The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-02
THE GRIERSON RAID.
Crossing the PeaTl---A Fierce Home
GuaTl---A TelegTaphic Ruse.
[ByR. ". snr5y, Battle creck, MTcAl


We left camp az $50 o'clock A.. m. on the tenth
day the s. xth Illinois IN advance. Three sol
diers had to be left behind being too feeble TO
travel further. About o'clock the scouts
came in sight of Raleigh, Smith county, small
town On entering the place / saw man
hastily mount his horse and ride away at full
speed, and rs tkis had d suspicious look or
dered two 81 my men, who were well mounted,
10 give hiia chase. They soon got within pistol
shot and ordered him TO halt lie showed
no disposition to obey orders, but on
few shots being fred changed his mind and
very reluctantly returned 10 town. he was
delivered over to Colonel Grierson, together
with s., 900 in Confederate "greenbacks " and
q bundle of papers, which contained some val
liable information. dc proved 10 be the county
sheriff.
During the day we Travelled through 8
country heavily timbered with pine. Plan
tations were few and far between, and we ex-
perienced a scarcity of forage. 1t was just
about dark when / stopped at plantation TO
dry NY clothes,-it having rained all the after
noOn,-an6 had q very lively chat with the pro-
prietOr who proved 10 be another sheriff but
minus the s., 600 with rather high apprecia-
ton of his own abilities. BE imagined we
were hunting up deSeTters, and did not trouble
himself half as much about our business as we
did TO try the quality of some good old " Bour-
bon which he very generously set out for
US Imagine his aStonishment, then, when
ordered his negro 10 bring his horse, sad
died 70 the door without delay / allowed him
only sufficient time to cram a change Of cloth
ing into his saddle-bags, and he vented his feel
ings very freely. He swore il was - strange
that he should be ordered around IN his own
house in that style; that he was not subject TO
conscription, and he'd be - if somebody
should not have TO pay for this. But by this
time the column had come up, and Mr.. Sheriff
was introduced 10 Colonel Griers0n. Under
the impression that he was in the presence Of
some noted general in the Confederate army,
he was ready 10 tell all he knew-and more
too.
AN INDIGNANT REBEL MAJOR
We were nearing Stony River at Westyille,
Simpson county, when the column was over
taken by two messengers from Captain Forbes,
who was taen about thirty miles IN our rear,
requesting us not to burn any more bridges, as
he was endeavoring to oyertake us. This was
good news indeed. About 9 o'clock the Sixth
camPcd OF the plantation of Major --. The
Seventh, going a mile further, crossed Stony
Bridge and camped or Mr.. Smiths plantation.
The rebel major was quietly seated in his house
when the Sixth halted before it, Coming out,
B he wished to know whose command this was.
No one paid any attention TO him, but riding
through the gate into his garden, the men dis
mounted and commenced hitching their horses
TO the shade trees. This was more than he had
swearing that il was Insult upon his dignity,
ana he'd be burned if he would not report the
commanding officer TO General Pemberton.
The maier learned his mistake before morning
and had nothing more TO say.
Though tired and sleepy, there were those
among US who did not rest longer than was
necessary to feed their horses and prepare sup
per. As the citizens were arming. and the news
Of our approach was flying in every direction,
it was a matter Of life and death that Pearl
River should be crossed and the New Orleans
and Southern Railroad reached without delay.
Colonel Prince, Of the Seventh, was accordingly
ordered TO take 200 picked men of his regiment
and move forward TO secure the ferry across
Pearl River before the enemy should destroy
It. The distance TO the river was thirteen
miles, and thence TO Hazehurst Station twelve
miles. The remainder of the two regiments
were 10 come forward as soon as they were suf-
1ciently rested. The colonel left with the two
companies at O'Clock on the morning of the
9th, three ofIny scouts accompanying him.
ELEVENTH DAY.
at daylight, the remainder of the command
moved ont, and il was discovered that Mr.
Sheriff No. 2 had escaped, and had appro-
priated fne horse belonging TO one Of Colo
mel GriersOn's orderlies i started ahead with
the balance of my scouts, reached Pearl River,
and found that Colonel Prince had succeeded
IN crossing about 100 of his men. He had
reached the river before daylight, but found
that the Aat-boat was on the opposite shore.
Not caring 10 arouse any Of the citizens, the
colonel called for volunteer who with a
powerful horse, undertook TO swim the river,
The rapidly Of the swollen stream. however
carried him Ear below the landing, to a point
where there was quicksand, and he barely
escaped 10 the shore with his life. His name
was Henry Dover, Of the Seventh Illinois
Just then man came down TO the river
on the opposite side, and asked, in voice
that had marked North Carolina accent, il
they wished 20 cross The colonel replied that
y few would like 20 get acToSs-that it was
harder TO wake his negro ferryman than Il
catch the - conscripts. The proprietor apollo
glzed and woke mp his feFTyman, who brought
the boat across- For some time it remained in
Federal possession. For all the proprietor
knew il was run by the First regiment, Ala
hama cavalry, from Mobile, and the breakfas
that tsiis man gave the First Alabama was highly
appreciated The importance of having posses
sion Of this ferry was proved half an houl
later by the capture by the scouts Of a courier
who was Tying TO the ferry with the news
that the +" Nanks" were coming and the ferry
must be destroyed Immediately. BY this time
Colonel Prince had crossed and the rest of thu
command had reached the river, except guar(
which was left at Stony River to await tia
arrival of Captain Forbes. 1t was ascertainec
that a rebel transport was some seven miles u
the river, and that II carried two 6-p0unders
Colonel GrieTsOD sent detachment of mel
three miles above the ferry. where they coult
lie behind the bank. protected from artillery
FIRE, and engage the transport If she attompte,
10 come down. She did not put in an appear
ance, however, fearing, doubtless, that she woult
be captured.
A FIERCE HOME GUARD.
Leaving the rest Of the command to com
plete the crOssing-a slow tedious task, a
only twenty four horses could 90 at time
Colonel Prince, with his two hundred men
proceeded toward H2zelhurst. / went ahea,
with i've Of my men, and we had not gone NOR
than four miles when we began to pick III
citizens, who were collecting together an
arning 60 repel the invader One small mar
with sandy whiskers and foxy eyes, VIII
looked 2s savage as meat-ax, had secured IN a
Old belt around his waist trgo large old ainf-loc
dragon pistols, and had slung over his shoulde
a large leather pouch and powder-hon. III
hand rested on the stock Of an old t. 6. musket
1lnt-lOek and as ] came up with him he brougl
ms gun 10 q carry arms, and, between
grin and a laugh, exclaimed: They is COMING
cepting, and ] am ready, I've list bid the Oh
woman goodbye and told her that she nee
not expect me back until i had killed fou
Yankees, and they were exterIninated from GU
our Southern s!lei TN good for three {
them, anyhow; I've been through the Mexica
war and know how 10 use them air weapons
began 10 compliment him on the appearance
OF has WcspGns, and made a request 20 examiu
them. De readily passed them over to us au
iaof ft,a..