The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-12-26
FIGHTING THEM OVER
Nhat0 Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
THE ATLANTA RAIDS.
In Account of Then by Tennessee ComradC


1S6a and in order TO do full justice TO the brave
men who composed that expedition, more ex-
tended account of the MCCook raid, especially,
will not be out of place.
Comrade Bull, of the 5th Ohio Cav, is right
when he SAYS that the Rousseau raid was emf
ncntly successful, while the McCook raid was a
magnificent failure. The cause of this is not
difficult TO ascertain. The Rousseau raid must
have been very injurious TO the Coniederacy,
IS an immense amount of valuable army stores
were destroyed, while the McCook raid was
hardly perceptible, as IL only destroyed one
small wagOn-traln and some four or five miles
OF railroad, and one small depot; aud II was
very unfortunate 10 the expedition that this
depot was found, as il was filled with commits
sary whisky.
Com Me Grihiths says he was turned back
at the Ny. The writer was not, but crossed
on the p0ntOon bridge and went on. After
had gone about two or three miles my horse
rather suddenly gave out, and l was dismount-
cd, and the regiment passed on and left me I;
but Capt Bishop sent John DunahoO, of my
company 90, who had very strong horse, back
for me, and j got up behind him and soon
caught mp with the regiment About dark we
arrived at Palmetto, little village on the rail-
road from Atlanta TO Talledega, Ala. Here was
the small depot with the cOmmissary whisky.
The depot was burned. and we passed on.
Some Of the BOYS, and some what wasn't
boys" got too full for utterance as was demon
strated during the remainder of the night by
the amount OF yelling and singing that was
done. At Palmetto was remOunted, hut il was
astride pack-mnle, on top of three cracker
boxes. On this mule / rode all night, and
about daylight we captured a wagon-train
camped on the side Of the road, and here i
found horse, and / was not long In remount-
ing myself About or 3 o'clock that evening
we struck the railroad near Newman, where we
Nereto meet Gen. Stoneman, who had gone out
on the left Of Atlanta, and was 10 strike the
railroad also At the same place. Here we wait
ed about TWO hours, during which time we
made coffee aud fed our horses aud destroyed
IS much OF the COniederacy as we could. Gen.
StOncman not putting in appearance, aud hear
ing nOihing OF him, we started TO return. We
bad not proceeded very far before we encoun-
tered a force Of rebels, and Gen. McCook de-
fermined TO give fight aud we fought and
skirmished here for two or three hours, and by
that time we found ourselves surrounded. Gen.
McCook then held consultation with the Off
GERS as 10 the best course TO pursue. He finally
suggested surrender. Col. Brownlow, of the
LIST Tenn. Cav, told him he could surrender
If he wanted 20. but he'd be - if he would !;
and turning to his men, said: Boys, let's get
cut Of here! aud they started, and the 4th
Tenn. Cav. fell in after him. This broke up
the counsel of war aud Gen. McCook gave the
proper orders how 10 break the rebel lines, aud
il WAS not long until we had hole through
which we could pass out.
We were unable 10 get the two pieces Of artil-
leTy out, and they were spiked and cut down
and the ammunition destroyed. During the
fight We captured several prisoners, and Of
course they had ali 10 be turned loose. How
many were killed and wounded / do not know.
only know that one man was shot by my side,
but what regiment be belonged 10 ] did not
know. We Travelled all night, aud Just before
day we again reached the river (ChaltahoOchiel
1t ferry where il was both deep and wide,
with nothing but small feTTyboat TO cross in
] be work OF crossing was pushed as fast as
possible. but il was about noon before ali were
over. As our regiment brought up the rear
that night, il WAS thrown back 90 hold the Teb-
els in check until the brigade could be crossed
over. ] understand Col. Brownlow crossed his
regiment about four miles above at a ford. At
the ferry had the misfortune 10 again lose my
horse and when got Overland was IN the
last bOatload-I was again afoo'.
Knowing only what soldier does from the
ranks, j think two mistakes were made: the
first was to stop and give battle, and the sec
ond was not in seeking the ford Col. BrownlOw
found, aud crossing the whole brigade safely
over. As has already been intmated, the cause
OF all this is not hard 10 ind-that commits
Eary whisky, Of course A large number Of our
brigade were unable 70 get their horses across
After al were over the dismOuBted men were
Bcnt Cd, while parties were sent IN every direc-
tlOn 20 get horses, and every available means
u GoAhttaHEc were Drought INTO TeQul5iliOD,
and bnggies, carriages, wagons, carts Of all
styles and kinds were scattered along the route
wien the poor animals could drag them no
further.
About SHUTDOWN the rear-guard was ordered
up, and We who We're dismOunted were told
that 10 more horses could he found, and we
would have TO take care Of ourselves, and
soon they passed out Of sight. As soon as
this OTcer was given the boys began 10 take
~ the woods, and by the time the rear.guard
was out Of sight not a strsggier could be seen.
Henter smith, Of Co q. aud myself turned 20
The right and were soon out Of sight Of the
road. We dId not 20 far until we found Lieut.
Smith 10. q and several other boys lying
down resting. and cgunseling how 20 proceed
il had ralued several showers IN the evening
and u was now beginning 10 pour down a con
slant stream. We determined 70 travel at
night and AVOID ali roads aud houses rs much
a. possible, aud FOR two nights and three DAYS
We wandered through the woods, not knowing
ID which direction we we're going as il raiued
al the time and 50 cloudy We could not see
star o. even the sun. On the third day late
IN the evening, We came, unawares, into the
road 81 d large mill, where there was a squad
OF rebels stationed. A soon as they discovered
ue they gave the alarm. We attempted 20 es-
cape u tic woods again, but being completely
exhausted Tor want Of sleep and something 10
eat-l0r We had had nothing but green corn
and sweet potatoes for three days aud nights
~ could 90 nothing hut surrender Me were
taken iack 10 the mill aud put IN an old cot.
tOH house. lately vacated by some sheen The
rebels sent out iato the ncighborhood and had
some provisions brought ia, aud in Justice 10
them ] mast say wc Jared sumpfuously. This
Was 9u the Both day Of July. ls8f On the 5th
day II August we entered Anderg0nyillc and
on the 9TH day Of March, 1865. Cofnradc Smith
End myself We're exchanged ~ Wilmington. n.
&. We having turned aside from the big road
together, were captured together entered pris-
on together, exchanged together but were sen.
aTated that day aud did not see each other nm
I'll about year ago. ! remark, IN this con
nectioB. that neither Of Us arc getting pension.
IL seems that tire men Wio had the n,igfor-
tune 10 be On this expedition, and were lot, as
We Were. have a rather difficult time 10 get
pensions, - they are required 10 prove that
they Here IN line of duty when captured, aud
il seems that the Department Is disposed 10
hold that wandering about loose in the
Gonlederacy, as we were, were not Ia line OF
duty, Notwithstanding they had been aban-
dOned By their officers and left 10 their fate
How We Jared while Ia prison lie already weH
known.
Nov, while the disasters Of this expedition
were vastly greater than the injuries inflicted
Ou the I0nfederacy, it deserves a place in his.
tory, as there Was some bard soldering done
on u and in consequence Of it.
would be glad 10 hear from some Of the ltil
Tenn. Cav. boys, especially from the remnant
that returned 70 Marietta. ! was not with the
regiment again.
The sth Tenn. Cav. was a good regiment had
ffg fuft mont af men mas .y.gf