Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-06-27
"Reminiscences of the Third Tennes-
see Cavalry.
NO. XVII.
HTHE MISSISSIPPI RAID. :"
BY ADJUTANT WILL. A. M'TEER.

their sabres. This created quite a sui
and a good deal of dissaLlsiac'io"
among the boys, SO by some means the
soIdiara GOT il into their minds that II
was contrary to the rules OF war to
carry sharp sabres. Where the idea
came from, or how there could be any
reason for it is more than I could ever
learn. There would be but little diff
| ference between well directed blow,
whether the weapon was sharp or dull.
| One would cut the flesh, the other
bruise it-one sever the bone smooth,
| while the other would shatter il. The
rules of war had just as we'll prohibit
/ the use of conicaI or sharp ended balls,
| aud require the round balls to be used,
or forbid the use of steel pointed shot,
and require the same to be covered
| with lead or some soft metal. Bat it
was not for the soldiers TO sag whether
they approved it or not. The military
is a one-man power and the duty of sol
diers is TO obey and ask no questions.
So the country all around COIlieEsville
was searched for gIiud-stOnes, and il
was not long until there was groups
here and there bent over old grind
stones, grinding away. and making
sharp their then hoOksn as Nick.
Russell was in the habit Of calling
them. .-.
It was evident q great movement
was TO be made. The lines were being
more closely drawn, the mOvems MS
of citizens more closely watched.
Our brigade was called the Third
Brigade, Cavalry Division, Sixteenth
Army Corps.
GA the 10Th of February, 1854
camps were broken Up and the brigade
took the line Of march South ward.
The other 0rigades moved on parallel
roads leading in the same direction.
AT night we bivouced Gu plantation
owned by r. RaifOrd. in Mississippi.
Our pickeIs were badly posted. Some
of the videttes from the Fourth Ten !
nessee Cavalry were placed on q high !
point at the side OF au old field covered |
with dry grass, and at the edge of a |
deep ravlDe, in when a thick under
growth had found its way. Being |
thus on the highest point was the
proper place for day light, then the
vidette could see the greatest distance,
but it should have been the reverse for
the night. Being in low place, oO-
jects appearing on high places can be
listing uished by the light of the sky.
u ufOrtunately, too, in this case, the
lire broke out in the dry grass behind
the pickets. The rebels crept into this !,
in the ravine, and had
not only the sky light but the fire
light TO see the faithful sentinels,
while they themselves were com
pletely concealed in the dark.
In this manner they came
within few feet of the
guards and fired on them. They fired
on two posts, killing two and wound
ing two of our men. One OF these be.
lOnged to the Fourth Tennessee Cav
airy, the ball taking effect in his neck,
passing through between the wind
pipe and neck bone. He fell, of
and y as struggling hard in
slow death, when the rebels ran up,
cut his sabre from bis belt, then draw
ng the blade from the scabbar,i, droee
he point in the dying mans head | {
they took the sabre then TO the ilouss,
u az old man living near, but who I
vas net at home, and LETT it there. |
Next morning it was found; the old q
nan denied knowing anything about !
{, and declared he was not al home
ufirg the night. The boys who :
uunu IL noticed his, boots, and when :
oming TO the place where the pickets
lad been SHOT, striking resen bIance t
etTsen the boots OF the old man aud q
| L
- &ch having peculiar heel.IrOn, h
3ade after the 50 m6 style, and the feet
eng near the same size. This was 7
ePoried to headquarters, and w. a.
CttcS Graham, and The Wri- q
r, were ordered 10 proceed 81 once, ar "
sst tue old man and bring him into I,
amps. We did SO. He had a couple
{ very beautiful daug hters, who came {,
} the Il lor - we were starting, and Q
sked their father to return before
light, rs they were afraid to stay Il
lone. lie replied that he was a
risoaeT, and they would have 10 ask
J. They then requested Us very pO- ~
Cely to allow han to return. We .
new the terrible crime of which hg
as suspected, SO we told them frankly r
nat We were acting under orders, and B
)ulG make no promises of his return
hey Enen began by Wishing the il
eVIl would get both OF US before b
IOrning," and then followed the most Sc
)uslve language | ever heard. john .,
N was gllU o; the tongue, aud repiied q
keenIy as they sent when ha mad
J opportunity TO get a WORD in. We -
ok tie old iDan 10 the ground OF the -
sgedy aud compared tracks. They
ere very similar, but his was some
le smallest; so, taking him to head
! al CTS ne " as iciGdScus 4 tie bT3Gaue
manned at RaifOrd's the 1IIh OF Feb
AIRY, aud the meu, furious with an
y, burned everything they could get
e To without being Caught by the
hcers. On the night of the 1Itn
lie II the men raised tue weather
saFdlng from the side Of an ice aud
tlon house Che lower part being Tor
e, while tue upper was filled with
ttOn), placed some combuslinlss
ere, then putting fire in, closed un
e Notwithstanding, and the ii RAJ
ing we knew at headquarters there
Is flaming fire right IN the ward &C
the house occupied by Col. Me-
ills and stsf was itself ia danger III
being burned.
On the 18th of February the com 9.
and moved again, the Fourth Ten r.,
ssce in front. John Harvey Muir Ia
y, of whom mention was made at z.
, beginning OF these "reminiscences, rs.
q gone with the Fourth on the sep
alton between the Third and Fourth. Ex
} was a Sergeant, and was with YYeI
advance guard. Just before reach ~
: Holly Springs, Mississippi, the
envy appeared and resisted the ad- Con
nee OF the command Sergeant Pri
lFphy was a brave man and boldly faI
MS little squad on ia the attack,
5hlng into their ranks. 1t was his ay.
It charge. He Was shot in the asml
art aud fell dead. Two others OF his Gel