The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1905-08-04


ments were being vigorously made
The enemy was easily held il
check, but reached Pontotoc oil
the evening of the 11th, bu1
made no further effort to advance
during the day. General Chal
mers advised me of the disposition
q he had made Of the troops, which
was the most satisfactory. A.
all the approaches south were
strongly guarded | made NJ
change except to order Colone
Barteau's regiment to the real
OF the enemy.
On the 18th the enemy made
an early advance on the Pontotot
and Okolona road, but was
promptly met by General Lyons
brigade and easily driven back.
He also attempted an advance on
| the road leading from Pontotoc
| to Houston, but here he was met
1 bya part of Colonel McCulloch' Is
brigade and forced to make a
hasty retreat. Simultaneous
with his other movement he
threw out a force on the Pontotoc
and Tupelo road, but after ad-
vancing five miles was met by a
part Of Fuckers brigade, under
the command of Colonel Duff,
| and driven back. Every thing
/ being in readiness to receive the
enemy, | ordered General Chal-
mers to send Fuckers brigade
to his rear, and to offer no furth-
er resistanceif he desired to ad-
vance toward Okolona. The de-
lay of the enemy at Pontotoc pro-
duced the impression that he de-
signed to fall back toward Mem
lphis, and after short consulta-
| tion it was determined to accept
battle where ever he offered it
and to attack him if he attemp-
ted retreat. Lieutenant Gen
eral Lee therefore ordered me to
move everything to the front.
| Immediately dispatched one Of
Imy staff officers to General Chal-
mers, ordering him to resume
his former position if he had re-
tired, and to hold it at all hazards
until | arrived with the artillery
and infantry re-enforcements.
| | reached the front about 8 o clock
| and found the troops in the po-
sition they had occupied during
| the day.
| On the morning of the 18th the
i enemy was reported retiring from
| Pontotoc in the direction of
| Tupelo. Lieutenant General Lee
ordered me, with Mabry's brigade
my escort, and Forests old reg
| iment, to attack and press upon
the rear of the enemy. At the
same time Lieutenant General
Lee moved forward, with Chal-
mers' and Beuford's two divis-
J. ions on the right, with the view
of attacking the enemy's flanks
at every vulnerable point. Ac-
Icordingly, I advanced upon the
Eenemy and found his rear one
mile from Pontotoc, on the Oko-
Iona road. | threw forward my
escort and Forests oldregiment
and after a short skirnish he
was rapidly driven into town
and out on the Tupelo road, along
which the main column was re-
treating. Ilnade a vigorous as
sault upon the enemy's rear for
ten miles. He took advantage
of every favorable position, and
my artillery was kept almost in
constant action. Ten miles from
Pontotoc he made formidable
! stand, as if to contest my farther
I advance, After a short en- gage
ment he was driven from his
position and mhdea rapid retreat
across an extended field, while
my artillery poured upon hin
concentrated fire. | had now
driven the enemy ten miles, anc
as his fanks had not yet been
attacked | was fearful that ht
J was driven too rapidly. | there
fore halted my command ant
, waited the attack upon his flank!
! After resting about one houl
: our guns opened upon him about
three miles ahead. resumed
the march and huuiedly pressed
/, forward, and on reaching th'
! ground found General Chalmer'
? had dashed into the road, sur
! prised the enemy, and took pos
session of his wagon train. TIL,
enemy, however, threw back
! large force upon General Chal
! mers and forced him to retire
but not until he had killed ant
] wounded many men and horse
9 which forced the enemy to burr
Z and abandon several wagons
: caissons, and amhulances. Abou
q this time heavy firing was hear'
7 still farther up the road in tn
direction of Tupelo, which ad
9 monished me that General Bufor'
Il was also attacking the enemy
! flank. AS night approached tn
. enemy became more obstinat