Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-09-16
"reminiscences of the Second Tennes-
- see Cavalry. G1H#
BY LIEUT.. JNo. W. ANDES.
NO. Xxx.


.JEoh [J
On Sunday, the 25th OF December,
1854, our cavalry, together with Gen.
Steadman,s 10000 infantry arrived at
Mooresville. Ala, about 10 o'clock at
at night. Rain ha been fall
ing all day. Limestone Creek.
which we crossed, was very
full. Just after going into camps the
writer received orders to report at the
mouth of Limestone, where he would
find gun. boats anchored. The rain
was falling In torrents, and we had to
swim the creek. At the same time it
was so dark that one could scarcely
tell W neither he was in the road or not.
We went about four miles, and failing
to find the gun boats, We returned to
camps just before daylight. Our
service, from the time we left Decatur.
had been very hard. We let there on
the 18th of November, went near
Corinth Mississippi, and back to De-
catur, June s, 1866. This was the most
interesting part of the 3rd year of our
campaigning. AsI before stated, fail
ing to fiad Gen. Changers head.
quarters, we returned to Moores-
willie. On the 26.h, we,
with the entire army, concen-
trsted at the mouth Of Limestone
Creek five miles above Decatur. We
found there five gunboats and nine
transports, ali of which were busily
crossing the army to The Decatur side.
On the 9th we re0ccupied Decatur.
Ending no enemy there. we moved
cut eight mills on The CORTLAND road,
capturing two pieces Of artillery anu
six prisoners. The 18th Pennsylvania
Cavalry Joined us here, and we started
in pursuit of Hoods pontOon train.
Our command consisted of 300 of the
18th Pennsylvania, 100 of the 20d Cav
airy, $50 of the 10Th Indiana, so Of the
18Th Indiana, making q total of 800,
all in command of Col. Palmer, ofthe
18th Pennsylvania. 90 the "a b, near
COurlland, We Captured fifty men. On
the Both we passed through Courtlsnd
and Jonesb6 rough and on to q LITTLE
place cvlled Leighton. capturing twen-
ty prisoners duliDg the day. On the
S1st We passed little to the left of
Tuscumbia on through Russellville,
where we learned that the pontOon
train was just ahead short distance,
numbering 80 pontO0n wagons, and $50
supply wagons, all without guard
Hood had used them to cross his
army over the Tennessee, and sent
them on one road while his army was
straggliDg over another. Just at dark
we struck the rear of the train. The
DRYERS became panic stricken, and
each fellow cut q mule loose from his
team, and mounting him rode for dear
life. The train was scattered along
the road for three miles. We dashed
along the line of wagons, but not a
man could be found. We gathered up
the mules and burned the wagons.
The mules were then shot, between
five and six hundred of them.
So ended the year 1864. The first of
the year 1865 found US on our way
across the mountains, striking for the
Cotton Gin road, leading to Aberdeen,
Miss. We travelled until ii O'Clock al
night, when we entered the country of
the Cotton Gin road. Just before We
reached the road. cur command was
divided, Col Palmer, with Col Pros
ser, taxing 400 men to attack in front
OF the camps, where we had learned
there were 150 wagons, while Msj w
r. McBath. with 200 men, was to
attack the rear. We divided ut
II o'clock with the understanding
that the attack would be made at II.
Maj. McBath's squad was at that time
not more than Two miles from The
camp. Msjor halted his command
and sent the writer with twenty men
forward to recOnnoitre. / went TO
house, knocked at the door. when
some one GU side said. "wbo comes
there?" | replied, = friend.n After
some further conversation I opened
the door, when he raised up in bed
aud I heard the click of q pistol. i
told him not to raise any alarm, that
we only wanted to know where the
wagon train was aud if it was guarded.
He told me where it was and that
there was no cavalry with it. So bid
him good bye, and went back aud re-
ported. On we went, accepting his in
formation as correct, and found it to
be SO. a the time agreed upon, both
commands charged on the camps. We
found the men. some aieep, some play
ing cards. some cooking, We cap
tureds about 100 men, while some
fed AID, made their escape. Among
the prisoners was a young girl, about
fifteen, dressed IN Confederate uni
form She wore a fur cap, and rode
stride as we'll as q man. After cap
turing tie prisoners we permitted
them to take anything they desired
from the wagons, wnen the wagons
and harness were burned, and the
mules. except such as were required
for the prisoners to ride, were shot.
About 2, a. 10 We started to return
to our old sand. It was dark and the
way hard to find, out our Traders Coils.
Palmer. end Prosser,9 were guOd, safe
aud gallant as ever undertook such
thing On we went through the vii.
derness. sometimes on the public
ighWay, sometimes on little by paths.
good portion of The line we were in
the mountains. among the gueriltas
aud bush whackers, who occasionally
fired into our columns. Sometimes
our column would be broken by some
one falling asleep, or a horse falling,
or some one making q mistake. How
ever, daylight came and found US all
safe, except A6jutaDt viii A. Me
Teer and few Others. My next will
give our collision with the 7th Ala
bama COnfederates.
They walked out of the tbeater arm
in arm. She was as dainty as a prin-
cess and nrattier than an opaninO