NP, RS 9/3/1863

From the Richmond Sentinel
 
September 3, 1863
 
[From the Grenada Appeal]
From Grenada -- The Late Raid in Mississippi
   We were favored with a call last evening by Mr. Williams, railroad agent at Grenada, who had just arrived from Mississippi, and were able to gather full particulars of the late raids of the federals on the railroad in the North part of the State.
   The force engaged in the movement consisted of two columns of cavalry -- one about twelve hundred strong that marched from Yazoo City, striking the Central road at Durant's station; the other, about one thousand strong came from above, and reached the Central road at Coffeeville. The party at Durant seized an engine and some cars, which they used in moving their baggage as they proceeded North. On the route they found another engine, and at the various stations a number of cars, until they were finally able to make up two trains of twenty-five cars each. With these they proceeded until within a few miles of Grenada, when an officer who heard of their approach burned a trestle bridge. The rolling stock was then abandoned without being destroyed. On their rout no outrages were committed beyond stealing horses and mules, and but few negroes accompanied them. They reached Grenada on Monday evening, the 11 inst.
   The other column was met at Coffeeville by a small Confederate force, and a continual skirmishing was kept up, our troops falling back slowly sixteen miles, to the Yallabusha. The passage of the river was disputed by Colonel Slemmins, with four hundred men, successfully, about an hour, and until the column from the South approached, when he retired and both parties entered the town. His loss was two killed and six wounded; that of the enemy unknown.
   The Federals announced that the object of their movement from below and above on the Central road, at the same time, was to concentrate the railroad stock at Grenada, and then run it to Memphis on the Mississippi & Tennessee road. To enable them to do this, bridges had already been prepared to be thrown across the Tallehatchie, Coldwater, and other streams on the route. But anticipating their purpose, Col. Semmins, destroyed both the elegant bridges over the Yallabusha. The result was the destruction of all the railroad property at Grenada, embracing twenty-nine engines, one hundred and sixty-four passenger and freight cars, and the depots and machine shops. The Government mill near the depot was also burned. The Mississippi Central lost four engines, the Mississippi & Tennessee nine, the balance belonged to the New Orleans{, Jackson} & Great Northern road. Nearly all the stock of the Central was saved, in consequence of being at stations below Durant and above Coffeeville.
   The citizens of Grenada being warned of the raid, the village was almost entirely deserted. What was known as the Mister block, with the adjoining building, eight brick storehouses and a few wooden tenements, were destroyed. Mr. Mister lost a valuable stock of goods. Comparatively little damage was done to other private property. The party remained in undisturbed possession of the town until Wednesday morning, when they started North on the Panola road, and the citizens returned to their homes. The railroad material and property destroyed was very valuable, and the principal object of the expedition was probably frustrated by their inability to get it off as contemplated. 
   A few Yankees, who had been thrown across the Abataponbogue as pickets were taken prisoners.. Our total loss of men is stated above. Gen. Chalmers was absent from his department at the time, at General Johnston's headquarters.
   We also learn from Mr. Williams that the cotton at Grenada, and in the country North of there, has been destroyed by our authorities. About six thousand bales, including Government and private stock, were burned at Grenada. The corn crop of the country is excellent, and will yield a large surplus above supplying the demands for home consumption. As Gen. Stephen D. Lee is reported to have extended the operations of his strong cavalry force to North Mississippi, it is to be hoped he will be able to offer a somewhat successful resistance to the enemy's raiding parties. If so, there is no portion of the Confederacy now within our control from which such large supplies of meat and grain can be drawn as from the section named. Let our authorities bear this in mind, and set accordingly. We shall need all we can get!

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