The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-05-13
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
THE 10th MICH. CAV.
ITS long Marches-An Honest Sergeant.

Old more towards ltS maj collapse lhah history
has given it credit for. j will venture the as
sertion that the 10th Mich. Cav. on that raid
marched more miles within given time than
any regiment that wore the blue or gray during
the rebellion. The command left Knoxville,
Tenn. March Is, 1865, crossed the mountains
into North Carolina, made a demonstration on
Salisbury, turned and struck the East Tennes-
see a. Virginia Railroad at Christiansburg, Va,
and thoroughly dismantled il to within 90
miles of Lynchbnrg, at which point we learned
through rebel sources of the fall of Richmond.
Returning TO North Carolina the 10th assisted
i'm the capture of Salisbury, when we cut loose
from the balance of the command and were
independent Of them as far as i know during
the remainder of the expedition. We crossed
into South Carolina at the COwpens passed
through Spartanburg, thence into Georgia near
Athens through Athens, Madison, JOnesboro I;
through the State of Alabama via Talladega
thence swinging around through the north
east corner Of Mississippi, crossed the Tennessee
River mt Gunter's above Florence, and struck
communication for the first time az Stevenson,
Ala, having passed through seven States and
made fully 1000 miles within 60 days.
Our regiment reached Athens, Ga, during an
afternoon. We had ridden for weeks with
scarcely halt, with an occasional hastily-pre-
pared cup of Coffee while il lasted and q
"pOne as our bill of fare. IL was grateful
relief therefore TO us tired boys when the regi-
lenl llcQ lhlo piece OF biuDef, formed IN
column of companies, and orders given TO I'M
saddle and prepare camp as il promised q
night rest, and the city OF Athens appeared 10
be able 10 furnish a square meal.
We had just got nicely into camp when an
order came from headquarters for my company
(Gl, Capt Ambrose l.. Soule commanding, TO
take the saddle and be i'm Madison lmore than
so miles away al o'clock the next morning,
and capture a train on which it was supposed
JEFF Davis might be attempting TO escape. IL
was a beautiful moonlight night, the roads firm,
and we were at the station in Madison Just in
time to place some railroad ties in a cattle
guard which brought the train to a stop rather
abruptly, domolishing the pilot of the engine.
We found the train loaded with 1500 long
haired, wicked looking Texans on their way
home from Johnston's army, and il looked for
a time as though they meant to be ugly for
being detained, but were as quiet as kittens
when q Yankee cavalryman stood at each car
door with aSpenecT carbne in his hands. While
the train was being searched for JEFF some OF
the boys had brought from the station a box,
said 20 contain SO, 600 900 in Confederate bonds
and which on investigation proved TO be full of
brand new 81 900 coupon bonds; so, after satisfy
ing himself That there was no game on the train
that he wanted, Capt. Soule told the Texans 10
fall IN and get their pay. il was amusing 10
see how eagerly the dirty, ragged fellows
reached for the bonds and how carefully they
bttNth Ancin away III some safe receptacle.
When the train pulled out they gave three
lusty cheers for the Yanks. 80
Now comes the most remarkable experlt &c
OF my army life, an episode which smacks more
OF Aladdin and his wonderful lamp than an
actual occurrence in which ] was the principal
actor. My company was the advance Of Stone
mans command, moving in one direction, while
Wilson with a much greater force of cavalry
was rapidly moving the opposite way, forcing
the remnant Of the Confederacy, as il were,
between the upper and neither stone. We had
JEFF Davis between us hunting his hole while
Taluabies were hastily gathered together and
hurried away before the advancing hosts for
safety, only 10 be headed off at every turn.
After the departure OF the train with the
Texans the company went into camp, and
was placed In charge Of the guard. had posted
my pickois and was seeking q favorable out
look for breakfast, when darley came 70 me
and volunteered the information that about an
hour before our arrival be had assisted three
strangers Ia taking from the station a wagon
load Of kegs and boxes, all mule team could
haul, and had loft IL In their charge in an old
shanty among the hills about two miles west
OF town. he was very positive that the load,
Tor ITS bulk, was too heavy for anything but
g0ld or silver ] soon had him mounted on one
OF his mules and, with three Of my men, in less
than half an hour was in possession Of the shanty
and its contents. found il the most admirably
building was al old tumbled down log shanty
In the midst Of r clearing OF about an acre in
extent that was grown mp with briars and
brambles and entirely surrounded by abrupt
densely wooded hills and could only be APP
preached by single blind road or trail through
which. with great difficulty, a wagon could be
driven. ] posted my men outside. and enter
ing the shanty alone, found il occupied by a
fne-looking middle-aged man. his son, and a
rebel soldier. They evidently considered I'M
Ger tho circumstances, that discretion was the
better part Of vai0r, for they made no attempt al
resistance; IN fact II they had any arms az all
they kept them concealed and quietly awaited
results. On one side of the single room. be-
meath a pie Of blankets and clothing found
Rnumbur OF small kegs and boxes, which upon
Inquiry the old gentleman frankly told me
contained c0iB-tbe kegs gold and the boxes
silver He said he was cashier of the Central
Bank Of Alabama that part Of the treasure
belonged 70 the bank and part 10 the Confeder-
ate States Depository, Of which the bank was
custodian. The amount, he said was about
100000 mostly In gold. He had been driven
DOT Of Montgomery by the approach Of Wilson,
and al he encountered as had safely guarded
als precious charge. ] oponcd kegcontainine
$4,000 IN double eagles and a box filed with
LOO daddy dOllarh, the first had ever seen,
al from the New Orleans Mint dated 1861.
rmpticd them In giiltering heaps on tho
mouldy punchoon floor I stood back and
feasted my eyes ~ they were never toasted be.
fore. gazcd upon wealth such ms ! had never
dreamed, and IL lay before me- mine II chose q
take b.; mine, captured by me from the enemies
OF my country. Would il be stealing 10 take
az Should ] send the prisoner 10 camp IN
charge Of my men and alone bury the money
should ] take part, and with no evidence tc
The contrary, claim that / turned over allg II
MaE temptation such a. few have encountered:
but nsoluteig turned my back 20 the temptOr
LEFT The place IN charge OF my men, and mount
ing my horse rode back 10 camp aud relieved NV
responsibility by reporting the fnd 10 my Can.
tain. lt might be well 10 add, in order 10 escape
the possible imputstion Of being man Of cues
tonabie veracity, that did take few pocket.
pieces; Tor sam Jones says, Show ne q soldier
who says be never STOLE and III show YOU 3
liar" j never learned what became OF the
money, and have wondered whether through
The proper channels il finally reached its right
10 owners or was quietly confscated by thos,
whose rank shielded them from what would
have scntan humble Sergeant 10 the Rip Rams. -
Isaac j.. BUREEs. Sergeant Co O. 10th Mich
Cav, Grand Rapids. Mich.
hiehigAH's losses in the War
To THE EDITOR: II. Houghtaling. Co. x. Oh
n. J., Washington, ID. c., challenges any stat
IN the Onion 70 compare figures with him il
regard 10 the number OF men lost during IA,
rebellion, and takes the FIRST l6 regiments foi
proof, SAID proof being taken from New Jersey
War u Che Rebellion" Ny proof viii B,
from Michigan in the War: list Mich, 213
ID, 81 81, 21z 9th. 273; 9Th, 39s; 9Th $40
9Th, 3.3s; Sth. 103; 9Th POP; 10th, 2g9: nth
Pc; 18th, 1872; 18th, 800; Itth, 2l7; 18th