The National tribune., 1885-03-05
CAPTURE OF HUNTSVILLE.
The Exploits of Mitchefs Division Along the
Memphis i Charleston Railroad.

| DIVISION was detached from the MAIN army alIH
sent south, by the way Of ShelbyviIe and Fay
ctteylle, TO capture the Memphis Il Charleston
| Railroad, and by this means cut off the rebel
supplies and direct communications with the
east. We made forced marches from NurfreUS
! boro to Fayetteville, Il distance of 50 miles, ar-
irving at the latter place April 10. We went
! into camp just south OF the stone bridge span
ming the Elk River at this point We rested
our feet, filed our stomachs, and got ready f0r
! the final blow. We were now within 30 miles
of Huntsville. 1t was thought best to make
! the march after night that the rebels might
! not have any word of our coming. We lay III
! camp until the next day about ) p. H., when
| the order to fall in was sounded and we started
on our way in high spirits anxious to try our
hand. as we had yet scarcely smelled burnt
! powder.
Everything went smoothly enough until we
came 10 Dear River, which was good-SiZed
stream, being swollen by recent rains To make
things interesting, it was dark and the water
cold; but we peeled our boots and pants, rolled up
our shirts and plunged III. l think the stream
must have been 100 yards wide and waist deep.
You can imagine what fine display 1000 blue
belied Yankees would make in the above con-
dItiOn. But we got through all right and
halted in field close by and built fires max
ing use of rails for convenience. We belonged
to Turchius Brigade at that time and they
had acquired a habit Of making themselves at
home wherever they went. We made coffee
and had some delicious belly and hard
tack. | think 1t must have been about / 4. II.
The plan was TO strike Huntsville ut the first
peep of day and take the rebels by surprise.
On our way we captured rebel courier with
important news He rode up to our advance,
not knowing that there were any Yanks near.
| He WAS taken in and sent under escort to the
General.
Another little incident that transpired by the
way, was at a little town OF four or i've houses.
One OF them WAS a saloon and under it was n
cellar. The boys couldn't see, but were blessed
with good smeilcrs. They knew what they
wanted was there. Instead of going along as
they ought to. they Obliqued a little to the left,
went right through the cellar and filled their
canteenS | don't know what they filled
them with, for never indulged, but whatever
it was it made them funny.
We were now within 10 miles of Huntsville,
and Col. Kennels 4th Ohio Cav. was sent TO
the right and left of the city to cut the wires
and tear up the track, which they did in part.
Just as we passed through piece of timber
and over little rise about half mile north
of the railroad, we saw two loaded trains leav-
ing the depot, trying to get away. But Simon
sons boys were too quick for them they
turned their 12-pounders loose and the first
shot went crashing through the engine, bring
ing them to a stand. We had them in a iitfy.
ers, 10 engines. $50 passenger and freight cars,
and large amount of suppiies-all ours with
out the loss OF man.
After short rest we took the train and
started east for Chattanooga to meet Andrews
and his bridge burners. | might say right here
that the under-Otficers and men knew but very
little about Andrews and his men. We knew
of their leaving camp at Shebyville in mys-
FERROUS way, but did not know of their destina-
ton or object, they belonging to Stills Brigade
and we to Iurchin's. We were in the front
train, Gen. Mitchell occupying a position Oh
the engine with his field glass, looking for the
enemy and distractions. We did not dare 10
run fast, as we were passing through the rebel
country and did not know who was before US.
We made short stops at each station, leaving a
guard TO hold our communication until our
return.
| think it was at the first station east of
Huntsville that a rather amusing incident oc-
Cured. Gen. Mitchell was bustlng about, full
of life, as he always was, giving some directions
TO the guard that was to remain, when he over
head an old SOutherner asking some questions
that were not allowed to be answered, such as
:" How many Yanks are there?" and "Whar
you alIs goingf" The General ordered him 10
go home, at the same time taking him by the
collar, pushing him to the edge of the plat
form aud giving him kick in the rear with
his boot, telling him if he was seen back there
he would be arrested and sent to Huntsville.
We were soon on our way east, with our eyes
wide open taking III our surroundings. As we
were the first armed Yankees in this section,
we found no opposition to our advance aud no
rebels until we reached Larkinsville, a little
village at the foot of the mountains, where
there was company of cavalry recruiting and
drilling for the Confederate service. They were
only partially armed, and our sudden appear
ance IN their midst took them 50 by surprise
that they scattered N no m utaiu Of
them leaving their horses in our possession. |
was one of three guards left in charge of Lar
kiusvllie, with orders to arrest any sus-
picous characters and hold them until our
forces returned from their expedition. We
arranged the depot building as our prison by
fastening all the openings except one,
and placing a guard at that, while the
other two acted Us pickets or patrol as
the emergency required. We had not waited
long until the rebs and citizens began to
come IN TO see what was going on. AS fast as
they came IN we promptly marched them into
the prison, taking care that none escaped TO tell
stories. Ia this way we took care of all the
arrivals until late i'll the day, when we saw an
old fellow riding i'll from the country He APP
preached very cautiously and seemed to be TAX
ing in the situation, when suddenly he turned
his horse and rode away at full speed We
fired couple of shots from our rifles to hasten
his departure. We had already about 100 pris-
0nerS under guard and did not care TO take any
more, as our prison room was somewhat limited
Gen. Mitchell had gone as far east as
Stevenson without finding the enemy in force
but und small bridge burned, which stopped
Its further progress. Leaving a part of Silfs
Brigade to hold the advanced position taken,
the other forces returned to Huntsville reliev-
ing US from our periOus position, administering
the ron-clad oath to such of our prisoners as
would take 1t, and giving them to understand
that their property Immediately along the road
would be held as security for the safety of
bridges and railroad property. Those who
would not take the oath were taken to Hunts
vile, at which place We arrived early the next
morning. After getting some rest our brigade
was ordered TO proceed at once TO Decatur We
again took the cars and started west We
found very little opposition until We reached
the bridge spanning the Tennessee River at
Decatur. The enemy had a cavalry force
stationed here, with barrcade made of cotton
bales for their protection. They had also piled
combustible material on the west end of the
bridge and saturated it with oil, ready to burn
The bridge at a moments notice. AS our trains
approached the bridge the enemy fired it, but
not III time to prevent our trains from running
over, capturing part of the rebs and driving
the balance Oil IN such haste that they left some
horses and arms In our possession. Almost in
less time than it takes to tell it the bows had
the fire put out and the bridge saved with but
little damage. We were ordered from Decatur
to Tuscumbia and proceeded by rail as far as
CORTLAND, where the enemy had burned a
bridge. At this point we abandoned the train
and marched by the way Of Jonesborough to
Tuscumbia, whore we went into camp for a
few DAYS rested and lived of tho 20 of tbo