Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-04-28
AIEsCELLANY.
AREKIusCENCE OF THE WAg.
Rebel Surprisc-UntOn Vie
GOry-A Fight IN Louisiana.
BY A UNION OFFICER.

In the early Spring OF 1863, Just pre-
viOus TO that marvellous campaign oi
the Army Of the Tennessee, which end
ed with the investment and capture Oi
Vicksburg, L received orders TO move
my command from the bogs and swamps
of given point sOuth Of Aicn pals, on
the west side of the Mississippi, and take
AN advanced position TO the right and
front of the then established lines. With
five squadrOns of light cavalry, tine bulk
of two infantry regiments and several
pieces Of light artillery, amply supplied
with the details of a thorough outfit,
Our command, Disguised with the eRRui
and WeaFisOme routine of camp duty,
dress arades, drills and reviews, babe
n glad good bye to the turbid waters OF
the Mississippi, and, with elastic step
and cheerful hurrab, turned face to the
south and west. We made but a short
march, as General Grant was keeping
his troops we'll under hand ia view of a
speedy start on that marvellous march.
the character and results of which
covered that galant Captain and his
glorious battaliOns with an immortal
name. But, short or long, we were to
march and to take that envied position
amongst all brave sOldieTs-tbe extreme
front
Our orders were brief. We were to
maintain an active system of scouting,
secure all possible information concern
ing the number, position and probable
movements of the enemy, aud to report
frequently to Headquarters.
To the sound of the bugle, neigh OF
horse, shout of men, CHATTER of equip
ments, roll of wagons and artillery, we
pressed through the heavy forests and
passed cheerily by the deserted planta-
tiOns of that once furnishing section.
We had a small but gallant command of
high-mettled Western boys, whose
hearts never rose so high as when, be
meath their chosen standards, they met
the enemy IN deadly conflict
At noon we bivOuaced, and ut night,
when the air was redOlent with music,
we reached our assigned position.
What had once been an immense
plantation now became our temporary
camp. Rapidly the troops fell into pro
per positions. The cavalry were thrown
well to the front, and TANKS, with
strong pickets and OVtpOsts, and the ar
tillery, carefully posted on the most
commanding pOsitions) were we'll sup
ported by the infantry, with no incOn-
siderable force as a rear guard. Head
quarters were a little to the right of the
centre, and no time was lost IN com
meucing operations.
Day followed day, and, though the
scouts secured the entire country, we
gathered but slight information. A
regiment of Texas Cavalry were eternal
~ lowering about, and it was not a rare
occurrence to have brisk skiTmishing,
with an occasional loss of several of our
command, through their own negligence
or audacity.
We also frequently received from the
Texas ''COlOuel" notes or - orders, .
displaying an Indifference to the ordin-
AIRY rnles of photography, which were
characteristic of the chirGLry from the
Potomac t. the Rio Grande.
These effusiOns informed us that our
plans were all known, our numbers and
exact position carefully studied, &c,
&c. A delicate intimatiOn formed the
universal perOTatiOn To the effect that if
we ''didn't quit the invadin' of the Sun
ny South, we would soon be found "a
danglin from persimmOn trees" The
following literal copy will give the rea-
der an idea OF the general style and
scope of our doughty Texan COlOners
method of ''dOing business on paper.
HE'D QUoRroRs, CoSFED PHoRcEs. Tx. Cav.l
Skunc Heller, May the g.
COLLSFL -, Commanding Yanks.
SAE-This VA let VA no that won IF mi men
was meenly taken by some Of yOuens yesterday
and that Ell he liant scent bsk TIA mi He'd . $ "a
Woust vii procede to hang too CD Of your men tn
WOnst and may hang more f0- won ID Southern pa
tTiOt is werth thOusln dam Tanks.
vii only ad 10 tins cOnexiOn and finale p. 5.
that We TO avn about yOUens and sum Of these mites
vii wip ont clean.
Answer to w0nst aud dread the Texan Rangirs.
T. SAN. HILLwELI, COlnel Commanding.
OF course but little attention was
paid to these absurd documents, fur
ther than to let the Texan Colonel -un-
derstand, that are kept a good supply OF
his men on hand as prisoners, and that
they should be dealt with as he dealt
with ours.
One evening, the Captain of a party
who had Just returned from "a three
days scout, reported to me with a
bright-faced ''cOntTaband, who had
been picked up on the road, and who
claimed to have much important news,
which he wOuld only communicate to
''the General. Diminishing the Cap
tain and some other friends, 'Sack'
was allowed to give the extentand char
acter of his information Briefly he
told that General Dick Taylor had de
tached a comparatively large command
from his army, with view of complete
~ cutting of and capturing our little
force. For some days a most unnatu-
raj stiffness had prevailed in the conn
try Immediately surrounding our posi-
ton. The most adventurous officer.
with instructions to scour field, wood
and swamp, would only report, s'nO-
body seen. We could hardly help,
then, but infer that the Texan troops
had fallen back from our front to sons
comparatively remote locality, Wher,
they might, with better prOpriety, ref
and receive endorsements, and then
by rapid n OVements, and with superior
numbers, cat of retreat and force sur
render or comparative destruction.
sack" gave dates and figures Will
marked clearness. Re had marched
from Texas himself with Colonel W
who commanded the advanced rein
fOrcements-had overheard many pro
posed movements and was mighty
Altered he wouldn't get a chance t.
reach the Yankees before the ''cOnfeds'
would accomplish their designs. ID
s'bressed de good God" that He had al
lowed him to get of. and offered pray
ers night aud day for our success. III,
also said that the night before he left i
was resolved that when the moon wa
II Il L.
at midnight, and that Colonel Il. Sam
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