The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-22

Sunday morning, Henry Carter, Of Co. E,
came riding into camp without equip
mentS hat, or coat. He said the command
was all captured.
June 10 at Brice's Crossroads, near
GuntOwn, Miss, the command under Gen.
Sturgis encountered Confederate Gen. n.
B. Forests whole command, and a des-
perate battle was fought. 1t resulted in
one of the most disastrous defeats of the
war, considering the numbers engaged.
Pen cannot describe the suffering of the
troops on the return to Memphis, Tenn
Historians charge Gen. Sturgis with
cowardice, or drunkenness, or incom-
potency. | am not able to say whether
any of these charges are true. Gen. S.
II. Sturgis after the war was Governor of
the Soldiers Home at Washington, ID. G.
Gen. Sturgis wrote me letter when he
was Governor of the Home, defending
himself, and denying the charges. He is
dead now, peace to his ashes.
DICK DAvIs's BAND.
While in Tennessee, near Memphis, we
were continually annoyed by the guerrilla
Dick Davis, and his men. They would
slip up to our picket posts and shoot the
vldet. AT one time it was almost sure
death to go on picket. They would am
bush scouting parties, fire on trains, and
commit all manner of depredations
Whenever a soldier surrendered to any of
the Davis gang his doom was sealed. |
remember being on detail to hunt for
some of our men who had been captured.
The guerrillas had taken the poor fellows
into swamp (Which was then dry. We
were directed to where they were by the
buzzards. We found several, but the
bodies were in such state that we could
not identify them. One poor fellow we
identified by his girls picture, which the
guerrillas had failed to destroy. The com
rade belonged TO the 18th Cav. Every one
Of the unfortunates we found had a bull
let hole in his temple. The scoundrels
ner.
portion of the 7th Ind. Cav, under
Capt. ]. w. Shelton, captured Dick Davis
about 20 miles southeast of Memphis.
Tenn, Oct. 2, 1864. Davis was tried IN
Memphis. Col T. NJ. Brown, of the 7th
Ind. Cav, conducted the proceedings.
After long and tedious trial Dick Davis
was found guilty and was executed in
Fort Pickering, Memphis, Tenn, Dec. %,
1864.
ON THE BIG BLACK.
July 4, 1864, detachment of the 7th
Ind. Cav. left camp at White Station, and
marched to Memphis, Tenn, and embarked
on steamboats, with the First Brigade.
On the morning of the 9Th they steamed
down the Mississippi River to Vicksburg.
arriving there the 7th They disem-
barked and marched to the Big Black
River, where they camped. On this trip
the 18th Ind. Cav. had several engage
ments.
After spending several days scouting,
they returned to Vicksburg, embarked On
steamboats,, and went to Memphis, where
they disembarked and marched back to
camp at White Station, few miles east
OF Memphis. l was not ON this expedition.
GEN. FORESTS DASH ON MEMPHIS.
The latter part of July, or early in
august AZ Sne 1854, Gen. A. j: Smith, with
10000 men, started from Memphis after
Gen. n. B. Forrest. The 7th Ind. Cav.
was then camped at White Station, lit
tie east of Memphis, and large part of
the regiment Joined this expedition. We
marched to Holly Springs, and camped
two or three days. We then marched on
the Oxford Road to the Tallahatehie
River, where the enemy was encountered.
While we were building a bridge, Gen.
N. B. Forrest showed us a yankee
trick" He selected quito force of his
best men and best horses, and struck out
for Memphis, leaving In command Gen.
Chalmers, who kept up fire of shot and
shell, while we were building the bridge,
making US believe that Forests whole
command was Just across the river.
When VIC crossed the river Gen.
Chalmers retreated to Oxford.
There Gen. Smith learned that Forrest
with his picked men had marched rapidly
arosnd to our rear and charged into Mem
pills, and registered at the hotel, but did
not get to stay long enough to get his
breakfast. He killed and captured Jew
Union soldiers.
! think he came very near getting Gen.
Washburn. who was In command at Mem
phis. l understood the General had to