Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-08-12
"reminiscences Of the Second Tennes
- see Cavalry. q ; : ga .
by LIEUT.. JNo. w. ANDES.
NO. XVI.

E
Our last left Us at the close of the
battle at Decatur, Ala, on the Oath day
of October, 1854. Notwithstanding
we had some hard fighting we had put
slight loss. On the 3Oth Msj .fW1H b.
McBathe with bis battalion TOOK D 'fip
from Decatur on the Courtland roau
lin advance of brigade OF Infantry,
the object being to ascertain someInlng
of Gen. Woods strength ana tell
wbere he was crossing the Tennessee
River. We soon found he had large
| farce. A dispatch was sent back to
Col, Prosser who came up with the
balance of the regiment. Skirmish
lines were then thrown out and the In
fantry came up aud took position. We
found q large body of Confederate TO-
fantry on the road in-front'of us, and
it was soon discovered that they were
intrenched. Our line was an extended
one and the water was on the extreme
left wing OF the Union skirmish line,
our high ground at the head of a little
valley and separated by a little ridge
from the main line. For a half hour
q constant fire was kept up from the
enemy, while ~Our-men ~ were under
orders not to advance. By and by an
rOruerly Came dashing up With orders
to advance slowly. By this time the
fighting mad became general all along
the line, with an occasional discharge
of artillery. when my~emen were
mounted they plead for permission to
charge the enemy. which order was 81
length given aud calamity executed
by CompanyK. and part of Company
M. The boys dashed down the valley
and DIR we the enemy before them
about two. mil es where q halt was can.
ed and we rode up on the ridge to SEE
the enemy in full retreat, thinking
that our army, on account of the move
ments of this little squad, was about to
get in his rear. 1t was anus ng
to see them going pell mel, every
fellow taking care of himself The
other part of our regiment was after
them, pouring shot into their rear as
they retreated. We were within two
hundred yards of them as the column
passed by. AS the regiment came up,
we sent our color bearer down, who
was readily recognized. We captured
/ several PRISONERS, and lost not man.
After pursuing the retreating foe some
distance farther, We were ordered TO
return, and arrived at Decatur the
same day. ga 'f-S
- Ga 4he- 3lst, writer,with Mi.
G. w. Hutsel, Capt. r. N. Hoo,i,
Lieut.. John q. Hale and three com
.panies, We're sent To Elk River ford, on
the main Athens and f loreneez road,
for the parpose'of watehing the cross
ing places, both on that aud the Ten
nessee River. 1t was my good for
tune to be sent TO Elk River ford,
| where l found a wealthy farmer by the
name OF Sloss, who was tue Union
man. He aud bis wife and, grown
! daughter kept as posted as to, when
aud where we gut expeetsthe cue
n.y. He was the owner of several ne
groes, some pf. them quite intelligent.
Here we soon ascerGalned what a great
benefit it is 10 have alfriend ia pri-
vate citizen, and real I'd what ad-
vantage the COnfederates. had had over
US in this respect. Lieut.. Hale, with
part OF his company, was left with rs,
AID we hada gypdztime We Were
also REINFORCED Oy the 1851 OHIO Iu-
fantry.. Weskept up u lIue of couriers
TO Athens, fifteen nlfles away. We re-
named here autiIthe 5lt OF NOvem-
Der. and returned to Decatur. While
at Elk River. Sergt. Wm. Ferguson
ACCIDENTALLY killed himself, while en-.
gagged in cleaning his carbiDe. Il was
raining, aud he was sitting in his lit
tie shelteT-teDt. He accidentally
Knocked the hammer against some
thug, causing al explosion. The
muSzle was pointed toward his body, |
aud the discharge entered his chest, kill |
ing him Instantly. He was a gallant
soldier His remains were inferred |
near Mr.. Sloss's residence.
On the 6 b OF November the Second |
Cavalry. together win the 18Th Mich
lgau, lO21d and 18lst OHIO, went out
ten miles on the CuurtIand road, hal
rome pretty hard skirmishing aud re-
turned TO Decatur with several pris.
ohers: On theC8 h5was the Pfesiden-
tIal election, aud the army voted by
regiments QUE glment voted solid
tor LIN coin gJIlff- Johnson