The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-05-28
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
THE CRACKER LINE.
The Story as Told by Comrade who was In tn
First Boat.

The Story as Told by COmrade who was In the
First Boat.
To THE EDITOR: A few weeks ago noticed
in your paper an article headed Opening the
Cracker Line" written by comrade of the
4lst Ohio, Hazen's Brigade. As this comrade
SAYS he occupied the second boat in that expe-
dition down the Tennessee River, | will give
our experience in the advance boat on the date
and night stated by the comrade. At about
noon of the same day the 23d Ky, belonging
TO Gen. Hazen's Brigade, was called in ranks
by companies. The officer of my company tH),
Capt. Tiff, informed us that there was to be a
detail made from the regiment, consisting of
certain number of men (amouuting to o0), and
that Co. H WAS to furnish six of this number;
that lie would at once choose his quota, which
he did by calling the names of the ones desired,
each man stepping forward as his name was
called.
will here give the names as selected: Serg't
William johnson, First Serg't James Jackson,
Corporal Arnold Branaley, Privates James Nc
Herman, Charles Frazier and John Shiederly.
The last named one did not CO. because Buff
fington, member of Co. b, urgently requested
Capt. Tilt to take him in Shiederlys place,
stating that he was waiting for an opportunity
TO be killed. and he thought this WAS his chance.
Shiederly, having fellon on his thumb. con-
scented, aid Mr.. Burlington WAS installed in his
place We were ordered TO report for duty on
the parade ground at dusk, and Informed that
we were about to undertake a dangerous task.
What this was we were not tod. At o O'Clock
that evening we met as ordered. The entire
detail of the regiment was placed in line. After
counting off we found we numbered as in
ranks commanded by Col. James Foy, of the
Odd KY, Capt. Claudius Tiff of Co II. and
Capt. Hardiman. of Co. G, of the same reSi
ment. We We're marched through the town of
Chattanooga TO the Tennessee River. There
we boarded an old scow manned by two SOL
ders of the 18th Ohio Col. Stanley's regiment),
they having charge of the pontoon boats at that
time. As soon we were all on board Col.
Foy requested us TO remain perfectly quiet-not
TO speak above whisper, and under no con-
sideration to fire shot without orders. We
then showed off and steered for the north bank
of the river, then floated down with the cur
rent. All went well until we passed under a
tree that had fallen out from the bank and was
still hanging by the roots just high enough to
allow the boat to pass under; the order was
whispered Everybody down" Serg't Reeves
(afterward Captalnl, of Go. u, attempted to leap
over the tree, but he was not quick enough and
was caught by the branches and swept into the
cold stream. We could not stop the boat or
sist him. not daring TO make noise, neither
did Reeves cry for help, and we passed on in
doubt OF whether we would ever again behold
our comrade. On, on, we fioated until we OBJ
served single picket-fre Oh the south bank.
Col Foy then halooed to the boat in our rear,
if he should land. Then Gen. Hazen sent the
word to steer Tor that light. which we did hur-
riedly. We all raised to our feet. Gen. HaZen'S
order was heard by the rebel picket, who gave
the alarm to - Fall in, the Yanks are coming!"
i heard the officer of the guard give the COM
mand, Ready, aim, fret" One of the oars
men, an 18th Ohio boy. dropped his oar with a
rebel bullet in his arm. We were thoroughly
aroused and anxious to fire back, but we re-
membered our orders When the rebels fired
hair Feet
from shore. One of our oars being gone, the
boat swung around as if on pivot. Capt.
Tiff jumped to the front and luckily reached
some willows, which he firmly grasped, thereby
saving the boat from floating away. We leaped
from the boat on to pile of drift wood. Here
We found the bank very high above US, but by
the assistance of roots, brush etc., we reached
the top. When got up the bank | found four
Of our men ahead of me; one of them was Capt.
Hardiman. i asked him what to do. He said
lay down and wait for the balance of the boys
The rebs were in and about log house at the
edge of what is known as Browns Gap; there
Was no chinking between the logs, and we could
see their movements very plainly. They were
trying to organize but before they were able
TO do SO we charged on them through the dark
ness, firing as we went. We followed them
through the Gap to an open field; here Col.
Foy ordered US to throw up a barrcade of
fence-rails, logs, etc. Before this could how
ever, be completed the rebels were REINFORCED
and charged us. Our squad were scattered,
hunting material for the barrcade; thus it be-
came an easy matter to force US back to the
starting point the Tennessee River, Capt.
Tiff calling loudly for US to rally on the re-
serve, hoping thereby to deceive the enemy in
our numbers We halted but few moments
on the edge of the Gap. when Col. Foy gave
the order to charge which we did in good style,
driving the enemy once more through the Gap,
to an opening where they were cooking a
large kettle of beef. Daylight had made its
appearance by this time, and right here at this
kettle of beef in an old log house, we halted
grabbing for the beef-running hands and
bayonets into the hot water, gobblng up the
delicious pieces of half-done beef-and around
this old kettle the battle of Browns Ferry and
the charge of the first boats crew ended. Out
of our As men II were killed and wounded.
Volunteer Bufington's wishes were gratifed
he being about the first man killed. Col. Foy
was shot through his new hat. He lamented
very much that he did not bring his old hat in
place of this one. Out of the seven men who
left Co. III on that day, four are filling heroes
graves. Jackson, johnson, Burlington, and
Frazier, all killed; Capt. Tiff and McKiernan
both crippled By rebel balls; the seventh man
is still in good shape.-A. BRANDLEY, First
Lieut., Co. c, 23d KY, Cherryvale, Kan.