Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-04-08
"reminiscences Of the Secsnd Iennes-
see Cavalry.
BY LIEUT.. JNO. W. ANDES.
NO. XIII.

] No. Kill
My last left us near Buena Vista,
Mississippi. We rejoined our com
mand about dark and were welcomed
and congratulated by the entire
Brigade. The country in that region
was filed with the troops of the great
Confederate chieftain, General Forrest,
who had been concentrating his forces
to check our progress, and the belief
began to prevail that our battalion of
the Second Cavalry had been cap
tured. Hence the enthusiasm with
which our safe return was hailed. AS
soon as we got little refreshment and
our horses fed, we received orders to
march. Our Brigade then being sew
eral miles in the rear, we struck out
in the direction of West Point, to de-
stroy the supplies of the enemy which
he had accumulated in large quanti-
ties. This is a rich country, and there
was an abundance of cotton and corn.
II was nothing unusual to find rail
pens on the large plantations, ten or
twelve feet high, and Joined one to
another for one-fourth of a mile.
Large buildings were filled with cot
ton, bacon and corn, and barns were
laden with forage and provisions.
All OF these had been burned
by the troops in advance of
our army, and we travelled all
night by the light Of the fires. As far
as the eye could reach, in every direc-
ton, the flames were seen curling up
from the burning barns and OuthOuses,
with occasionally a residence, and the
grief-stTicken inmates standing near
by and beholding the terrible realities
of war. The scene was at once grand
and sad one. Destruction reigned
supreme everywhere. On every road,
bSttaliOns of troops were sent out, and
scarcely plantation or a field escaped
the ravages of the torch. Ii was a
scene which, once beheld, can never
be forgotten rr=r
The army arrived at West Point,
where the railroad was torn up and the |
depot burned. This was Sunday |
February goth, 1864. Our |
By this time Gen. Forrest had cOncen-
lrsted his forces, numbering about
10 900 men, and was pressing us. He
made our "Trip TO Mississippi a lively |
one. The first'dAY we fell back near
to O6OlOna, our brigade marching in
front. The rear had some heavy fight
ing and lost several men, Killed,
and captured. Our Tennes-
see brigade went into camps about /
night. The army was passing US all
night, About sunrise on the morning |
1f the 2tst, the rear guards came up.
This left our brigade in the rear, and
we had no more than taken our posi- +
lion until we fOunnd plenty to do. The
enemy was there in full force.
Dur entire forces were moving |
As rapidly as possible. The Second
avalry occupied the point of danger,
he extreme rear. Company after
company would form for those more
exposed to fall back behind, and in
his way did the fighting alternately.
nd so with the regiments forming
he brigade. However, the Second
lid most of the fighting in the morn
ng, from the time we left camps up
% OkalOna, distance of about 500
niles, during which time the enemy
VAS all around and on our TANKS.
The rear was mass of Forests cav
airy, pressing US every moment. Com
Danies K and M were stationed at
point, with orders to hold it
until further orders. The position
was a warm one. MIME balls were
whizziDg around in great prOfusion.
About one-fourth of a mile from
where we were posted, in an open
ield stood solitary, large oak tree.
this, on gray horse, was sta
Toned rebel sharp, shooter, He took |
helter behind The tree while loading
lis piece, and then, with unerring
i'm, he sent his death-dealiDg charge
,rashIDg through our ranks. He was
troub esOme customer. The writer
allied attention TO his case, and asked
some one couldn't "silence his bat
cry" Two sergeants in Company M
Ieaping from their horses
They "took rest"
" some trees, and when the man
made his appearance again, they both
lred. The gray horse ran away rider
ess, and We experienced no further
from that source. Ser
eants Murphy and Roberts remount-
d with the applause of their COM
AIDES for their skill and courage. e.a
About this time orders came to fall
ack, and they came none too soon as
re were just about being cut off from |
III cUuHddu bS VAC AGACAbACSo AOCs |
he nearer We got to town the squall-
n matters became. Charge after
barge was made upon US and repulsed
ntil we got to OEolona about nine
clock, q. M. When we got there we
Dund the Sd and 4th Tennessee formed
a our left, while the 4th Regulars &C.
lpied position to the right. Through
mistake the 2nd cavalry received or.
srs TO march through and form the
.giment in the rear of the 3rd and
b on the left of town. HeFewe made
left turn and were formed in front
gain, or attemptedto be. Before cur z