The National tribune., 1896-05-28
ON A RETREAT.
Disaster at Guntown, and the Fate of .
Brave Officer.

Disaster at Guntown, and the Fate of a
Brave Officer.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: To please
some of the old vets have agreed to write
of the history Of the Guntown disaster. In
the early part of June, Gen. Sturgis com
handing, we were encamped in beautiful
grove of oaks at White Station. about nine
miles from Memphis, trying to enjoy the
comforts of camp life while we could.
Numbers Of our comrades, having served
their time were departing for home. thus
thinning our ranks very much. Just few
days before the return of our much beloved
Leutenant-C Colonel, Gustavus Won Hell
merich, iTom X chmond where be had been
a prisoner for nine months, we received
orders TO prepare for an expedition. Upon
our Colonel's return the officers cave a ban
quet. The soldiers, not being forgotten.
were served with refreshments. during
which our Lieutenant Colonel recited his
prison experience and suff, ng advising
each soldier not 10 be taken prisoner so
long as he could fire gun or strike blow.
The following day we broke camp and took
mp our line Of march thus: the 4th Mo. ID
n. j., 18Th Pa, and 9Th Ind. Cav. under
brave Col. Waring, part of The 4th (Regularl
Cav, and 9TH Ill.,, 10th Mo-, Cd Iowa and
10Th Mimi, accompanied by a well-flled
provision train. Everything progressed
nicely, except there was considerable
grumbling about short rations, and Justly.
too, knowing as We did that there was SO
much along in the supply-train.
We went into camp about IL miles from
Guntown, and very early next morning the
cavalry was ordered to take the road and
the infantry TO follow rapidly as possible.
About 10 o'clock we came to the crossroads.
Here Gen. Sturgis stopped and took up his
quarters IN large white house belonging
to a Mrs. Price. He ordered our regiment
1.-THE Mo. 10 take the road 10 the left and
hunt the enemy. A comrade and / were de-
ployed and sent ahead as advance-guards
We soon came 10 house, where ] made in
quirles concerning the enemy.
was informed that Gen. Forrest had his
men in the woods nearby. We had not gone
over 500 yards when we found the John
nies. fired the first shot and returned
and reported 10 my commander that
the enemy were very near. We advanced
and met the enemy. We were ordered TO
dismount, send our horses 10 the rear and
use our carbines, and now the battle opened.
We fought until two O'Clock in the evening
The infantry coming mp, we were called in
ana lie infantry took our places But they
were sorry looking lot of soldiers: the
regiments were small, some not numbering
over 100 men, and all nearly exhausted with
running the doublequick so far through the
heavy dust and heat.
The number of p eces used in battle was,
10Th Mo, two guns, and four pieces of the
9th Mo. After retiring and having a long
hunt for our horses, we were ordered TO
mount. After impatiently awaiting orders
for long time, word was suddenly passed
through the lines that our General had de-
serted us and we were surrounded and the
battle lost.
Our gallant Colonel at once took command
and ordered us TO cut our. way through,
which we did. We marched all night and
halted in the morning near Ripley; but while
drinking our coffee the Johnnies drove in
Our pickets, and the retreat continued.