The National tribune., 1903-05-21
DIARY OF THE TUPELO CAMPAIGN.
Record of Eaily Events as Seen by One Of
Gen. A. j. Smiths Hen,

/ article on Gen. \. J. Smiths campaign
| against Forrest at Tupelo, published in
the issue of Jan. s.
| l took part in that campaign, and
will write some of my recollections and
give extracts from my diary kept at that
time. My diary reads:
Sunday, July 3, 1S64.-Left Memphis
at $50 a. m, on the train, and arrived at
La Grange at p. M, moved out south of
town and went into camp.
| July 4.-Weather clear. Remained in
camp.
July 5.-Weather warm, with storm
/ in evening. Marched at ) p M; went
into camp at $50 p. H., about five miles
south Of La Grange.
July 6.-Very hot. Marched at 4 a.
IN. Went into camp at sundown. \
number of men of regiment were sun
struck.
July Marched at daylight. Camped
at ) p. m. about eight miles north of Rip
icy. Had some skirmishng.
July S.-Clear and warm. Marched to
i've miles south of Ripley. Had some
skirmishing.
July Clear with shower in even
ing. Camped at New Albany.
July 1O.-Camped seven miles north
of PontOtoe.
July u.-Reached Pontotoe at 10 m,
and camped. Regiment guarded the wag-
on train on the march.
July 12.-Remained ut Pontotoe all
day:
July 13.-Marched to one and half
miles of Tupelo, and formed a line of
battle. Rebels attacked the wagon train,
but were repulsed.
Thursday, July 14.-Clear and warm.
Rebe.s attacked us at Z Il. m., but were
repulsed with great loss, after three hours
hard fighting. Made an attack on our
left at p. m., but We're again repulsed.
July 15.-Marched at a. m., First
Division brought up the rear and whipped
IL the rebels, after a sharp fight. Heavy
miles north of the battlefield.
July 16.-HOt and dusty. Camped 10
mics south of New Albany. Had a sharp
skirmish in the evening.
Sunday, July 17.-Camped at New
Albany. Rebels quit bothering us. Guess
they have had enough of Smiths guerril-
las.
July 1s.-Marched 20 miles and
July 19.-Marched to Salem. Went
out with supply train.
July 2O.-Hot and dusty. Marched to
within four miles of La Grange and
camped.
Thursday, July 21.-Marched to La
Grange and went into camp. Received
the mail.
July 22-Marched to Moscow.
Marched at 2 o'clock p. m.
July 23.-Clear and cool. Marched
to Colinsville and came to Memphis.
Sunday. July 24.-Tent into camp
very tired after our hard campaign"
l have copied from my diary, thinking
that it might be of interest to some of
tha aorpr wi fbot owl
hot and dusty campaign; one of the worst
that we ever had owing to the intense
heat and dust; but we all felt well repaid,
as we met the enemy and won glorious
and decisive victory. which in a great
measure compensated for Gen. Sturgis's
defeat ut GunstOwn, q short time before.
My regiment (the 122d Ill) at the bat
tie of the 18th was posted just to the left
of the wagon road leading to Tupelo.
There was battery between us and the
road to our right. Gen. Joe Mowers Divi-
sion was to our right just across the road.
The enemy massed his force and made
determined assault at this part of the
line, but was repulsed with heavy loss.
Our regiment was concealed in a corn
fed, and when we advanced about 80
PAGES to the edge of the cornfield the
rebels were in line of battle, with their
guns still on their shoulders. in an open
field, about 100 yards distant. We could
see tie buttons on their coats. We gave
them voiley, and l could see their line
stagger from its effects. They returned
the fire Immediately. and the firing was
very heavy for some time; but our aim
was good and our fire was so deadly they
could not stand before it, and they grad
ually fell back.
l went out over the ground they occu-
pied in our front, and counted 80 of their
dead as l walked along. There was a
I..arr l. Il f.
which had three dead behind it, where
they had taken shelter. One of them was
an old man, somewhat gray, and the other
two were young men. The old man had |
handful of grass, which l supposed he
had pulled up in his death struggle. |
counted 26 bullet marks from the hight |
of my shoulder down to the ground, and !
there We're very few bullet marks above
my shoulder; which showed that our aim |
was good, and consequently destructive.
had left my knapsack in the corn
field when we went forward. and when |
L went back and opened it l found |
n piece of shell in it about as large as
my hand, which had cut my pup tent |
all to pieces, which had to throw away.
had half of n canteen. with a piece
Of wire twisted III it for handle, FOR a
frying pan. The piece of shell cut it from
the edge to the center, SO was spoiled for
further use. l had slipped my knapsack
off my shoulders and laid it in front of |
my head, while lying in the cornfeld, as
the shells were bursting over us and cut
ing off the tops of the corn. l was for
tunate enough to find an old brick fire.
place Geady made chimney right in my
front when we advanced out of the corn
field, which l took shelter behind and
nave often thought that it was the most
welcome fireplace l had ever found. l
had 10 rounds in my cartridge box at the
close of the battle, SO l had fired so
rounds.
Charles Mewins. comrade, and went
1ut and burned the little white church and
og cabin which stood in our front,
lfter the battle. as we were expecting an
,tler attack. The rebels had planted
battery near it, and it was pretty well
,ildled with our shells.
There was Il log house just in the rear
If our line of battle, which was torn
lown and used to make breastworks after
he battle. There was a number of men
,arryng up the logs. who used sticks or :
land spikes TO carry them. A man whose
.un had failed to fire. was sitting with his
,ack against a small oak tree. He ran
Wire into the cone or tube to open it
lp, and the gun was discharged and shot
me the poor fellows through the body, !
atally wOunding him. 1t was sad thing {
o be killed in that way, after having just
'assed through n hard battle unharmed
Gen. a. ]. Smith rode in front of our line
f battle rapidly, just before the attack.