The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-05-14
SANDERS'S RAID.
Destruction of the East Tennessee 4 Georgia Rail-
road,


To THE EDITOR: In the early Spring of
1868 considerable force under Gen. Burnside
was holding different places in Southeast Ken
lucky preparatory to his advance on Knoxville,
Tenn. Gen. isosecrans was advancing in the di-
rection Of Chattanooga, and before Burnside WAS
ready to march his army into East Tennessee,
as aid to the Success OF Gen. Rosecrlnss army
at this time, it was necessary to break the East
Tennessee & Georgia Railroad. over which sup
plies and endorsements for Gen. Bragg's
army from the east came. By order OF Gen.
Burnside, raiding force of about 1900 men
was selected and put under the command of
Gen. Sanders, that brave and gallant officer
who was mortally wounded a few months later
while repelling the advance of LOngstreets
forces on Knoxville. The force was all mounted
and, as well as i can reeoliect was composed of
the I'd Ohio Cav. 44th and 45th Ohio, one Sec
tion of Konkle's battery, Wolierd's Kentucky
Cav. and two regiments of East Tennesseeans,
one of them under command of Col. Byrd. On
June H. 1868 the command started from Mount
Vernon, KY, and marched south by way of
London and Williamsburg to ChetwOod, at the
Tennessee State line. This occupied three
days of moderate marching, practically within
our own lines but from this on we had to move
with rapidity, as we were in the enemy's coun-
try, and rapid movement was the best asSur
ance of success. june IL we marched over go
miles, and carly next morning surprised de-
tachment of the enemy at harrisburg, Tenn,
where they had supply depot and ordnance
stores. The prisoners tabout l20) were paroled,
the ordnance destroyed, and the commissary
supplies were divided out to the citizens of the
surrounding country. The column pushed on
for the railroad, which we reached next morn
ing at Lenoir, "a miles west of Knoxville The
depot was filled with fixed ammunition and a
lighted match soon caused an explosion which
tore the building to atoms. A detachment fol-
mad fha rnud 70 laSf
possible while the main column kept the
wagon road for Knoxville, which was reached
at night. We marched around north of the
town till we reached the Cumberland Gap road,
where we rested the remainder of the night.
In the morning demonstration against Knox
vile was made. We advanced from the north
east in line of battle to a ridge about half mile
from the town. The enemy had their artillery
IA guns in position at the edge of the town
and ON the streets; they worked their guns
with frantic energy, but the shells and shots
passed over our heads and pierced the upper
stories of several houses in the vicinity Our
two guns began the unequal contest with the
enemys H. and soon dismounted several of
them and played havoc among their cannOneers.
The enemy did not leave their position to
attack US, and after an artillery duel Of an hour
Gen. Sanders withdrew and marched to
Strawberry Plains, where the railroad bridge
across HOlston River was burned and some Con-
federate stores destroyed We pushed on along
the railroad until we reached Messy Creek and
burned the bridge. We now had destroyed
every bridge and trestle and torn up the track
in many places for distance of over 60 miles
of the railroad. Our next business was to get
back to Kentucky. By this time the enemy in
East Tennessee was thoroughly reused, and had
possession of the principal gaps in the Cumber-
land Mountains and were beginning to pursue
US with their cavalry, which, however, was not
lrav.f nR g. u
lance. Our horses, as they became broken
down by the rapid marching were exchanged
for those we found in stables and pastures We
allowed nothing to retard speed on our way
back to the mountains, which we reached after
two days and two nights march, but found
the gap in possession of the enemy.
1t was now known the enemy had possession
of all gaps at which artillery could cross the
mountains to kentucky. The order was given
to destroy the artillery and ambulance. The
cannoDs were spiked, the gun carriages cut
down and harness cut to pieces on quick time.
The writer and his immediate comrades greatly
regretted TO be compelled to do the above work
and duty, and to leave those splendid guns all
mutilated, to fall into the hands of the enemy
After the destruction of the artillery and anu
bulance we rode rapidly down the valley about
four miles, thence across to the bride path
called "Childer's Gap" which we followed up
the mountain side. In places the path was SO
steep and rocky we had to dismount and lead
our horses. We reached the north side of the
mountain at dark, where we camped. The
enemy did not pursue us up the mountain, and
we reached Mount Vernon by leisurely march
On June 81 having been ON the raid 13 days,
travelled over 600 miles. and destroyed millions
of dollars worth of railroad property and rebel
stores. Our loss was about 20 men, mostly
taken prisoners, two pieces Of artillery and one
MISUNDERSTANDING KELso, Co. ID, LIST Ohio
L. A, Muscle Fork, Mo.