Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-08-27

toward louisville. An hours hart
/ riding brought us to the main thor
Oughfare between WaynesbOro ant
Louisville, the route taken by Xii
fortunately for us he had passed ovel
the read but q few hours before will
the enemy in hot pursuit. Our situa
/ tfoR Just at this iuncture was ever
wOTse than it had been before, for al
this moment a squad of rebel cavalry
hailed us and in an imperative tone
1 demanded who we were and to what
command we belonged, at the same
time drawing their pistols. We an
! swered, SCOnfedsrates," !" both parties
1 approaching each other at the time
The enemy evidently suspected that
we were Union soldiers. We met them
face to face in the middle of the high
way, and began a conversation with
them, asking them where they were
from, what regiment and brigade OF
Wheeler's cavalry they belonged to,
the whereabouts of the Yankee caval-
~, and a hundred other such ques-
tions, all of which were answered very
frankly.
A few moments previous to the
meeting of this party, one of my men,
Corporal Wilkinson, of Co. A, 10th
Ohio Cavalry, stopped for the pur-
pose of adjusting his saddle and was
not with us Just at the moment we met
minute or two afterwards, and being a
bold, fearless soldier, and suppOsing
that we intended to take the rebels, in
a fearless tone demanded a surrender
This at once betrayed US, and the enc
my were prepared for it. Alnaost as
quick as lightning they fired in our
faces. One Of them, an old bald-head-
ed rebel, sent a ball crashing through
the head of the Corporal, bat he paid
most dearly for the act. In an instant
=, - r. =
his attempt TO escape through the
brush was shot through the body. A
hand-to-hand encounter followed. Our
Spencer repeating carbines and Colts
revolvers told with deadly effect
against their inferior weapons. The
contest lasted but a moment, and three
rebels mingled their blood with that OF
our brave corporal.
Without taking time to bury either
friend or foe, we hastened from the
scene of the encounter.
Our situation at this moment was
equally as perilous as at any time pre-
Vious,
We had failed to interseUt Kilpat-
rick. Wheeler in his mad desire to
crush him before he should get under
the fostering care of Sherman'a infan-
try, had pursued with eight thousand
cavalry TO within three miles of Louis
Vile, consequently he was now be-
lines of videttes covered every ap
proach to the place. To get within our
lines by keeping the road, was virtually
an impossibility. Riding into the
woods sufficiently far to be hid from
the view of any one passing, we re-
nained concealed until after dark -,
then abandoning our horses, we start
ed in the direction of Louisville, keep
ing close to- the road, and when we
Thought it safe, marched in 1t,
It was not long before we came upon
the enemy's patrols. These we had no
difficulty in passing, as the moon was
sufficiently bright TO distinguish them
at some distance. fR
We kept on our course until two
O'Clock in the morning, when we be-
held the light of Sherman's camp-hres |
as it reflected against the distant sky. |
Having been walking all night, and |
having had nothing to eat since We de- |
parted from camp, we concluded to !
rest until morning, and if possible seek |
a little repose. With this object in |
view we sought 3 farmhouse, situated /
near theroad. As a natural conseq uence
che owner of the plantation with his /
family had fed on the approach of our /
armies, leaving the negroes the sole |
Of the premises. From |
them we learned that Louisville was
eight miles distant, that Sherman's /
infantry had occupied the place the |
day before, and that q portion of his ]
infantry, including a detachment of !
cavalry, had visited this
plantation the evening before, and cap
tured large number of horses, mules,
&c. In. view Of these facts, we con-
tented oursel yes by believing that we 1
could without danger of capture res
main here until morning. The negroeai
very generously provided us with, /
mOrseI of johnny cake and bacon, and /
then having very cOurteously extend i
I'd to us the hospitality of their quar-
5ers, we laid down for little repoBe.