The National tribune., 1900-05-17

the second brigade OF Iile ElfSI DlNlSlOn,
Gen. E. NJ. McCook commanding, and
consisted of the following forces: 1st
Wis, I'd and 4th Ind, 4th and 18th Ky,
and one section of the 18th Ind. battery.
commanded by Capt. NJ. NJ. Beck, now Of
Holton, Kan. Our Colonel, o. II. La
Grange, commanded the brigade, and
Lieut.-Col. Harnden our regiment. Our
Wis. Cav. Second Brigade, First Division,
March 22.-we left Chickasaw. Ala,
at 6 this morning on our way through
March s1-Marched at $50 and are
now at Montevallo resting and taking on
corn. The Fourth Division, Upton's.
completely gutted the town, and burned the
depot and all the cars in the yard. Taking
what corn we needed, We went out five
miles, and after crossing the Cahaba,
camped in field, where the Fourth Di-
vision had brush with the enemy. They
are concentrating as rapidly as possible
along our line Of march to oppose our ad-
vance, but we move so fast they cannot
mass enough men III cur front to stop US.
We can easily change our direction and
leave them in the lurch if we do not wish
10 fight. Gen. Wilson's scouts keep him
well informed as 10 the location, number
and condition OF the enemy, while his move
mentS and plans are entrusted to no one.
April 1.-Marched at 7. Had a skir-
mish on a branch of the Selma 81 Tai
| ladega Railroad, and burned the depot
! buildings. AT Randolph our brigade
was ordered off to the right of our general
course. / was called on to detail a brave
and competent officer with one battalion
TO go to Centeryille, on the Cahaba, and
hold the bridge at all hazards and not to
spare horsefiesh in getting there. Maj.
| Shipman and his battalion. the I'd, was
selected for the business in hand, and as soon
IA /. lx
they started on sharp trot for their deSti-
| nation.
Reaching Centerville in due time the
| detachment charged the town and captured
| IS of the enemy, then crossed the bridge
and built rail barricades. When the bri-
| gade reached Centervi!ie we moved off to
| the right in an effort to get in communica-
ton with Gen. CroXton, who with his bri-
gade (the First was fighting jackson on
| the Tuscaloosa road.
MEETING JACKSON'S MEN.
Passed through Scottsville, small
| village. where are located extensive cotton
mills running OH a contract with the rebels
| for 10000 yards of Osnaburgs a week.
| After a march Of little over a mile, our
| scouts and advance guard struck a large
force Of the enemy, when a halt was ordered
and the advance reinforced. II being
after dark, Col. LaGrange thought it was
not best TO bring on general engagement
before daylight. Heavy details from my
regiment, the only one out Of town, and
nearest the enemy, were made for picket
duty. After com pleting the details, ]
rode out 10 the line where the pickets were
exchanging shots occasionally, looked the
ground over, and returned to camp, where
we bivouacked, sleeping on our arms.
| Sunday, April 2.-At daylight the I'd
and 4th Ind. moved out and engaged the
| uh a CT md
after an hours skirmishing, in which the
I'd stood the brunt, they were obliged to fall
back, the scouts having discovered thai
Jackson's Division was massed in theil
front.
AS our object was TO attract Jackson's
attention from Croxton, that he might bt
able to extricate himself. we had accom-
plished it, and so fell back on ScottSville
where the brigade was drawn up ready
!, to meet jackson, should he follow us up
In the meantime orders were given I,
burn the factories, grist mills and store
houses, in which were stored large quaint
: ties OF cotton and finished goods Th,
I heat from the burning buildings was 81
intense We could hardly pass them n quarte
OF mile away without getting scorched
In the fight Lieut.. Smith. of the I'd Ind.
: was killed, and Capt. Hill, commanding
, that regiment, was severely wounded. Ate
, the mills were beyond redemption we fel
/, back on Centeryille.
When within half mile of the bridge a
Centeryille the advance of what proved +
be Chalmers Division was discovered in tn
2 timber off to our right trying 10 intercep
, us before we could cross. 1t was then
: race for the bridge, which we reached first
part of the brigade was deployed TO hol,
the enemy in check while the rest crosse,
, and took position on the Centerville side
, The battery crossed first and opened OIL
the pursuers at short range from a nil
J just back from the river, and soon made
them take shelter in the woods where W,
: first saw them. After all were across tn
bridge, the only one on the Cahaba fo
many miles, was burned.