The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-23


along.
SIXTEENTH DAY.
On crossing the Big Sandy Creek the scouts
discovered camp not more than 200 yards
from the bridge. Upon approaching nearer
they saw two negroes busy building fire.
No picket or guard appeared in sight The
scouts withdrew without being seen, and re-
ported TO Colonel Grierson, who Immediately
ordered two companies of the Sixth to advance
and charge the camp. Captain Marshall, COM
pany III, disnounted his men, crossed the bridge
silently, being supported by Captain Lynch,
with company e mounted cavalry, aud when
within one hundred yards raised yell and
charged down through the-long row of tents.
Instead of a considerable force there was found
only about forty men, princi pail y cOnvalescents.
The force formerly stationed at this place,
numbering six hundred Civilians cavalry,
had left the day before, having been ordered
to push forward to Brookhaven and intercept
the Yankees.
The Seventh was ordered to push forward on
the advance, while the Sixth stopped long
enough to destroy the camp and garrison equip
age and take care of prisoners. One reb escaped
and was afterwards captured Relating his ex-
-perience that night, he stated that he reached
his horse, sprang upon his back without saddle,
and nothing on him but his shirt and drawers,
and never stopped until he reached home, sixty
miles distant. The morning was beautiful,
with clear sky and bright sun, and the
roads were very level and in good condition.
The Seventh, after proceeding few miles, dis
covered single horseman emerging into the
road between them and the scouts He was
ordered to halt, but did not feel inclined
to do so, and, putting spur to his horse, away he
dashed, hotly pursued by the advance guard
who fired few shots at him. In few minutes
however, he overlook the scouts, whom he
took for some of his own men, and brandishing
his l.
claimed: " Got out of here, boys the road is
full of Yanks in our rear" "Yes" said one
OF the scouts, "and you are right among them
now" Imagine his surprisei His name was
Hinson, a lieutenant colonel ofcavalry. He hadl
heard the firing in the morning, and was on his
way TO notify camp between there and Baton
Rouge. The scouts proceeded o few miles fur
ther, when Nelson stopped at a plantation,
where he found soldier and three females
seated around table enjoying a good meal.
They invited him to partake of their hospitality,
and he very readily accepted, and while eating
had a lively conversation with the reb, from
whom he learned that there was q company
stationed on the road about four miles from there.
Nelson obtained all the information he wanted,
and thought it time to wind up the business. So
he remarked to Mr.. Reb: " You may consider
yourself my prisoner" The lieutenant felt
very indignant, and replied: " I am an officer,
sir, and will start for my command in the
morning, and, sir, you have nothing to do with
me. II you are conScripting officer" Just
then up rode squad of company A in front of
the house. They at once comprehended the
meaning OF the blue coats, and with tears and
screams the women commenced hugging and
kissing the lieutenant, exolaiming, "0h, my
dear, they viii kill you, they will kill you'll"
Nelson assured them that not hair of his
head should be harmed. He was turned over
to the command and Colonel Grierson informed
| respecting the force ahead. Nothing further
occurred until the column had arrived within
half mile of the Comit River. The scouts
had been cautioned to advance carefully and
reconnoiter the ground and find out tho posi-
tion of the camp. They could approach to
within three hundred yards without being
seen, there being no picket or vidette on that
side. No report had reached there Of the
| Yanks coming that way. Wood volunteered to
! go and see what he could discover He met SOL
dier coming up from the creek, who hailed him
and wanted to know if he had come to relieve
hinl. " Yes; the company will be up in few
minutes" he replied. g It's about time you
| come to relieve us; we've been here now four
| days, and are just out of rations" he rejoined.
| Wood told him they would soon be relieved,
and having obtained all necessary information
| reported the same to Colonel Grierson.
| SURPRISING A REBEL CAMP.
| The camp was situated along the east bank
| approached only by charging down the road
| which was fenced on either side. The com
mand moved forward slowly until within three
| hundred yards of the camp, when the follow
! ing companies were ordered to proceed: Com
! pany A TO flank through the field on the left,
| while companies ID, E and kept the road
| the former commanded by Lieutenant Brad
shaw, the latter by Captain Ashmead. They
charged most gallantly upon the unsuspecting
! foe, and SO complete was the surprise that the
| rebels, forgetting everything, tried to seek
safety in flight. But very few of them es-
| capped, however, and not more than dozen
! shots were fired. The confusion in the camp
! was indescribable. ShotgHns saddles, camp
kettles, rifles, old blankets. coats and hats were
scattered IN all directions, while men and loose
horses We're stampeding from all quarters. 1t
! did not take long for our men to flank the
| woods and pick up the stragglers A member
| of company found sixteen rebels hid in a hole
that the water had washed out by the bank of
the stream. They all surrendered to him.
While the Seventh was thus engaged gather
ing UP their booty, the Sixth was ordered on
the advance, SO as TO save time. 1t was now
about o'clock a. m Forty-two prisoners be-
longing to Stewards cavalry We're captured
here, together with all their horses and equip
ments, without any loss or damage.
The Seventh now pushed on after the Sixth,
overtaking them in about two hours, when the
NHult CotiludlIu Stupptu 10 resi- allu ieeu,-t0e
first time for man and horse for thirty hours
having travelled eighty miles, night and day,
with scarcely a halt. Nearly the whole COM
mand were asleep on their horses while march
ing the greater portion of the last night. The
command was now within six miles of Baton
Rouge. The raid had been grand success
A kind Providence had smiled upon our efforts
all through our perilous journey. and finally
crowned it with triumph. Over eight hundred
miles had been travelled in sixteen days
through fourteen counties, in the interior OF
the State of Mississippi; over million dollars
worth of Confederate property had been de-
stroyed, and railroad communications in vari.
Gus directions had been elfeetually cut off. pre-.
venting supplies from reaching Vicksburg and
Port Hudson, and drawing out force from
Jackson at time when Gen. Grant was making
q rapid flank movement on that place, while on
the last morning two camps had been surprised
and four hundred prisoners had been brought
in, not including the six hundred that were
paro!cd and left on the route besides eight
hundred horses and mules, and about five hun
dred negroes who followed us, a large number
of cattle, and considerable train of vehicles
of various descriptions. But the crownine
glory of the expedition was the fact that dur
ing the entire march, more especially the
last forty ours,-although men and horses
b,,no ;aIa