The National tribune., 1888-12-06
A LIVELY SCOUT.
Guppy'S Brigade at Jackson, La.


ion, Thirteenth Corps-while we were lying at
Morganzia Bend La. and shortly after our re-
turn from the Red River campaign, which re-
suited so disastrously 10 our brave boys. There
was a little town a short distance out from
Baton Rouge called Clinton, where the enemy
had base of supplies and quite force OF
mounted infantry and cavalry. twas deemed
necessary % break up this post. Our brigade
and about $50 Of the 1st Tex. Cav, under the
command Of a Northumberland, whose name
] have forgotten and about eight or ten pieces
Of artillery, ali under command Of Col }. D.
Gurpy, OF the 23d Wis, were en- barked Oh trans
ports and sent 70 Bayou Sara to draw the at
tentian of the rebels in that direction, while
the cavalry and small infantry force were
sent out from Baton Rouge 70 destroy the post
at Clinton. Our brigade, as near as ] can re-
member, consisted Of the SD and seth Ohio,
60th Ind, l6lst y. Y. and 23d Wis, and, L
think, section of Nims's battery. If ] an
mistaken. some c0mrade viii please correct me,
as u Is some "a years since this tranSplred, and
az the time a boy only u years old. Neither
can j give the exact date Of the expedition,
but il was - the Summer Of 1891 Neresched
Bsyou Sara late in the afternoon. There was
8 gunboSt lying at this point, commanded, /
think, by Capt. Foster. This gunboat was
stationed here to protect ouT boats as they
passed up and down the river. As there is
range Of hills along the river at this point,
where the rebels could prey upon our eoats
very easily. As the river makes a long curve
here. and the rebels could be completely screened
from sight by the heavy timber on and back
from these hills until the boat had got too far
on her couTse around the curve TO get away
from them, when they could
OPEN UPON THE UNPROTECTED BOATS.
] was told while on this expedition that Capt.
Foster had entered into a compact with Col.
Scott, who commanded the rebels in that dis
trict. by which his men Capt. Fosters could
have the range of the town. and Col Scott's
men We're not 70 enter the town under the
penalty Of his Capt. FOSTER leveling the town !;
which was readily accepted by Col. Scott as a
great many Of his officers and men had families
living In the town
As / said, We arrived at Bayou Sara late in
the afternoon and disembarked. When we en-
tered the town we found quite number Of
rebels, a part Of whom some of our boys capt
ured, mules aud al. We marched up on top of
the hill 20 that part Of the town called st.
tranclsvllle, and went into camp for the night.
In the morning our brigade was formed into
four detaehments, three of which were sent out
on three different roads toward Clinton. But
will only follow that one formed of the 23d
Wis. and 50 Of the Ist Tex. Cav. and a section
OF Nlmss battery. We we're sent out, believe,
on the main road, and the center one, 10 Jack
son, La. little town some IA miles from st.
trancsville and some eight or ten miles from
Clinton. viii say right here thst the fourth
detachment, with the most of the artillery,
were kept at st. Francisville for reserve. We
did not meet with any rebels until within
about three or four miles of Jackson,
WHEN We MET FORCE OF CAVALRY
who were doing picket duty on that road. Our
detachment was under the command of the
Iientemant- Colonel of the 1st Tex Cav who
was with us and our regiment under the com
and raf Acc
came onto this small force of rebels there was
quite lively skirmish for a few moments,
until our battery opened on them, when they
took to their heels and left. We followed them
and drove them into Jackson, where we were
halted for a rest and dinner; also to give the
cavalry chance 10 scout around and beyond
the Town, as there were three roads leading ont
OF the town beside the one we came in upon.
While we were resting, our boys, like all old
soldiers, were scattered over the village, hunt
ing FOR something good TO eat and while thus
engaged were fired upon quite frequently, Rut
when re Duys Ss.sauld make q charge upon the
house from whence the s.ot came they could
NOT IND man upon the place. re boys be-
gan 70 think the women were trying tnosr
hand at soldering and / really think that
such was the case. as, having lived in the State
OF Mississippi foT five years before the war, /
Know that the Southern wOmen-some of them
are quite expert ct handling the gun: for
my old grandmother could pick turkey from
the talesi pine tree with rifle about as well as
most Of The men.
There came to our Major and the Iieuten-
Hnt-Colonel Of the LIST Tex. Cav. while We were
lying here an old Catholic priest, who said he
did not like TO see
USELESS SHEDDING OF BLOOD
Gnd loss Of life, but that he knew such would
be the consequences If we remained in town
much longer, as the rebs had whole division
on each OF the three roads leading cut Of the
town, and they would be closing in upon rs
unless we got out of there. We remained q
little longer, when our scouts came in and re-
ported heavy body Of troops on all three OF
these roads, and only about three or four miles
out Our Northumberland drew Us ont of
the town back on the same road we came in on
about mile, upon side hill, and Just across a
creek. This creek was IN a little ravine be-
tween the hill we occupied and the hill the
Town was butt upon. We threw out our pick
cts lew rods from the creek, and lust in tie
cage OF tne timber, the rebels doing the same
on their side OF the creek. Our men were
lying IN line Of battle until after dark. when
We were ordered TO march back little farther
and on top Of the bill, where we were drawn
up ia Inc, and waited for some minutes before
we stacked arms and went into camp for the
night. The commanding officer ordered us to
90 all our cooking that night SO as not to build
any bres in the morning. But when morning
came we were ordered, every man, TO build a
fire, which we did.
We had the two pieces Of artillery with us
on this expedition planted in the wagon road
between our company r and Co. c. Just as
we had our coffee nicely boiling and salt pork
trying, some Of the boys said the rebs were
planting piece of artillery down on the bank
OF the creek, and IN plain sight of u.s. A lot of
rs got upon the rail fence near where orr hat
terry stood, and were watching them We ex-
pecJed they were going TO load the piece but
they fooled US, as they already had it loaded
and before we could divine their intentions
they fired directly az us, the shell striking a
man Of %. { in the pit Of the stomach. Poor
man,
BE NEVER KNEW WHAT HURT HIM.
This mans name was Martin Cook. Our artil-
lery opened on them and soon silenced them
There were some two or three prisoners taken
from the rebels during the artillery duel. and
one OF them told our officers that the rebs had
sent force Of some 200 men on an old road
70 cut Us OF from our reserve The IieDten.
antColonel then ordered us to fan back. We
were obliged to leave poor Cook on the side ~
the road for the rebels TO bury for u.s. Then
commenced a race ] shall never forget. Our
regiment kept the cavalry and artillery on :
sharp trot 70 keep up with and out of our way
l0r II miles, 10 where the road the rebels were
on intersected with the road that we werf
upon, when the enemy made charge upon n,
and forced US to stand and give battle. W.
filed TO the left and Law down in an ia eots