The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-30
THE GRIERS0N RAID.
Arrival at Baton Rouge Lively Times
at Port Hudson The Return.
by R. ". s,r5y, Battle Creek, Mieh.l


About noon the command took mp its line of
march in the following ORDER First, the Sixth
Illinois cavalry; second, battery; third, the
! prisoners; fourth the Seventh Illinois cavalry;
fifth, the negroes, with the led horses and
mules and lastly, about thirty vehicles Of every
| description, from the finest carriage down to
an ox-cart of the homeliest design. The line
/ extended about two miles. 1t really presented
| an interesting sight, and one to which neither
pen nor pencil can do justice. When within
four miles OF Baton Rouge, the column was met
! by Captain Godfrey, First Louisiana cavalry,
who escorted them into the city. For nearly
mile before entering the city they were met
| by citizens and soldiers, both white and black,
male and female. old and young rich and poor,
as well as ragged urchins. Everybody's Curl
osity was at its highest pitch the streets were
| densely crowded, and, amid the shouts and
| cheers of thousands the waving OF banners and
! flags, lnterspersed with music, the tired SOL
dieIs, all covered with dust marched through
/ the principal streets and around the public
| square
It was very difficult to distinguish the pris-
oners from our own men. Many of them had
| exchanged their close-ftting jackets for citi-
zen5' coats and made other changes of clothing,
1 and we were all covered with dust. As the
/ column marched along the remark could be
frequently heard: Why, see how many pris-
oners they have." Among a group of negroes
/
| was heard to say to one of his brethren
Hush, chile you must look at dem peoples
! wild respect. Dey ain de great warriors wat
! come from dc Norf Dey trable widout sleep,
and stop de railroads and cut up the track. l
hear massa say so dis mornin'!"
IN CAMP AT MAGNOLIA GROVE.
/ The command was marched down to the
river, where they watered their horses, and
| then proceeded to Magnolia Grove, two miles
south of the city. 1t was a most delightful
! sp0t shaded by the magnolia, whose beautiful
white flower filled the air with rich perfume.
| 1t was just at sunset that the command entered
! this grove and that night for the first time in
/ sixteen days, they slept soundly under Federal
| protection. Among the sleepers were portion
of the scouts, now relieved OF their dangerous
double-dealing duty, which would have rem
dered their death certain had they been taken
prisoners and their identity discovered. They
had captured on the raid eighty-four prisoners
with their arRs and equipments, and destroyed
over two hundred ShetgGns and rifles. They
| had given full satisfaction TO the command,
and | trust their exploits will make a favor
able impression upon the mind of the reader.
That evening found the men SO exhausted for
want of sleep and rest that the moment they
had stripped the saddles off their horses they
laid down, and it was almost impossible to
| arouse them to partake of coffee and refresh
ments prepared by the One Hundred and Six
teenth New York and the Forty-eighth Mas
sachusetts infantry regiments, who made their
appearance, bringing with them their own
cooking utensils and provisions This kind
and thoughtful act on the part of the officers
and men of those regiments will never be for
gotten by the Sixth and Seventh Illinois cav
airy.
Along the ronte of our raid we had been
looked upon by the people with wonder and
astonishment. AS the column was almost con-
stantly on the move, subsistence had to be
procured from the country through which we
passed, but it was seldom we found scarcity
Horses, too, had to be pressed into the service
whenever and wherever found, but in many
instances double the number were left for those
taken, and only little care was requisite tC
make them as serviceable as those confscated
1t wonld sometimes arouse feeling of regret
to witness the attachment displayed by the
faithful old horse, who, on being turned loose
by the roadside to wander where he pleased
would be seen following up the column and
when it stopped would lay down in the road *
rest, and as we started again could be seen oc
cupying place in the ranks where he would
remain from morning to night, faithful in tht
discharge of his duty.
TAKING IN THE CITY.
After few days rest the boys began to look
around and take in the city" They were
looked upon fer awhile as privileged characters
and allowed TO go and come as they pleased
and many were the jokes played off on the
citizens 1t was customary in Baton Rouge
| when auction about to take place. as
also when concerts and other entertainment:
were to be given, TO send negro around Will
banner containing the advertisement and
bell. In the intervals of ringing he would CRY
out at the top of his voice, and, as be was com
ing up the street one day, a squad of the Sixth
and Seventh made charge, captured the bel
and banner, and proceeded on through tht
streets, crying out Concert tonight at Mag
nolia Grove by the Sixth and Seventh Illnoi
cavalry" Some OF the citizens were sold
that evening 1t occurred to HE afterwarl
that if ever the boys should take notion t.
astonish the world with their musical talent
would contribute the following, grand over
ture:
SONG OF THE RAIDERS
) The Sixth and Seventh, you all know.
Da Ga, du da,
Once together on a raid did go,
Row de du da da,
Du da du da
And in Eaton Rouge did safely land
Row de du da da.
ChoruS.-Are you going to run all night9
Are you going to run ali day?
II bet my money on the Sixth an
Seventh;
Who'll bet on the Southern gray
1t was in April, sixty-three,
Du da, du da,
That we left the State of Tennessee,
Row de du da da
The course we took on the map you'll see,
OF old Mississippi, du da de,
Row de du da da.
chores.-Are you going, Ssc.
We were accompanied on our way
Du da, du dgL,
By the brave old Second Iowa.
Row de du da da;
But at Clear Springs they were left to range,
Du da. diI da,
And fight their way back to La Grange
Row de du da ua.
Chorus.-Are you going, &c.
With the railroads we did play whacl whack
Du da du Ga.
And we burned the cars upon the track,
Row de du da da;
We'd march all day, and then all night,
Du da, du da
And we'd only stop to have a fight.
Row de du da ola.
4 Chorus.-Are you going, &c.
The people thought it very strange,
}, Du da, du da
;, | When they saw so many from la Grange,
Row de du da ia;
They looked with wonder and surprise,
g Du Cla du da
When they saw many from Illinois,
Row de du da da.
Chorus.-Are you going, &c.
And when Port Hudson surrender did,
Du da du Cia,
We were there to see it of rebels rid,
8. Row de du da da;
~.