THE OTHER HORSE SOLDIERS THE BLACK HORSE SOLDIERS ROLE IN THE UNION ARMY RAID THROUGH THE HEART OF THE CONFEDERATE SOUTH OVER CHRISTMAS 1864 AND NEW YEARS 1865: FIRST INSTALLMENT TO DECEMBER 27, 1864 THE GRISRSON RAID DEC 21ST, 1864, TO JAN 13TH, 1865. A Ride Through the Confederacy.—Foraging off the Country.— Wars Havoc.—The fight at Egypt Station and Franklin, Miss.. The Third U. S. Colored Cavalry played a conspicuous part in this raid, often leading the van, marching by day and by night, fighting their way through the enemys country. This raid ranks with the greatest cavalry achievements of the civil war. It swept a swath many miles in width from Memphis, Tenn., to Vicksburg, Miss. The enemys forces swarmed the country through which it passed, but the bold, rapid movements of the raiding column, making a feint here and an attack there, completely frustrated the opposing forces So the raiding column swept on, marching late into the night to capture some outlying garrison, while its flanking parties marched by the light of burning bridges, store-houses and factories. Reports of the approach of the Yankee marauders flew in advance of the column, carrying terror to the inhabitants and consternation to the armed forces of the Confederacy. The troops composing this raiding column consisted of three brigades of veteran cavalry, viz : First Brigade, Second New Jersey Cavalry, Fourth Missouri Cavalry,» Seventh Indiana Cavalry, and First Mississippi Mounted Rifles, commanded by Colonel Joseph Karge, Colonel Second New Jersey Cavalry Second Brigade, Third and Fourth Iowa Cavalry, and Tenth Missouri Cavalry, commanded by Colonel E. F. Winslow, Colonel Fourth Iowa Cavalry; Third Brigade, Fourth and Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, and Third U. S. Colored Cavalry, and 50 men of the pioneer corps, colored, the latter under command of Lieut. Lewis, of the Seventh Indiana Cavalry, the Third U. S. Colored Cavalry under command of Major Ed. M. Main. This brigade was commanded by Colonel E. D. Osband, Colonel Third U. S. Colored Cavalry. The whole under command of Brigadier-General B. H. Grierson. Previous to the departure of this expedition information was obtained that the enemy were accumulating large quantities of supplies on the line of the Mobile and Ohio and Mississippi Central Railroads for transportation to General Hoods army, and a brigade of troops was sent forward to make a demonstration on Bolivar, with orders to then swing southeast and join the main column near Ripley, but owing to heavy rains it was found impracticable to cross Wolf River, and not being able to form the intended junction, the command returned to Memphis. THE START. On the morning of the 21st of December, 1864, the expedition left Memphis, accompanied by a large infantry force, and moved along the line of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad as far as Moscow, making a demonstration toward Corinth. The cavalry under General GRISRSON, cut loose from the infantry near Germantown, and took the most direct route to Ripley, passing through Lamar and Salem. From Early Grove a detachment of the Tenth Missouri Cavalry, under Captain Neet, was ordered to proceed to the vicinity of Grand Junction and cut the railroad and telegraph lines. The weather was uncomfortably cold on the day the command left Memphis, and the roads were in a deplorable condition, much rain having fallen during the two or three days previous. The command marched about 25 miles the first day, and camped that night in an old field. This first night in camp, long to be remembered, was marked by a good deal of suffering, both among the men and horses. Soon after going into camp a cold sleet set in, which later turned to snow, the temperature falling considerably below the freezing point, and the men, huddled together in groups, shivered in the pelting storm the live long night. On the 22d the command moved along the line of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad to a point near Moscow, thence, on the 23d, southeast through Early Grove, Lamar and Salem, reaching Ripley about noon on the 24th. Up to this time no opposition was encountered. From Ripley two detachments were sent out, one from the First brigade, under Major Van Rensalaer, to Booneville, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, to destroy it and the Confederate States property there, with orders to rejoin the command at Bllistown, 20 miles south of Ripley, the other detachment, Fourth Illinois Cavalry, under Captain Search, was sent to strike the same road at Guntown, and rejoin the main column at Ellistown. Both of these detachments were successful, the former capturing and destroying a large quantity of quartermasters stores and five cars, besides cutting the telegraph wires. Third U S. Colored Cavalry burning railroad bridge, trestle-work, and capturing 20 prisoners. The Fourth Illinois Cavalry detachment destroyed the railroad track and telegraph line at Guntown. In the meantime the main column, after a few hours rest, left Ripley, moving toward Tupelo, where it arrived on the afternoon of the 25th. From this point the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, Lieutenant- Colonel Funk, commanding, was sent to destroy the bridge and trestle-work over Old Town Creek. At the same time Colonel Karge, commanding First brigade, moved rapidly on Verona Station, seven miles south, information having been obtained that a force of 700 dismounted cavalry, (belonging to Forrests command, was stationed at that place, guarding an immense amount of C. S. A. supplies. The brigade charged into Verona about 10 oclock that night, completely surprising the garrison, who could make but slight resistance, but aided by the darkness the most of them escaped into the woods. This affair resulted in the easy capture of the town together with eight store-houses filled with fixed ammunition, estimated at 300 tons, 5,000 stand of small-arms, new carbines, 8,000 sacks of shelled corn, a large quantity of wheat, an immense amount of Quartermasters stores—clothing, camp and garrison equipage, a train of 16 cars, and 200 army wagons. These wagons were the same that Forrest captured from General Sturgis in his unfortunate Guntown expedition in the preceding June. After completely destroying all this property, together with the buildings, depot and telegraph office, the brigade started to rejoin the main column, leaving the fire burning. The conflagration was awe-inspiring (beyond description, the flames, leaping skyward lighted the command on its way for many miles, while the terrific explosion of the ammunition, the bursting of shells and the roar and hissing of the flames created a wild and weird scene that must linger, long in the minds of all who witnessed it. On the morning of the 26th the command left Tupelo. The Third brigade was ordered to proceed down the railroad and destroy the bridges, trestle-work, water tanks, etc. On arriving at Shannon the brigade surprised and captured a large train of cars containing 100 new wagons which were on their way to Forrests cavalry, besides a large amount of quartermasters and commissary stores, all of which were destroyed. In this work the Third U. S. Colored Cavalry took an active part. When the main column reached Shannon, the Third brigade was relieved by the Second brigade, the Third brigade being ordered to proceed down the railroad, destroying it as it went, while the balance of the command moved forward on the road to Okolona, and camped that night on Chawappa Creek. On that day many miles of railroad and a number of bridges were destroyed. Major Main, with the Third U. S. Colored Cavalry was ordered to destroy the railroad and bridges between Tupelo and Verona, while Captain Search, with the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, was sent to cut the railroad between Verona and Shannon, and Major Wood, with the Second Wisconsin Cavalry, was sent to destroy the railroad south of Shannon. These detachments of the Third brigade marched all night to rejoin the main column, which was found in camp on Chawappa Creek. On the morning of the 27th the command moved out at an early hour, the Second brigade in advance, and after proceeding a few miles the enemy was encountered, when some skirmishing ensued, the enemy falling back before the steady advance of our troops. When near Okolona a rebel courier was captured with dispatches for the commander of the troops in Okolona. The dispatches stated that 1,300 infantry would re-enforce him from Mobile by railroad. A scout was sent forward to reconnoiter the ground, who returned with a favorable report. This same scout was sent from this place to Memphis with dispatch to General Dana. He had some narrow escapes, being captured once and carried into the rebel lines and searched, but no papers being found on him, he was permitted to go his way, telling his captors that he was a good rebel and a citizen. A fight was now anticipated, and the order was given to close up in column of squadrons. The command forward given, and the long column moved out over the prairie in perfect order, with banners gaily fluttering in the breeze. Okolona is situated on a level prairie of considerable extent, and was distant about a mile from the point where our cavalry moved to the attack. As the long column emerged from the woods, unfolding like the coils of a huge serpent, the command closed up in column of squadrons. The flags were unfurled, sabers flashed in the sunlight, bugles sounded trot, then gallop, and thus set in motion, the ground trembled beneath the tread of the charging battalions.. The sight was grand, arousing all the spirit of the troopers, and one never to be forgotten. As the column neared the town it divided, reaching out in two mighty wings that threatened to crush everything within its deadly embrace. The enemy looked on in awed silence, not a gun was fired, then a white flag floated over the doomed garrison, which surrendered before the blow fell. The promised reinforcements had not arrived. Okolona with its immense stores of army supplies and many prisoners were captured without a struggle. The depot, army supplies and all the government property were destroyed by fire. During the work of destruction a long train of cars, bringing the promised reinforcements, came in sight, but, on seeing the condition of things, it backed away. Telegraph dispatches from Confederate sources were intercepted at this place. One dispatch instructed the commanding officer at Egypt Station to hold that place at all hazards and stating that reinforcements were being hurried forward to him by rail.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 22:12:04 +0000
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