The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-07
THE BATTLE OF BONNEVILLE.
Phil Sheridan Tells Why He Made q Struggle
Against Heavy Odds.

Against Heavy Odds.
Contribution to Detroit Free Press.
On the 28th day of June, 1862. while in com-
mand of the Second Michigan and Second Iowa
Regiments of cavalry. by direction of Gen. w.
s. Rosecrans, commanding the Army of the
Mississippi, l took up a position at the little vii
lage of Bonneville, in the State of Mississippi, on
the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. The Army of the
Mississippi lay about twenty miles in my rear
and that of the enemy in and about Tupelo and
Guntown, some fifteen miles in my front
1t is not necessary, in this description. to tell
the object or purpose for which l was stationed
there.
Immediately on taking this position I did what
l never failed to do during the whole course of
the war-made a map, or rather an information
map, of the surrounding country. My mind ran
l to the accumulation of knowledge of this kind.
A great many country roads intersected. or rath-
er converged. at Bonneville, and to watch the
roads and give timely Information of the ad-
vance of the enemy was. 1 supposed, the object
of my being there. | had myself q little broader
view of the situation. The distance between the
two hostile armies was thirty or forty miles. If
I could hold this space, or front, l could keep
the enemy inside of his infantry picket line; If
he could drive me out he could hold our people
inside Of our infantry picket line, and the battle
of Bonneville was fought to see who was going
to have the advantage.
On July l the regiments before named, which
I commanded, had an effective strength Of 1927
men. Very early on the morning Of that day,
July !. the enemy advanced against me. the
main column of his forces being in what was
known as the Blackland road. My strong picket
force was under omman Of Lieutenant Scran-
ton, of the Second Michigan Cavalry, who after.
ward became its colonel. He sent me word that
the enemy had attacked his picket post at the
place where it was stationed, about three miles
out of Bonneville. Immediately sent him orders
to fall back slowly. if too hardly pressed. and
that I would reinforce him. The reinforcements
SAINT h1t II to1fonont Capanfnn 6riuon
back, making a strong resistance, nearly to
Booneville-in fact, almost to the edge of the
little town. Meantime / had sent to the main
army in my rear OF my situation,
railroad. the Mobile g. Ohio. directly back to
where the Army of the Mississippi lay. and it
was we'll known to my command that / had done
80.
did not know whether reinforcements would
be sent or not. so / thought | would do the best
I could with what / had in hand. I was heavily
pressed by the enemy, and I did not know his
strength, but made up my mind to rely on my
self; and, as l had an accurate knowledge of the
country, selected one company of the Second
Michigan and one company of the Second Iowa
to perform the duty of a forlorn hope. and put
| Major Russell A. Alger, of the Second Michigan,
in command, with instructions to take q wood
road around the left of the enemy's advancing
forces that would lead him around to a POINT on
the Blackland road, on which the enemy was
principally advancing, and at a point in his rear.
distant from Bonneville about three or three and
one-half miles. I told Major Alger that when he
reached the Blackland road he should turn up it,
in rear of enemy, and not deploy his
| cavaly, but charge right through what
| ever he met on the road, and re-
port to me at Bonneville. This would
bring him through the line of battle of the
enemy. If he could not charge through he
| should 60 as far IS he could. and then retreat by
the same route he went out on. / gave him to
conduct him on this mission my guido and scout,
a thin man with light complexion, long light
hair, and a native of the neighborhood of Boone.
vile. His lame was lost by the burning of my
records in the Chicago fire. It was from this
man / got the principal knowledge of my infor-
nation map that marked this trail or wood road
on which this forlorn hope was to be sent. /
then told Major Alger / would take the balance
OF my command and join those now fighting the
enemy IN trent, and then, when he struck the
rebel line OF battle In the rear, to have his men
cheer as loudly as they could; that ! would prob
ably hear the cheering. and would charge at the
same time from the front; that / would give him
one hour to 60 around and come through the
enemy's line and reach me at Boonville, and that
If l did not hear the cheering of his men l would
charge the enemy at the end Of one hour from
the time he started.
He went Of. and I moved from where I was,
near my headquarters tent q had not discour-