Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-01-11
"reminiscences Of the Third rennes-
see Cavalry, Z CIR
by ApJUrANT wII.L. A. M'TRER


= a. LII NO. HxSNxg =
/, ~ %,N,N~ ------- y ~ =
RECAPTURE OF "DECATUR-FIFTEE
I PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY -ARTIL
cry CAPTURED. ~ gn9fTfL1A
i = On the 24sh of December, 1864, W
moved out from. Huntsville, on th
I Decatur road, stopping at night OF
Epart ofthe ground over which we ha'
fought the morning before, near ndlar
/ Greek ford onthe 25th, we moved t'
Moorsviile, arriving late in the night
Itswas raj ny, cold, andaveryA dark
Col. Prosser and. the writer stopped
with All old gentleman named PEBBLES
with v hom we were acquainted, anC
who was very gentlemanly and pleas
LIANT. lieutenant Prosser was left al
Huntsyille on account of his wound
On the Goth. we moved TO the mouth
of Limestone Greek aud stopped on
the banks or the Tennessee River.
The morning was foggy and damp.
Some Of our men were sent down the
railroad apd, thinking there might be
a chance, 10 recapture our lost 1ocomo-
ii We, divided, one party going straight
down the road towards Decatur juno
ton, while the other went across the
country on to the Nashville and ID Ca.
tpr railroad, then proceeded along hat
road towards the Junction. Sure
enough, they got II! But the n bels,
finding they were caught, damaged 1t
considerably. C LIF~
The liver soon btgan rising very
rapidly. Gen. Steadman with his
command OF infantry joined ~us, aud
brought with him Rev. +. A. Ross, ID.
d., his wife and son, the lsttera mere
youth and appeared tender as q babe.
The General was still swearing that
be was going to set them on the south
sprn side of the Tennessee aud let
them them take care of themselves.
The water came up aud surrounded
us. Limestone Creek was 80 swollen
that the steamboats, ran up TO Moors-
vile. We had but one house at our
stopping place, aud that one story
cottage with two rooms 10 it. These
old people with their boy were
crowded, into this, and had. To be
exposed to- he rough fare and rougher
q d me, theentreaties of DIR. Ross pre-
that he and his family mig BIT return TO
their home in Huntsville.
Ga the 9th, Col. Prosser, Maj. Will
Hanson, of the Tenth Indiana, Capt.
Wheeler, of the Eleventh Indiana,
Capt. Harris, the scout, and the
writer, together with James Bryant
and John r. Rankin, orderlies, and
George House, bugler, went down the
river accommodating, as best we could,
the position and force of the enemy at
Decatur. We went some distance,
aud, coming to barn, tied our horses
there; then, proceeding short dis
tsnce, stopped at house where the
family had large quantity of butter
milk. We drank freely oflthis, and,
being hi cpnsidefable Distance above
Decatur, started down be bank quite
boldly fearing no danger aud happy
as kings, having our fill of the milk.
We had not proceeded further than
twenty steps until the crash of artil-
lery just on the opposite side OF the
river, and also from the fort at Deca-
tur, reminded us that there was an eff
fort to establish Confederacy down
there. The shots from Decatur fell
short of US, but those from the guns
opposite us did not. They overshot US
at first. We fell back into the weeds
and "iaid down" Waiting until we
thought they had time TO be in bet.
ter humor, we made our way back to
our horses, and mounting them started
back up the river. They were as mad
as ever when they saw8tis, b otwflh.
standiug they could see plainly that
wetlid lot mean 10 DO thing oiheIn,
butjust wanted to 20 off and letthem
slofie.T After mounting, their first
shots passed near US about the height
of our heads, and the last one went
into the ground Immediately under
Colopel Prosser's horse. 1t was but q
few moments until we reported back
to camps.
That day the infantry crossed the
river In the steam boats aud con-
D way for footmen to cross a
creek on the south OF the river. In
the night we were taken over. Com
ing to this creek we had to ride 1t, the
water coming high up on our hoIses,
while we only had the light from
fire on the bank to guide us. 1t was a
dangerous fording, but by caution and
taking time no accident occurred. We
next passed regiment. Of the noisiest
men i ever saw or heard. TWAS o
veteran reserve regimentyas could be
told by their grsyisb blue uniform.
These eteran reserves were made up Of
soldiers from different regiments, who
were not able to do the hardest duty,
and still were able to make moderate
marches and do ordinary guard duty
Passing through their noise and con-
fusion, one of our boys asked v hat
regiment 1t was. One of them replied,
ut is all the d--n fools In the Army
of the Cumberland put into one regi-
ment, 30 it is the d-deat fool regiment
you ever saw!"
Stopping, fires were built, clothes
dried and preparations were being
made for an assault ON Decatur a. day
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