The weekly intelligencer., 1898-05-07
GREATEST CAVALRY RAID.
General Stuart's and Van DOrn's Bril-
liant Raids Compared.

The following article was written b
Mr.. c. Y. Ford, of Greenton, and wa
published in the Sunny South:
In The Confederate Veteran of las
February is an excellent article ol
General Stuart's raid, which com
pletely encircled the army of Genera
McClelland, written by one of Stuart !
gallant command This raid was
bold and daring deed, and from tha
time to the present has been by some
writers heralded as the greatest cavalry
raid of the war. How unfair, Mr.
Editor, history seems regarding
events. If we are TO Judge military
movements, or other enterprises by
success attained, the above article is
just, but judged by this same criterion,
we do not think this raid of Stuart S
equals that of General Earl Van Dorn's
on the rear of General Grants army al
Holly Springs, Miss, though history
scarcely mentions it.
have no data whatever, except nv
memory, to guide me, and it has been
more than 80 long years since this raid
occurred, still think in the main
will be correct. 1t was just before
Christmas, 1862, while we were camp
ed on the Yallabusha river, about l6
miles above Grenada, and above the
army of General Joseph +. Johnston,
that we were ordered to cook three
days ratiOns and be prepared to move
at the sound of the bugle. AT 9 O'Clock
at night, shoots and saddles" was
sounded; and soon we were on the
march, via Grenada, through a cold
and drenching rain. All night long we
marched through the downpour, ras s.
ing through the camp of an infantry
division, comfortably ensconced In
their fine Sibley tents, taunting us with
singing, "If you want to smell hell jest
jIne the cavalry"
We marched on and crossed the Yal-
labusha river, nayigable stream, at
Eastport, by means of a rude ferry
boat, and swimming our horses. So
q little after daylight the 2,200 men
we're safely over, led by that princely
soldier, General Earl Van Dorm. Our
march was then by the village of Pitts
boro, and on by Pontotoc, crossing the
YOcona and Tsllahatchie rivers with
out resistance even from a scout of the
enemy. Before dawn OF the third
morning company G, second cavalry,
had captured the pickets on the Ponto-
toe and Holly Springs road, only a
short distance from the latter place,
where lay asleep in their tents 800
infantry guarding the immense supplies
for Grants large army, now between us
and General Johnston. At the depot
We captured two railroad trains; but
we were ordered to form fours and
draw sahres, and down through large
them 10 the tender mercies of The
troops in our rear. In thus charge
the Second Missouri regiment was
leading, with General Van Dorm and
staff Immediately in our rear, also
General F. c Armstrong and William
IL. Jackson, sold Red," riding with
them. We were supported by the First
cavalry, Colonel Pinson;
Second Texas battery, Colonel Willis,
and ! think also by the Seventh Ten
nessee cavalry. We soon captured the
square, and formed there, 10 resist
cavalry charge by the Second Illinois
cavalry, who came in beautiful order at
drawn sabres, and were soon hacking
away at our devoted heads But 1t
lasted only short time, they were
hurled back after few men had been
Ed Keith and three others
of the Second Missouri were wounded,
and ! think Major Wheeler had his
thumb cut off; possibly some others
were wounded, but none fatally.
The whole infantry force surrendered,
including a large amount of small
arms. We destroyed hundreds of
thousands of rations, clothing, blank
cts and supplies of all kinds almost
without limit. We brought off 600 fine
mules and . great many fine horses
lyour humble servant getting = beauti-
fpl horse from an Indiana major, finely
caparisonedl, and what supplies and
We could carry in our light
order.
BY this raid Grants campaign was
foiled, and he was COM
pelled to tall back on Memphis, there
by relieving the garrison at Vicksburg.
We ask all to look at the result of these |
,wO RAIDS. Van Dorn's was in every
way success. BY destroying his i'm |
nense supplies it forced Grant to give
up his base, and to abandon his cam
Daign against the confederate strong
lOld, thereby relieving General John
'ten, whose army was inadequate to
cope with the enemy. Our loss was
Insignificant in numbers, yet we cap
nj.
Orce. While the raid of General Stuart
vas brilliant in its conception, it was
'ntirely fruitless in results. 1t did not
lelay Mcclellan one hour in his cam
'aign against Richmond; nor did he
'apture or destroy any supplies of con-
equence. He only captured 60 troops
nd lost two of his own command.
[ do not write this article IN any
pirit of CRITICISM of that chivalrous
nd accomplished soldier, General J.
:. B. Stuart, or of his gallant and de-
crying troopers, for ! love and revere
he name of Stuart, who Is in my ideal
avalry soldier, but because | think
ieneral Van Dorn's raid the most dar-
ng and successful of the great cavalry
moves made during the entire war.
lie two great central figures of these
airing moves yielded their gallant lives
4 the cause of right, and most of the
In these men-killIng raids
ave followed them over the ''great
ivide;" yet the few of us who yet
emaIn should try to place tribute to
nose who deserve it. t
g.. Y. FoRp,
Co. q, I'd Mo. Cav.
Greenton, Mo. II