The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-03-13
WAR STORIES.
Some Incidents Recalled Of Mississippi
Campaign.
". ". Toner'S, in .iMtnM Jonynni.
Campaign.

ing mounted on a mule Of not very
prcpo>scssing appearance and, as it
was afterward proven, not very fast,
while was riding small roam, not
very fleet However, Lieutenant Mcr-
ritt heard by some means that We were
contemplating this raid son our own
hook, and exactcd promise from US
(undcr threat Of arrcs) that we would
not attempt it, as it might result in
the capture Of the whole squad.
By sunrise next morning the Yam
KEGS were on the march, and we com
mcnced fo!!c%iHs them, keeping oil
the side of the road parallel to their
column, and often during the day we
would be in thickct "a they passed
by, &c. ncro :!iai SO steps from the
road. In this way We succeeded in
counting them and found that they
were on rcconnoiterine expedition,
numbering 900 strong, and that they
were returning to Memphis
1t was very interesting to watch
them, as their attention was never at
tractcd to us and they did not know
that we were SO near. We followed
them several miles until they had
passed through fernando, our squad
giving the town wide berth.
After Lieutenant Merritt became
fully satisfied that there was no dan
ger OF this troop crossing the river, he
decided to return and make his re-
port, but before doing so concluded
that as souvenir of the occasion he
'.ould watch his opportunity and take
one or two stragglers back to Colonel
Forrest. About this time we were in
the edge Of wood, from 200 to 300
yards from the road "a corn field in
tcrvcning), when we saw what we
thought TO be two Yankees, and, as
the main body had gone ahead, con-
cluded that We would make charge,
capture them and return to camp.
We cautiously crossed the corn field,
and when near charged rapidly, and
found that they were two ladies in
black on horseback, somewhat resem-
bling the Yankee cavalrymcn at
distance. Lieutenant Merritt was so
disappointed in not getting any pris-
oners that he decided to FOLLOW tho
main body, with the hope Of still max
ing capture.
AS we approached the top Of hill
in lane, we saw the column of caval-
rymcn at the foot of the hill, not more
than one hundred yards from us. We
opened fire, causing quite commo-
tion, as they did not know any force
was near them. We did not wait long
to enjoy the effects of our firing how
ever, but turned our horses and put
them to their utmost speed, knowing
that We had no chance against nine
hundred. After going about half a
mile, we left the road and went into
the woods, and as one Of the cavalry
men had come in sight, concluded that
they had not followed us, but to our
surprise, after waiting probably five or
ten minutes, VIC found that we were
being surrounded, negro who had
seen us go into the woods having
shown the Yankees where to fad US.
Lieutenant Merritt gave orders for
us TO retreat as quickly as possible,
which we did with great relish. There
was only one way by which we could
make our escape, as we were almost
surrounded. We did not stand on the
order of our going, as we were closely
pressed by about seventy five mon, all
firing at every step. yelling "Hal.!
Halt! Halt! T. Neither did we ad-
here to roads and beaten paths, but to
look to the fields. After VIC had gone
short distance, in going down
steep hill in field covered with
weeds, briars and broom scdgc, (proba-
bly, enough to hide rabbit, but not
enough to hide mau), my horse was
shot or fell down. The Yankees at
the time wcro within thirty yards of
me. My first impression was that l
could hold on to the saddle and the
horse could regain his feet thereby
saving me from capture; but he, being
small, and probably weak from the
wound could not rise with me, so I
released him and crawled into tho
weeds until came to fence, about
twelve feet from where I fell. I
huqeod tho ground as close as I could.
bu- nevertheless felt very prominent.
Lieutenant Merritt and tho SQUAD
made stand, hoping thereby to allow
mn IN ooo,v>1 h,,k 80.