The National tribune., 1883-08-16
THE GRIERS0N RAID.
A Successful Flank Movement and a
Smart SkirmiSh.
fBy r. " snr5y, Battle Greek, Micb.l

Rejoining Steadman, we talked the matter
over and concluded to push ahead and see how
near we could get to the rebel camp and, if
possible, to reach-one of us at least-Colonel
Grierson by fanking around the enemy. The
night was very dark, and the overhanging tim
Der that lined each side of the road made it
very lonely. What if we should be captured
and detected in our disguise? We would be
treated as spies, and death would be our por-
ton; but if we should be successful, might we
not be the instruments of saving the lives OF
many brave comrades? We had advanced eau
tiously to within half mile of the supposed
camp, when we could distinctly hear somebody
talking and laughing.
CoNFEDERATEs AGAIN oUTwITTED.
We came to halt, and soon could see
the figures of men mounted and advancing
towards u.s. We allowed them to come within
about thirty yards, when l cried Haiti" The
challenge was quite unexpected by them, and
we could distinctly hear the sharp click of the
hammers. Our revolvers were grasped ready
in our right hands IA precauton we always
used after night, while | inquired: who
comes there?" One of them answered:
Friends" 1 then said advance one and
give the countersign" One advanced, and, as
he came up, wanted to know who was and if
l was alone, declaring that he had no counter
sign. l could see that my man was % Confed-
crate soldier, and / answered that / was not
minutes; that we had been travelling all day
and that night to overtake Colonel Adams
with re-enforcements. All right" said he;
"we belong to old Writ Adams cavalry, and to-
morrow we intend to give the Yanks ~ By
this time our friend had been Joined by his two
comrades, and many questions were asked about
our command &c. | now ordered Steadman
to go back until ne met the advance, and tell
them to notify the major to push ahead-that
the road was clear-and then TO return with
the advance. Away he went, well knowing
what meant by his returning with the adj
vance. In the meantime these men, who were
| some of Colonel Adams force, informed me
that the Yanl1s had had fight going into Union
Church the preceding evening and that Colo
mel Adams had gone to Fayettep there to be re-
enforced by troops from the river, and that they
| intended to ambush the Yanks in the morning
| between Fayette and Union Church. The
| Yanks, they said, hoped to reach Natchez, but
would slip up. They also told me that they
| had been left on the corner, where the Fayette
road turned off, to notify forces coming up
where to find Colonel Adams. This was the
very information we wanted-so valuable, in
| deed, that | really felt very much elated over
| it, Had my companions known my thoughts
/ and feelings at that moment, they would un-
| dOubtedly have made short work OF me. But
| presently up came Steadman and four of the
| advance guard. l gave the signal, and in
|
and ordered to surrender or die. They chose
| the former, delivered up their arms and were
| passed back TO the column. Two of them were
! lieutenants. / waited f8r the column, called
| Captain Trafton aside and communicated all
| the information had obtained Mr.. Moshy
| wanted to know who the men were that we
had just taken, and / told him they were
| Yanks, and had been struggling from their
| command-probahly plumber. He allowed" +"
! it was "a capital idea," and hoped we would
] shoot them. j now started ahead to join Stead
man. The coast was clear and we had only
| six miles to go before joining our command.
/ We congratulated each other on the success
attending our movement We now felt COM
paratiyely safe. and we gave ourselves up to
| talking over the numerous adventures of the
past eight or ten hours. Knowing how tired
and sleepy the men We're do not wonder that
they often wished their scouts anywhere else
! but in the advance. They were ignorant of
| what was going on i'll front, but as the prison
ers continued to be sent back, they began TO
realize the Importance of the scouts, and their
| show of gratitude afterwards more than repaid
US for the risk incurred.
SAFE AT LAST.
When within two miles of Union Church
could see our picket-fre; so, riding up briskly,
| though not without being halted by TIE vi
| dette, posted the men as to our having q guide
| who was under the impression that he was rem
| dering the Coufederates a great service, and
| instructed them to be careful about what re-
marks were made while the head of the col
umn was passing. / then dropped back to see
| what effect the presence of this picket post
/ would have on Mr. Mo56y. He had been in
formed by Captain Trafton that Colonel Ad-
ans had gone TO Fayette, and explained the
reason. He then wanted TO know if we were
going to join Colonel adams, or follow up the
Yanks. The Captain replied that we would
follow up the Yanks and send courier
through to Colonel Adams, notifying him OF
our arrival, and intention to attack the enemy
| in the rear in conjunction with his attack in
the front. Mr.. Mosby Thought this was an
| other capital idea" and was very anxious to
carry the dispatch through himself but Cap
tain Trafton hattered him by saying that he
could not possibly part with his excellent COM
pany
We had now reached the picket, and Mosby
was much surprised to learn that we had a
picket force here. l told him it was a com
pauy that had been ordered off on our flank,
in order, if possible, 10 reach the railroad and
come down on the east side, and was waiting
here, expecting us. He allowed this also was
capital idea" We soon entered the town,
and ere long it began to show streaks of day
light. We found the command scattered, and
lying stretched out on the ground fast asleep,
the weather being warm and pleasant. We at
once dismounted and fed our horses, while Capt
1 ITdtGDll-lO lOHSbF hidJuE --EepdITeu 10 mead
quarters and communicated his information to
Colonel Grierson, who at once arose from his
bed, and sent for Colonel Prince, Lieutenant
Colonel Black burn, Leutenant-C Colonel Loomis
Adiutant S. L. Woodward and Adiutant Root
The prisoners were all placed under guard ex.
cept Mr.. bIosby, who remained most of the
time in nay company, and as yet had suspected
nothing.
] now learned the following facts as to what
befel Colonel Grierson and his command
after he had dispatched our expedition to Ba
hala The main command had proceeded OF
the direct road for Union Church, and wher
within two miles of the place, companies A, {
, and d. of the Sixth, being on the advance, hat
met the enemy about $50 strong, but without
any delay had driven them into and through
the town and three miles beyond wonnding
two and taking several prisoners Our owr
Captain Trafton had brought in twenty-on,
prisoners without suffering loss himself, anC
had travelled thirty miles more than the res
of the command.
GooD-BY. slosBY.
The officers now met together and consulted
} about the situation 1t WAS decided to parol,
all prisoners at once, aud then move out. Ia
bles were procured, and Adiutants Root anG
Woodward were SOON busy writing paroles Tht
prisoners were brought up to sign their names
and now came the surprise and discontinue O
, our worthy friend, Mosby-" the learned law
yer,n, the Yankee exterminatorn " a capita
idea" AS the prisoners were brought to tn,
front of the house and paroled, Mosby's curl
oSity was excited He thoupht ha racoon; zaf