The National tribune., 1903-06-25
GEN. SOOY SMITHS RAID.
The "Store Clerks and Paper Collar Fellows"
Were Not Stampeded.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the
issue of March >, Thomas NJ. Skaggs, Co.
X, Cd Iowa Cav, has little story pur-
porting to be an account of the Smith
Grierson raid through Mississippi to West
Point, in February, 1864.
The Cavalry Division left Colliersville.
Tenn, Feb 10, to join Sherman at West
Point, Sherman marching thither from
Vicksburg. The cavalry arrived at West
Point on the 10th, and went into camp
for the night. On the morning Of the 21st
we started on the return march to Mem
phis, the First Brigade, composed of the
4th Mo-, I'd n. j., 7th Ind, 10Th Pa. and
4th Regulars, constituting the rear guard,
the 4th Regulars leading and the 4th Mo.
on the left. On that day there was no at
tack, and, consequently, no fighting.
About 8 p. IN. few shots were heard,
indicating an attack. The brigade was
halted, and the 4th Mo. ordered to face to
the rear, while the ID n. j. was deployed
to the right and advanced in echelon of
squadrOns to the crest of n ridge, the 1th
Regulars holding their position. The 7th
Ind. and the 10Th Pa. wheeled from col
umn of fours into line, facing to the left.
| The alarm proved to be false; the brigade
| again moved forward i'll column, being far
in the rear of the main body. When we
reached the point where Gen. Grierson
had ordered us to encamp, it was near
midnight. The other troops, long in camp,
| were some distance to the east and south
of our camp, as the First Brigade was to
lead the march on the morrow. We would
have a clear road, the country being open,
| except to the right of the main body.
About daybreak of the 22d Col. Warng,
of the 4th Mo-, commanding the brigade,
| ordered us to quietly saddle up and stand
to horse, as picket firing was heard to the
southeast of the main camp, suggesting an
| attack. The enemy not seriously attack
| ing u.s. the brigade was soon moving for
ward in column, the I'd N. J. in the ad-
vance and the 4th Regulars on the left,
or rear.
We had moved but short distance
when we became aware of hurried and
| confused movement of the main body, or
at least, of a part of it. First few men,
| then larger bodies were seen wildly riding
across the open country, and they soon, in
confused masses, obstructed the road.
Col. Waring halted the brigade when he
saw the confusion, we having then ar
rived at a shallow ditch which was
spanned by a wagon bridge, the structure
being temporarily blocked by the cavalry
men stampeding from the direction
whence we had heard the picket firing.
We had scarcely halted when a section of
howitZer battery, veritably flying artil-
lery," came tearing along and the panic
|
bridge, dashed down the bank and upset
the guns. They then jumped to the
ground, cut the horses loose, remounted
and galloped away, leaving the guns to
their fate. Perhaps those guns belonged
to the I'd Iowa, some Of whose horses
were said to have been shot.
| We were ordered to move forward and
clear the road of the disorganized mass of
fugtives, and right here, doubtless, is
where the I'd N. j. "stampeded' rushing
| forward, under orders, to drive Skagg' s
struggling regiment out of the way.
Having moved up the road short dis
tance, toward ridge, the head Of the
column turned to the right, the I'd N. J.
going right into line, the 4th Mo. on their
left, and the 7th Ind. and the 18th Pa.
formed in line in rear of the two regi-
ments named. Fifty Of the I'd N. ]. were
dismounted and sent toward the rear of the
retreating column as skirmishers. They
remained on that line until the stamped
ers" had passed. The 4th Regulars,
the rear in fine order. The 9th KY,
armed with Colts repeating rifles, were
disorganized and hatless-so scared that
they did not know themselves.
1t becoming known that Forrest was
following, the brigade moved back to high
| ground in the rear, to check him il possi-
BILE. The 4th Mo-, taking the place of the
| Regulars, remained mounted and faced to
the rear. One battalion of the I'd N. ].
dismounted and formed as skirmishers in
rear Of the 4th Mo. Two battalions of
the I'd N. j., mounted, took position on a
ridge. The fight then opened, the 4th Mo.
bringing into action their howitzer bat
tery. As Forrest advanced, the 4th Mo.