, 1889-09-05
uNwl,lrrEN nIsrony.
Tie Raid on the cherokee Indians Ht
Oualla Reservation.

The Raid on the cherokee Indians MT
Oualla Reservation.
(McMlnville Correspondence Nashville
American.
In one of the series of articles by "a,
L. Ramp recently published in the
American, the writer in speaking Of the
Cherokee Indians on the Qualla reserva-
tion In North Carolina, says that there
was never any federal force there during
the war. Surely the Indians themselves
have not forgotten the raid that was
made on them by the Fourteenth Regi.
ment of Illinois cavalry in February,
1868. l have never seen any account of
this raid in any history, and us IL was
one of the most daring IL should be re-
corded. II is given in detail as related
to the American correspondent by one of
the participants.
Thomas, the Indian agent, having
gathered his Indians together In camp,
on tie Tuckascegcc had them fully
armed and equipped and was annoying
the Union people in the upper part Of
East Tennessee by
MAKING FREQUENT iSRoADs
across the mountains and driving Off
their stock, burning their buildings and
doing all sorts of damage. 1t was de-
terinincd that they must be taught u
lesson To effect this Colonel Capron,
commanding brigade of cavalry, was
ordered to send force across the noun
tains and break up the camp. tic de-
tailed the First battalion of the Four
teenth Illinois cavalry This own regi-
menD to do the work. II was the latter
part OF February 1853, that the battal
ion, Numbering about 250 men, under
commund OF its major, Davidson (aftor-
ward colonel of the rrgimcnO started
from Seviciville ON the raid. The
Fourteenth regiment had n battery
of six pieces OF mot,ntuin howitizcrs
which accompanied II until 1t was after
wards lost on the S,oncman raid in
Georgia, when Sherman was before At
lantu. One ofthcir guns Major David
son took with him on his expedition.
Tie whole affair, gun, carriage and all
was very light and required but one
mule TO draw IT, The command, enter
ing the mountains through Cades Cove,
took the old North Carolina trail and
commenced its tedious climb. And
climb sure enough it was. Up, up the
boys went, sometimes on horseback, but
more often on ioot, leading their horses,
boosting on the gun, helping the old
mule, up all day long till night came,
when, everybody tired out, a halt WAS
called, supper got, and all sought place
oi reposc. Ii took the battalion four
days 10 get TO tile top OF the mountain.
Tic descent on the other side was COM
paratiVely easy. Scouts were sent for
ward and the command, under the
guidance of an old nountaineer, pushed
forward rapidly. The scouts sOun came
back and reported that
THE INDIANS WE'RE IN CAMP
near one OF their towns on the river not
more thun mile ahead, and, not sus-
pccting any danger, they had no plckets
or guards out. The battalion was
divided into two columns, one under
Mai, Davidson himself and the Other
commanded by Capt. Sanford of tonpa-
ny h, The columns were to charge on
different roads simultaneously ut given
signal and meet in the camp Of the
enemy. Everything worked to charm
the columns gained their positions, the
signul was givcn and the charge made
the appearance of the troopers in the
camp being the iirst iutimation the In
dians had that an enemy was near. The
surprise was complete, but, nOtwith-
standing the indians seized their guns
and, breaking for the trees, kept up q
very brisk fire for several minutes until
Lieut., Stein, of Company X, acting adj
iutant, brought up the howitger and
threw u couple of shells over into the
woods where the Indians were. That
ended the tight. Not another shot was
tired, for us an old buck told us after
wards; "Whcn white man shoot wagons
Indians no fight"
The bugles sounded the recall and
the command gathered on the field and
the casualties were rcckoned up. First
Lieutenant Horace Capron of company
A, Colonel Capron's oldest sou, was
badly wounded by Il ball in the thigh
Joe Ridley of company X was missing;
short search revealed his body in q
brush heap, literally riddled with bul-
/ lets. These two were the only casual
ties on the part of the tederals. OF the
/ Indians some twelve or tif(cen were
\ killed, several wounded, and fifty wer,
1 captured.
Scouts had been left behind OH tn,
other side of the mountains. Thes'
now came up and reported larg'
force of
CONFEDERATE CAVALRY
In pursuit of the raiders; also that ever,
road was blockaded with troops. I'm
der these circumstances, IL became
necessary for the fcderals to rot AVA,
from there as soon ns possible, nnt
sound Judgment dictated that SOM
route should he chosen Tor the return
other than the one by which they had
came, III ~ llOt tiit pufppSc vi WI,
writer to describe the return trip. Sut
flee ii TO say that the little band tray
cled night and day, sometimes through
deep, dark ravines, where the sums ray
never strike; again scaling the side o
the mountains, aud picking their wa,
along lodges, where 1t seemed impossi
bic TO get along. They had procured
spring wagon, and filing IL with hay an,
blankets, placed Lieutenant Capron in !
and took him along. Sometimes l
was necessary to take the wounded
man out and place him on the strctchc
made from poles and blankets and car
nv him over some of the very wors
places. Had the lieutenant had care h
might have lived, but such a journey n
that was too much for. u mar, badl,
!, wounded us he was and aboit the Il I'll
day he died. Hc was one Of the best
brayest and most chivalric young me-
who worc tho uniform; and had he live
lie would have carved for hiinsclfa higl
niche in the temple OF fame. Hc wa
beloved by every man in the regiment
and many n tear was she'd over flis sa
fate. The command was about cgih
days in reaching Mnryville, where the
were safe. Their prisoners were take
on to Knoxville and placed in jail Their
and believe were afterwards @,