The National tribune., 1907-10-24

GEN. j. II. WILSON.
Brevet Maj-Gen. James H. Wilson con-
centrated the Cavalry Corps, Military
Division of the Mississippi. at Waterloo
and Gravelly Springs. Ala, on the north
bank of the Tennessee River. and pre-
pared them for an extensive raid thru
Alabama and Georgia, on which he was
ordered to start not later than March !,
1865. But owing TO the heavy rains the
Tennessee River was swollen out Of its
banks, and the advance was delayed
until March Is. Every trooper was
provided with five DAYS light rat:nns, "a
pounds of grain. 100 rounds of ammuni-
ton and one pair of extra shoes for his
horse. The pack animals were loaded
with five days of hard bread, 10 OF
sugar, coffee and salt. and the wagons
with As days coffee. 20 of sugar, Is of
salt and so rounds of ammunition. Thus
the command was equipped for SO
days campaign. One light canvas pom
toon train OF 80 boats (with fixtures)
transported by so six-mule wagons. The
entire train of the command numbered
dismounted men.
On the 22d, all the command having
crossed the Tennessee River. the march
commenced in earnest. The entire Val
ley of the Tennessee having been devas
tated by two years of warfare. il was
necessary to scatter the troops over
wide extent of country and TO march as
rapidly as possible And by starting
the divisions on diverging roads the
enemy was left in doubt as to the real
object
COmposftfon of the Force.
The First Division was composed of
the Sth Iowa, 4th and 9Th KY, I'd Mich,
I'd and 18th Ind, 1st Wis. Cav. and 4th
KY. M'td Inf, 1886 men, and was COM
manded by Brig-Gen. E. NJ. McCook.
The Second Division, composed of the
9Sth and f23d ILL.,. 18th and 72d Ind.
M'td Inf, 4th Mich, Sd and 4th Ohio,
7th Pa. Cav. and Chicago Board of
Trade Battery, 5,127 men, was COM
manded by Brig.-Gen. Eli Long. The
Fourth Division, composed of the Sd,
4th and 5th Iowa, 5th and 7th Ohio,'
10th Mo. Cav. and 4th U. s., Battery /,
1923 men, was commanded by Brevet
Maj.-Gen. G. E. Upton. About 13,4S0
men in the expedition, nearly all being
armed with Spencer repeating rifles or
carbines. making one OF the most eff
cient expeditions that was ever organ
lied
The First Division moved by Chero-
kee Station, Frankfort, RusseIlville.
Thorn Hill. Jasper, Elyton and Monte
video. AT Elyton Croxtons Brigade of
this division was detached and moved
on Tuscaloosa, Northport, CenterviIle,
Eutaw, Mount Pinsen. Trussyille, Talla-
dega and Blue Mountain. After de-
stroying all the iron works and factories
left by the main command in northern
Alabama ii continued to Carrollton,
Newman and Forsyth, and Joined the
main command at Macon, Ga, May /,
having been away from the main COM
mand just one month, having destroyed
tory, two nitTe works, military univer-
sity and large amount of supplies at
Oxford and Blue Mountain; iron works,
railroad depot and buildings and foun-
dry and Ditre works near Mount Pin
sen. large cotton factory near David
son. and destroyed the five largest iron
works in the Cotton States, three fac
tories. numerous mills, immense quanti-
ties of supplies, captured four pieces of
artillery, several hundred small-arms
and 300 prisoners, and having marched
600 miles during this time, forded rapid
rivers, crossed rivers in small boats,
built bridges and crossed swamps, fight
ing several battles and many skirmishes,
and once having to cut their way thru
the enemy's lines when completely sur
rounded
The Second Division moved over
practically the same route as the First
Division to Elyton. The Fourth Divi-
Zion moved VIA Barton Statloff, RUS
seilville, Mount Hope, Jasper to Elyton.
From Elyton the three divisions, except
Croxton's Brigade, which had been de-
tached. moved as one command TO Sci
ma. Up 10 Elyton the roads We're as
bad as could be imagined. by reason of
mud and high rivers owing TO the re-
cent rains. The Cahaba River was
crossed on the railroad bridge. The
bridge was planked by the troopers so
that their horses could be led one be-
ing kept close to another, head close 10
tail, and in many cases blindfolded, the
artillery being moved over by hand.
At Montcvello the Confederates, un-
der Gen. Forrest, were overtaken and
rapidly driven by Gen. Upton's COM
mand about so prisoners being taken
with their arms and equipment, and
much loose material that was ahan-
doned.
On April / the command moved for
ward toward Randolph. At this town
Gen. Upton's command was turned to-
ward the east by way of Old Naples
vile to Selma. AT EbeneZer Church the
Confederates in force were overtaken;
about 5000 men with four pieces of ar.
tillery to sweep the Randolph road
Gen. Long promptly advanced his divi-
sion, and charged the rebels advance
line with four companies of the 18th
Ind. M'td Inf, who, driving it back on
rode over the enemy's guns, then turn
ed to the left and cut their way out
leaving one officer and 16 men killed or
wounded. In this charge Capt. Taylor
and 16 men charged Gen. Forrest and
Etaff. Capt Taylor engaged Gen. For
rest in a hand-to-hand running fight for
800 yards. wounding him in the arm