The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-05-04
SPRINGS
DECEnBER 20, 90

rotary, DIR. +. l.. Riley. 1t is an inter-
esting story, told by a survivor of the
famous column of cavalry that rode
into Holly Springs before daybreak on
a cold December morning nearly forty
years ago.
The narrative opens by describing the
military situation as it was about the
middle of December, 1s62-Grant with
his main body at Oxford and his out
posts at Coffeeville; Pemberton south
of the Yalobusha, with front and TANKS
covered by Van Dorn's cavalry, num-
boring about $500 troopers. The story
tells how Van Dorm moved east from
Grenada on the night of Dec. Il, ostens-
IDLY to capture or destroy Col. Dickey's
1000 raiders operating on the Mobile ~
Ohio railroad above and below Tupelo;
how Van Dorm, when about to en-
counter Dickey, so Unanswered as
to pass through Pontotoc in the
direction of New Albany, and allow
Dickey to follow him if he chose, or if
he preferred, after noting the direction
of Van Doru's march, to go and report
to Grant at Oxford that he had seen
Van Dorm at the head of his cavalry
moving north, apparently bent on going
into Tennessee to join Forrest at Boil
var or jackson. AS the story goes,
Dickey chose the latter alternative.
The narrative shows the tactics OF Van
Dorm in keeping the enemy always be-
hind him. never giving him an oppor-
tunity to get ahead and interfere with
the advance or give warning of his APP
proach. 1t also reveals how well Van
Dorm concealed from the enemy his
objective point as long as possible, and
then moved so rapidly that hostile
scouts or videttes could not report his
coming long enough in advance to be
of any service to Col. Murphy, in COM
mand at Holly Springs.
After telling many amusing and in
%structive incidents of the march and
how Van Dorp's troopers halted about
10 o'clock on the night of Dec. 19within
five miles of town, dismounted in grim
silence, and without fires stood ready
at any IN to remount, the story
continues thus:
Before daylight an order was quiet
ly passed along to mou and form
tours. 1t CHANGED to be the day for the
First Mississippi Cavalry to be the ad-
vance of McCullough's brigade. Lieut..
S. b. Day, OF Company &, (Noxubee
Cavalry was in command of the ad-
~ "a rr,,arl aud tho front fntr xyarn
Bob White, Groves Dantzler, W. ID.
Deupree and J.. q. Deupree. The order
was at once given to move forward on
two roads at a gallop, to capture the
pickets or pursue them SO closely that
no alarm could precede us. The wis
dom Of the order was appreciated by
all, and it was obeyed with alacrity.
The First Mississippi were to enter
town from the northeast, charge
through infantry without hating to
fight or receive s~urrenders, but at once
to attack the cavalry when discovered.
The Second Missouri were to dismount
at the edge of town, charge on foot
and capture or dispense any infantry
encountered. The Texas brigade were
to approach from the east, coming in
by the railroad depot, and thus pre-
vent any reinforcements from surpris-
ing us in that direction. A detachment
of Texans also were to go south and
watch the Abbeville road. Jackson's
brigade were to approach from the
north, preventing possible reinforce
ments from Bolivar, as well as watch
ing the road coming from Memphis on
on the west.
LAS we neared the town we increased
our speed. Prisons First Mississippi
rode through in a sweeping gallop,
ignoring the infantry, many of whom,
awakened aud startled by the charge,
ran out of their tents in night attire
and fired into our column, woundinl
nearly every horse in the advance
guard and several of the men. AS W.
approached the fair grounds the SeconC
Illinois Cavalry, under Col. Neill ant
Mai. Mudd, were in line, answering
roll call, preparing to go out and lool
for Van Dorm, as they had heard he wa
coming. Brave and courageous, unGe
gallant officers, they boldly charged
upon us with drawn sabres. ! canno
undertake to recount all that occurred
in the melee, but mention only som
incidents that came under my own oh
%servation. Little Jere Beasley, a la,
Of fifteen summers, was about to be Gu
down by a stalwart Federal, whel
Lieut.. Day shot the daring rider wit
an arm uplifted ready to strike tn
deadly blow. Our Maj. Wheeler ha'
his thumb cut off in a sabre duel wit
a Federal officer. Adjutant Lawrenc
Yates was struck in the forehead, tn
blood gushing from the long, dee
wound and flooding his face and neck
NY own horse had been shot twice a
we came through the infantry, an
now received the third and fatal bulle
right between the eyes, and fell lifeles
to the ground. | simply made breas'
works of the dead animal until ! coul
catch the horse of the Federal wit
whom | had been engaged, and VIII
had been shot by me or some otbe
Confederate. Mounting the Federt
charger, / was soon with my regimen