The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-03-20
BATTLE OF BONNEVILLE.
EXTRACTS FROM THE ACCOUNT
GIVEN BY GEN. PHIL SHERIDAN.
Made Up His Mind to Rely on Himself
"A Detachment in the Rear of the
Enemy-Chcered by the Whistle of
Locomotiye-Nicto

IA DtIaChWtht iu Tue AkttI III tut
Enemy-Chcered by the whistle of
Locomotive Victory.
On the 2Sth day of June, 1852, while in
command OF the Second Michigan and Second
Iowa regiments OF cavalry, by direction OF
Gen. w. :. RoSecrans, commanding the army
of the Mississippi took up position at the
little village nj Bonneville, in the state of
Mississippi on the Mobile x Ohio railroad.
The Army Of the Mississippi lay about twenty
miles in my rear, and that of the enemy i'll
and about Tupeo and Guntown, some fifteen
miles in my front,
Immediately on taking this position did
what never failed to do during the whole
course of the war make a map, or rather an
information map, of the surrounding country,
NV mind ran to the accumulation of know
ledge of this kind.
On July 1 the regiments before named,
which commanded, had an effective strength
of s21 men. Very early on the morning of
that day, July /, the enemy advanced against
me, the main column of his force being in
what was known rs the Blackland road My
strong picket force was under command of
Lieut.. Scranton, of the Second Michigan
strong resistance, nearly to Bonneville; in
fact, almost to the edge of the little town.
| did not know whether achievements
would DO sent or not, 50 thought would do
the best could with what had in hand
was heavily pressed by the enemy and | did
not know his strength, but made up my mind
to rely upon myself; and, as had an accu-
rate knowledge Of the country selected one
company of the Second Michigan and one
company of the Second Iowa to perform the
duty of a forloru hope and put Maj. Russell
A. Alger, of the Second Michigan, in com
mand, with Instructions to take q wood road
around the left of the enemy's advancing
forces that would lead him around to a point
Oh the Richmond road, on which the enemy
was principally advancing, and at a point in
his rear.
THE INSTRUCTIONS TO MAJ. ALGER
told Maj, Alger that when he reached the
Blackand road he should turn up it, in rear
of the enemy, and not deploy his cavalry but
charge right through whatever he met on the
road and report to me at Bonneville This
would bring him through the line of battle
of the enemy. If he could not charge through
he should 20 rs far rs he could and then re-
treat 10y the same road he went out ON.
gave him to conduct him ON this mission, my
guide and Scout--a thin man with light com
plexion, long, light hair, and a native of
the neighborhooi of Bonneville His name
was lost 10y the burning of my records in the
Chicago fire. 1t was from this man | got the
principal knowledge of my information map
that marked this trail or wood road on which
this fOrlorn hope was to be sent / then told
Mai Algnr would take the balance of my
command and join those now fighting the
enemy in front, and then whom he struck the
rebel line Of battle in the rear, to have his
men cheer rs loudly IL they could, that
would probably hear the cheering and would
charge at the same time from the front: that
| would give him one hour to 90 around and
come through the cnemy's line and reach me
at Bonneville, and if did not hear the cheer
NJ of hi, men would charge the enemy at
the end of one hour from the time he started
He went of, and ! moved from where
was, near my headquarters tent Il had not
discouraged the men 10y taking down my
headquartolSl, out on the line of battle Just
west OF the railroad track, IN the village of
Bonneville The fighting was sharp along
the line, and the firing of the enemy seemed
to show 50 much numerical strength, | had
The hour, the time set Ia hear from him, was
up, but there was no cheering, 80 | ordered
the charge on the enemy, which was my part
of the arrangement; and just at that moment
a locomotive and two platform cars loaded
with bales of hay for the horses OF my com
mand, came down the track from the main
body in the rear, right into Bonneville and
Just behind the line of battl"
THE WHISTLE or THE LOCOMOTIVE.
As the troops knew had sent back for re
Inducements to help us, thought if the en-
gineer were made to blow his whistle it would
give them encouragement, 50 | galloped To
him and ordered it to Toe sounded loudly and
continuously. The men heard it and be
licvci the rcinfOrcementS had arrived and |
have season TO suppos" the enemy thought so
too. | never heard such wild cheering rs
occurred ON our part. The enemy broke and
ran not only on the roads but all over the
country. He was defeated
Now to go back to Maj. Aigor He was
unable - come through 10 me a. the enemy
was too strong, nor did he get near enough
for me t. hear his cheering but, singular a.
il may seem, it was at the same time that !
made the charge IN front, and probably was
instrumental ~ the defeat Of the enemy 10y
my small force, The cncmy, as ! heard aft.
rrWard, by prisoners, thought he was charged
by large force in front and large force ia
rear At all events he broke and ran.
Maj Algcr, finding he could not get
through, turned back the way he had gone,
but only about onchalf, or little less than
onc-haif returned, and many of these brave
fellows came back on the horse of their com
ralc~ riding double many Of them wounded.