Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-12-17
Civil War Stories


posts after the occupation of the Lower
Mississippi to send out foraging ex-
petitions in all directions. AS they
extended their lines up the river to
Baton Rouge, and afterward, in 1868.
TO Port Hudson, the foraging would
sometimes reach long distances on
either side of the river, as we'll as
by steamboat upward
Our company of rifles, belonging
TO the Department of Mississippi, were
kept continually in motion ON the east
bank, looking out for such expeditions
and when We saw them coming to
notify the people as fast as possible
and do what we could to annoy and
prevent their accomplishing anything
/ think 1t was in the winter OF 1884
that oar company of rifles" was de-
tailed to patrol the east bank of the
Mississippi, including in eur district
Tunica Bend. old Fort Adams, as we'll
as large scope OF country above and
below.
We had been having some very hard
and cold rains, and the roads, except
on the bluff lands, were very muddy,
some of the time almost impossible
The roads were just drying up little,
when one day we discovered a steam
boat coming up the river, on which we
plainly saw a number of Federal sell
diers. We knew at once that a foras
inc aVnadtfian uya
quickly made our preparations to
watch them closely and prevent as
much as we could their success. Cour-
iers were sent off to headquarters for
assistance, while the rest of us fol
lowed up the enemy at distance, so
as to cause no alarm. The beat con-
tinued on up to Tunica Bend, where
1t landed. and, after considerable de-
lay, sent out number of wagons, with
escorts of soldiers. Still other squads
of soldiers started out independently,
so that within a short time the Fed
eral soldiers were pretty we'll scat
tered. We resisted several good
chances to capture small parties, ex-
pecting every minute TO see our re
serve coming in.
The day was fast passing away, and
we were getting to be very impatient
and not little discouraged. Just as
we were on the point of cutting off a
half dozen adventurous Yankees we
heard several shots fired in the direc-
ton taken by the wagons. Our men
were concentrated Immediately and
held ready to charge as soon as there
was an opportunity. We had not long
to wait The heavy rafting of a
wagon jolting along as though there
was not room enough in the road but
1t must strike first one side and then
the other, struck our ears and soon
came in sight.
The negro driver was lashing away
for life. while on either side rode Fed
eral soldiers, pricking up the mules
with their sabers Close after them
we saw our reserve. and we dashed in
without waiting for a command, and
surrounded the wagon. 1t was quick
work. One or two of the Federals
fired at us. and then, as they saw they
were surrounded, gave up. They were
sent to the rear under guard, while
the rest of us, with well spread skirm-
ish line, advanced. We could hear the
wagons rafting loudly ahead of us,
and we quickly closed in to stop all
that we're not already in ahead of
us. The shots already fired had OF
course warned all within hearing that
an attack had been made, and safety
could only be assured by Immediately
returning to the boat.
AS soon as our line closed the lower
end of the semicircle on the river,
| pickets were left on the roads to am
bush any foragers still out in that
direction. The remainder Of our force
pushed on up the river some distance
toward large plantation, from which
the army wagons had come loaded and
struck a company Of the enemy, whe
were apparently not expecting us so
soon They made no stand, the off
GERS running first, and after firing o
few shots scattered Ike sheep. To
ward the river, the direction they
took, after passing the plantation
fence all was wild and broken into
ravines. thickly covered with bushes
and trees, and afforded an excellent
cover for the running Federals. One
or two only were killed, several
wounded, and we took a half dozen
prisoners We also had two wounded
Had the ground been clear we could
have bagged the lot AS It was, we
came into possession of several strong
new army wagons, well fitted out with
mules and drivers
We divided up, advancing a skirm
ish line well into the dense growth
posting large picket posts on all the
roadways and then a portion of us
secured the country to pick up the
| Federal foragers II was now nearly
dark and the Federal steamboat was
,-.Fyf, Oh