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Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Stephen A. Hurlbut, Sterling Price
Thursday morning Nov 6th 1862
Camp South of Grand Junction Miss
Dear wife I have seated myself on the ground with my poncho
on my lap for a Writing Desk so you will have to excuse bad wr
iting. After this I will write what transpires daily commencing
last Sunday night in the morning about three oclock the horne
sounded Boots & Saddles & the Order was for each man to have 6 days
rations in haversack to be ready to start at 6 oclock it came &
found 51 men ready to start where we knew not the horne sound
stand to horse, next came the command Mount – The order was
obeyed & we start in the direction of Chewalla passed it about 10 oclo
ck our course lay in a Westerly direction marched untill night before
we fed our horses & did not stop but a few moments at noon
to eat at night we assertained that there was a general movement
of most all our troops in our rear General Hurlbuts Division
wa on the road to form a junction with us (Webering in Stanley)
division we stopped at a place Called Davis bridge where Hurlbut
cut off the rebels retreated from Corinth & took two brigades they
had a tough time of it I tell you juging from the looks of the
Graves saw 26 in one place & the trees cut down as large as your
body with the canon shot & balls Staied all night at this place &
in the morning started for a place called Salsbery reached
this place at 4 in the afternoon there was a report that there was
a Band of rebels there but we did not see them Co C took the advantage
went in to town (it is located on the Memphis & Charleston
R. R.) & returned out of town about 8 miles & stoped for the
night sent back a report to Colonel Hatch in regard to the towns
being free from Rebs etc etc he in return sent orders to send
a scouting party down to Grand Junction it being 8
miles in the advance they called for Volenteers 7 in num
ber I volenteered with the 7 it was moonlight & a beautifull
night at this place was supposed that the most of Prices caval
ry lay we started expecting this time to see some of the yellow
pants or as they are termed Buternuts But was some
disapointed some when we got there & found the way clear
went in to the town on the jump rode up to the hotel &
found 1 man half scart to death said that there had
not been any rebel there in two or three days but did not get out
town more than 1 mile when we saw a signal light to some
of their men to cut off our retreat but I rather guess we made prety
quick time back to our boys, when we got back from town it was
12 oclock & had the privilege of sleeping til morning in the morning
we had time to kill a hog skin him but I had some
milk & hokake for my Breakfask. This is a Tuesday morning
we sadled up to move to the junction & scour the country
around we did so today & found that they were there for they
took 3 of our infantrymen at the junction just before
our cavalry got there it is supposed they were stragglers
we got within 2 miles of the junction when the Captan
ordered me & 2 others back to take a road to the left &
scout on this side of the place but did not go far before
we met 2 of the devils but they saw us bfore we did them
& they took to thir heels & you would have laughed to see them
we put spring to our horses but they left the road in a turn
& got away from us we did not see any more to day we
moved up south of town where we are now & stood picket
till 10 oclock at night was relieved by Co K & we lay down
to sleep for the night nothing of importance hapened tonight
Wednesday morning find us up & dressed bfore daylight ready
to follow up some of the Rebs for they said there was some
of them down to Davis Mills we had not gone far bfore we
got there & shure enough they were there 5 in number pickets
they run & we chased them up about ½ mile when Bang went 3 or 4
guns we drove their pickets in about 8 miles they making
a stand every little way but one horse was hurt
no men killed or wounded on our side but 1
was seen to tumble in the road but he was a
Reb after following them till a high where lay a
force of them we returned back to camp &
have been here since last night but a detail has
been made & I am 1 of them & I have to close my
letter I will write soon you just say to Uncle Henry
that I want him to pay you back that money
& turn out that note to Daniel & it will save you
collecting the note from the man that rents my
place henry said he would wait til I could get
my pay from him
I must close but the horn blows
so Good by Yours
truly M H H
All the boys is well
Write soon etc etc
