The National tribune., 1883-05-24
A VERY DARING RAID.
Something About Streight'S Expedition.
The Fight at The Bridge.
To the editor NATroNAL TRrBUNE:

Colonel Streights in The rear of the rebel
army under General Bragg, which resulted in
the capture of his entire force before he had
accomplished the object which It was rumored
he had been sent to accomplish. / say rumored,
for il is hardly safe to stat anything as fact,
lest some cOmrade should accuse me of mis-
statement. The rumOr was that Colonel
Streight was 10 destroy supplies and shops at
Rome, and then proceed 30 Atlanta and destroy
the buildings and ma Ainery used for the man.
ufacture of ammunition. But let me turn TO
my diary and start straight.
The Filty-second Illinois, under the COM
mand of Licutenant-COlonel John s. Wilcox,
was part OF the garrison of COrinth Mississippi,
left there after our army under Halleck had
succeeded in forcing Beauregard TO evaeuate.
This regiment formed part of the First brigade,
Second division, Army of the Tennessee, which
division. with the Sixth. comprised the garri-
son, under the command Of Brigadier-General
Greenville NJ. Dodge.
About the hour of s a. IN. on the 18th day of
April, 1868, The following troops moved out
from the city amid the swamps" on the
Burnyilie road: First brigade, composed of the
Fifty-sec0ad Illinois, the Second and Seventh
Iowa infantry, and the Union brigade, as it
was called being what remained OF the Eighth,
Twelfth and Fourteenth Iowa infantry and
Fifty-eishth Iowa infantry after Shiloh, under
command OF Colonel z. ". Sweeney, of the
Fifty-sec0nd Illinois; the Second brigade, COM
posed OF The Ninth and Twelfth Illinois in
fantry, Eichty-frst Ohio Infantry, and Twenty
sixth Missouri infantry, under command of
Colonel Morton; the Third brigade, composed
of the Seventh, Fiftieth, aad Fifty-seventh
Illinois infantry, and Birge's sharpshoo;ers,
afterwards known as the Sixty-sixth Illinois
infantry under the command of Colonel Moses
NJ. Bane Of the Fiftieth Illinois; the Ohio
brigade, composed of the Twenty seventh,
ThiIfy-ninth, Forty-third, and Sixty third
Fsrf,,
Ter; brigade of cavalry. under command of
Colonel Corwyn, of the Tenth Missouri cav
airy. The Seventh Kansas cavalry clay Hawk
ers and the First Alabama cavalry were in
this briga he, and possibly other regiments that
have slipped my memory. General Dodge
commanded the whole force, about 5000 strong.
Our line OF march was unGbstrncted. We biv-
oHacked the first night at Burnyille AID the
second DOTH at point within two miles of
Big Bear Creek, in Alabama. The cavalry
brought IN word that they had found the enc
my, and that they were on the other side Of
Bear Greek, intrenched, and 10000 strong. No
fires were allowed that night, for fear of dis
closing our position and numbers TO the enemy;
so the tired, footsore boys had to partake
of hard tack and cold water. Pickets
were posted, and the men were sooE quietly
repOsing as though they were in bed at home,
and not III such close proximity TO a crafty foe.
The night passed away, and az early dawn the
column was formed and lie line OF march
taken up The First brigade led, with COM
panies 4 and 81 Fifty second Illinois, in advance
as skirnl ishers. As We naared the creek we
now and then discovered few rebels skulking
along through the timber that crowned the
heights on the opposite side, closely watching
our movements. They were too far away for
our Enfelds, so the artillery was called into
requisition. we had fourteen pieces and
8 few shells were thrown over as feelers; but
no response was made, SO Colonel Corwyn was
ordered to move his cavalry across and stir
them up.
CROSSING THE RIVER.
He found the enemy and had quite a spir-
TIED engagement with hiIa, bnt soon drove him
from his cover and on oat Of the way. The
infantry was now ordered forward but on
approaching the creek it WAS found to be dan
gerOus TO attempt q crossing, as recent rains
had swollen the usually low. narrow stream
into deep, swiftly-fieging river. Here was
dilemma. How should We cross? The cur
rent was so strong that men could not keep
their feet In it. Various plans were projected,
and, finally, q rope was fastened TO a tree the
coil placed IN wagon, taken across, and fast
ened 20 a tree also. Then the men were ordered
10 strip; and strip they did 70 the hide, tied
their clothing IN a bundle, hung il on their
bayonets, and az q left shoulder shift" grasping
the rope with their right hand, fc-3ed the
stream, presenting a sight 50 ludicrols that a
saint would have laughed had one been there
TO witness it. After the crossing had been
effected and the men had resumed their clothes
the cavalry and Third brigade were sent out TO
reconnoiteF towards Little Bear Creek. The
rest of the command went into camp, ard rs
the length OF our stay was as yet undetermined,
tbelDg ordered 10 remain IN the vicinity OF Big
Bear until I'VE heard from Colonel Streight,
whose command We were TO meet at Tnscum-
bias) the boys concluded they would fix them
selves up IS comfortably IS possible Orle5s
prohibited Us from occupying houses. cut did
not prevent us from tearing them down and
building hRfs out Of them. A large two-stOry
frame dwelling was near OR brigade camp and
IA good Gcal less time thar it took to raise the
frame II was torn down aud nuts built Straw
and some nay was found az no great distance
away, which was soon transferred 10 rho bed
rooms Of tie boys Everything was got IN shape
Tor The night; supper was prepared and eaten
the customary smoke was had, and tired bodies
and sore feet were laid away Ia those nice huts.
on those nice BEDS for q good rest. But how
uncertain are the calculations OF men. especially
soldiers Scarcely had our eyes closed in sIeep
when che cry Of" First brieade fall IN, fan in p
sounded along our line. We had tc first fall out
before we could TALL in SO 4 few minutes-but
only few-lnteryencd between the giving of
the alarm md the forming Of our line, ready
Tor Whatever was required cf it. 1t was to re-
pei an attack, of course; bot, then, we did not
hear any eans popping away. What had hap
pened, anyway, that we were called ont from
our snug Quarters? All. yes, that's 1t! cav
airy IN 3 :ix-surr0uEded Third brigade cui
TO pieces Artillery all captured, the devil TO
pay, aud 10 pitch hot That was tire way it
came 10 as, and our assistance was Immediately
required - save the remainder OF the force
USELESS MARCH.
Alto O'Clock p. m. we moved out on the double
quick, with forty rounds IN calfridge-boxes
and sixty in our pockets. On, On, we went,
over the balls, through the wales, still at the
double-qgick. Word came that the danger was
increasing. Our pace quicl5eEea, and away we
sped along the road as if we we're fugitives from
Justice. At last we halted. consulted Cur
watches, and found it was a little past mid
night; we had been over two hours on the run
had traversed about eight mics, and what
did We fiIldg Why, the Third brigade and the
cavslry quietly in camp The cavalry had
simply got a little careless and had let the
enemy gct IN their rear aud capture seventy
prisoners and one brass gun besides throwing
two oth1Fs down the embsullncnt Of deep
Railroad cut. That was all We laid down
again Oh the bare ground and soon fell asleep.
tOur blankets were back ia camp)
In The morning, (the 18th, the First brigade
with battery n, First Missouri light artillery
captain Fred. Walker commanding moved out
sb0uf two miles, and formed IN line of battle
sud the cavalry was sent OUT beyond to try TO
draw the rebels on TO our line but they were
not TO be entIapped by any such plan. We Law
there IN i.ne until after noon when we took
the back track, leisurely, Cor our camp on Big
Boar, arriving little after dark with feet His.