Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-06-07
TANDARD- MEANWHILE TENNEssEE-sATURDAY JUNE 3 1884

quick, and the alarm having been
exaggerated, the men had been hur-
ried UP more rapidly than the occa-
sion demanded. Accordingly, to IA
cilitate their advance, many of the
troops threw down their knapsacks
and blankets, and the Brigade was
hurried forward into line of battle
across the valley. BY the time this
was accomplished it was ascertained
that the trouble was over and the
Yankees captured. The prisoners
were placed in line at the rear, and
the column proceeded up the ridge
from the scene of action by way of the
road formerly mentioned, AT the top
of the hill a large bundle Of Yankee
dispatches were discovered in a pile
of leaves in the path. These dis
patches were to the commander of
the picket force, complaining Of the
carelessness of a lieutenant, and eau
tiOning him of the danger Of surprise.
With thisinformation and some other
confidential matter in which some
patriotic jealousy and official spleen
was manifest, some valuable infor-
nation was gained in reference to the
position and strength of the enemy.
The Yankee courier was unable to de-
liver the package to the commander
of the pickets, and seeing his own es-
cape cut off, he dropped the bundle
and covered it hastily with leaves.
Becoming uncovered as the men
passed over it, it was discovered by
the writer and handed to Capt. Dill
lard, who made such disposal of it as
he thought proper.
1t was now raining and in the after
noon. The column moved cautiously
along the ridge and came to a valley
on the upper waters Of Becky's Run.
Proceeding down the Run we arrived
about shutdown at an old house where
a log heap was burning. This was
evidently a picket stand, but the
pickets, aware Of our approach, had
withdrawn, and the Federal com
mander found himself approached by
an enemy from every direction.
We were now in the rear of the
Federal position. We We're occupy
ing the west base of the ridge, they
were fortified at the east base, and the
ridge terminated on our immediate
right. General Donelson assembled
the ridge about dark and moved up
carefully to the top, then over the
ridge under cover of the night till
Fulton's regiment was within a few
hundred yards Of the enemy's camp
fires. Savage's regiment stopped at
the top Of the hill. The path was
narrow over which the troops moved,
and the underground so thick that
men could scarcely pass through it.
The night was very dark and the
rain incessant. About 9 O'Clock in
the night Col. Savage suggested to
Gen. Donnelson the propriety Of
bringing FultOn's regiment to the TOP
Of the ridge and encamping. 1t was
accomplished with great difficulty
and the men slept all night on then
l arms. Every commander had now
gained the position assigned him
j and the attack was to open on the
morning Of the 18th, The plan haC
: worked admirably thus far. Gen
e LOring was in front Of the Fedora
: position on the Huttonville pike, anC
: was to attack in front. Gen. jackson
e was in position in front of Chea
e Mountain. Gen. DonelsOn had gain
= ed the rear Of the position confronted
by LOring, and Gen. Anderson haC
I gained a, corresponding position t,
/ support and cooperate with Gen
IS Jackson.
q CONTINUED NEXT WEEK. \
= *Reference is here made to the accoun
n of this transaction, as printed in the Savar
nah Republican, and Nashville papers, shOr
ly after the occurrence; also to the official RI