Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-01-05
INERREsTINe DRTAILs.
FoRT RAINEs,
Tullshoms, Tenn, Dec. q, 1868.

Tullshoms, Tenn, Dec. IL 1868. J
DEAR FRIEND: I received letter from
sister to-day, and although short, it was,
nevertheless, very acceptable. Your let
ters have arrived very regularly for some
time past, and 1 sincerely hope they may
continue to do 30.
It is Sunday night again, and the rain
is pouring down like suds, and the wind
blows "grest guns" Altogether it is 6
very disagreeable night, but I thank my
stars have a comfortable place to live in,
and lots to eat. Christmas has come and
gone, bu! Il was q sorry Christmas for us,
can assure you.
We had fOraging party out toward
Fayetteville, and some of them came back
on Christmas eve with the news that four
of our boys and Lieutenant Porter, Of the
9th Indiana Regiment, in charge Of the
train, were captured by guerillss. 1t seems
that they became separated from the main
train owing to q mule wagon becoming
stuck in the mud, and as none we're armed
except the Lieutenant the bushwhsekers
had little difficulty in capturing the party,
although one revolver was discharged in
attempting to disarm the Lieutenant,
The shot brought crowd to the spot i'm
mediately, but the birds had flown, and if
was then too dark to attempt to follow
them that night. The next morning, how
ever, Sergeant James with a squad of
mounted men started in pursuit. They
had followed the trail perhaps half mile,
through woods and fields Of standing corn,
when they discovered the pocket-book Of
one of the boys, which he had dropped to
aid the pursuers.
They followed the trail for nearly twen-
ty miles in a cirouitous route, and came
around to within eight or nine miles Of
their starting point, and there they found
the boys-but in what condition Two
we're shot desd, two severely wounded, one
OF whom has since died, and the other,
James Foley, Of Hudson, is in the hospital
here doing very we'll. The one who died
Of his wounds was named 0rcutt. He was
from Burton, Gesuga County. The two
who were killed belonged to the infantry
detail Of the battery.
1t seems they had stopped for the night
on the banks of Elk River, and were told
to spread their beds; they had before been
told they were to be taken tn headquarters
to be parOled. Before going to bed theil
hands were tied, when their captors were
observed TO hold short consultation, and
then they turned and deliberately shot the
the four boys Of the Ninth Battery and
then threw them, with their hands tied
into the river. Foley and 0rcutt, who
were only wounded, one IN the groin and
the other in the bowels, succeeded in get
ting their hands loose and rescbed the
shore. Climbing up perpendicular banI
| from twelve to fifteen feet in height, they
managed to crawl to some houses near By
where they we're found by Sergeant JsmeI
and his party.
The Lieutenant ran as soon as he saw
that they were to be shot, and jumped int
the river, and by swimming across i
twice, succeeded in escaping, but had hi
feet severely frozen. besides spraining hi
ankle SO as to be almost useless for tn
present.
A good deal Of commotion has been ere
ated by this brutal murder, and it is to b
hoped that means will be taken to purg
this vicinity Of guerillas, and that too
very soon.
The commander of this post intimste
that il party is sent out in search o
these scoundrels, none who bear a shadoy
of suspicion will be brought in. leav
yoto infer what will be done with them.
| J. H. P.
/ Ninth Ohio Battery.