The National tribune., 1883-09-06
TIE GRIERS0N RAID.
What Became of the Wounded Left
Behind on the Way.
TBy r. w. Sisr5y, Battle Greek. Nieh.J

[By r. ". SurBy Battle CreeE, Meh]
TX
| Upon receiving my wound I made my wav
| back to the rear of the column, and was helped
| from my horse and laid upon the ground Ny
| clothing was exchanged for that of the blue: nv
side-arms, horse, and equipments, together
| with my diary, Were taken possession of by nv
! old friend Q. b. GriGen, company A. Seventh
| Illinois, and / was carefully conveyed 10 the
| plantation OF one Mr.. Newman, along with the
| rest OF my wounded comrades, where was car
rled into back room adjoining the kitchen, in
| company with Hughes and Roy, and laid upon
| O Pile OF uuginEed cotton. Leutenant-Co
| Blackburn occupied a front room I had con-
siderable Confederate money about nv person.
and, acting on the impulse of the moment,
| concealed IL by poking it down under the cot
| ton, together with my pOcketrknife, match safe
| three dollars IN silver, and breast-pin con-
tanning my wife's miniature. At that moment
l heard loud talking IN the adjoining room
the one IN which the colonel lay. The cause
was explained when | saw the doorway filed
| with Confederate soldiers. We excited some
curiosity, but, with few exceptions, were treat
| ed with respect by them Some threats were
! made against Colonel Blackburn however, by
a Confederate officer, who drew his saber as
! II about to plunge it through him. but the
colonel told him that he did not expect to live
| long, and as ne had done nothing but his duty,
| he would not ask for mercy at his hands This
| specimen of Southern " ehiyalry " was prevent
| ed from putting his threat into execution By
| the timely interference of superior officer
| who reprimanded him severely. The soldiers
| proved to be the advance of Colonel Miles COM
mand-better known in that region as Miles
Legion. They had just arrived from Osyko
I Eatf (oI
| plainly see the column from my window as it
moved along. 1t consisted of about 800 cav
| airy, 1000 infantry, and one battery of artfl-
lery. They were confident of capturing the
Yanks and did not appear to be in hurry, de-
elaring that force had been sent out from
Port Hudson, aud that they would intercept
our forces when they attempted to cross the
Amt River.
| IN SUSPENSE.
| But Colonel Grierson had now FIVE hours the
start, and l knew that he would not let any
| grass grow under his feet. We were visited by
| the colonel commanding the Confederate forces,
who informed US that he had instructed the
nurses that they should pay every attention TO
| the wounded. He treated Us with kindness,
and / shall never forget his pleasant manner
and venerable form. He was afterwards cap.
| tured at Port Hudson, and spoke Of this in
/ terview with US and Lieut.-CoI Blackburn
After he had left / felt some anxiety about
| the command, fearing that they would be- cut
| off from the river. Mr.. Newman the proprie-
| tor, had been pressed in by our command
/ and taken as far as Greensburg. The women,
| being left alone, at first felt somewhat alarm
| ed, but their fears were somewhat quieted
| by the arrival of some of their neighbors,
who assisted them. They were all very
kind, and did everything in their power to
| alleviate our sutferings. During the even
| ing, Mr.. Wall, of Wallis Post-Office, made
| his appearance, and evinced much desire to
provide for our wants. He seemed to think
We ought to have the assistance of a sur
| geOn, and, without any delay, started that
| evening on mule, rode eleven miles and re-
turned that night, bringing with him an army
| surgeon from Osyko Station, who displayed
much skill in dressing the eolonel's wounds.
He had to leave the next morning, being or
dered to Port Hudson, and would not receive
| any compensation for his trouble, saying that
| it was his duty and that his government paid
| him for his services. Mr.. Wall was another
man of the same stripe, but he complained
| bitterly over the loss Of his saddle-horse,
| which our command had taken from his sta
bic. | knew it was in my power TO make good
his loss by offering him the value of his horse
III money, and felt influenced to act thus, by
! the kindness and the interest he had displayed
| IN our welfare, so sent for him, and, On his
arrival, asked him how much he valued his
| horse at. He said $500. / told him he should
| receive that amount, and that it would be paid
him by Mrs. Newman. My reason for not pay
/ ing him then was that did not wish to disclose
where my money was concealed, for no one
| knew that had it except my comrades. Ths
| amount in my possession was $500. nearly all
in Confederate 500 greenbacks, and it had been
| given to me by VIM Pender, company A. Sew
enth Illinois, who found is at Newton Station,
| together with much larger amount, floating
| on the water, as previously mentioned This
! money was then worth, and exchangeable in
Baton Rouge for, fifty cents on the dollar
/ Lincoln greenbacks. The next morning Mr.
! Newman arrived, having been released by our
/ command. 1t was timely arrival, for many
of the citizens were under the impression that
| he would be murdered, and had in circulation
| a report that our command had murdered Cap
| tain Scott, and many threats were muttered
| against u.s. which they were prevented from
| putting into execution by Mr.. Wall until the
| appearance of Mr.. Newman, who, by his state
ment, dispelled their evil intentions. He also
| brought the joyful news that the command
| had safely crossed the Amit River which was
confirmed few hours later By the arrival Of q
| courier, who was on his way TO Osyko Station.
| He stated that the force sent out from Port
| Hudson consisted of two regiments of infantry
| and one battery of artillery, and when Colonel
Grierson crossed the bridge the rebels were
| within five miles, waiting for daylight, so as
| to proceed something Colonel Grierson did
not wait to consult in cases of emergency. We
all felt elated over the good news.
| REMOVED To MAGNOLIA.
| And row the question arose as TO what dis
| position would be made of us, for Wa were all
| wounded III manner that would not admit of
our being moved. 1t was on the afternoon of
| the second day that squad of cavalry arrived
| from Osyko Station, with orders to bring US all
TO that place. They had riekety old ambu-
| lance, which they intended TO put Us into
| but DR.. Yole explained matters to them, tell
| ing them that 1t was impossible TO move any of
the wounded except myself, and after parley-
| ing awhile they submitted, and j was carried
| out and laid in the ambulance. As was taken
| through the colonel's room, noticed how pale
| and haggard no looked. He was suffering in
tensely. 1 bade him good-by, hoping we would
meet again. Previous to leaving I had an in
| terview with Mrs Newman, and having con-
| fdence in her, / handed her all my money,
| (exeeDt $780, also a miniature pin with my
wifes likeness, and pocket-knife, requesting
| her to pay Mr.. Wall $500 for his horse, and
would devise some means TO get the balance.
| DIR. Yole, LIE Sure and Douglas were ordered
| to accompany the escort foot, and the
| eleven mile march made them puff, not
| being used TO infantry tactics. The colonel
| was left without any medical attendance,
| though every care and attention was bestowed
| ON him by Mr. and Mrs. Newman. About
| o'clock we arrived at 0syko Station, and halt
| ed III front of headquarters. was surprised