The rebel cavalry, seeing the road clear of troops, and these wagons passing, struck them in flank, shot down the mules of three or four wagons, broke the column, and began a general skirmish.

The escort defended their wagons as well as they could, and thus diverted their attention; otherwise I would surely have been captured.

In a short time the head of McPherson's column came up, went into camp, and we spent the night in Decatur.
The next day we pushed on, and on the 14th entered Meridian, the enemy retreating before us toward Demopolis, Alabama.

We at once set to work to destroy an arsenal, immense storehouses, and the railroad in every direction.

We staid in Meridian five days, expecting every hour to hear of General Sooy Smith, but could get no tidings of him whatever.