Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-03-11
"reminiscences of the Second Tennes-
see Cavalry.
mo x
BY LIEUT.. JNo. w. ANDES.

the Second Cavalry left Chattanooga [
i guard large wagon train across Wa
denis Ridge, and through to Bridg,
port. The writer, together with Lieu
r. K. LJckett, of Co A, with smal
detachment, was detailed TO cover til
rear. The wagons were loaded wit
sick and wounded. The road wind
around and up this lofty noun tain
overlooking the entire country up am
down the valley of the Tennessee. Al
ter our weary horses had borne thei
weary riders. to the summit, we dis
mounted ard enjoyed the much-appre
ciated luxury of rest. II was about
O'clock a. ~, aud as bright morning
as one could wish TO see. The view o.
of the mountains of our lovely East
| Tennessee was sublime. We imagined
| that We could almost see the noun
tain homes of our childhood, the
sport which of ell others we loved
the best covered over then with a pail
Of gloom and sadness. Our minds
were naturally laden with anxieties
about home, sweet hOme.' The
thunder OF artillery in the valley be-
meath, in the vicinity of Chattanooga,
reverbeTated through the mountains
surrounding US. The dust raised by
the moving columns of ROsecranzs
and Bragg's great armies rose in clouds
in the distance. Burnside was send
ing troops from the direction of
I b 4.
while Grant was moving up from
Mississippi. All these things auguIed
hot WORK in the fulare and furnished
food for the contemplation of the
soldier.
We moved out in the direction of
Sequatchee Valley, 10y way of Jasper,
OH 10 Bridgeport, where The railroad
bridge had been destroyed and to
which point our railroad trains were
then running. Here the wounded
were left ana our train reloaded with
supplies for the army around Chat
tauUUga. We had about 200 wagons.
We returned over the same route we
had come. Gen. Wheeler with his
Confederate cavalry had crossed the
Tennessee River, aud happened 10
meet our train near Pikeyiiie, ana the |
entire tram was captured. Gen. |
w hSCACA > lACOPS uSCu W AdI lh6S |
could of our supplies, and burned the |
remainder. The mules which they |
didn't want were killed, add they left !
in the direction of McMinnviIle. Our
regiment was yet about fifty miles
down the Valley. We Immediately |
started In pursuiE of Wheeler, leaving
Jasper on the morning OF October oh. |
We cross ed the Cumberland Nouns
taius on the Oh and followed on to |
Nc Minnville, where Wheeler's forces |
had preceded Us and capeured and de- |
slrOyed everything OF value that be |
lODged to the government, only a |
small FEDERAL force having been |
left there. The Second Cavalry |
was instructed TO remain there until |
further orders. We found here a
great many UuiOn men. McMinnville
Is lovely little town, beautifully sit
uated The writer will ever Temem-
Der the kindness of such families as
hat of DR.. Armstrong and a few 9TH
erS. We remained here until October
g7th, and had Il pleasant time, with
he exception OF having to encounter
guerrilla force, which prOwled around
he country, under command of Capt.
They drove in our piCkeIs
,n the night of the z2nd, aud came
yelling into town like Wild men, but
he Second was not 10 be taken by
and they were easily re-
pulsed.
We were relieved by the 10Th Mich
gan, and went by way of Dunlap to
'Ikeville, aud from there TO Washing
on, in Rhea county, at which place {
We arrived on tie first day of NOvem- !
YER, aud remained until the Is b. On ,
he 18Th we arrived at Kings
n
D in the direction of Clinton. On |
he night of the 23rd. Gen. Wheeler !
anne down the Knoxville road to at
ack Kingston. The Second was in {
amps on the Old Knoxville road about {
wO and half miles out of Kingston. {
Wheeler came in with pretty heavy !
OTce aud got in between us and town, I
efoTe day light in the morning, and ,
lad US cut entirely off. Oar only
nance was 20 fight our way through.
Ne soon ascerlalned MS weakest point,
made a bold fTOnt and dashed through
lis lines, while his principal force was
ngaged with the infantry on the old t
knoxville road, on the opposite eide of {
ne town, or rather on our right. We +
aimed q strong position near the resi-
ence of Maj. Thomas Upton. Lieut..
rank y. LIItle who was then in COM '
laud of Company G, reached {
'iptOu's house, where he and o
is command took refuge :
nd boldly held their ground. The
nemy made repeated attempts to
rive them from their position, but
yere repulsed every lime, by the gal =
mt Lieutenant and his gallant men.
he fight was kept up here from day
ght until about 4 p. M, the enemy
aving made several unsuccessful
haTges. Lieut.. Little had a few men y
rounded, bat none killed. The enemy 7
eft twenty five dead on the field. The
rounded were carried away. Our en- i
re force at Kingston at the time did .
0t exceed 1000 men. The infantry !
yas commanded by Col. Byrd aud did +
Ome gallant fighting. Gen. Wheeler
ad about ), 900 men. T
On the 18th, Maj w. Il. McBath,
18th about 800 men, went out in the :
HectiOn of CIutOna, bout ten miles 2
Doye Kingston. Capt. Chi.es, Of the ;
irst Tennessee Infantry, went with
:. We soon ran into the enemy's
lex cts and captured about twenty five 6
risoners. Capt. Chiles was brave
nd gallant officer.
On the Sd day of Decemb we left Fl
.ingston, where we had been so kind. p
received and warmly welcomed by
le noble people of that vicinity, and
arted on our way to Nashville. o