Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-02-22
"reminiscences of the Third TenneS
sea Cavalry.
BY ADJUrANT WILL A. M'TEER.
allllalllllllalllllllsala7~
NO. II.

while Union men were watched yer,
closely and the country was patrole'
by Confederate cavalry. Squads o
Union men would leave in the nigh
for the Federal lines, every now ant
then. Early in 1852, two of my cous
ins, W. II. Sloan aud A. s. Mason
came from their homes in MOnTo,
County, and remained with relative
in Blount; their county ha.ing be
come too hot for them. By this timt
it was hard to get an effective weapon
of any kind, and yet it appeared un-
safe to be without something for self
defense. GuUsmiths secretly made pis
tolls from pieces of rifle barrels, the
cuck striking either underneath or il
the end of the barrel-a pretty gUOC
weapon for squirrels, but a sorry ex
.cuse for fighting Also, old files apC
pieces of steel were converted Into
large Knivts-excellent for hutcheriDp
hogs and beevts, bat of little value in
modern was fare. All who cOuli aft; ,rd
them had these pistols and knives,
While Others carrit d heavy canes made
of seasoned hickory wood, with pew
ter or lead run into them to Increase
their weight. These were really a
more practical weapon than the others.
Pistols aud knives had to be kept IN
secret places to prevent the soldiers
from making searches and doing mis-
chief L had al old brsss-bar-
relied horse pistol that my grand.
father carried In the war of 1912,
which he had presented TO me when
L was q child. L: was smooth bored
snd about three-fOurtbs of an inch in
calibre, and when il fired there was a
report that made things shake. Oh
how good felt when L thought L was
about to be in danger if I could only
put my hand on that pistol! NV
father and L had a rifle or two, two
or three pistols and some of these
homemade knives hid in a hollow
log some three hundred yards from
the house.
On the 22d day of July, 1852, he
and / plOWed corn all day, and in
the evening when L went to the house
my oldest sister told me that Sloan and
Mason were going to start to Ken
lucky that night and that [ could meet
them at certain place and go with
them. Feeling certain that my pa
L
ranged with her to place some clothes
at certain place and to keep my in
tentiOn a secret from all the rest. l
sat down and ate my supper without
any change of feeling except an in
tense desire to be on the way to where
L could see he old flag floating unin-
terTuptedly in the air, and where L
could freely and fearlessly express the
honest convictions of my heart. L was
first Ofthe family to finish supper, and
hen | arose from the table, passing
by my youngest brother, who Was
hen just beginning 10 speak distinctly,
was compelled TO feel goOd-by e, if
could not erpreSs il. 80 placed my
hand upon nis head, Whereup0n my
y mole feelings changed. then
bought that that was perhaps the last
ime L should ever see him, the last
ime l should ever sit around the
able with parents, brothers and
listers; that was perhaps bidding
! last farewell to home, with all its
les that L WAS going to war, and the
chances were against me. With a
delicate constitution, II L escaped the
mot of the enemy the chances were
till against me on account of exposure
nd disease. | was almost overcome,
=
hen. / went quickly TO our hollow
zee, and arming myself with my
'rass-bArTelled pistol aud a large |
,nife, having two edges To il, then |
.eltiug a change of clothes, | started. |
got lost from SlOah and Mason, and |
vent to place where we We're TO meet |
nnn Harvey Murphy, who was to go
With US, but he could not be found.
then went To the house, and it Was
Vith great difficulty that l could get
q answer. AT length Murphey's
nOther answered, but would give me
% satisfaction until she learned Ger
ainly aud positively who / was
'heu she sent young man, who was
tired, with me about "a mills across the
ountry, where We found a rail pen
,aItly fitted with corn husks anu
ums men sleeping there. Worn cut
ON fatigue. L soon fell asleep, aud re
NAMED sleeping sOundly until morn
ag when [ was awakened by he voice
t w. h. Sloan. A good man living
ear by furnished US with an excellent
reak fast, after which we four, w. II.
loan, A. =. ri asOn, John ii. Murphey
nd myself, turned our faces north
yard and sadly walked away from the
Iaces so dear 10 US ail-SiOan ana Ma
ID from lnelT ubID6S III MOuTO5, anu
lurphey and myself from the place
{ our birth, breaking the ties of ma
Ire and Offering cur lives as sacrI-
&C on behalf OF our country. Muir
ny never returned. He was killed at
IOlly Springs, Miss. Of the number
no slept In that pen that night, there
ere seven, including Mason, Sloan
nd Murphy, who came after
got there. Five were as
rong, healthy young men as
,uld be found any wherere, and two,
Ioan and myself, W ere very delicate.
he four of US started next morning for
he Federal lines, the other three soon
flowed. Four of the number never
turned. They found soldiers graves
vav from homes and friends. One
me home only to spend a short time
ith friends W hen be vas borne to the
Nv of the dead from disease contract
i'm the service. Sloan and L alone
e permitted to enjoy the peace and
Derty for which we fought and Tor
hich our comrades died.