Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 8.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[487] clothing, and only those things that I have mentioned. My grown girl, Violetta, got ready to go, but as good fortune would have it, I had heard an officer express himself on slavery, so I went to him and got him to scare it out of her. I was lucky, so many negroes went from about here; all of Mr. McElmore's, Semmes's, and Dr. Johnston's — he had but two old ones, all are gone.

I do not think that you have any idea how bad the Yankees are. I thought I knew, but I did not know the half. They took old Mrs.----'s teeth, all her spoons and knives, and destroyed all provisions and corn which they could not use.

Two army corps were here — with Generals Sherman, Hurlbut, McPherson, and Leggett. Mother has been sick ever since the Yankees left. How glad I am that I did not get sick! No one need want to be with the Yankees, even for a few days. They staid here from Sunday until Saturday morning, and it appeared like a month.

I have no time to write more; will write again soon. Love to all.

Your daughter,

From an officer attached to General Grierson's column of the cavalry expedition, which returned yesterday, the following memoranda of the march of that command was obtained.

February 11th, marched from Germantown, Tennessee, crossed the Cold Water, and camped for the night three miles south of Byhalia, Mississippi, making twenty-five miles.

Twelfth, marched toward Waterford, one battalion making a feint on Wyatt, where Forrest was in position with artillery. We passed through Waterford, and camped three miles south-east of the railroad. We destroyed a considerable portion of the telegraph line. Very little skirmishing.

Thirteenth, marched at daylight; built a bridge at Tippah Creek; crossed at four P. M., and camped for the night ten miles south; considerable skirmishing.

Fourteenth, marched at daylight; crossed the Tallahatchie at New-Albany at noon, and camped four miles south of that place; raining.

Fifteenth, marched four miles and encamped. Skirmishing on the extreme right.

Sixteenth, marched six miles and encamped, waiting for Waring's brigade to come up. Captured several prisoners, one of them General Forrest's chief of scouts.

Seventeenth, marched at eight A. M. Passed through Pontotoc at one P. M., and camped four miles south.

Eighteenth, passed through Red Land, burning a large amount of confederate corn and wheat. In the afternoon passed through Okolona, capturing some prisoners, arms, and a large amount of confederate government supplies. Camped five miles south.

Nineteenth, marched at eight A. M. toward Aberdeen, capturing forty-five prisoners and a large amount of government supplies, etc. Crossed the Tombigbee River, and encamped five miles south of that river on an abandoned plantation.

Twentieth, destroyed a number of cars and culverts, and a large amount of corn and cotton along the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. At three P. M., had a hard fight with the enemy in front, driving them back.

Twenty-first, marched at eight A. M.; attacked the enemy in their intrenchments at West-Point, driving them out, our loss forty killed and wounded; destroyed the railroad track, culverts, and depot. At dark we drew the enemy into an ambuscade, when they retreated in confusion, with considerable loss. We marched due west until one A. M., and encamped.

Twenty-second, the rebels under Forrest attacked our rear and flank at Okolona. They charged upon the Third brigade. The Third Tennessee cavalry broke at the first volley, running five of our small guns off of the road into the ditch, breaking their carriages. The guns were spiked and abandoned.

The Second brigade, with the Fourth regulars, charged the enemy at four P. M., driving them back, and our mules, prisoners, and negroes were placed in the advance, guarded by the First brigade, under Colonel Waring. The Second and Third brigades dismounted, and a general fight ensued, which lasted until dark. Our loss was about one hundred, mostly prisoners.

Twenty-third, the enemy followed up our rear, but no general engagement ensued. We re-crossed the Tallahatchie at noon, and marched until midnight.

Twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth, we marched leisurely; nothing of note occurred, and arrived at Germantown.

Our loss during the expedition will reach about one hundred and fifty killed, wounded, and prisoners.

This column burned about three thousand bales of confederate cotton, over one million bushels of corn; captured over one hundred prisoners, over one thousand mules, and a multitude of negroes.

Owing to so large a portion of our force being required to guard our trains, captured property, and negroes, General Smith was greatly outnumbered by the enemy — Forrest's effective force being over five thousand strong.

Our loss is trifling compared with the results of the expedition.

On the eleventh of February, the First brigade of the cavalry division of the Sixteenth army corps, composed of the Fourth Missouri cavalry, Second New-Jersey cavalry, Seventh Indiana, Nineteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, and