The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-04-19
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
THE MARCH TO sALTvILLE.
COmradc Hunt Tells az the Second Raid and the
Destruction OF fhe Place.

Comrade Hunt Tells az the Second Raid and the
Destruction OF the Place.
FDTToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your paper
Of Feb. % is an account from COmrade Soliday
Of the second SaltyiIIe raid. Now, l cannot
agree with him, from the fact that the second
raid was later IN the season. his may be
correct account Of the first expedition, Tor /
left the regiment at Richmond, Ky, and with
a sick comrade of my company, proceeded 10
Lexington, Ky, our headquarters, and remain
cd until the return Of my regiment On the
18th of November, 1864, our regiment had Or
dcrs 60 march 10 Crab Orchard, arriving there
ca the morning Of the 2Ist, where We Joined
Gen. BBrbTidges forces about 1000 strong,
composed Of cavalry and mounted infantry.
We then proceeded TO Cumberland Gap, East
Tenn. arriving there on the 24th, when Gen.
Burbridge organized his forces into three bri-
gades, as follows First Brigade, consisting OF
all tie cavalry of his division, Col. $ b. Brown,
nth Mich. Cav. commanding; Second Brigade,
Col Backlv, 54th Ky. lMtd inf command
ing Third Brigade, /. +. Wade, 5th u. ). C.
Cav commanding. Being thus organized, aud
res,cd somewhat from cur march from Crab
Orchard % Cumberland Gap. ~ an early hour
on the morning OF the 25th we resumed our
march 10 Bean Station, situated IN what IS
known as the Echaud Valley, on the road
from Knoxville, Tenn, TO southwestern fir-
ginia. Arriving At ClinCh River Ford we found
consequently we were obliged 10 build raft 10
ferry ihe men and horse equii..ents across.
We drove our horses into the river and swan
them over. The process of crossing the river
was tedious. but finally effected about u o'clock
on the nigat Of Dec. i. We then moved on
Immediately and reached Bean Station the
next day Dec. ?. Here We were Joined by
Gems Stoneman and Gillem with force of
about l,209. On the morning Of the 18th we
resumed our march, but instead OF moving
s0alhwaTd, we moved eastward toward south
western Virginia. Our march was rapid, with
the determination of the Generals TO outstrlp
the rebel forces in East Tennessee under COM
maud OF NaUgap aud other officers, which was
successfully accomplished, to which we owe
much Of the success which crowned the expedi-
ton.
We arrived at RogersyiIIe about dusk, where
we went into camp for supper and TO feed our
horses on the forage that the JohInies had
gathered IA store for shipment to the salt
works and Richmond. After three hours rest
VIC were again in tie saddle and rapidly march
ing ON. Gen. Gilien's Brigade was ia advance
and skirmished with the enemy all night We
arrived al kiagsp0rt about daylight, where we
hai skirmish with the rebs about our n GIT 10
cross the North Fork Of the Holsion River, but
our BOYS getting In their rear, they were soon
put TO light. aud among the prisoners taken
was Col Dick Morgan. We crossed the river
and pushed on to Bristol, Tenn, arriv wing there
carly on the morning Of lbe I4th. We charged
the town, capturing quite number Of pris-
oners. with q large amount OF IOlmg-stOck be-
longing to the Virginia q Tennessee Railroad.
Here the large depot was filed with all kinds
Of ammunition and commissary stores belong
ing 10 the Confederate Government, but it did
not take St0neman's galiOpiGg raiders long 10
put the match 70 TINS pile Of stuff and see
il 20 I'D 80 smoke. We also burned the court
house and all public buildings, as they were
used for stsrebouses. Here Col. Brown was
ordered 70 push on for Paperville, for the pur-
pose OF heading of Vaughn from joining Brock
inridge al Sltyille, bat Vaughn hearing Of cur
whereabouts toolS another course. We pushed on
for Abingdon, where wc got IN ahead Of Vaughn
again, compelling him 20 take another road
toward Nytheyiiie and efectUally cutting him
Of from the salt works. At Abingdon we also
captured q large amount Of egartcrmaster
and c0mmissary stores and good quality Of
artillery and mUsket ammunition. Here we
also Pui the match 70 everything belonging 10
the Confederate Government. From Abing-
don we pushed on for Wytheville, where we
found a large church Elicd with arms and am
munifion. This edIice was also laid in ashes.
On tie morning Of the 18th Gen. Giiiem
moved out after Vaughn and came up with
him 81 Seven Mile Ford-a ford over the Mid
die Fork 0l the HOlst0n dpturiBg quite
& number Of his rear guard. At Marion Col.
Browns Brigade joined Gen. Giilem's. and here
the .J0hunics made stand, but were soon patto
fight. Here commenced q running fight which
lasted from Marion 10 NytLevillc, a distance Of
q miles. IL that charge VIC captured seven
pieces Of artillery and Naughu's whole wagon
train. in which were found Faughn's military
books aud papers. At Wytheville Vaughn
tried 10 rally has men with the Home Guards,
Int they were 50 Cemoraiized that they could
not be stopped but rushed on In the direction
Of LyucADurg. From Wytheyille Col Brown
semi detachment Of the Ilth Mich. Cav. some
10 miles beyond, where they destroyed an arse
nal filed with ammunition and q long and
very expensive bridge belonging 70 the Yir-
gina & Tennessee Railroad. We had burned
everything If the kind from Bristol to 10 miles
easi e WythevilIe. including dcpots and tele-
graph Offices % the Virginia {, East TENNESSEE
Railroad. After we had destroyed all the Gov
erumelt property VIC retired from the city
marching ~ the direction OF S2ltyiile for about
five miles, when we went into camp for few
hours.
Early on the morning Of the 18th we were in
the saddle again, With the First Brigade in ad.
vance. Everything was quiet until we meI
NItcher at Mount Airy, and chased him fol
some Eve miles lie brought up IN front O
Breckuridgc's command. stationed on q bluf
about three miles from Marion which VIC knew
az that time as Marion Nights Here Col
Brown he'd his position until reinforced by ths
Third Brigade and our battery Of four I0-pounc
EiGcd guns The action now became genera
on both sides. and lasted until darkness set in
4 detachment Of the 18th Mich. Cav, uudc
command Of Capt. L. C. Miles held a bridge q
this place during the whole engagement. Capt
George j. Mason, with q squadron Of the It'll
Mich. Cav. while attempting 10 reinforce Capt
Miles. was mortally wounded. 4 viii stat,
night here that 4 know that to be a fact. for
was one OF that squadron that made that charg
70 reinforce Capt. Miles,
larry Oh the morning Of the 18th the baStl
was resumed aud kept Up ali day. Our force
had been weakened very much during tn
night by Gen GilIcm's Brigade having beer
sent around the rebels left 20 get IN their rear
while Col. Euckly, with the Second Brigade
was sent 70 Lank their right Night again
closed tho contest, with the line Of battle abou
tie same rs ln the morning; but during th
night Breckinridge got wind OF Gillem's move
ment aud started for the salt works when b
ran right into Col. Buckly's Brigade Think
Ing We had him surrounded. be left FOR Mort
Carolina ia great haste Finding the coas
clear Ia the morning, we started for the sal
works again. That night We camped abou
half way between Marion aud the salt works
At an early hour the next morning we re
eumed our march and got ia sight Of the fort
when the IIth Mich. Cav dismounted an
formed a skirmish-liue aud started up the hH
toward the fort while the artillery unde
q fn.H H.