The National tribune., 1904-08-11
ON THE nATCHIE.
Expedition to Grand Junction-Hurlbut and
Ord.

Ord.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: l see in
The National Tribune of May 10 letter
from X. l. Smith. Co. Z, 32d ILL.,. in which
he speaks of that expedition to Grand
junction, Miss, on Oct. ~, 1862. He said
Sixteenth Corps, when it should be Thir-
leenth. The brigade was 3D. Iowa, 4lst
ILL.,, 32d ILL.,. 2sth ILL.,, Fourth Division,
Thirteenth Corps, commanded by Gen.
Lauman, who was formerly Colonel of the
3D. Iowa; as brave and good an old man as
ever commanded a brigade. We had one
battery and two companies of the 2d Ill.
Cav. with us; also, the odd LII. He tells
all that happened, to within two miles of
Grand Junction; says the 32d Ill. was i'll
advance. There lie is wrong; it was the
2Sth Ill, with Co. &, I'd ILL., Cav. and Gen.
Lauman was in the advance when Co. {.
was fired into; and he gave orders to re-
treat. Wagons and batteries were turned
and were all jammed in the lane. We
threw down the fences, and the artillery
and wagons turned i'll the cotton field. We
were ordered to dOuble-quick, and kept 1t
up for 10 miles. Our tlahkers and those of
the rebels were sometimes i'll the same Held
ut the same time. 1t was Il grand chase.
They were in our rear and in our front;
had batteries planted, waiting for us to get
within range; but our cavalry kept us
posted, and we were DETECTED to evade
them. 1t was the chasers that made it
bad for us. They followed us and gave us
il hard time. We got tired of running, and
at creek formed battle line, with bat
terry in front, supported by 2Sth Ill. The
rebels weren't expecting resistance, and
came mp on Il rush and were checked by
the fire of the battery. The fire scattered
them, but they formed line of battle, and
while they were doing the brigade
crossed the creek and was two miles away
before they found it out. We kept up the
double-quick until we met our division,
commanded by Gen. Stephen 4. Hurlbut.
\ few days after he made a speech to the
brigade, and said that the 2Sth Iii. was his
favorite regiment; that ii covered his re-
treat from Grand Junction and did it with
credit.
Now. in regard to the Hatchie battle,
C0mrade Smith has things about right. He
speaks of capturing a battery before reach
ing the Davis house. l was the first to
reach that battery. l shot the Captain,
mounted his horse and rode up to our Ad-
jutant ard asked if he wanted the animal.
He said: NO." and l turned him loose.
The battery was of four guns, the horses
Were standing quietly, but the rebels were
all gone across the bridge to make another
stand.
Where was Comrade Smith when Gen.
E. O.. c. Ord. in civilian dress, accom-
panied by his staff, rode up to Gen. Hurl-
but and said: The battle is progressing
very slowly; l will relieve you" Gen.
Hurlburt said WHO are yOu" II am Gen.
Ord, sent here to take command" was the
answer. Gen. Hurlbut and staff rode
away and crossed the bridge. In perhaps
FIVE minutes Ord was wounded and car
ried across the bridge, and when Gen.
Hurlbut returned there was immense
cheering. Hurlbut asked where Gen.
Veatch was, but ut the moment his guns
told him. for he had got OH the enemy's
flank and was driving them. We charged
their front, and those of the battery on the
hill. and they skipped south. The 41st
took the prisoners to Bolivar. The 32d
Ill. was all right-but don't forget that 1t
wasn't there alone. The 2Sth was also
present.-WILLIAM STRoPEs, Co. A, 2Sth