Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1896-09-18


| Brig. Gen. Writ Adams.
| During the summer Of 1852, while a
Confederate army corps was encamped
in north Mississippi along the line .oi
Mobile and Ohio r. R., IN the vicinity
of Tupelo, Gen. Frank G. Armstrong,
G. s. A., with division of cavalry to
which he had recently been assigned
as commaneer, crossed in northerly
direction, the line of the Memphis and
Charleston r. r., and then operated by
United States authorities from Mem
phis, Tenn, to Iuka, Miss, and raided
west Tennessee.
Railroad tracks were torn up, depots
attacked, and telegraph lines cut along
the lines leading to and from Corintb,
Miss, strongly fortified post occupied
| by Union troops, all their lines OF com
munication being broken. The raid
over, and while on the retreat near
Denmark, Tenn, at place known as
Britton's Lane, on a wooded height,
was found a force of Union infantry
supporting two pieces of artillery, so
posted as to command. the road or lane
leading up to their position. This
roadway was narrow with gulleys on
either side and by long usage worn into
quite deep cut with a tall rail fence
staked and ridered on both sides of it.
This position held by the enemy was
a strong one, well chosen; cornfeld
on the one side and an open field on
the other, with sharpshooters or skir-
mishers thrown out we'll to the trout
on both sides of the roadway and post
ed behind the.elevated fences.
Gen. Armstrong failing to dislodge
the foe with Col. Ben McCullochs and
Pinson's regiments, possibly others,
dismounted and advanced as skirmish-
ers ordered to the front, the Writ
Adams regiment that day marching in
rear of the column, having been in
front the previous day and now cover
ing the retreat, the enemy being both
in front and rear.
At this time the Writ Adams regi-
ment was strong in numbers, well
mounted, armed and equipped. thor
oughly drilled and under the following
field officers and staff. Writ Adams,
Colonel; Robt. G. Wood, Lieut. Col. !;
Isaac F. Harrison, Major; Geo. G Se-
bastian, Jr: Master; Robt. w. Sim
mons, Commissary; Allen T. Bowie,
Adiutant; J. H. Wilson, Surgeon; G.
Lee Briscoe, Sgt. Maj; G. G. Yeiser,
Jr. Master Sergeant.
Reaching the front General Arm
strong in person ordered Col
onel Writ Adams to charge
up the lane with his regiment in col
umn of four-the only formation ad-
visable in that narrow roadway, If the
attack was to be made by charging
column, and ass .ult the enemy in their
stronghold.
The Writ Adams regiment promptly
formed fours having passed other col
umns in line. of march by two, and
closed up its column. The command,
attention, gallop, forward march was
given by Col. Writ Adams. "And be
turned half round aud he bade his
trumpeter sound the charge and he
rode on ahead as he waved his blade. -
The bugles thrilling blast as sounded
was repeated along the advancing col
umn by company buglers as the regi-
ment hurled itself on the advancing
foe who at once opened fire with their
battery and advanced skirmishers.
Enveloped in dust and smoke the
leader and staff with first few sets OF
fours alone saw and realized what was
being done. All heard the bugles
clear note, the cannons roar, the shrek
ing shell, the kissing bullet and sound
of small arms. ALI seen the flames
belching from the guns mouths an
Intermittent light irrsdiated not to il.
Illuminate the murky cloud that blinded
the assailants, but to blast them into
the shades of an eternal night.
RAPIDLY they galloped up the hill
enfiladed by the discharge at first oi
bursting shells, afterwards of canister
from the enemies artillery posted in
front subjected at the same time to Q
cross fight of bullets from. the sharp.
shooters rifles on both fanks. Through
veritable hail of death dealing mis-.
siles, over the dead, wounded and fall
ing men and heroes up the ascent they
went.
Suddenly the artillery ceased firing
the kissing bullets and report of small
arms alone is heard. To the eye fl
subject for the poets pen, the artist'l
brush is portrayed. Overhead against
the azure sky great cloud of dust
and smoke rolls or floats away, dis.
closing wooded height with dense
underground as q back ground il
which ,is caught sight of blue clad
infantry supporting the ''Stars snd
Stripes" these thrown to the breez,
their cleaning steel emitting viyic
flashes of light and circles of smoke
in the very faces of their ass iilaEts il
gray, their battle flag emblazened will
Its starry cross. Perpendicular to thil
line in blue, but short distance awaj
were the assailants crowded up the
i fenced lane now thrown in confusion
by the mass of the fallen both of mel
and horses, some dead, some wounded
the roadway jammed, the force of th,
charge expended all at a stand still
but yet under FIRE.
Silhouetted in advance of the assail
ants was the gallant Col. Writ Adams
The tall leader sat turned half arount
in his saddle, controlling with on
hand his prancing steed and holdinl