Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-02-05

thousand prisoners, and no less than eighty
guns-all of which we held, with the exception
of two. tell you what, gentlemen, our boys
can fght-they are better stuff than the Fed
erals; they are better in the Outset-better in
| the charge, and quicker in every movement
they are better shots, and know how to protect
themselves in the timber. One of my boys had
a gutta percha rifle which he used effectively in
firing around trees and houses Another one
always carried a number Of acorns in his pock
| et-he could not fight except among the timber,
| and whenever he used to encounter the enemy
on an open plain, he would plant number of
acorns around and, with the aid of little gu
ano soon had himself sheltered by grove of
oaks in full leaf Their powers of endurance
are also greater than those of the Northern
men-they can live on nothing longer than the
Yankees as was instanced at the great battle
| of Shiloh-many Of our men rushed into the
enemy's camp just at breakfast time they ex-
pected to find something, but found nothing
on which they subsisted the whole day. have
known some of my boys to be so fatigued that
they could not keep their eyes open-though
moving on charge at double quick. While
thus in motion they would take a comfortable
snooze and at the same time do good fighting
| duty-killing ten to one, and when they would
wake up they'd swear they'd been dreaming
l was overcome this way myself once during
the fight. had given the word forward, and
was moving on at rapid rate, when all OF a
| sudden, became oblivious. | dreamed that [
| was in dutch cook shop as hungry as a hound ;
my eyes fell upon large Bologna sausage
which hung upon the stall-but had no mon
ey in my pocket. | demanded of the dutch
cook the sausage-he refused without | paid
him the money down; I argued my starving
condition he only laughed seized the sau-
sage-he seized me-we struggled-we fought
we feIl-we rolled over and over. | awoke and
found myself graphing with Hessian with my
teeth fastened in his nose -
''All this took place at the battle of Shiloh p
asked Snilax
SAT the battle ofShioh, sir-and more too, F"
was the reply
That enough, responded Smiax, again
winking to the company. But, tell me, how
long was the nose?''
80 long," replied the Major resuming his
pipe, that he had to step three PAGES forward
| to blow it.
This put an end to the battle Of Shiloh, and
as if by mutual consent, silence prevailed for a
/! while when Muckton took an old paper from
| his cap and began to read, or rather spell an
account of new raid OF his favorite, John Nor
gan. The conversation now turned on the mer-
!, its Of the General who met with warm advo
cate in the rough, but honest hearted Georgian.
He's the man of my fancy said he, ''he s
| the felier to make the Yanks smell particular
| HI! Why, he's made the enemy suffer
more-and suffered more himself than any
| General in the Confederate service. wan to
| be such man as Jack Morgan a terror to
evil doers, and one, too, that Is sure to make
| his mark. =
Morgan is rising man, remarked Dun
can. He's the man for the times-the Ma
rion of the present revolution
That true, Chester, replied Smilax, ';but
what would he have done without cavalry p
This arm OF the service, SO much condemned at
the beginning Of the war, has fully proved Its
efficacy. 1t is now the pet OF the Government
and the trust of the people. Gentlemen, we
ought to be proud OF our position in the army
the gallant troopers OF Dixie will occupy bril-
liant page in the history Of this unnatural strug-
gle | will tell you what we did in the rear Of
Kosencranz S army at Mulfieesboro.
Il was attached to WheeIers glorious brig
ade; and, assure you, we had quite Christ
mas frolic OF it. The first Alabama Cavalry oc-
cupied the advanced posts near Layergne, and
was driven In by an advance brigade of the en-
my. AS soon as the intentions OF our foes be-
came known to General Wheeler, he slowly
withdrew toward Murfreesboro turning upon
them and haiassing them at every convenient
point, and delaying their approach by many
brilliant skirmishes.
After resistance of three days, our boys
retired behind the infantry lines, and took their
position upon the right wing On the night of
the 29th December, We started upon an expe-
dltion from our post, the purpose OF which was
not known or guessed. Passing round the left
Of the army, We pushed forward by a circuitous
route, and early on the morning OF the 30th, in
tersected the turnpike at Jefferson, in the rear
of the enemy. Far away to the Southeast, the
distant booming OF cannon told us that the Fed
erals were feeling the strength OF our lines, and
the bali was opened.
"A long tram of the enemy's wagons was seen
moving along the pike hurrylng to the battle
field. A battery under Colonel Carter was de-
tached to intercept their advance. Wheeler
with the rest, tell upon their rear, and the gray
hills echoed with the whoop OF our fearless
| boys, which spread CONSERVATION among the
guards ana teanlsers, who flew in every direc
ton. Quick as thought the traces were cut,
the Inch pins removed, the fore wheels cut
down. and, at least, fifty wagons laden with bag
gage OF officers, stores aud clothing, set fre to-
We, OF course, appropriated. Every trooper
| who wished, provided himself with such ar
ticles as he needed
THE command to saddle' put an end to
our selections from the stock of fancy goods )
for the roar OF Carter pieces had walked up the
enemy, and they were bringing up superior
force Over rocks and stubble-hills, bitches
anu lCuCOo We ACW. AiiS UuIIilIise WdSouo UO-
hind US, the roaring artillery far to our right
hams and Jowis strung to our saddle bows;
mules with tattered traces securing the country
around us; away we went with our Christmas
gifts toward the valley Of Lavergne. Right up
on the village we rushed through the woods On
all sides. Scores Of atfrighted people We're seen
! flying through the streets, while teamsters for
sock their wagons and endeavored to escape
but it was no go.
Five hundred prisoners surrendered one
hundred and fifty laden wagons were consigned
to the flames, and one thousand mules and
horses carried Off or stampeded We applied
the torch to General NlcCook S magnificent cent,
containing the wardrobe and personal effects of
his military family The wagon OF the chief
Paymaster was burned, containing the accounts
and vouchers for the army of the West, and
one million OF dollars in Federal greenbacks. [
dined on the Christmas turkey served up with
all it's 'fxins' for McCook, without as much as
saying BY your leave, Sir:
''Aswe were now upon the Nashville pike, and
every moment might bring the enemy upon us,
we again obeyed the order to saddle and
away! AT pretty round gallop we secured
the hills and fields, until the gray twilight
brought Us to the village OF Nolensville. Here
we found fifty wagons. Another charge-a
stampede-a volume OF fame, and one hundred
prisoners OF war.
THAT night we bivouacked about five miles
from Noensviile In the early morning we
passed like lightning around the right wing of
the enemy to the laundering music Of artillery
Il cl,nji off ,'o