Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-04-27
Knoxville, April IS, 1879.
"reminiscences of the Third TenneS
see Cavalry.
BY ADJUTANT WILL A. NI'TEER.

" no. TX.
END OF THE RETREAT-HOsPITAL
ALONG THE OHIO RIVER.
Leaving Graysop, Kentucky. on the
% of October, 1862. we marched in the
direction of Old Town. It was report
ed that a dispute arose between Gen.
Baird and Ger. Spears, each contend
ing that his own brigade could out
march the other. Whether this was
true or not, there was some very hard
marching, which, then and now,
seems to have been unnecessarily put
upon hungry and tired soldiers. Ii
was Kept up all night, or rather at
tempted to be kept up. Some OF the
regiments got to OLD Town with only
a little squad of men. Il was reported
that Col. Houk's Third Tennessee In
fantry had only thirty men, while 9th
eJ regiments were in proportion, ex-
cept the Sixth Tennessee Infantry,
which was reported 10 have enlarged
to near three thousand men, on ac-
count of having the rear guard. There
was not one Of our regiment on foot
that arrived in OIj Town until next
morning, just before and along with
the Sixth Infantry. Joshua league,
Joseph Lackey, Adam Farmer and the
writer, OF our company, and Captain
Easley aud ZONE two or three others
of his men went farthest Of any Of our
command, then, being exhausted, laid
down under a beech tree and remained
till morning. On our way next morn
ing we passed through an apple orch
ard and filled our haVeTsacks with APP
pies. Arriving at Old Town, we made
some coffee and fried the apples In
grease from our fat bacon aud made
our breakfast Oh them. Being hungry
and exhausted, and heavy shower OF
rain coming on, rendering the march
more slavish, while whisky and BRAN
dy seemed to be the only com modify
that was abundant in that section, 1t
was not long until the entire COM
mand might very appropriately be
called drunken army.
Along in the afternoon our boys be-
came divided by some means, and
hearing the whistle of steamboat, the
shout Of 10y was raised, so all were
eager to press fOrw ard. Our squad be-
ing near the Third tennessee In
fantTy, permission was asked OF
Col. Houk to allow US 10 march, as II
belonging to his regiment, and thus
throw US among the fret TO arrive at
the river. He kindly consented, and
ali went well for while, bat our
whereabouts vas discovered, aud we
were ordered to our place. In the
evening we arrived in Greenupsburg,
on the Ohio River. Here the water
was drinkable, which is more than
could be said of any found since leav-
ing Cumberland Gap, the best being
from Cumberland River and Stink
Creek. The whole country is a mass
of coal and oil and salt, while pure,
cold water does not exist. Remaining
at Greenupsburg until noon the next
day October 4th), we moved down the
river some miles and remained till day
break the morning of the 5th. We
went aboard q pretty little steamboat,
the "Silyer Lake" which took US
down the river some two miles, land
ing at Wbeelersburg, Ohio. Here
we were met by gentleman with
buggy loaded with victuals, cooked and
prepared as if for wedding feast. 1t
was indie ed a feast, enjoyed and fally
appreciated by all. We had come over
two hundred and fifty miles through
the mountains, where everything was
wild, and edibles scarcely known.
Now we were inside OF civilization
from the time we arrived at GTeenups-
burg, and in the midst of plenty,
while hospitality Teigned among the
people. After eating breakfast, we
moved down the river to SciotOville,
three miles farther. On the way, cili-
zens met US and stationed themselves
on the roadside with baskets of pro-
visions, distributi; g them free to all.
At Sciotoville, this was continued.
None but those who have been exiled
from home, thrown among entire
strangers and received such hospitality
and kindness, can form an Idea OF now
this treatment was appreciated.
AIS O'Clock on the morning OF the
9th, we were placed on the cars, being
open box ears, and taken to Portland,
thiTty-twO miles. farther in the State.
On the way, the cit!zens-meu, women
aud children-placed themselves on
bridges over the railroad track ana
from there poured fruits down upon US
as we passed uder them.
On the 7th we went into camps, three
miles from Portland, at place called
Camp Griffitts, but the boys gave 1t
the of Louise Hill" which was not
altogether Inappropriate, when we re-
member that the same clothes worn at
the evacuation OF Cumberland Gap
were still in use, and that soap and
water were not the articles to be found
in Eastern Kentucky.
On the 8 h we were very much SUR
prised aud rej0iced at the arrival OF
Mai Ben. Cunningham, with some
twenty acquaintance from home. L
was lying down under the shade OF
tree, resting, and rather doing, when
L was startled by the voice OF SIias
Graves, exclaiming, GOOD God! There
is Andy McTeer ~ On looking up,
sure enough, there came my father !
There, too, was Elias and William