Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-06

southwark. Where it was to come out
no man knew, least of all the panic
stricken people through whose country
it passed like tornado. Like tor
nado, too, it was in it's work of de-
struction. Grierson laid waste property
and carried away food, horses and men.
Near Dismal Swamp one of the largest
tanneries in Mississippi was destroyed.
Now the command united, now again
separated, detachments flying this way
and that, and whisking hither and
thither, like the evolutions of fiocks of
birds in mid-air. At Newton two trains
of cars, with Confederate army supplies,
were destroyed, and near the same town
four bridges were torn up. AT Raleigh
the command halted, and Grierson sent
out a scout to cut the telegraph wire,
which at Lake station would give the
alarm of his whereabouts to Jackson
and other points. The scout ran into
regiment of Confederate cavalry that
had been sent to find Grierson. Strangely
enough the scout not only escaped cap
ture himself, but also succeeded in de-
ceiving the enemy as to his commanders
whereabouts. Ben Grierson's luck seems
never to have deserted him. Hearing
the scouts report he quickly crossed the
Leaf river and burned its bridges behind
him, cutting off pursuit in the rear.
From Montrose, Grierson turned
slightly westward. 1t now became evil
dent to the Confederates that he did not
mean to return to Lagrange. Prepara-
tions were made to head him off and
capture him. At Pearl river Southern
pickets were tearing up the bridge when
Grierson reached it. He dashed into
them and dispersed them, and crossed in
safety. Ten minutes more and he would
have been too Late.
On the afternoon of May 2, 1868, a
great body of wild-looking men rode into
Baton Rouge, La. 1t seemed as if they
had sprung from the ground; they were
dusty and haggard, and some of them
were asleep sitting bolt upright upon
their horses. No wonder. In sixteen
days they had ridden 800 miles, from
north to south through an enemy's
country. They had destroyed over
$4,000,000 worth of property, cut two
captured over 1000 prisoners and 200
horses. They were GriersOn and his
men.
The results and benefits derived fro m
this great raid cannot be over estimated.
of the North, who, up to that time, had
been always waiting for supplies" that
troops could be subsisted off the enc
mics country without base from
which to draw supplies, and his safe
arrival at Baton Rouge aroused great en-
thusiasm throughout the army and the
loyal people of the entire country.
For his gallant and distinguished
services in this raid Colonel Grierson
was promoted Brigadier- General of Vol
unteers, June 3, 1868. Subsequently he
rendered distinguished service until the
close of the rebellion and was promoted
Brevet Major-General and Major-Gen-
eral of Volunteers. These promotions
were well earned, and were not pro-
cured through the influence of polit-
ical friends, method which many
officers resorted to in order to obtain in
creased rank.
On July %, 1866, General Grierson
was appointed Colonel of the Tenth
U. S. Cavalry, and has served nearly
twenty-four years without promotion.
Since the close of the rebellion he has
been almost continuously in command
of troops on the frontier, and no other
officer of the army has done more to
open up the vast resources of the South
western States and Territories.
General Grierson has been in COM
mand of the Department of Arizona for
the past eighteen months, with head
quarters in this city. His promotion
has been justly earned, and should have
been made years ago, He retires from
active service on July Sth next, and his
promotion, even at this late date, is very
gratifying to his many warm friends
throughout the entire country.-[ EDS.
HERALD.