Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-07-29
"reminiscences Of the Second Tonnes
HUG see Cavalry. J&IAE
BY LIEUT.. JNo. w. ANDES.
NO. XVI.

| Our last lett US on tue evening U
October 1st, 1864, at Athens, Ala.
/ skirmishing with Gen. Buford's cav
airy. Here the writer was rubbed tht
closest with a mimic ball that ne ever
was during the war. I was ordereo
with a squad OF men out on the rail'
road. on the skirmish line, 70 see IL
T could ascertain anything OF the
strength of the enemy. Taking ad-
yontaoe of some timber on fill in the
railroad, which protected US from the
onemv. we struck the railroad,
where [ told the men to
be quiet. and L would
| ride I'D on the fill and look around,
/ which did and discovered about one
| fonrth OF a mile IF a heavy column
quietly moving toward our right. l
saw a man ride ont of ranks, dismount
and step to tree, and, not thinking
what he was up to, kept my eye on
| him. 10 moment L saw the SUI Oke
rise from his gun, and MIME ball
| passed Just under my hat-brim, cut
ling out bunch of hair, close enough
to burn my right year, which after
wards became quite sore. l was not
slow in getting away from there.
We. then went back, aud all our
horses were taken around the fort,
while the men. went inside.
In a few minutes the fort
was surrounded by about $500
Confederate soldiers, who fought US
until dark, bringing their batteries to
bear upon US. Next morning the at
tack was renewed, a determined effort
being made to drive us out and compel
US to surrender. Our battery returned
the fire vigorously. Our men were
dismon nted and close together while
theirs bad good deal of trouble to
shelter them from our bullets. r. .
In the centre of our fort stood flag
pole one hundred feet high. It was
knock ed down by one of their cannon
balls, which was received with cheers
on the Confederate side. AS soon as it
struck the ground, Dick Hursk,
the flag mounted the top of the fort
not " hipped yet" He kept his eye
upon the Confederate batteries and
hen he saw the smoke of their guns,
he would drop down 10 the fort. As
soon as the ball passed he was back
| again at his post, telling them to "TTy
| 1t again" Six shots were fired at him
from their artillery, every one one of
| which missed their coveted mark.
The last shot, however, struck the
| emban ment and literally covered
him-with- earth and rubbish, from
which he was quickly extricated by
his comrades.
l. A bout this time a flag of truce was
sent in with a demand for our surren.
der, which was not respected or &C
cepted. Than squad OF Con-
federates got to our wagon
train and captured it. There
was "a very foe residence
near the fort in which the Confeder-
ates took position aud commenced
shooting down inthe fort. Soon we
sent shell through the building
tearing things up generally and kill
ling several men. This ended the
hattie aud the Con federates withdrew
We came out "a feeling good. having
suffered the loss of only about dozen
wagons.
We remained at Athens until the
81 of October, when Gen. Morgan ar
rived with 1900 Infantry. On the 4th
our battalion moved out in the direc-
ton of ACKNOWLEDGMENT Elk river
and wentinto camps, lit the mud and
rain. Oh, how it did rain! On the
5 b We went to ShOal Creek, where we
went into camps. GA The 6.h we
skirmished all day. On the
7th We marched into Florence, Ala.
was met by about 5000 blue coats,
commanded by Gen Rousseau. We re-.
manned in Florence until the lob, a
beautiful little town at the head of
Muscle shoals, forty five miles sOuth~
&tst Of Athens. Here we found a
lumber of Union families, some of
" hnm had the stars aud stripes fl Iat-
| ing from the r residences.
| Ga the morning OF the 10th. We bid
tn ~ adieu aud never returned. We
I went via Rogersville to Athens, arriv.
ing there on the II b. During our
stay at Florence, we lost two gallant
men out Of G 'mpany B-W. G. Har.
din aud John Jackson. They
Started with dispatches 10
Athens and were never seen
or heard of again. Some colored
men told US they saw a squad of Confed.
crates chasing them about two miles
beyond E k River, all going at full
/ spsed towards the river. which was
swollen until past fordiDg. It was
supposed that Jihey were shot ant
killed, or drowned while attempting
10 cross the river. They were as gal
liant men as ever drew q sabre, anC
their loss was deplored by the whole
regiment.
We arrived at Athens tired and hun
cry, about 10 a. Ia. The writer hav'
ing eaten nothing during the day, Wen
to the residence of Mr.. Farmer anC
called for dinner, and was told hi
could have it. Mr.. Farmer showed
me his parlor.s where l founC
about half dozen officers
awaiting dinner. They were all in
fantry officers. Soon 1 heard q rack Ell
ln-the kitchen, and colored servant
came running in with, "Oh, Massa
Massa, the soldiers are in de kitchen
aud have cleaned everything off d,
table" The landlord appealed to tn,
officers for protection, land they insisted
that should go. in aud dispense tn
soldiers, which 1 did, but not unit
they had helped themselves to wha
) they could lay hands on. When
, spoke to them they scampered away
paying no attention to my com mant
TO halt. ! knew the names of some O
the men, bu', under the circumstances
did not divulge them, as they woul'
probably have been severely punished
. Ga the Is b we returned to Decatur
from where the writer, with small
Detachment, guarded a battery I,
Iriauna. We returned on the Goth
: On the 2st, Msj. Will r. McBsth wa