Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-06-17
"reminiscences of the Second Tennes-
aA4 see Cavalry. I = > -
BY LIEUT.. JNo. W. ANDES.

II writer had the opportunity 10 see an
y hear The whole affair. A portion c
the ard cavalry was with us, one com
70 many of which was on the entire right
% When The enemy dashed into tina
part of the line this company was Gu
ofFby some means, and thought tina
+ everybody but themselves were cap
tured. They left aud daylight found
the On at Decatur, where they reported
US captured.
The fight was 3 most exciting one
From the eminence where was on
picket pest, L could hear some
giving command, some shouting, some
begging for mercy, some groanIng and
dying, together with The clash OF
sabres anu the rattle of small arms
made il very exciting. We held our
! position unIIl daylight, when the sun
! saOue out brighter and ali was still as
! death. We gathered up the dead the
next morning when we notified the
| citizens to inform the COnfedeTates OF
/ their dead, and then returned to Deca
| tuT. Before reaching that place, we
met the company of Inc Third CaVal-
/ ~ mentioned above, with all who
/ could be gathered in camps, cavalry,
/ infantry and artillery c9ming double
/ quick 10 rescue US. When they saw
Us coming, cheer after cheer went up
/ from the ranks aud there was time
of great rejoicing. We returned TO
Decatur anu remained there until
September LIST, 1864.
On the 1st OF September we were
ordered to Athens, Alabama, arriving
there the same day, where we COM
menced getting in readiness to receive
Gen. Wheeler, who lad crossed the
Tennessee river with his command
and was advancing toward McMinn-
VILE, from which place he circled
around by way of Murfrees boro' and
Pulaski, aiming to cross the river
again at the Muscle Shoals.
While at Athens we had the Con
federaIe General Roddy TO contend
with. On the Fad of September he
struck the railroad six miles from !
Athens, and we were ordered to lOok |
after him. We went twelve miles in |
the direction OF Elk river, leaving a |
small squad at Athens to hold the place, |
Railing TO come up with the enemy, he /
having lodged US, We went on uudIs- |
turoed. Knowing that there was but
small force at Athens, they dashed |
into town, but the gallant bows in |
blue held the fort, knowing that thew |
aust fight or surrender. They worked |
their batteries in earnest. Gen. Roddv |
sent in a flag of truce, and demanded |
a surrender. Our command could
hear the artillery, when Col. w. f.
ProsseT, who was in command, gave
the command, About face" put spurs
10 his horse, and we retraced our steps
TO Athens as fast as our horses could |
carry US. We were soon there, only
in time, however, to come up with the
nand, and in short time all
was quiet. The fighting had
ceased, the enemy having re-
tired without doing much damage
Dr. sustaining much. The next day
our men were ordered to Pulaski with
he First Tennessee Artillery, COM
by Capt. Beach. We arrived
here about TWO o'clock the next
morning, where we Joined the 3rd and
,.h Indiana Cavalry. On the 4th we
ere reinforced by the lOsh Indiana
and ION and l2.h Tennessee Cavalry,
With several regiments of Infantry, Z
III of which moved down beyond =,
Liunville, driving WheeleI's Cavalry
III the railroad. They had been !
usbed by troops from MurfreesbOro'
ud Nashville. The fight occurred at :
franklin on the 3rd, in which Col. :
ames 7. BTOwnlOw, of the First +.
}ayalTy, was severely wounded.
We were in line OF battle all
light, and on the 5th went back
o Pulaski, remained there until II
'clOck st night, when We were order
d out in tie direction Lawrence
uTg. We arrived al that place at
ay light where we captured several L
rIsoners. Here we joined the h and :
rd Kentucky cavalry. On the 9Th we -,
'assed through Lexington. On the
III went back TO Athens for rations, s
'he Ninth and Second guarded a sup {
ly train as far as Shell Greek, eight {
niles from Florence. We went as far
; Florence just below the Muscle
shoals aud stopped.
While in camps at Shell Greek Capt.
ames A. Montgomery was sent out
ne road in charge OF the picket post. =
During the night a strong effort was
lade to capture him and his
len. They stole in under COW
r of darkness and got c
etwten the reserve sand the vi b
cites. Corporal Arch. ClabOugh, of
company K, being on the outpost at .
be time, seeing his perilOus condition,
'heeled his horse and charged through :,
lbSC OGN ecu nun aBu the I6GSINSg /
a painful though not fatal E,
round in the abdomen. The rebels n
hen dashed on the reserve, bat Capt.
iOntgOmery save them such a warm t.
sceptIon that they retired. They re-
ewed the attack, but by this time the
egiment had been called out, and Sc
hey were repulsed.
General Wheeler had succeeded in
rOssiDg the river at tue Shoals. We
sturned 10 Athens on the 18th, and Z
smained there until the 18th,
hen we went back to Decatur. IL
ye remained here until the lS.h, b
hen a portion of our regiment went So
ut to Summerville, capturing six men
ld twenty horses. On the 23rd of u
eptember We Left Decatur and went
! the direction of Athens, when we 70
und the country full of the enemy. =,
crest, Wheeler and Roddy had con- ="
sntrated their forces, and were march
" on Athens, where there was
nall detachment of the Third Ten
essee Cavalry, and perhaps five hum
red infantry and artillery. We ar
we'd in Athens about ten O'Clock on
he night of the 23rd, and
larched directly into town with
ut opposition. We marched directly
, the pnbIia Suuaro nOt fbiokipr