Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-09-02
"Reminiscences of the Second Tennes-
see Cavalry.
BY LIEUT.. JNo. w. ANDES.
NO. xxx.


camps and Informed Col. Prosser that
there was a force of Confederate cav
airy at Indian Greek, seven miles
away. It was also understood that
they intended to attack US the next
morning. The Colonel had his Ser
geant Major to go around and notify
each company commander to have his
command in readiness to move at pre-
:cisely 2 O'Clock the next morning.
The night was very cold one, but the
orders given were faithfully executed.
The ground was frozen hard, and the
roads were rough, but daylight found
US at Indian Greek.
The enemy's picket were found
posted on a high hil', overlooking lht>
country all around. As We struck tn
videttes We charged upon them. and
by the time they reached their camps
We were there also, aud found regf-
ment about 800 strong. our strength at
the Time being exactly 200 men. We
found most of Them in line OF battle,
but some were not yet mounted. while
the officers were doing ali in their
power to rally their men. Their force
was on the opposite side of tue creek
from ours aud the creek was very
DOGGY. The only chance to ford Was
ct the ford, and il was pretty well
frozen over. On we pushed, however,
Ia
Just as We attempted to cross the creek
the COnfederates attempted to charge
JUS, but some went one way and
miles, using our sabres, caIbines and
pistols with great effect The only
man hurt on our side was Lieut.. A. s.
Prosser, who was wounded in the foot.
James A. Smiddy, of Com pany x,
dashed up to large man, weighing
200 pounds, perhaps, mounted on q
large horse. Smiddy was only q lad
of seventeen years, and mounted on q
small horse. He ordered the large
man to surrender, who turned around
and surveying bis youthful adversary,
commenced TO draw down his gun, re.
plying, "D-n you, l will see you in
hi first" Smiddy was quick enough
for him, however, and levelling
seven.shoottr which be held in his
hand, shot the man through
the head. The large man
appeared to leap two feet from his sad
die, and fell to the ground a dead
man. When he fell TO the ground he
Strengthened himself upon his back,
and, after one or two struggles, was
gone. and the fighting column Us passed
on without giving him any atten>
ton. %
Witnessed, during the day, quite q
num- Der of similar cases. We followed
eretFeating Confedefates 10 Moores-s
vile, and then returned to Huntsville.
The loss to The Confederates was fifty
prisoners, fieen killed and fifteen
MORALLY wounded. OF the prisoners
taken to Huntsville, most Of them had
been wounded. The citizens of
MOoresvilIe told US that about one
hundred wounded men had come in
there.
Quite number of those taken back
to Huntsville were private citizens
who resided there. but who had gone
out with the COnfederates TO induce
them to attack US there. The troops
were cursiHg the citizens for getting
them into trouble and then running
when the test came. When We re-,
'urned there was a great Of excitement
among the citizens whose friends bad
been engaged in the fight The D6ws
-pread to every part of the ely, and
on every street women and children
could be seen coming to see if any of
their friends had been killed or cap
tur d.. Our prisoners were marched TO
the public square, where a guard was
placed over them, and in . very short
time hundreds of women and children
had gathered to The scene. Wives
were. recognizing bleeding husbands,
and the sight was anything but
pleasant. Their tears aud cries fur
uishtd sad picture of real war.
Wiye. were iniereediug for husbands
and mo hers for sons. In some cases
their in tereessions resulted in the re-
lease of their friends and in others
they failed, owing to facts and cream
stances. -
The Tennessee Union soldiers felt
thatathe Southern penpIe looked upon
tn. M with something akin to con-.
tempt. and it is no wonder they foug ut
with desperation. Same of the women
in Huntsville would stand on the
streetsrand say all manner of hard
lhings OF Su- ID our presence, knowing
that we would not resent it, coming
from their sex.
! We lefG Huntsville at 2 o'clock in
the morning and returned about. two
IN the evening, having travelled about
forty miles. AT four O'Clock the wri-
ter received orders from Gen. Stead
man, to report with detail of twelve
men to the post headquarters at
Whitesburgh, on the Tennessee river,
fifteen miles away, and return as soon
as possible. We went as. ordered.
arriving a title after dark and re-
turned TO Huntsville by IL at night.
This was 40 miles riding, without rest
OF sleep. While performing this duty
the ground was SD frozen and cold that
our horses would seldom make an i'm.
preston on the road. When we re-
turned the entire army was in readiness
to move, which they did at 2 O'Clock in
the morning. in the direction of
MOOreyille. The cavalry went out by
the dirt road, while Gen. Steadman, >
with lis ten thousand infantry, went
down on the train. Il
d, In my next / will give an account
of our return to Decatur, where we
captured Gen. Hoods pontoon train.
From MaryviIie.