The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-04-19
% at least one slave, literally taking off
his shackles. The darkies


his shackles. The darkies
SEEMED AMAZED
to see Lincoln soldiers, of whom they
had heard the most frightful stories.
We had little time to contemplate
The destruction we had caused, for we
were TO overtake the main column, and
hard days march was before us. In
fact, We did not bivouac until 3 o'clock
the next morning, 10 miles south of
Louisville, having travelled nearl y go
miles What added most to the burden
of the day was the crossing of big
swamp, five or six miles in width, caused
by the high water in the Big Black.
The water in places came up to the
horses sides. The ammunition for the
artillery had to be taken from the
caissons and carried over on horseback.
One of the wheels Of a gun-carriage
broke down, but buggy-wheel was
substituted in Its place.
No one south of the swamp ever
dreamed of seeing Yankee soldiers. So
the word went along the column that
we were to assume to the citizens bat
We were Confederates.
Passing a schoolhouse, the children
hurrahed for US, and said, "1ou won't
let the Yankees come down here, will
you?" Many good jokes We had al
their expense.
Small squads going out to houses
away from the road were
HOSPITALITY ENTERTAINED
by the ladies' who thought they were
contributing to the comfort of their
friends. just imagine how those sweet
smiles must have turned to disgust when
they found out they had been giving
their choicest dainties to the live Yanks.
A mail-pouch captured from It's car
rier gave interesting and some important
reading. Itwas interesting to read some
of the rebs' own accounts OF the Yankees.
The description of their domestic con-
dition was sometimes pathetic, as they
told how they were managing to get
along by their own hands, their slaves
all having fled to the Yankee lines.
The following are said TO have been
the closing lines of letter from South
ern girl:
las hard for you-uns to live in camps,
It's hard for you-uns to fight the Yanks
It's hRrd for you-uns and we-uHs to part,
For you-uns know that you've weuns hearts.
Early this day or on the night pre-
vious Co B of the 9TH ILL.,, with 50 men,
was asked to make a demonstration
against the Mobile Railroad near Merid-
ian.
The task was herculean, the number
to do it a handful; but Capt. Forbes
and his men were undaunted. 1t i'm
piled an extra march Of more than 90
miles added to the long distances the
main column was making. Taking an
easterly direction they approached the
town of Enterprise. The rebel guard
halted them, but Co. B
RAISED FLAG OF TRUCE,
and demanded the surrender of the town.
They had previously sent some men to
cut the telegraph wires to add to the
embarrassment of the defenders of the
town. Co B was advised that 1000
soldiers were near at hand to defend the
town.
The Confederates wanted an armistice
of two hours to consider-two hours to
consider whether 1900 should surrender
to 80. Capt Forbes reluctantly granted
their request, ard said that during the
cessation of hostilities he would retire to
his reserve. They did not suppose that
his reserve was nearly 100 miles from
him. Capt. Forbes never went to re-
ceiye the surrender Of the place, but
made the best of his time to reioin us
but we had, after waiting for his return
20 hours, and three days having elapsed
since his departure, given him up for
lost. We began to burn the bridges in
our rear to keep back small force that
was following and worrying us
Co. b came upon this small force,
taking them by surprise, and made all
prisoners They supposed all the Yam
KEGS had passed. Our abandoned com
pany were obliged to swim the streams
m order to get along
One night, ust as We were crossing a
long bridge, a courier came up with his
horse in lather, requesting US not to
destroy any more bridges until they had
time to overtake US. Our lost company
had returned all right. They had capt
ured the company that had been hanging
upon cur rear. Had we destroyed this
bridge it would
HAVE CUT THEM OFF FROM Us,
as there was long trestle over a bog
before reaching the stream itself, Of no
inconsidefable size.
The column halted, all except the I'd
battalion of the 7th. These four com
panies, my own in the lead, pushed for
ward all night to secure the crossing over
Pearl River.
Meantime Co. B overlook the rear of
the column, and afterward had Enter
prise inscribed upon their banner. The
jackson appeal had an article the next
day stating that 1900 Yankees had de-
manded the surrender of Enterprise. The
80 men Of Co. b had grown to 1900.
DO you wonder, counting in this way,
that the South should boast that one