The National tribune., 1882-06-10

CaLtiiiy-
The movements of so large an army as this
are soon known all over the country, and
have no dCGb, that long before this letter
will reach You, you viii have learned, by
hook or crook, in spite of the rebels cutting
of our communication with the North, that
this army began falling back from its posi-
ton, fifteen miles south OF this place, on the
Gay before yesterday, Saturday.
We, who had been endeayorng TO keep
ourselves thoroughly posted about the move
ments Of the enemy, and Of our Own army,
were surprised at the rebel raid toward
Jackson. still more surprised at their en-
trance into Holly Springs, but when this
army, with no enemy threatening 1t with
. superior forces. in the front or on the fanks,
and as ii seemed then for nothing but cay
airy dash into Holly Springs. ] say when,
as it then seemed, for no other cause, the
army began TO fall back. and our own troops
. passing through Oxford toward the north,
/ we were at first worse puzzled than ever.
/ The cause IS apparent now. An army Of men
/ IS none the less relieved from the necessity
OF eating than the individual man is, and as
there Is not much left that is eatabe in this
country, General Pope's plan Of subsisting
on the enemy could not be put into practice
here, ard the supplies can come from no di
rectiOn but the North. Three or four days
ratlons are not sufficient TO push on to Gre
NADIA and open the road from there to Mem
phis. Those who know General Grant best,
"a l., II
II. The army will now probably fall back
until the road to Columbus is rendered
secure. With the supplies it will then get,
1t will BE able to push on and open new lines
OF communication with the North.
On Saturday, the 18th, General Nc
Arthur's division passed through town on
their way southwark, and On yesterday
passed through again on their return. Day
before yesterday everything looked as though
we should continue advancing steadily, as
We have done since leaving La Grange, but
yesterday the face Of affairs changed. Cot
ton, which had begun to CONS IN in large
quantities. suddenly got a every black eye
as they say on change; suffers began to pack
up, and to-day everything looks like taking
The back-track. A very ridiculous rumor
got atloat among outsiders that a tremendous
army was marching up from Grenada, and q
few of the cOtton-buyers, who had heard of
the bad fortunes of the brethren at Holly |
Springs, became very nervous. The troubles |
of one nervous pair have already become a |
subject Of fun fer hundreds. They were |
lodging together at the hotel, and, like cats. |
slept with one eye and both ears open. They /
had gone to bed early, with the intention of |
getting up in good season and leaving the town |
with the first division of the army. They had |
just dozed off III uneasy slumbers when a
drum was beaten at rather IN unusual hour,
in some one of our distant camps. 90 my
Lord" says H, there's the long roll!
the enemy are coming sure enough! There's
going to be a battle right here! What shall
we do?" Both were now up on end, listen
ing to the sound. The drum continued to
roll, and as the wind carried the sound
about, it came now near and loud, now faint
and far, like the sound of some ghostly drum
beaten by spirits in the air. Presently q
stronger gust of wind brought the sound,
right under their window This
was too much. In an instant they were on
their feet hunting distractedly in the dark
for boots, pantaloOns, coats, etc. Iva
so clean daft" as the Scotch say. that he
could find nothing but his coat (which con-
tanned his money and his spurs Some fun
loving acquaintance, or the boot-blaci< of the
hotel, if the hotel was guilty of that institu-
ton, had carried off his boots. After a vain
search for them, he drew On the coat, clapped
the spurs on his stocking feet, and started
down stairs for his horse. But" says W,
won't the guard arrest us if we are out
afternight without the cOuntcrsign?n "Eh?"
countersigni" guard !" and II paused {
for an instant on the stairs. Just then an
other puff of wind brought the sound of the ,
drum from the distant hills; that decided
The matter; down stairs they went, out to !
The stable, clapped on saddles and brides,
mounted horse and away, and for three miles ,
1ut from the north side Of Oxford, their :
light from The sound Of that drum was equal
o Tam O'Shanter's race with the witches
across the bridge. !
Toward bTeakfast-time, not finding the Z
'oad full Of crowds, running away like them :
elves, and the woods around looking rather
,uerrillaish, they concluded that it would be :
,etter to show their pluck by coming back ,
o town. Last night, one Of the pair, II, :
to have more courageous company, +
md changed his lodging-place. On going to :
,ed, he inquired of his roommate if the I
nemy would be likely to search 4 mans
t0ckings for money, in case he was captured? q
IN being told that they probably would not Y
hinl to look in them, he slowed away six +
housand dollars in one OF the stockings. !;
which he took the precautiof to wear on his /
eet during the night. In the morning he .
lad forgotten where he had put the money. +
nd went 10 a mutual friend of himself and -
DOMINATE, with a grievOus story Of his +
having robbed him. Half an f
our after his roommate heard of it, and =
old him that his money was in his own n
toclings. i
Ridiculous as the foregoing story may ap- h
ear, it is ali true, to which there are num- :,
erS here can attest y
TURNING NEGROES WHITE.
A Cincinnati physician, one DR.. Quirell, 2