The National tribune., 1891-02-19
SOOY SMITHS RAID.
A ga Iowa oayalrman Goes for the Tenncssecar

/ Cav. MaIysville, Tenn. ON that portion OF
/ his article from Dec. p, 1863, until Feb. II,
| 1864, j have nothing 10 say; but ] would like
/ 10 give 4 true account Of the Smith raid, and
] will sketch from my memoranda as briefly
as possible, with the object Of giving the Second
Brigade a hearing.
The finest cavalry force that had ever ope-
rated IN the Military District Of Mississippi
was massed IN and around Germantown, and
placed under the C0mm and Gen. SOOy Smith
The force was divided into three brigadcs
The First Brigade Col. Warning commanding
consisted of the "a Ill.,, "a n. j., 4th No, eth
Ind, 18th Pa. Cav; the Second Brigade, Lieut.
| Col w. j. Hepburn commanding, consisted OF
the % Iowa, 9th and 9th i'll. Cav; the Third
Brigade, Col. McCriilis commanding, consisted
OF the ID, 30 and 4th Tenn, Sd H., 5th Ky,
I'D Ind, and 9TH Regular Cav. The force
numbered about 5000 well armed and we'll
mounted men. Brig. -Gen. b. H. Grierson &C
compau ed the force, using his own expression.
as sort Of supomumerary. Accompanying
this force were "a pieces Of light artillery.
The object Of the expedition was 10 join Gen.
sherman al Meridian, Miss, on has contem-
plated move, into the interior from Nicksburg.
We moved out before daylight on the nth
Of February, 1864, going south by very slow
marches The command moved in three coll
umus until the Tallahstchie was reached. On
the 18th we reached Ok0ona, nothing OF in
terest having happened thus far We passed
through Aberdeen, and this was the first Yam
kee force ever in that town, and consequently
we were terror and curiosity 10 the people.
We now moved towards West Point thousands
Of darkies leading stock joining the column as
we moved. On the morning OF the goth we
reached Prairie Station, where we burned
long train OF cars, together with large amount
Of Confederate corn. The % Iowa had the
advance as we moved on to West Point crowd
ing the rehs back in a continual skirmish,
which at times reached the dignity Of a run.
ming fight, till the enemy appeared in force
and stubbonly resisted our advance at every
favorable point The dismounted rilemen Of
the "a Iowa Cav. drove them steadily back,
till, before the close of day West Point, with
all her stores, was ia our hands.
The next day, Feb. u, WAS Sunday, and rs
Gen. Sherman had already commenced his re-
trOgrade movement our expedition had failed
OF It's purpOse-fsilcd because our leaders were
too slow Therefore we had 20 return to
Memphis with our plumber which consisted
OF 5000 horses and mules, 500 negroes and
200 prisoners We soon found that we had our
hands full to even return 10 camp. Geu. Smith
ordered the retreat early ON the morning OF
the 2lst Of February, 1864.
Here j wish % ask Mcleer in all kindness
how he comes TO be ignorant Of the engagement
OF the I'd Iowa Cav. on the DIST with Forrest
where the ID Iowa left 80 brave fellows on the
fed2 ii space would permit I should like to
give true description OF this fight, but suffice
TO say the Second Brigade stood Forrest off in
tho rear and TANKS, and ambushed his advanced
forces twice, the rebels following and fighting
until 10 o'clock p m. We continued the re-
treat until o'clock a. m, when we campcd Tor
three hours, Tesumng our march at daylight
on the morning Of the 22d.
The Third Brigade, Col McCrillis command
ing, took the rear, aud the 9th H. battery was
turned over 70 them. As the rear passed
through Okolona carly In the forenoon. the
rebels charged McCrillis's Brigade stampeding
it aud capturing five pieces Of the cannon re-
ceiyed from the Second Brigade but few hours
before The Second Brigade was now ordered
10 the rear again on the gailop where a line
was soon formed and the exultant foe checked
The advance aud flank guards were taken from
the Second Brigade, which was also required
10 form the line Of battle in the rear Of the
stampede, which had commenced with the 4th
Regulars and Cd n j.. but which had now be-
come so general in the First and Third Bril-
gades that upon the Second Brigade alone could
there be any dependence placed 10 save the
command from capture. Some regiments from
the other brigBdes did well but AS brigades
they were too badly stampeded to be trusted
The road IN the rear OF the line Of battle pre-
sented truly depl0rable scene for to the contra
bands, 1900 strong were added double that
-
the fight. These, with 5000 led horses aud
mules together with a long train Of wagons
and ambulances. al mingled in one stampeded
mass, moved like an avalanche 20 the rear At
one time this mob, which was over one fourth
Of mile in width aud miles ia length was
moving without advance or flank guards or
commander. This stampede was in fun view
Of FORESTS army, and separated from them but
by one line Oh battle d. which there was not
more than 1900 men VINO could be trusted. /
need not tell the reader that the fighting here
Was bloody. Our boys bad a favorable position
and brayoly did they Fly their faithful rifles.
The rebels charged and were repnlsed bv
counierchgTges; cannon were taken and re-
taken; our lines, however, under the guidance
Of Gen. GrearsOn, firmly resisted every assault
until reinforced by darkness by the aid Of
whose irieudl. cover they withdrew from the
held, This engagement established the fact
that one half Of our force was sufficient 10 cope
with tic enemy If but allowed to stand aud
hight. Gen. GTicrs0u, rather by common con-
sent, ne well rs from the necessity OF things as
sumed the direction q afiairf as soon rs dark
ness put an end 10 tho battle Of tic ODD aud TO
him we owe our salvation from capture.
Placing guard across tho road ia front Of
The stampede, he ordered them to halt every
man, black or white, aud Kill anyone who re-
fused 10 obey the order at the same time di-
rectlng that each soldier found among the
stampede should be driven into 4 lot designated
for the reception Of tho brigade 10 which he
belonged different field was set apart for
each brigade, aud the officers Of the same sent
IN there 10 rG-assOrt the men aud send each 10
bis own company and regiment.
Ihls course IA about four hours brought the
force into something like fighting trim again,
when 6ricTsOn ordered them 10 move out ia
the following order: First McCrills's Bri-
gado, followed by the negroes, led horses and
train, moved out on the run and made for the
Jallahatchic with the greatest possible speed:
next came Warnings Brigade followed bv
tho Second Brigade, Lieut.-Col. Hepburn COM
mandlng the 9TH H., supported by the I'd Iowa
the 9Th H. taking the rear. The enemy
pressed closely Tor awhile, but about l0a M
the hard lighting ceased, aud we continued
our march 70 the ford 81 New Albany unmo-
Tested. we were safely across the river by
4 O'Clock p. m. OF the 23d. For 90 hours pre-
/ VlOus 10 this we had been ia almost incessaut
/ hghtng withoutsleep or food, aud cOnseq uently
were very much exhausted
We moved out on the Waterford road on our
/ homcwGrd march in three columns, crossing
the TIppah River az Baysford. Our brigade,
/ which Was in the center, pursued their course
down the river. Just ~ we were going into
camp FOR the night near Waterford a staff Off
/ Ger mounted on a f0Rming charger came I'D
! 70 Gen. GTiersOn who was with our brigade
/ with the intelligence that McCnllis's Brigade,
/ upon our right, had been furiously attacked
while crossing the Tippah River aud that
smith, fearful Of HE ability TO hold them in
1 check until aid could reach him, wished for
/ rClniOrcCmCnts with all possible haste