The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-15
OFF WITH GRIERS0N
A Dashing Raid in the Rear of Hood's
Army and its Results.
by r. ". sarby, 64.Hc Creek, Mich.1

phis, Tenn, conceived fie idea Of sending a
large force Of caval saeta &c tap the Mobile
and Ohio Railroad south of Corinth. This ex-
petition was intrusted to General Grierson,
and it consisted of three brigades The First,
commanded by Colonel Karge, was composed
of the Second New Jersey, Fourth Missouri,
Seventh Indiana, and First Mississippi mounted
rifles; the Second brigade, commanded by
Colonel Winslow, comprised the Third and
Fourth Iowa and Tenth Missouri, while the
| Third brigade commanded by Colonel Osborne,
consisted of the Fourth and Eleventh Illinois,
Second Wisconsin, Third u. S. colored troops,
and fifty men of the pioneer corps fcoioredl
the latter commanded by Lieutenant Lewis,
of the Seventh Indiana cavalry, numbering in
all about $500 men,. The whole was COM
manded by Brigadier- General b. III. Grierson,
whose staff was as follows Major M. H. Will
liams Tenth Missouri cavalry, acting assistant
inspector general, and Captain S. L. Woodward,
assistant acknowledgement, o. S. A. tele-
graph operator accompanied the expedition.
Previous to the departure of this expedition,
reliable information reached us through our
scouts that the enemy was accommodating a
large quantity of supplies the line of the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad and Mississippi Gen.
trail Railroad for transportation to Hoods army,
and on the morning of the 18th of December a
brigade was sent forward to make demonstra-
ton on Bolivar, with orders to then swing
southeast and join the main column near Ri
and several days previous, it was found impos-
sible to cross Wolf River, and not being able to
effect the intended junction, the command re-
turned to Memphis
THE DEPARTURE
On the morning of the 21st the main expedi-
ton left Memphis accompanied by consider
able force of infantry, and moved along the line
Of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad as far
as Moscow, making demonstration toward
Corinth. The cavalry under Grierson cut loose
from the infantry near Germantown and pur-
sued the most direct route towards Ripley,
passing through Lamar and Salem.
From place known as Early Grove de-
tachment of 100 men, commanded by Captain
Meet, of THE Tenth Missouri was ordered to
proceed to the neighborhood of Grand Junction
and cut the railroad and telegraph lines there.
He regained the command between Salem and
Ripley, having successfully accomplished the
work.
The transportation for the expedition con-
sisted of pack mules, carrying ten days rations
and 100 rounds Of ammunition extra per man
No artillery, ambulances or wagons accompa-
MED the expedition. Such membranes having
| proved fatal to many Bell-planned raids, were
| dispensed with, that the command might be
able to move with greater rapidity.
eRIERsoN's ORDERS.
General Griersons orders were to cut the
Mobileand Ohio Railroad effectually, if possible.
As TO further operations, the general was to
use his own discretion, and the sequel viii
show how vel he exercised it. The march to
ripley was un9ppo5ed, very lew of the enemy
! being seen along the road. Arriving at the
latter place in time for dinner on the 24th, two
| detachments of the Second New Jersey under
the command of Major Van Rensselaer,, were
Immediately sent out with orders to proceed to
Bonneville on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad,
to destroy it with the government property
there, and rejoin the command at EIlstown,
| twenty miles south OF Ripley. scout ac-
conpanied this expedition as guide. The
other detachment of 200 men, under the
command Of Captain Search, of the Fourth Illi-
n0ls, was 30 strike the same road at Guntown
and rejoin the command at EllistoWn Both
/ expeditions were suceessful-the former, cap
turing and destroying large quantity OF quar-
terInaster stores and five cars, besides cutting
the telegraph, burning railroad bridges and
trestle work, and paroling about twenty pris-
! oners. At the same time the attention of the
enemy at Corinth was diverted. The Confed-
crates were led to anticipate an attack on that
place. At Guntown the track and the tele-
graph line were destroyed, and while this was
being done the main column, after few hours
rest, left Ripley and moved rapidly toward
Tupelo, arriving there on the afternoon of the
18th, without meeting opposition. From this
point the Eleventh Illinois, Lieutenant-Colo-
mel Funk commanding, was sent to destroy
bridge and some trestle work over the Old
Town Creek. In the meantime Colonel Karpe
was ordered to move rapidly upon Verona Sta
ton, seven miles south, with his entire bri-
gade, information having been obtained that a
force Of 200 dismounted cavalry belonging to
Forests command was stationed at that place.
guarding an immense amount of quarterrnaster
stores. About 10 o'clock that evening a gal
liant charge was made into the place, led by the
Seventh Indiana cavalry. Captain SHELTON COM
manding, and the surprise was so complete that
little resistance was offered. Most of the gar
rison, aided by the darkness escaped into the
timber. This affair resulted in the easy cap
ture of eight buildings filed with fixed alnrnT-
ton, yariously estimated at from $50 to 300
tons, 5000 stand of new carbines 5000 sacks
OF sheiled corn, large quantity Of wheat, an
immense amount Of quartermaster stores, cloth
ing, camp and garrison equipage, a train of six
teen cars, and two hundred army wagons-tbe
same that were captured by Forrest from GEN.
/ eral Sturgls near GuntoRn, the preceding June
After efiectually destroying all this property.
tearing up the track, burning the bridges, and
cutting the telegraph wire, the brigade started
| to rejoin the command, leaving a fire in their
| rear for miles. The explosion of ammunition.
which continued at intervals all night, added
greatly to the splendor of this scene. which
must have produced a peculiar effect upon the
minds of the citizens who were not aware of
our presence.
THE CAPTURE OF oKoLoNA.
On the morning of the 26th the command
moved out from Tupelo. The Third brigade
| was ordered to proceed down the railroad and
| destroy the bridges, trestle work, water tanks
| &c, and, on arriving at Shannon, it surprised
and captured large train of cars containing
one hundred new army wagons on the way to
| Forests forces besides quantity Of quarter
master and commissary stores, and also secured
possession of several government buildings
all Of which were destroyed. On the main
column reaching this place, the Third brigade
was relieved by the Second which received or
ders to proceed down the railroad, destroying
it as it went The remainder of the COM
mand kept the public road leading towards
| Okolona, and camped that night on Chawappa
! Creek. On the morning of the 9th the com
| mand moved out at an carly hour, the Second
| brigade IN advance; after proceeding few
miles the enemy was encountered, numbering
/ about 100 men, who kept falling back and ex-
| changing shots with cur advance guard. Just
/ as we came in sight Of 0l1olona, a rebel courier
was captured, bearing dispatch for the cap
/ tain commanding the post. The dispatch
1 stated that thirteen hundred infantry would re-
enforce him by railroad from Mobile. While
making preparations for the fight one of the
I scouts was sent into 0kolona, and returned
with a favorable report. (This same scout was
sent from this place with dispatch to Mem
I phis for General Dana, and succeeded in arriy-
ing safely with it, but had some narrow, es