The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-07-17
Communicated
Hath of .July, IS0A.

| Bbby HOltesL, III InOTe LuhH OnC seuSi
ever experienced by those who parti
cipated.
About the 10th of July, 1864, tn
Federal forces about 10000 strong
reached Pontotoc, Miss, where they
were met by Gen. Forest IN command
of such forces as he could get HASTILY
together, then not exceeding 5000 ol
600O men, but daily increasing. Abou
this time the chief direction of opera
tions fell to Gen. S. d. Lee, now pres
ident of the Mississippi Agriculture
College. After one or two days in
fruitless skirmishing, the Federal Gen
Smith moved off towards Tupelo, eVi
IDENTIFY to secure ahead Of US the
naturally strong, but fortified position
at Harrisburg, two miles from Tupelo,
which fortification was erected by
Gen. Beauregard after the battle Of
Shiloh. Now began an interesting
race for those Notifications, but too
late; we found Gen. Smith was I2
hours ahead of us, and save some gal
liant cavalry charges, our boys sue
ceediDg in burning good lot of the
enemy's wagons, no material harm was
done either army. There was on this
running march a constant skirmish,
and numbers of gallant exploits, but |
will only refer to the deeds of yalor of
that noble squadron of East Louisiana
Creole boys, commanded by Capt.
Gonzales, of one of the Feliciana par
ishes. As soon as the retreat of the
enemy was announced these two com
panies of CreoIes were detailed advance
guard, and well they did their duty,
doing nearly all the fighting that day,
constantly ambushed by the enemy,
they never failed to charge to the last.
How many were lost ! do not know,
bat ! do know that every survivor of
that bold daredevil squad of Creoles
remembers the llth day of July, from
PoDtotoc to Harrisburg. A braVer,
more determined set of men never wore
the grey. Gen, Lees object being to
gain time, to allow his reinforcements
from Mobile and other quarters did
not force the fighting, bat every morn
ing made show of fight.
On the I4th his point was more of
a battle to those engaged in it, On
that morning our Brigade dismounted,
Col. Mabry, sold auger eye," com
manding; composed of Col. Dnmon-
tiel's l4th Confederate, Col. Grifith's
lTth Arkansas, Col. Harrison's 9th Mis-
sissiPpi, and the 4th Mississippi. The
regiment to which | belonged, com
manded by that redoubtabIe soldier
and gallant cayalryman Col. Tbos, r,
Stockdale, was ordered in line of bat
tie; our regiment being on the ex-
treme left--the whole force on our
side not exceeding 1900 men, On the
brow of an eminenee fronting, the for
tifications, about ! / miles, through a
cornfeld perfectly open, save the grow
ing corn in full tasseI, we felt our way
under CALLING FIRE of grape and cam
ister until within probably 10 yards of
the breastBorks. No force of men
under the sun could go any further.
Every field officer in the battle was
now killed or wounded; onr own Col.
Stockdale still looming up, the most
conspicuous object on the field danger
ously wounded, supported by Lieut.,
Walker and others, refusing to leave
his men, retTeating slowly. 0aT regi-
ment was here relieved by the 18th
Mississippi Cavalry, and as we were
lying behind a rail fence, somewhat
protected. Just at the instant that
they took their position one of their
number was struck in the foot by a
spent ball, who raised such an immense
howl Of rage as to frighten and STAN.
Pede that whole regiment of Missis-
sippians. A staff officer galloped up
to Col. Stoekdale who was supported
by his friends from falling, bis clothing
red with his own blood, cursed Col.
Stockdale for cowardice of his men, to
which the Colonel replied politely,
+" those men are not mine, but the re-
lief sent me, and as they have STAN.
ede ms Isg sS n1'a =, spe gronSmS
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Tbe IAN Missfss;S1; / ysswsa ssw ar,or
wards eantpre J FedersI aso IL q Fv yegv
gallant ebarge fms Tedeemipg i u tbsm.
seIyes from tRe cbarge ~ 9 ce9wardiee
n Harrisburg We 6ere were forced |
u retTeat tbo enemy charging ana
frorn - eninence + Witnessed M Fea
araI sold;erv havonet;ng opr yo,,ndad
4 ~ y ~ 49, forcod n III Iaoy,o nr
assas sa Il u sr aog and 4 4 M @ ~
yara asar II,,, ~ e ry ~ tos Rss sTirm XXX
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