Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1863-10-28

I Wheler's Great Raid Around the Army
of Rosencrans.
FULL PARTICULARS FROM A PARTICIPANT
CAVALRY CAMP,
DECATUR, Ala, October IL, 1868.
! Mr.. SNEED: We crossed the Tennessee
river yesterday on our return from raie
into Tennessee. Gen. Wheeler comman
ded three divisions, under Gems. Wharton
Martin and Davidson--seven brigades II
all-about 5000 men. This is the larges
cavalry raid that has been made duringstht
war.
We crossed the river near Cotton Ford
the last day of September. Cotton Ford is
near Charleston, Tenn. The enemy were
on the opposite side of the river, three bri
gades strong. Wheeler had a new road Gu
| about mile below the ford, crossed the
river at night by this new ford with Whar
toms division, attacked tho enemy's pick
cts at the main ford, secured that point,
and crossed Martins and DavidSon's divis'
ions with the artillery and ordnance wag
oDs
We marched all night and the next day
until dark, in the heaviest rain lever had
seen, and camped on the opposite side Of
Walden's Ridge, in Sequatchie Valley,
near Fosters Cross Roads.
Here the command was divided. Gen.
Wheeler, with two brigades, one from Mar
TIM division, under Cen. Martin, and one
from Wharton's division, under Col Avery,
of the 4th. Georgia cavalry, went down the
valley after large wagon train, while Gen.
Wharton with the remainder of the force
proceeded directly across the Cumberland
Mountain to attack McMinnville. General
Wheeler started at3 a. am, and met the
train near Dunlap at the foot of the noun.
tain, and after some sharp fighting, captur-
ed about 500 prisoners and over 500 wag-
ons heavily loaded with quartermaster,
commissary, ordnance and suffers stores.
The train was captured about II a. m. The
wagons were all burned, about l, 500 mules
killed, and the rest of them taken over the
mountain. The stores destroyed we're most
valuable. The amount of clothing and
blankets was enormous, while sixty wagons
Of ordnance stores were destroyed. About
4 p. M. the enemy were reported advancing
up the valley. This found our command
10 bad condition for fighting. Over half of
both brigades had been sent back by Gen.
Wheeler with led mules, and nearly third
of the rest were on picket in the rear and
on the fanks Colonel Russell, of Martins
command was captured at the wagons. Col.
Avery, with 100 of his brigade-part from
the 4th Georgia and 1st Kentucky-remain:
ed in the rear, while Gen. Wheeler retired
With the rest Of the force to cross the Noun.
tain. The enemy pressed vigorously
They charged fifteen times in the course of
mile, killing, wounding and capturing
about one.half of the rear guard. Their
force was so overwhelming each repulse
was but temporary. Gen. Martin and Col.
Avery were nearly taken, Colonel Avery's
horse being shot. Lieut.. Col. Griffith, of
the 1st Kentucky, wounded; Capt. Jones,
1st Kentucky, killed; Capts. Stewart and
May, 4th Georgia, captured; and Captain
johnson and Lieutenant May, 4th Georgia,
wounded. Maj. Reed, Of Gen. Wheeler's
staff, was captured here. About 9 p. m.
ihe entire force was up the mountain, mar
ched until 3 in the morning, resumed the
march at daylight, and camped at the op.
posite foot of the mountain about midday.
Gen. Wharton, with his force, crossed
the mountain, and bis advance guard, un.
der Lieut.. Col. Clay, attacked the enemy's
pickets at McMinnville about II, a. m, of
the Sd, drove them in and secured the ou.
ter works. His artillery was put in posi-
ton commanding the town, and flag of
truce sent in to demand the surrender, which
was Immediately made. The garrison was
about 600. Large commissary and suffers
stores we're consumed and destroyed.
After brisk little fight atthe foot of the
mountain the detachment under General
Wheeler, which had been left by him under
command of General Martin, marched all
night and joined the force at McMinnville
the morning of the 4th.
That night we reached Woodbury.. The
enemy pressed vigorously. In the afternoon
they charged three companies of the Texas
Rangers, acting as rear guard, and disper-
sed them, but Col. Harrison, of Wbarton's
division, formed his brigade and checked
them. Here it was determined to give the
enemy battle with the entire command, but
but that intention was abandoned.
The next morning, the 5th, the main
body of the force proceeded to, Stono River,
above Murfreesboro, and burned the bridges,
and joined the wagons at FosterVille. A
small force at Christian were also captured
in stockade.
At daylight, the morning of the 9th, the
rangers under Lieut.. Col. Cook charged in
to Shelbyville, but the cavalry guarding
the place had left during the night. Large
suffers stores were here captured. General
Martin with his division proceeded to War
Trace and burned all the bridges on the
railroad and rejoined the command by a
night march. Gen Davidson's division
camped below Shelbyville on the Southern
side of the river, and Gen. Wharton seven
miles from Shelbyville on the North side
of the river.
With the command in this scattered stu.
alton Gen. Davidson's division was vigor-
ously attacked by the enemy early in the
| .AA.n;... md nnshod hnnk nn the Shelhu.