Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-08-19
5fiseellanu.
Capture of Holly Springs, Miss.

During the month of December, 1863
General Grants headquarters with
which was connected) were at Holly
Springs. We had left La Grange, Tenn,
and without any serious engagement
reached Holly Springs. Establishing
headquarters here, the troops were put
in motion, and Pemberton driven from
behind his works on the Tallahatchie.-
Oxford was occupied on the 8th of De-
cember, and the army pushed on to Wa
ter Valley. Our railroad communica-
tion was with Columbus, KY, and Mem
phis, Tenn, long line to protect and
keep in repair, and one that afforded fine
opportunities for the guerrilla band to
seriously imperil our army by destroying
the numerous bridges, or burning the
trestle work SO common in this country.
AT each town, station, bridge or trestle,
troops were stationed. A little squad
watched by trestle during the day, and
at night company would be sent out as
a reserve. A bridge was left to the
watchfulness of regiment perhaps and
Holly Springs, with its immense quanti-
ties of commissary and quarter-master
stores, thousands of bales of cotton, the
arsenal full of munitions of war, and
Gen. Grants headquarters (where he had
left everything except what was actually
needed in the field, J was left to the COM
mand of Col. M, of the til Wis
consin Volunteers. He had troops enough
to hold it against thousands, if he had
made the preparation that loyal officer
should have made.
General Grant and part of the staff
(and also his wife) had gone to Oxford,
leaving couple of staff officers, his
clerks and one of his children at Holly
Springs. General Van Dorm, at the head
of a mere squadron of rebel cavalry, had
passed around the flank of our army and
was marching to Holly Springs. He
knew perfectly well what was in town
and how badly his halfstarved and al
most naked men needed the rations and
comfortable clothing stored there. Col.
M had been warned of Van Dorn's
approach twenty-six hours before his ar
rival, by General Grant, and for reasons
known only to himself he made no prep
aration for an attack. Van Dorm at the
head of his cavalry rode into Holly
Springs as the first gray streaks of dawn
appeared, without the loss of man or
horse. As had to join the General at
Oxford that day. had just arisen, when
/ heard an alarm on the street and the
patter of many horses's feet. told
Capt. R, with whom l roomed, to go
to the front door and ascertain the cause
of the alarm. Without putting anything
ON him but his under-clothing, and hold
ing it with one hand, and rubbing his
his eyes with the other, he went to the
door and opening it was met with the
morning salutation of Surrender, you
id Yankee" waited for no such in
vitation, but made my escape to the sta
BILE in the rear, and threw saddle and
bride on Surgeon Ms horse, when
l was joined by clerk and one of the
Generals body-guard. Our plans were
soon formed; we must escape to Oxford
and inform the General. Fortune ia
vored us for We met no enemy. The reb-
els had ridden to the court square before
they commenced to plunder, and we had
time to escape to the Oxford road, and
after hard ride We entered Oxford in
safety. General Grants feelings can be
better imagined than described when he
was informed of the capture, and Mrs.
Grant was anxious about the safety of
her child. Thus Col. M permitted
Van Dorm at the head of a mere squad
ron to capture this important post
and destroy all its valuable stores, with
out striking a blow in its defense, or
scarcely rising from his couch. He was
but should have been shot, to-
gether with 1t. COL, who walked |