Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-02-18
"reminiscences of the Second Tennes-
see Cavalry.
BY JNO. w. ANDES.
NO. VIII.

which that locality is famous. Til
army was being organized for an az
gressive summer campaIgn.
On the GIN OF June our Brigade o.
cavalry was sen: To Triuna, where W.
rem AIMED until the 23j, when the en-
tire Army of the Cumberland, unde
Gener.I ROsecra IL. madt genera
movement South. Our Brigade wen
out on The ShelbyvilIe road. We ell
cpuntered the enemy IN short lime
On the 20ih yf June we drove th'
Confpderal es before US by way O
Salem and Middleton, where We me-
considerable opposition; but a few shots
from our battery caused them to scatter
and retreat, and we occupied
the town without further opposition.
On entering, we found that cannon
ball from our battery had passed
through private dwelling house, just
| below the upper jOist, through two
partitions and out at q window on the
| other side Of the house. A lady and a
| group of children were in the house
at the time, bu. fortunately escaped
unhurt.
For a few days we were in the sad
| die, first one place and then another,
scouting, diminishing and guarding
supply trains. On the 9th of. June
we took Shelbyville with but little
resistance and small loss. We charged
the enemy, when he stampeded and
! fed. We went from there to Man
chester by way of Fairfield, arriving
| there on the G0th of June. During
several days previous to this time,
rain had fallen almost constantly. Ii
was harvest time, and our progress
was marked by wheat fields laid waste,
especially where the Confederates re-
sisted our progress, which was
nearly all the way. Fences were
| thrown down, and the cavalry
rode through fields in line of battle,
| leaving standing crops as fiat as il q
log had rolled over them. The rain
had so mOisIeped the earth that our
horses often sunk knee deep in the
mud. On the second of July We
crossed Z K River and went to
Decherd. Here we remained and cei-
ebrated the Fourth of July. Salvos
of artillery could be heard IN every
direction, as the batteries fired Ma
tional salute. On the fifth we went
over to Winchester, where we remain
ed until the eighth, when news reach
ed US of Gen. PembertOn's surrender
TO Grant 81 Vicksburg, which was Ie-
ceived with shouts every where, in ,er-
mingled with artillery salutes. On
the ninth the Second Cavalry was or
dered across the Cumberland Noun
tain in Alabama. On the top of the
mountain we passed Gen. Sheridan,
who then commanded a division of
Infantry. On the eleventh we reached
Bridgeport, too late to save the long
railroad bridge over the Tennessee
River, which was burned by the
retreatiDg COnfederates.
On the Is b, we went to Stevenson,
Ala, the first and only Federal troops
Oh that side Of the mountain. From
here We marched up Crow Greek and
returned TO COwan for ratiOns, and
thence to Tantallon. We remained
In the eighbOrhOod of Stevenson I'M
til the 2lst, when we took a trip up
Big Crow Creek, and returned tue
23I. Gu the "A we went to Belle
font, eighteen miles away, on the
Tennessee River, and returned to Ca
peTtOn's Ferry. TIE trains were, by
this time, running through to Steven
son, aud supplies were becoming
abundant. On the % u we Went to
B .liVar; where we remained until
August Isl, were paid Of, and then
went To Bridgeport. We remained
here and al CUTTERS Landing until
the "a d, when we went over
to Jasper, at the lower end
Of Sequa, chez Valley. Company X
did du.y at General Lytle's heaGquar-
teTs for about TWO weeks, at Bridgeport
and then reported TO the regiment at
4speT. We remained here until the
OF Septem beT at which time the
army commenced a general movement
in the direction Of Chattanooga. The |
cavalry had concentrated and was |
the Tenuessee river at Caper- |
toms Ferry.
On the 4 h of September we crossed |
Lookout Mountain iutO Willis Valley, |
Georgia. Here the cavalry CONSOLE |
dated, in all 40 regiments, with the |
Usual proportion of artillery. It is a |
fertile section, and General Stapley's |
entire command remained in camp |
two days. The valley is located be- |
tween Lookout and Sand Mountains,
and was covered over with man and |
horses. The weather about this time !
was all that could be desired.
On the night of the 7th of Septem-
Der the writer wSs Oh picket, with |
strict orders TO allow no one to sleep, |
We being Immediately in front of |
large force of the eDmey. It was |
beautiful bright night, and the stars |
glittered in the armament above us.
All nature seemed TO be at rest-in |
contrast with what was soon |
to follow between the two large hostile |
armies then cOnfrOI ting each other in |
that locality. One hour before day a |
single bugle sounded at headquarters. |
This was followed by a score of others,
and then it seemed az if 400 bugles were |
sounding reveillt. Then dozen brass |
bands joined in and the mountain |
Businesses echoed and re echoed With |
their martial strains, until it appeared |
as If the atmosphere was filled with |
music.
On the Oh of Sept. the command |
crossed Sand Mountain as far as |
Alp ne, Ga. We remained in this |
ighborhOOd until the 18th, and |
wentffrom thence TO Summerville, the |
cavalry fighting almost constantly. |
On the Is b we went to Lafayette, and |
then back to Alpine, and from there
to Wills Valley again on the Is b. On
The 17th we crossed Sand Mountain
again, in the direction of Chicamauga.
On Saturday, the 18Th, we arrived on
he battle field, after hard days
march. The Second Cavalry had been
detailed to bring up a wagon train,
and were delayed until about two
o'clock in The morning before we
reached the end OF our days journey.
We finally reached our command and
'Ound the whole face of the earth COW
cred over with the two armies. This
brings US to the great battle of Chica-
nsuga, of which L will speak in my
leXt.