The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-30
THE SLOVENIAN RAID.
An Eighth Michigan Cavalryman's Recollections
of IL.


To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Comrade J. NJ. Burton wants some one
to give an account of the McCook and
Stoneman raids Being member of the
Eighth Michigan cavalry, company K, un-
der SLOVENIAN, / will give you my experience.
At the time we left Atlauta-July 5th, 1861
to endeavor to release the prisoners at Auder-
sonville / was one of Stoneman's provost
guard We proceeded to within one mile of
Macon, and arrived on the day appointed where
we expected to meet McCook-he having taken
a part of the command TO proceed to Macon
via Milledgeville, while we were to proceed
direct, with orders to destroy all Confederate
property. Our command was composed of the
Eighth Michigan cavalry, Fourteenth and Six
teenth Illinois, First Ohio (squad), Fifth and
Sixth Indiana and First and Eleventh Ken
lucky. / think Comrade Burton is in error in
regard to the Second Michigan having taken
part in the raid, as ours was the only Michigan
regiment under Stoneman.
McCook's failure to form junction with us
caused General Stoneman to order us to retreat
and proceed directly back to Atlanta. On our
retreat we burned the Confederate stores at
Clinton, and proceeded towards Dalton where
we went into camp, presuming we were safe.
Shortly before daybreak the enemy surprised
US, and drove our pckets in. The Fifth Indi-
ana was ordered to hold them in check, and
they repulsed and drove them back, but fir
ing commenced in front, and the First and
Eleventh Kentucky, who were ordered on
the skirmish line, retreated in disorder.
The Eighth Michigan was then ordered
to cover the retreat, and within twenty
minutes captured twenty-one prisoners. In
about twenty minutes afterwards we were COM
pletely surrounded, and General Stoneman
ordered us to throw away all cumbersome
articles and cut our way out, but finally,
seeing no escape, ordered us to surrender. At
that time Colonel Mix, of the Eighth Mich
igan Colonel Capron, of the Fourteenth Illinois,
and Colonel Adams of one of the Kentucky
regiments came riding up. Colonel Adams said
he'd be hanged if he would surrender-he knew
the lay of the country, and could take them out ;
whereupon Gen. Stoneman consented to let him
try.
CAPTURED AFTER ALL.
l fell in line with my captain and, under COL
Caprons orders, we marched about three-quar-
ters of mile through blackjack swamp,
coming into an open field in sight of Sunshine
Church, where we were ordered by Col. Capron
to form skirfnish-line, the rebels being in close
pursuit. Captain Babbitt (nly captain) was in
command of the ssirmsh-line, and we held
the rebels about half an hour, when they ad-
vanced upon us in double column and we again
retreated. All our officers were gone, our horses
were running at large, and in thirty minutes
more the Johnnies invited me to the hospitable
shelter of AnderSonyile This was on July
81, 1864. That night we remained at Sunshine
Church. l forgob to say that about ten min
utes before l surrendered | was wounded in
the leg. and one of the rebels said to me, why
did you not surrender when Stoneman did ?"
and thereupon struck me upon the head with
the butt of his musket and knocked me sense
less. / presume they thought me dead, for
when I came to | was alone. Soon rebel
officer came by and ordered me to come with
him. l told him | could neither walk nor ride,
SO he helped me npon his horse, and lead
ing the animal, took me TO Sunshine Church,
where we had a supper of green corn. The
next morning we were ordered to Macon. The
first night we camped in the woods, ten miles
from Macon, and reached there next day about
10 a. M, where we were partly stripped, then
loaded on cattle-cars and started for An
Jacksonville, where we arrived about sun
set. Captain Wynder ordered us stripped
naked to be examined and took everything of
any value from us and threatened if afterwards
any greenbacks were found upon us to give
us twenty lashes Nevertheless, | managed to
conceal $40, in two $50 bills in my mouth, and,
like other prisoners. was transferred from one
prison-pen 10 another five in ALL until finally
released AZ Golis5oro', n. c., February %. 1865,
and delivered at Wilmington, n. e., to Sheri-
dams command the following day.
PERRY /. QUICK.
Eighth Michigan Cavalry.
HOLLY, MICH.