The National tribune., 1889-11-14
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0u Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
BUsHwHACKING.
How Tom WIllIams's Gang was Broken up In Ten
Bessee.

keeping the country in rear Of Buelis army
clear Of hostile parties. Early in the Summer
Tom Williams a Captain in the 9Th Tenn
(rebel) Cav (Biffle's Iegiment), was drummed
out Of the service on account of his bad conduct
in stealing horses from the citizens and selling
them TO the agents of the rebel Government
His home was within few miles of Mt Pleas
ant, over which Gen. Negley had command
When he left his regiment he came into our
lines and took the oath of allegiance TO the
Government, and was allowed to return to his
home Shortly after his return home the ID
Tenn. regiment that was being raised by Gov
Andrew johnson among the loyal Tennesseeans
marched 70 Mt. Pleasant TO procure recruits
On nearing the town the Colonel in command
rode ahead into town unattended by his staff
Reaching the tavern he dismounted, bitched
his horse and seated himself on the balcony of
the hotel. He was not seated long when up
rode Tom Williams with a double barrel shot
gun over his shoulder and when in front Of the
tavern he suddenly turned, raised his gun and
poured the contents into the Colonels breast,
and galloped away. Shortly afterward he was
captured, tried, convicted, and sentenced TO be
hung. While awaiting execution IN Columbia
Jail he and other prisoners broke out one night,
and while most OF the others were recaptured
by the guards and patrol, he got away by swim
ming the river. After his escape he fell in
with other outlaws and cutthroats, and formed
one Of the worst gangs of guerrillas and BUSH
whackers that ever infested Tennessee.
To 20 on and tell their hellishness would oc-
cupy more space than you can spare. Murder,
rape, arson and robbery were only part Of their
crimes. Scarcely day passed bat some citizen
would come into camp and complain of some
outrage perpetrated by them; until the city of
Columbia was as full of refugees from Toms
wrath as il could hold, and in fact tents had
70 be erected and regular camp established for
them. They spared neither friend nor foe. All
alike were made 70 feel their wrath. Squadron
after squadron Of cavalry was sent in pursuit
Of them, and 50 increasingly was the hunt con-
tinued that the men and horses were worn out.
Detail after detail returned to camp 20 report
the same story; they could not be found. And
90 ID continued until Columbia was evacuated
in the Fall by reason Of Bragg's invasion of
Kentucky.
will now pass over the time from the evacna-
ton Of Columbia until its reoccupation, when il
was again my fortune 20 be stationed there. i
was detailed with several others of my regi-
ment and division TO act as mounted scouts at
Columbia Our chief duty was 10 hunt after
"Tom's gang" who stir kept up their tricks.
and who had become hardened in their business
and more daring. Driving people from their
homes. burning houses and fences of those who
were suspected Of giving information against
them, seemed TO constitute their chief amnse-
ment. As before Columbia was soon filled
with those who fed from their wrath. One
ease i viii mention here TO show the hellish-
ness Of the scOundrels.
A Mr.. Thomas, gentleman living in the
neighborhOod Of Toms home, and against
whom he entertained a grudge, had a narrow
escape with his life. Tom and his gang sur
rounded his house in the night time. nailed
the doors and windows. set FIRE 20 the building,
and stood guard with their shoiguns ready to
shoot down any one Of the family who should
try 10 escape. Happily for Mr.. Thomas he got
word Of their design in Time TO get to the hills
hFf0 fffgfr val nd hFce nod trif sc
and his famiiy's lives.
j could tell Of numerous murders and other
outT&ges perpetrated by them; but the above
think viii be sufficient 70 show the des-
perate character Of the gang. The mounted
scouts were continually on the hunt for them
As soon as any fresh outrage was perpetrated,
the victim. IL he escaped with his life or some
one else. would hasten 70 camp at once aud re-
port ST headquarters. The commanding officer
would order out scouting party 70 proceed 10
the scene Of the outrage. expecting to find the
FueTTilias there awaiting their arrival; but
when they got there they were hidden ia some
out-Of the-Way place. secure from their .pGr-
EueTs. Thus they carried on during the Sum
mer Of 1854
Some time in the Fall. have forgotten the
exact date, there was a detachment Of 40 men,
under command Of Capt. Lamb OF the 18th
Ind. MID Inf, ordered out on a general scout
toward the Tennessee River Before we lrad
proceeded far below Mount Pleasant, someone
reported 20 the Captain that Col. Biffle, with
his regiment Of rebel cavalry, was in the vicin-
fly. The report. whether true or not had a
tremendous effect on the Captain. for, Lamb
like" be hurriediy got out Of the way with all
due haste.
While zOmen were no match for Biffe's regi-
nent II il came 10 fight, yet we all felt the
humiliation Of 90 precpitate a flight without
even exchanging compliments with them. We
were armed with seyen-sboOter carbines and
were anxious 10 exchange cOurtesics with them.
When we at last got far enough away from the
scene Of the Captains stzmpeding ground, and
our horses began 70 show signs Of weakness,
we stopped 70 feed. On one side Of the road
was field OF ripe corn, owned by Mr.. Viii
hams. On the other was a house and barn
owned BY widow named Cox. Most Of the
boys made for the widows barn, and were car
Tying OF her corn and fodder, when ] met
them and made them return IL, and 20 10 the
field on the other side Of the road. Williams,
being rich man, could afford IL, while the
widow was poor, with no help bat herself
This act OF kindness on my part com.
pletely won the goodwill Of the widow
She could not do enough for me. She cooked
chicken, baked biscuit and bread for US and
called me 70 one side aud told me that as we
came to the front door, Tom Williams. Pet
Grimes, McLaDe. Doc. Sutton and some others
whose names have forgotten, were in the house
and made their escape out Of the back door: and
That Trey had gone 70 GTlmcsE. on the West
Branch Of the Little Big Bee Creek, and If We
were q mind 70 20, she aud niece Of hers would
20 along and pilot uE 10 the place, and we could
surround the house aud capture them all Wa
would be sure 70 do b. az she would take us oyer
the divide without being seen. ] immed iatel Y
reported the information TO the Captain, and
asked him II IL would not be a grand thing tf
oispeTse the band. bat 20 my surprise he told
me that our horses were too tired aud the under
taking too hazardous 10 risk il. / then asked
his permission % take the men Of my own
regiment, IL 10 number which / deemed guli
Gent for the enterprise This he also refused
saying that the command was too small 10 gpli
up, and that We were liable 10 be attacked anS
moment before we got 10 camp.
On reaching campI reported 10 Col Gipes, VIII,
wss IN command Of the post my interview will
the widow, and also the Captains refusal Il,
Eay that he was mad Is drawing il mild. made
proposition 10 the Colonel that IL he wonlc
give me detail Of eight men of my own selec
tiOn, would guarantee 20 snnihiIate Tom
gang. lie agreed 10 The prop0sti0 right away
sno told me 10 90 70 camp and pick out any men
chose who were not On duty, aud bring tbei
names 10 him, and he would send detail afte
them. This j did, and selected men that
knew would stand their ground wherever the,
were posted. also had al escort Of 10 rneI
under 1erg't kichJ Of my own regiment b
accompany US 70 our place Of destination
. cFOss-rOad about two miles beyond Tom,
TedezgOus. We left camp in the evening as La
sun was setting, accompanied by score O
more Of refugees whom j apprised Of our expe
riffon trffh asr II 1.laE