The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-02

proceeded TO confscate. Leaving one man TO
guard the prisoners ! told the other men to
enter the building and bring out all the weap-
ons they could find. They threw out to us
twenty fine guns, of all descriptions, and by
breaking all the stocks off at the breach, by
placing one end of the barrel under weighty
substance and giving them jerk or two,
we rendered them unfit for use. The prisoners
were turned over to the column when it ar
rived, and Colonel Prince handed me written
dispatch with orders to send two of my men
with it to Hszelhurst Station (then four miles
distant) and hand it to the telegraph operator.
A TELEGRAPHIc RUsE.
! hurried forward and sent it by my scouts,
Steadman and Kelley. The dispatch was adj
dressed 10 General PembertOn at Jackson, Miss,
and stated that the Yankees had advanced 20
Pearl River, but finding the ferry destroyed,
could not cross and had left, taking a northeast
course. The scouts had no difficulty in reaching
the telegraph Office, where they found the opera
tor and six or eight Confederate officers and
soldiers standing around. They had no idea
that any Yanlzs were on the south side of Pearl
River and the dispatch was examined and
various questions asked by the parties, all OF
which We're satisfactorily answered. The dis
patch was accordingly put on the wire, and the
men feeling hungry mounted for the hotel
across the street. When they We're about
half way over, who should ride up in great
haste but Mr.. Sheriff No. 2, who had es-
capped the night before! He at once recog-
nized the scouts as two of the party who had
helped to drink his whisky. The men also
recognized him, and began to feel for their re-
volvers, while the sheriff with naked sword in
one hand and horse-p pistol in the other (Which
proved to be empty, began to assume rather
dangerous attitude, at the same time shouting
for help, and ordering everybody to stop them
- Yankees" The boys thought it policy to
retreat. Several of the rebels undertook to
stop them, but the sharp crack of revolver
warned them that it would not be a safe busi-
ness and they gave them wide berth. They met
me within mile of the town, and on learning OF
their adventure, / sent one man back to report to
the colonel and tell the advance guard TO come
on at double-quick, while with the remain
der of my men we charged back into town. the
rain at the time pouring down IN torrents.
MISSING THE TRAIN.
The first place we visited was the depot. Not
a soul was there except two old men. The OPP
orator had torn up his instrument without
counterIHanding the dispatch) and absconded
with there's When the two scouts retreated, the
Confederates thought the Yankees were then
in sight, and, without waiting to secure their
private property, skedaddled-the sheriff with
them. We learned that a train was soon due
from the North, and as the column had now
arrived, the usual precaution was taken to
capture it. After waiting half an hour beyond
the time for its arrival however, the command
became careless, and no further attention was
given it. as it was supposed the news of our
approach had reached the next station. This
was a sad mistake for, at q moment when
the men were scattered around town, the train
came around the curve, from which point the
engineer had good view of a score or more OF
blue COATS" He "smelt RAJ" and, reversing
his engine, retreated safely with seventeen
commissioned officers and eight millions in
Confederate money, which was en- route to pay
off troops in Louisiana and Texas! Orders
were now given TO destroy some trestle-woTk
near the town and TO tear up the track cut the
telegraph, &c. A large quantity of empty and
loaded cars were run down on the track
among them four cars of ammunition and con-
siderable commissary stores-and they were
all set on fire and burned. The depot was
spared on account of its being SO near private
buildings. This was humane act, and was
highly appreciated by the citizens. Hazelhurst
which is in Copiah county, Mississippi, is not
very large place, but we found some very
clever people there and some who still enter
tanned e strong regard for the old Union. Two
or three barrels of eggs and a quantity of sugar
and hams were found in the depot and taken to
the hotel and cooked for our men. The explo-
sion Of the boxes of ammunition and the burst
ing of shells, which occurred during the burn
ing of the cars, not only alarmed the citizens
TO some extent, but had startling effect on
Colonel Grierson and those with him, who
were about half way between the station and
ferry at the time. The order was given a.
once TO trot," and then galIop. march," ant
they came charging into the town expecting Il
find Colonel Prince holly engaged with the
enemy. But they were sold again, as at New
ton Station.