The National tribune., 1888-01-05
GUNTowN AGAIN.
The Conliet Of Jnne 10. 1sG4.

OF June 1864 a force of 600 or 10000 stationed
at Memphis, Tenn. were sent out to intercept
Forests forces, which were securing the coun-
try around there. This force consisted of Gen.
Grierson, with 1900 or 5000 cavalry, and a
force Of about as many infantry, the whole
being under command of Brighten. S. ID. Surgls,
q Regular Army officer.
AS we moved ont in a southeast direction
from Memphis, Forrest concentrated his forces
and fell back before US, not Offering an engage
ment that amounted TO anything. We still fol-
lowed him on through Ripley, Miss, and still
on until he made stand at Tupeo, a station
on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, so or 100 miles
from our starting point, and south of Corlnth
/ think we were some eight or 10 days in going
that distance giving Forrest all opportunities
of reinforcing on the line of road from Mobile
to Tupelo. and in which he succeeded we'll.
At this point it was said that he had gathered
force of no less than Il, 600 men, and perhaps
more. 1t was bsdly-managed affair on the
part Of Gen Sturgis, in giving him such an over
whelming advantage; and not only that, but IN
the conflict between the forces il was equally
bad.
On the day Of the fight only about one half
of US were in the engagement at the same time.
From the start the cavalry force had been in
advance Of the infantry, and so it was on this
day.
On the morning of June 10 Gen. Grierson
with his cavalry came up with Forests force
near a place called GuntowD, few miles off
1 the railroad. 10 the west, and fierce sklrmlsh
! ensued, in which his force was inadequate to
that of Forrest, and consequently did not last
more than two or three hours.
At this time our force Of infantry were some
! three or four miles distant, and when the cav
/ airy commenced TO fall back, an order came
back for Us to double quick to the front for ac-
! ton. 1t was a very hot, sultry day, but we
\ complied with the order. though | am satisfied
-. 6 @l,,s, Can
try reached the field of action, owing to extreme
cheat. The distance doubie-quicked must have
been three miles or more.
About the time we commenced forming our line
/ of battle the cavalry had fallen back entirely
to the rear, and cur force of about 1890 or more
men were at the mercy Of the whole rebel host
bus we formed as quickly as possible in the
edge OF an old field, our line extending into a
1 woodland on the south, in which was a negro
brigade in line / don't know how long our
line was ! know that the enemy was strong
| enough TO flank US on both right and left wings
! OF the line.
As quick as our line was formed a company
Of the Slst H. was ordered to deploy as Skin
| rnishers and advance to the front in the wood
land They had advanced not more than 40 OF
80 yards in this wood when they met the
I enemy's skiTmishers. and few shots being eX-
| changed, our skirmishers fell back in line, and
IN a few minutes the general engagement COM
menced. Whiz! whiz! went the bullets around
Us, but we stood firm as rock, and commenced
pouring cur V0leys of musketry into them
This was too much, for they fell back; but in {
few minutes they made yelling charge on US
this time coming near enough TO be seen, bul
quickly reiterated. They were dismOunted cav
airy with navy revOlyeTs in hand.
Time passes swiftly when in battle, and how
long the actual fighting was / could not tell
bnt it must have been moro than an hour
Finally it was seen that we were in condition
10 be badly 1anked, and retreat was ordered
to prevent this.
Before I leave this subject want to speak
CT one thing. and that is, | want to compliment
the col0red brigade on our right for their gal
lantFy in that engagement, as l had heard il
said over and over again that they were only fl
for garrison duty and would not do to depend OF
in battle. ! saw there that 1t was a mistaken
idea. They stood side by side with US.
The retreat was commenced between 3 and !
o'clock p. ~, and we were not hanked, but i
took some good work by our artillery and cav
airy together 70 prevent it. They were masseC
On both sides Of a bridge which SPAWNED largi
creek or small river, to cover the retreat acros
the stream, which / think was the sole mean
Of cur escape from being gobbled altogether
But this being accomplished, our retreat wa:
1enphisward during that night.
At place called Negro-Wooi Swamp on tha
night al Of the artillery, cOmmissary and bag
gage-Wagons were given TO the enemy, tbi
gnnners and teamsters cutting loose the horse
and taking them along. At about daybreal
we reached Ripley, aud were ordered TO hal
, and cook breakfast, but we had no more thar
commenced when we were attacked by tn
rebel cavalry from two sides Of the town. NJ
: one was hurt, bat we made steps from Their
, pretty lively. About four miles from thi
place the writer Of this, had it not been 70
some greenbriers, 4 branch and heavy-tim
bered bottom, with some fast walking woul
/ no doubt have been a prisoner, but he mad
good his escape and got beyond their reach.
Another thing in connection with this cs
cape ! would mention, but Will not make
4 tedious. We marched all that day and tina
u night until 3 or o'clock in the morning, whe
: / stopped and lay down in the corner of
: fence, which vas the first time had close
!, my eyes for IS hours. When | awoke the su
/ was away up, and l went on, reaching Ger
t mautown about noon, where we got on the 1s
z cars and reached Memphis late in the evening
J, So, you see it took less time to get back tina
4 il did TO 20 down.
Q When we started down there the slst II
n had 632 men reported for duty; in two week
E after We got back to Memphis, 220 only weI
' reported; the balance were sick, Wounds
: killed, or taken prisoners. Two young men
il my company were killed outright and left 0
e the field. some were wounded, and sever
! taken prisoners. The whole thing, to the tin
4 we went into the fight, seemed to be not maj
d aged 10 our advantage, which brought abol
3 our defeat at Guntown. have often though
since il happened that any private from Il
\ ranks might have done better than Gen. Stu
a gis idon that occasion; and yet he was crac
Re ed up TO be good officer. / think he vi
d court-martialed after that
y We were badly torn up but in about thri
: weeks after that Gen. A. J. Smith, the 0
d Regular Army veteran, took the famous 81
ia teenth Corps and went out 20 or 30 miles fro
a Memphis and whipped Mr.. Forrest out of i
Y boots, and captured and brought back TO MeI
- phis the artillery that we had lost at the \
4 gro-Wool Swamp.-JAAiEs II. ORR, Private, {
/, 6lst H., Fort Worth, Tex.
e, -
- TTTCKV EGCADE