Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 6.
Frank Moore, Ed.

23d.--They broke camp at seven o'clock A. M., crossed the Pearl River at half-past 4 P. M., and took refreshments at Squire Payne's.

A glance at the map will show the importance of Pearl River. Knowing it to be quite high from heavy rains, and aware also that as rebel scouts had preceded them, it was of the utmost consequence to secure Pearl River bridge, Colonel Prince, who was in advance with the Seventh Illinois, pushed forward with energy, and, by very fast riding, succeeded in getting to the bridge and driving away a picket, before they had time to tear up more than a few planks, which were replaced in a few minutes. The gallant Colonel devoutly speaks of this as one of the many instances in which a divine Providence seemed to be shielding them, during their whole perilous journey; for the destruction of this bridge would have been, in all probability, fatal to the whole expedition.

At ten o'clock P. M. Colonel Blackburn, of the Seventh Illinois, was sent forward with two hundred men to Decatur, which place he passed through at four A. M., (of the twenty-fourth,) and captured two trains of cars and two locomotives at Newton Station, at seven o'clock. The rest of the command arrived at nine o'clock. The bridges and trestles were found burned six miles each side of the station, seventy-five prisoners captured and paroled, two warehouses frill of commissary stores utterly destroyed by fire, and also four carloads of ammunition, mostly for heavy artillery. The bridges, etc., on the east side of the station were destroyed by the Second battalion of the Sixth Illinois, under Major M. H. Starr. The whole command left Newton at eleven A. M. of the twenty-fourth, and marched through Garlandville to the plantation of Mr. Bender, about twelve miles from Newton, where they encamped. The distance traversed on the twenty-third and twenty-fourth was eighty miles, and all this without scarcely halting.

25th.--They left camp at Bender's at eight A. M., and encamped for the night on Dr. Dore's plantation, eight miles east of Raleigh. It was at this place they were unhappily compelled to leave two or three soldiers, who were unable to travel further. The distance marched this day was about twenty miles.

26th.--They left camp at sunrise, passed through Raleigh at eight o'clock A. M., crossed Strong River, near Westville, and fed at Mrs. Smith's plantation, near Strong River bridge. The distance marched was forty-one miles.

27th.--Colonel Prince left Mrs. Smith's with two hundred men at one A. M., and arrived at the Georgetown Ferry at daylight. The rest of the command came up and crossed during the day. Colonel Prince immediately proceeded with two hundred men to Hazlehurst, cut the telegraph wires, destroyed a number of cars, four of them loaded with ammunition.

Although Colonel Prince had marched his regiment forty-one miles--during a large portion of the time through drenching rain — he firmly believed that, as the citizens were arming themselves and the news about them was flying in all directions, it was a matter of life and death that Pearl River should be crossed, and the New-Orleans and Jackson Railroad reached without any delay whatever. He therefore obtained permission from Colonel Grierson to move directly forward with two hundred picked men of his regiment, to secure the ferry across Pearl River before the enemy should be able to destroy it. The distance to the river was thirteen miles, and from there to Hazlehurst's Station was twelve miles. The remainder of the two regiments were to come forward as soon as they were sufficiently rested.

Colonel Prince started with the two hundred at one A. M., and reached the bank of the river before daylight, when contrary to his information, the flat-boat was upon the opposite side of the river. Not daring to call out, he spoke to a volunteer, who, with a powerful horse, undertook to swim the river; but the rapidity of the swollen stream carried him below the landing, where there was a quicksand, and he barely returned to shore with his life.

A few moments later a man came down from the house toward the river, and, in true North-Carolina accent, asked, in a careless way, if we wanted to cross; to which he got a reply — in a very capital imitation of his twang — that a few of them did want to go across, and that it seemed harder to wake up his nigger ferryman than to eatch the d — d conscripts. The proprietor took the bait, apologized for the detention and woke up his ferryman, who immediately brought over the boat, which thenceforward became the property of Uncle Sam--the proprietor all the while believing he was lavishing his attentions on the First regiment of Alabama cavalry, fresh from Mobile! The breakfast given to the Alabama Colonel that morning was highly relished and appreciated, but too much time was riot spent over it, and the importance of speed was clearly proved, only half an hour afterward, when they caught a courier flying to the ferry with the news that the Yankees were coming, and that all the ferries were to be immediately destroyed.

At Hazlehurst Station, Colonel Prince succeeded in capturing a large number of cars, four or five being loaded with shell and ammunition, and others with army stores. The whole of this property was utterly destroyed.

And here comes one of the most amusing episodes of the whole affair. Captain Forbes, who, it will be remembered, had been sent to Macon, from near Starkville, rejoined the command just as they had all crossed Pearl River. Having been unable to take Macon, he followed their trail to Newton, where he was informed that they had gone to Enterprise, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. He followed on to that place, and marched within his little squad into town, where hie found about three thousand rebel troops just getting off the cars. He promptly raised a flag of truce, and boldly rode forward, demanding the surrender of the place, in the name of Colonel Grierson.