The National tribune., 1891-01-29
WHY DID THEY COP
A COmrade Of the ssh III. Tells Of Mysterious
Movement.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: As / have
never seen in print any reference TO mysteri-
Gus movement aud a retreat from Grand juno
ton, will give brief account Of movement
i have never been able 10 fathom. The lighting
Fourth (Hurlbuts) Division was encamped at
Bolivar, Tenn. with Rosecraus, with part Of
the Army Of the Tennessee at Corinth, and
the Sixteenth Corps scattered from Memphis TO
Jackson, Tenn. / remember We received or
ders 10 march, we knew not where, but sup
posed TO form junction with RosecTans, posi-
bly, on the Cold Water. At all events, we
moved at early dawn, taking with US every
thing, wagon-trains fully equipped, and, rs we
then supposed, the whole division, but as we
filed out past the camps Of the other brigades
Of our famous division, saw that our brigade,
the Third, was all that was moving.
With very little delay we soon left Bolivar
in the rear and wended our way to the South
aud on the Grand Junction road. II was a
mild day in early Springtime, 1853. and our
movement seemed TO us Of importance. We
had our camp and garrison equipage, and if we
were not going TO form the junction with
"Rosey " on the Cold Water, rs at FIRST expected
we must be going TO join him at Corinth. At
all events, the meager numbers. so heavily
equipped caused q great deal of speculation
But speculation very soon gave way TO actual
work, and we marched on, leaving La Grange
to the west, and when night came on we biv-
Ouckod 10y the roadside within six miles Of
Grand Junction.
Early breakfast and on we went, until sud.
denly halt aud the orders to load " was
passed along the line; next, TO tear down the
fences and assist the artillery 10 turn. This
was done with a will, for we realized that we
were about TO be tlanked, and if We would save
ourselves from the clutches Of old Price, Van
Dorm aud Yillipigue we must hustle. The
brigade Immediately about-faccd, flankers
were thrown out, aud we were ordered from
quick time 10 that Of double quick, aud gen
cral run was the final order. This we found
no end 10 until Wolf Creek was reached The
wagon-tran was terribly in the way. Water
was out Of The question, for the natives seemed
to fully understand the plight we were IN, and
had removed the wcll-buckets, and TO complete
the Obstruction everything loose was, by us
piled into the wells, aud upon reaching the
aforesaid Wolf River we formed,,a line of bat
Tie, masking section Of artillery covering the
road. Heavy details Of men were sent TO the
stream with our canteens and while the teams
were crossing we lay in wait.
We had not much time 10 lose, and only
enough TO get breath, when the rebel cavalry
came dashing along. Aud such reception
/ never learned how many Of them bt the
dust" but my regiment being in support and
on the right Of the road, could distinctly hear
the commands Of the rebel officers, aud know
that our line was soon covered, or where our
line had been but i'm the meantime, our wagons
having crossed and the artillery having re-
ceivcd their orders beforehand, quietly and
quickly followed suit and was safely crossed.
aud the old reliable 2Sth H., bringing up the
rear, laughed at the discounted Johnnics
forming their lines aud getting left.
"On TO Bolivar" was now the cry, and il
you ever saw a hungry tired, thirsty brigade,
that one was the Third Brigade, Fourth Divis-
ion Sixteenth Corps. The report reached
Bolivar that we were captured, and when in-
stead we marched in by our comrades such
welcome and such cheering. / remember that
the l4th ILL., boys fairly rushed 30 our ranks
aud shook US by the hands. We were saved,
aud not long after the division took a more
busincsslike manuycr; and after Price and
his gang were whipped and driven from Cor
iuth, he fell into our grasp on the Hatchie and
got a second thrashing in almost the same "a
hours Ia other words, we cut of his retreat,
and sent his scattered forces of up the river 10
find a crossing and escape.
Gen. Ord was in command, but was wounded.
and our old commander assumed command, aud
TO his memory is due the success Of a second
time routing the defeated rebels. j would like
to hear from some comrade, through THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, Of the SD H., sd Ind.
81 Iowa, concerning this retreat from Grand
Juuction.-E. i. HOBART Co. ID, 25th ILL.,,
400 Scott street, Denver, Colo.