The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-01-22
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns



Az Expedition which Amounted 10 Nothing.
EDITOR NATIONAL Tribune: Some time
ago an article from the pen Of Comrade Meleer,
Sd Tenn. Cav appeared in your paper giving
Rn account Of the Mississippi raid and the bat
tie fought al 0kolona, under command OF Gen.
WIN. Sooy Smith. Now, as / was there, will
give my version of tho affair, especially so as
Comiadc Mclecr fails 90 give anything more
than a passing notice of the regiment OF which
4 was a member i cannot give dates, neither
can ] relate with any degree OF exactness, the
part taken in the action by other regiments
than my own.
We had reached West Point, the farthost
point south, on our raid had captured about
1000 negroes and about the same number of
mules and horses and had arrived at OkOOna
the evening before the fight Soon after taking
mp our line Of march the next morning firing
was heard in our TcaT-at first scattering, but
soon increasing 10 almost a continuous roar oil
muskCtry We were drawn up IN line OF bat
lie ia some old fields near the town of OkOlCna,
where, after waiting for an attack for short
time the rebels had Dor short space ceased
firing. we again began 30 move out but before
we had got ourselves fairly Strengthened out on
the line OF march firing again commenced IN
our rear, when regiment Il think New Jer-
Soy regimeut) became terribly stampeded and
came dashug through our columns, and I'm spite
of all that could be done by our officers and
comrades 10 hold ourselves together almost the
entire force then engaged were stampeded, and
for awhile Il was impossible for the officers 10
rally their men. For the space OF about an
hour every man was his own commander We
all went heltor-skeltcr, tue rebels pouring lead
into ms la "A manner by 10 means pleasant
One incident j WisK 10 relate, and should IL
meet the eye Of the cOmrade ] shall mention
should be pleased to hear from ham. After the
stampede had been under a general Roadway
for Sonic time we became more OF less scattered.
j remember falling IN with COmrade Whit.
Melton, of Co. i, Sd Tenn. Cav. but soon got
separated from him. About this time fell in
with another comrade-a mere boy. did not
know TO what regiment he belonged. We rode
together for o short distance, when discovered
that we were alone with none of our forces IN
view, except a small force labout 5O) half
mile 10 our right in field. Just in front Of us
the road entered the woods, and just before
entering the woods all at once the report rifles
was heard Ia our immediate front, al which my
comTado became alarmed and SAID he was going
30 the men we had seen in the field. j
told him ] was going TO keep in the road,
thinking i would soon Overtulke our meu IN
front. i rode on alone until 4 thought had
Travelled far enough TO come IN sight, at least OF
Our own men. but not a man was TO be seen.
never saw as still a time in my lile-n0t sound
was 20 be heard, not even the chirpug of the
ful and solemn stiffness seemed 10 prevail, aud
yet ] knew that the rebels could not he but a
few hundred yards away aud strange 10 say,
had not been alarmed until now j thought u
would never do for me 10 attempt 20 follow the
road further, so turning my horse out OF the
road, j rode down the hin in the direction Of
tho field, thinking ] had better follow the eX-
ample Of the boy had been riding with, but
on reaching the foot Of the hill, j came 10 a
wide, deep gully, which knew my horse could
NOT jump. j rode mp the gully some distance
thinking might find place 10 cross, but all
70 no purpose. So turning my horse j rode
back TO the road again, aud IL appeared that my
horse understood the situation equally AS well
Rs myself ] gave him the bride aud q light
touch with my spurs when he dashed forward
with all possible speed, and after running quite
q long distance j came la sight Of a small
picket force Of our own men formed across
The road, which, after passing, j found my reg
iment formed in line Of battle.
After waiting about 10 minutes the pickets
began firing, aud in less time than il takes 10
Tell 30 were al 81 again, but this time IN better
order We would fire several rounds and then
fall back, sometimes on our horses, at other
times dismOunted, but every time with telling
effect. But the fighting was kept up till night
came on and TINS closed the battle Of Okoloua,
Miss The regiment 10 which belonged lthe
ath Tenn, Cav. was in the hottest of the fight
do not think any Of the regiments showed
oOWaFdice. Tire stampede was an unavoidable
Occurrences, and was ouelcd as soon as possible
by our brave officers, among them the late
Lieut. Col. j. M. IhOrnburgh. OF our regiment
deserves special mention. 1t was, ] believe
has first battle but great credit is due his mem
DRY for ths military skin and heroic action he
displayed on that day.
] cannot call 10 mind now al the regiments
engaged IN this battle, bat among the number
] remember, were the %, 3D. and ath Tenn.
Cav, The I'D lud MID Inf, the list or 9Th N.
J. Cav, the 4th Regular Cav, and some Ken
lucky regiments, If ] am not mistaken.
As ] marched and fought in the ranks, ]
could moi see what was going on az q distance
from where my regiment was engaged, aud it
has always been mystery 20 me how those
comrades who fought in the ranks could see
and know 50 much Of the general movements
OF the army, as some OF them appear 20 know.
j always found enough 10 do 10 watch what
was going on in my immediate front.
li j nave made any misstatemcnis IL Is due
70 faulty memory, and not 10 any desire or
intention 10 misreprcsont the real facts as they
exist
Hoping that some comrade more competent
will take up the subject ] will drop il for the
preseut-JOsEPH GRIFFITH, Co. f. zth Tenn.
Cav. Denton, Tex.