The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-06-04
A FIGHT WITH INDIANS
Romantic Raid into North Carolina by
the Fourteenth Illinois Cav
et
airy Regiment.
Il
How the Gherokees Changed a Gray for
q. a Blue Uniform.
By E. A. N, PRIVATE co. c

~ Blue Uniform.
81
By E. A. N, PRIVATE co.
The account of thisrafd is written because of the
novelty. the romantic surroundings, and unusual
experience of an engagement with Indians while
in the active service of the Army of the ohio.l
Whats up now, Jake2P was the salu-
tation we used then, though corpulent
ex Judge and prominent attorney in Kan
sas might not respond to it as naturally
now as he did in those days 1t came
from the boys In line of cavalry, who
knew from the way that the led horse"
and camp kettle meniw being sepa,
rated from the rest of us, and the careful
examination of our horses that something
was up. Along the road in front were
passing $4,000 cavalry under command of
Major General Stdrgis, ostenslbly subsist-
ing upon, but more likely starving in. the
country. 1t is said that devout, ont
humorous chaplain, had remarked as he
gazed upon our array, God be with the
chickens of this land" fit was so.
have no doubt that he wasof infantry an
tecedents, for even unto this day it is
almost impossible for web foot to think
of II cavalryman without the camera of
his memory also rejecting chicken. And
the foundation of it all was envy.
Gen. Sturgis and his staff were already
in the field when we were called outof
the line of march, and our commanding
officer was in close counsel with them
Soon, however, the command, Fright
forward; Fours rightT was given, and we
filed off toward the foot hills of the Smoky
mountains mile or so distant, while the
portion of the regiment left behind re-
sumed their march with the main body,
At the head of the regiment now re
duced to about $50 men, rode Major
Davidson and accompanying him were
two citizens, one of them we afterward
learned was noted Union scout On we
went and soon we were in a mountainous
region, where the roads became more and
more impracticable and rough, until we
seemed to lose the road altogether as
nightfall approached Darkness had set
tied about us and we were still moving
Accustomed to the saddle as we were, it
required all our experience to guide our
horses. Rocks, trunks of trees and all the
Irregularities of mountain side confronts
us continually, until finally we struck into
the bed of little stream. Following this
until it seemed impossible to go farther,
our horses sliding and slipping on the
moss covered stones, at last we halted
Soon numerous pine torches were Lighted
and by their aid we pursued our tOrtuous
course. By their reflection we could see
that close upon each side OF us were the
PERCEPTIONS heights of the mountains
After several hours we passed up the bank
and found a comparatively luxurious road,
which we pursued until we struck into a
sort of valley. Here there was more
light, and the stars above showed that the
great mountains completely surrounded
us We were in what | would call basin
of land, several miles across. After pass
ing an old mill we went into camp.
Our bivouac was in a large cave, an
oasis in the first range OF mountains OF the
three which We were to cross. 1t was q
mile or so in circumference, rich and
fertile valley. comprising a number of
good farms.
While the weary cavalrymen, after the
preparation of his frugal, but well enjoyed
meal, lies down to seek that sound, sweet
and restoring sleep which comes to the
soldier after day of hard but well done
duty, We will turn to camp fire, where
Jake" is answering the question pro
pounded at the commencement of this
article. The sergeant, tall and stalwtrt
casts his great gray eyes over The grout
and answers at last:
''Well, boys, | suppose you know thai
Pennsylvania regiment that We met on the
French Broad when Longstreet turned on
us at cambridge, Tenn, don't you? Well
you know they didn't succeed in cleaning
out those Cherokee Indians that are ii
these mountains and that they have beer
after so long and the job has been let gu
to us. | suppose that some fresh infOr-
nation was received today, for the mov'
seems to be a sudden one. You know thu
day after we captured Knoxville last fal
We went up to blockhOuse at Straw
berry Plains which had just been vacated
by some Indians. They are the ones WI
are after. They belong to the Cherokee
tribe who had reservation in NOrtl
Carolina at the beginning of the war bu
were induced to 60 back on Uncle Sam b.
the rebs, and are now organized into
regiment under Gen. Thomas, the ol
government agent They are Differed b.
white men and have been raising the devil
burning. destroying and raiding Eas
Tennessee in this vicinity, until they hav
become a mortal terror to the Unlo
people on the border. Indeed, they sa
that they have got so they kill, murde
and scalp in the old fashioned way. W
are after EN-. We've got some scouts an
Union men who know the country an
the calculation is to clean them out thi
time, sure"
This information satisfied us and W
sought our blankets, conscious of the fac
that before us was an unusual experience
, in which We were likely to incur ney
dangers and hardshlps, but each deter
mined to do what he could to make tn
raid success.
Before the break of day We arose an
at daylight commenced the ascent of tn
mountain side We had moved but
short distance when all trace of road ha
faded into an indistinct trail, which a
hour later was lost to the unpractised ey
altogether But the Union men who lie
the advance on foot proceeded with cont
dence and we followed as best we could
Finally reaching the top of the mountai
we rode along the ridge. Up and dow
and down and up we went, the head c
the regiment often passing by the rear i
the march. The splendid scenery, pun
air and changing panorama caused man
Z. prairie boy to open wide his eyes, Will
d here and there was one to whom the seen
brought back early scenes of mountai
homes in Vermont, New Hampshire Q
Maine, who seemed inspired with old an
joyful memories. A great deal Of tt
time we were obliged to dismount, an
many times we were required to lend
hand to Lieut.. Connolly in command of
section of our howitZers.
Rather rough experience we had
n it camping that night, with little foe
r. 4