-
nounosd the head both bfuIsad and shot
TIE Colonel, beiHg satisfied that the re-
port which be 81 Grst received Ia relation
20 the matter vas correct. again told shs
prisoners that they must both Be shot
And now the scene became solemn. Oul
troops we're arranged 80 e. 70 form two
aides Of asquase, facing the corps.