| From the Memphis Appeal |
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| May 1, 1863 |
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| The Yankee Raid |
| Owing to the many conflicting
rumors which reached us from the scene of the Yankee depredations on
the New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern railroad, we concluded
to take a trip down the road and see for ourselves what amount of
damage was done, and ascertain as near as possible the correct
particulars of the affair as it occurred. |
| Early on Monday morning Mr.
Lemuel Smith arrived at Hazelhurst with the intelligence that a large
Yankee force had camped on the previous night at Westville, and their
intention was to move on Hazelhurst. The citizens of the town
immediately set to work to inform the military and railroad
authorities of impending danger, by dispatching messengers up and down
the road (which was made necessary owing to the absence of the
telegraph operator) and also to removing such cars as were lying at
the depot containing valuable material belonging to the government, to
a distance down the road which they considered safe. |
| About nine o'clock two men, in
Confederate uniform, rode into town and proceeded immediately to the
telegraph office, and desired to send a message to the military
authorities at Jackson, stating that the enemy, 2000 strong, had
passed the previous night at Westville, and early in the morning had
left, taking a northeasterly direction, going in the direction of
Brandon. Some few citizens being present and their suspicions being
aroused from the reports which had already reached them, attempted to
arrest the men, but they drew their pistols and gaining their horses
succeeded in making their escape. |
| About twenty minutes past
eleven o'clock some two hundred of the 6th Illinois cavalry, Col.
Paintz, road into town, and proceeded immediately to the railroad
depot, to which point the train was then approaching. The Colonel
immediately gave orders to his men to secure the train, instructing
them to use caution, and, in the event the engineer did not stop when
signaled, to shoot him, but to be careful not to shoot any one else.
The engineer having been warned, and seeing some suspicious movements,
commenced backing his train, when five shots were fired at him, none
of which took effect, and the train escaped. The Colonel expressed
deep regret at the failure, but consoled himself with the reflection
that he would have better luck next time. |
| After the escape of the train,
orders were given for the destruction of the rolling stock -- thirteen
cars -- which were lying at the station, and the cars were pushed from
the front of the depot, a portion above and others below, a distance
of about one hundred yards; they were then fired and destroyed. From
all the information we could gather, the loss to the railroad company
will not amount to much, as the cars were all in a dilapidated
condition, and with the exception of one loaded with hospital stores,
belonging to the government, and another loaded with shot and shell
for a thirty-two pound Brooks gun, their contents were of but little
importance or value. Two cars, loaded with lumber, belonging to the
Mississippi & Tennessee railroad, being two heavy to move, were
left uninjured. One car, loaded with five days' rations for a
regiment, was run down the track and saved. One car, loaded with
ammunition, not being carried far enough, was discovered and fired,
but only a portion of its contents was destroyed. They next fired
about fifty thousand feet of lumber belonging to Taylor & Pickens,
which was lying near the railroad track. |
| The work of destruction being
completed for awhile, the privates betook themselves to plundering.
All the stores were broken into and such articles as could be easily
carried off were appropriated, but the losses in this way were not of
much importance. |
| ***** |
| At daylight next morning the
main body proceeded on the road toward Union church, and a detachment
-- about one hundred and twenty-five strong -- proceeded toward Bahala,
at which place they arrived about three o'clock in the afternoon, and
at once proceeded to burn the water tank and wood yard. They then tore
up three rails about one and a half miles south of the town, two rails
at the town, and one rail about a quarter of a mile north of the town,
and, after waiting a short time, in hopes of capturing the up-train,
left, about five o'clock, going toward Union church. |
| ***** |
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