Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-05-29

Without huy lfcpiuhiiout huu ousCtNiuR
that the man belonged to the Third Mich
igan regiment.
II took you orce before at Browns
vile, about a year ago" said the Ser
geant.
Bell recognized him as one of his cap
tors at Brownsville, Tenn, when he was
first made prisoner at his own suggestion
by order of General Hurlbut
Perhaps you won't get away so soon
this time" said the Sergeant.
"Perhaps will" replied Bell. "You
mands the troops in the rear?"
Colonel Hatch"
II wish you would take me to him"
said Bell"
What do you want to see Colonel
Hatch for ?"
1T makes no difference" said Bell.
~ will explain to him.
1t seemed to occur to the Sergeant that
Bell might be scout, and he ordered
one of his men to dismount and give up
his horse, and putting him in charge of
two others, they galloped back about a
mile. They met long lines of cavalry
advancing down the road, and finally
found Colonel Hatch, with his staff, eat
ing breakfast of crackers, sardines,
and pickles, under some chinatr in
front of deserted log-house about q
dozen yards from the road. They used a
wooden box for table, and as they eat,
the line of cavalry was still riding past
them on the road. As Bell was standing
there, several Confederate prisoners who
had been recently brought in were taken
past, and he was glad that the two guards
still having him in charge would give the
impression that he was a prisoner.
Hatch did not now know him by sight,
but had often heard of him from General
Sooy Smith.
As the Sergeant brought Bell, who had
dismounted, to Colonel Hatch, he said !:
Colonel, here is a man we have cap
tured who says he wants to see you"
Colonel Hatch" said Bell, 81 should
like to see you Alone"
The Colonel rose and stepped some
distance from the other officers, Bell fol-
lowing him. =.
Colonel, am Bell, the Union scout" !"
said he Perhaps you know of me
through General Smith"
he Immediately responded, II have
heard of you"
A person whom Bell subsequently
learned was the correspondent of st.
Louis paper, here moved toward them,
and the scout, being on the alert, nodded
his head in that direction, and moved
further toward the Lighthouse.
II am sorry" said Bell, "that have
no evidence except my own word to offer
you as to my identity, but | think | can
relate some incidents to ycu which will
convince you that l am the person | rep
resent myself to be-
"General Smith," said the Colonel,
"has already given me your personal de-
scription, and | recognize you. Who're
are you from"
81 left Chalmers headquarters scarce
y an hour ago." replied Bell. " He was
then encamped about three miles below
here. His advance. consisting of the
Eighteenth Mississippi cavalry, with one
hundred and eight prisoners, captured at
Colliersville, has taken the road to Wy
att, where they will cross the Talla-
hatchie."
"What is Chalmers strength 2"
I" He has about three thousand men,
with nine pieces Of artillery, four ofwhich
only are serviceable. If you attack him,
he will probably make stand at Ingra-
hams Mills, about mile below his pre-
sent position, in order to enable his ad-
vance to get away with the prisoners, who
are on foot. If your force is sufficiently
strong, however, | think by keeping the
short road to Wyatt, and passing Chal.
mers force, you can interpose yourself
between him and the river, and cut off
these prisoners, and perhaps retake
them"
liam unacqualnted with the roads"
said Colonel Hatch. "Could you not &C.
company me as q guide? "
~ should be recognized" replied
Bell, "and it would destroy my future
usefulness; but can give you rough
diagram of the two roads to Wyatt, show
ing the short one."
Bell sketched the roads on an envel-
ope, which he held on his knee, and after
answering number eff other questions,
and eating a few crackers and sardines,
he took the road toward Collersville.
Col. Hatch Immediately started toward
Wyatt, but failing by some mistake to
take the right road, encountered Chal-
mers at Ingraham's Mills, as Bell had
predicted. The Confederates made q
stubborn resistance, and held the Union
force in check until the Eighteenth Mis-
sissippi had had sufficient time to cross
the Tallahatchie with the prisoners, after
which they retired toward Wyatt. The at
tempt to release the prisoners, there.
fore, failed; but g severe engagement
took place at Wyatt, in which Colonel
Hatch Inflicted considerable loss upon
the snemy.
A major Of the Third Michigan cav
airy, during the morning, while crossing
from oae flank to another of Hateh's
force, met with q very peculiar and hag-
ardous adventure. As he was riding
through field his horse stepped over an
old well, the opening Of which had been
concealed BY rubbish thrown upon it,
The fore.fest Of the horse struck just to
,he further edge Of the we'll, while his
IL I'll A. he