The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-10-04
HARVEY's SCOUTS.
[FRoA eLAEg8RxE's HISTORY OF aIssIssIPPI.-
vol. II.
ADDISON HARVEY.

:, -A0DAA3N-t NA<.-@ -
!. Captain of the Scouts, was born in Holmes
county, Miss, 1897 Graduated at Chapel
Hill, n. G.; afterwards in the LAW depart
ment of the University, Lebanon, Tenn.
1859, and settled in Canton, Miss, to prae-
tice his profession. In 1861, when the
trouble between North and South became
|, imminent, he volunteered in COMPANY
i commanded by joseph r. Davis, then a
member of the Canton bars The company
was ordered to Pensacola was on duty
there twelve months, and was there muster
ed out. On his return home, Capt. Luckett
and himself raised company Of cavalry, OF
which the former was elected Captain and
himself 1st Lieut.. They joined Col. Writ
Adams regiment. then in the northern part
of the State. in 1862 Lieut.. Harvey soon
attracted the attention of the commanding
officer and was frequently detached on Sc
cret expeditions demanding intelligence, ac-
tivity and nerve. His reports were so use
ful and reliable, that he was soon retired
from other duty and permanently detailed
with twenty-five picked men from Adams
Brigade, for special service.
Adams Brigade was soon ordered to the
southern section of the State, and camped
near Port Gibson. Harvey and his men
kept close to the enemy, making frequent
captures of foraging parties. On one ocea-
sion Lieut.. Harvey was informed that the
enemy, camped on the northern side of Big
Black, were in the habit of watering their
horses in the river. He dsmounted his
men, concealed them under the cliffs and
captured several squads. These were, Of
course, missed at their camp, and soon
company Of cavalry was sent to reeonnoiter,
and fell into the same trap. They, however,
refused to surrender, and Harvey opened
| fire, killing a number at the first discharge
| He pursued the Others into camp, creating
quite panic by the audacity of the charge
Finding he had charged into brigade, he
promptly retreated without pausing to apol-
ogize or say good bye!
| One day Lieut.. Harvey was riding leis-
urely along the public road near Big Black,
with thee or four of his men, going to make
a call on Mrs. Montgomery, whose son be-
longed to the Scouts, when he found himself
| in front of ten mounted Yankee troopers, who
had just crossed the river to "soy out the
land" Giving the word to his men ne charged
right into these Feds, who, doubtless, sup
posing regiment was at hand, turned tail
and fed. Our boys pursued and only one
of the ten escaped. Harvey charged in
front, and mounted on q superior horse,
overlook and passed several of the fugitives,
but he left them for his men and pressed on
after those who were ahead. The only one
who escaped, as soon as he crossed the river,
wheeled and fred parting shot at the Lieu
tenant, who had just shot his third man, |
and seiz ed his horse
Soon after this the Northern government |
began to enlist colored troops. The Scouts |
fell in with long wagon train from Natchez, |
guarded by colored regiment. A desper-
ate fight ensued. The negroes had been |!
taught that we would show them no quar- |
ter, and fought like devils. After they /
were shot down, they would thrust their /
bayonets into our horses as we passed. We |
met them in narrow lane, and their teams |
becoming frightened, turned round and |
broke the tongues of the wagons, blocking |
up the road. Of course there was terrible
slaughter. They finally broke, leaping over
fences and hiding in the woods, leaving
over forty dead ON the field. We had three
men wounded one of them, Alfred Land,
a gallant fellow, was shot through the right
breast, and bayoneted by negro. He |
placed the muzzle against Lands breast
and fred and then thrust his bayonet into
him when he fell. He fingered long time,
but never was able to rejoin the command.
Lieut. Harvey was also wounded. A ne
RIO, Onl1 AbC 1dGCS OiiJ zAICu ,dt lllu 4Hc /
ball took off the point Of his nose. Harvey |
(whose pistols were all empty) seized
musket from man who had Just surrender
ed, charged on the negro, and hurled the
musket, like jayelin, at him. 1t stuck in
the ground, quivering, and the negro fell
on his knees and begged for quarter. And
got it.
The invaders patrolled the Mississippi
river with a brigade of cavalry and artillery
under Gen. Elliott. This brigade was trans
ported from point to point by steamers;
frequently landed and sent out marauding
parties, who plundered indiscriminateiy and
insulted helpless women. On a certain oc-
casion they landed at Grand Gulf, and sent
out regiment of cavalry to capture or an
initiate Harvey and his command who had
been constantly annoying their foraging
parties. Harvey ambushed his men, but
left four of them on horseback to decoy the
Feds into the trap. Our men kept at
prudent distance, in full view, and were
pursued pell NELL by the cavalry firing and
yelling The moment they came within
easy range of our guns the Scouts poured a
yolley into the mass, and the road was lit
orally covered with the fallen. Those be-
hind, however, brayely pressed forward and
compelled Harvey to mount under fire and
retreat. They pursued, however, several
miles, and we returned the fire until our
guns and pistols were emptied, and our
horses much fatigued.
Our leader seeing that the situation was
unpromising, and that farther retreat would
be impracticable from the nature of the
ground, ordered halt on the brow OF hill,
and told his men they must put on a bold
front, and charge as though we had fallen
back on our reserve, and had been strongly
reinforced. The rase succeeded; and the
enemy precipitately retreated to their
steamer. zHaaSz 8 SIS
James Renfrew, a trooper, distinguished
himself in this affair. He was in charge Of
the decoy party previously referred to.
When Lit Harvey ordered his men to halt
and face about, Renfrew led the charge,
struck the head of the astounded column,
and came back with two prisoners trotting
before himi The enemy apparently were SO
astonished by the audacity of the scout that
they forgot to FIRE on him, and his two
prisoners did not seem to know that each Of
them had loaded gun in his hands
This brave fellow afterwards fell in a
charge, and Harvey said he felt as though
his right arm had been shot away.
During Sherman's raid on Meridian, the
Scouts annoyed the hanks of his army, fall
ing in daily with plundering parties. They
killed and captured about one hundred and
fifty, and came near grabbing the General
himself, who only escaped by falling back,
at full speed, on column of infantry.
Lit. Harvey gave the first information at
Headquarters of the landing of Grant and
his army at Brninsburg. Gen. Bowen
marched ont to epcounter him, and fought
desperately, bRt fruitlessiy, near Port Glib
son, in which the gallant Gen. Tracy was
killed
The Scouts retreated with our army. but
remained in the vicinity of Jackson to
watch the movements of the enemy, While
they were in the act of eyacuating Jackson,
and commands and trains very much mixed
up, 1t. H., at the head Of his party, dash
ed into Jackson and charged the rear guard
commanded BY Col. Cromwell, who, seeing
his men slaughtered, refused point Blank to
surrender, and soon fell covered with
wounds His remains we're escorted to the
Bowman House, and soon thereafter buried
By 1t Harvey, the only homage the
exigency allowed him to pay to the gallant
soldier.