Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-06-27
WAR STORIES
GENERAL MocooRs RAID.
Graphic Description By One Wht
Was There.

Olu r6ilhDic lulhulINst viii uoNcE AuOW
the genuine excitement attending q cav
airy raid You must all remember that
the history Of the war was not complete
when We were going on these pleasure
trips, so everything in the future was
very uncertain. We always wanted tn
go along. like the by Of to-day would
want to go fishing. The great unceN
ta;nty in the future was something much
desired by the cavalrymau, and in this
particular raid, when the Colonel asked
The Commisslry how the regiment was
provided, he answered that all of the
noys had the requisite amount OF ras
tious, excepting the non-commissioued
staff, which could not be provided, as
he rations had all beer issued. being
m mber of that august body. agreed
with the bal Ince that we would find
p anty to eat in an euemy's country. so
we tart actually without q morssl in
our haversacks.
A the time of the raid the great bats
le of Atlanta had been fought only five
AVS previous, making the date of our
exit July 81, 1864. We were then on
the right flank of Sherman's army, rest
ing on the Chattahoochee River at Tur.
ner's Ferry. The electric thrill of
Boots and saddles sounded at 3 q. M,
and by daylight we were safely across
the pontoon that was laid for US. Our
first move was in northwesterly course
as far as the Sweet Water, which sup.
pose was to throw the enemy off the
scent. Then we marched in south>
westerly course, and camped about three
miles from the Chattahoochee which al
this point was about IL miles from Pal
metto Station, which is situated on tn,
road running southwest of Atlanta
The ponto)n laid, we crossed the Chat
tahoochee at a. IN. ofthe 29th and away
we went for the rear of of the rebel ar
my, which lay securely in its stronghold
at Atlanta.
We were not long in reaching Palmetto
Station, where we destroyed the railroad
telegraph lines aud statlon-house; then
We sped away on the gsllop to Fayette>
Vile, which we reached about daylight
through theinight:we;contlnually an in
to army trains belonging to Hood,
army which were promptly destroyed
and the mules appropriated, tor many O
our horses had given out, and by th'
time we arrived at Lovejoy Station, OIL
the Macon Road, the most of our com
mand were mounted on mules.
Here is where the trouble caumenced.
Up to this time we had everything our
own way, and enjoyed the discomfort Of
the citizens and rebel soldiers as only
conquerols could. At Lovejoy stati IN we
were to make q junction with General
Stoneman's command, which had start.
ed out on like expedition from th
left OF Sherman's army. After waiting
about two hours for information from
Stoneman We were informed by darky
that some Tanks had been there before
aud gone South. That raid of General
Stoneman is now matter of history;
how he attempted to liberate the prison
ers and tailed, and himself and com.
mand were taken prisoners, is wei
known.
About this time Geo. Wheeler's com
mand showed up, and we were hotll
pressed. We had a sharp little fight,
and came out with several casualties
Col. Dorr, Serg't- Maj. Christey and many
| others were severely wounded. aud sew,
eral killed, among whom were Lieuts.
| Cobb and Horton. We then started or
the back track, with Whee'er's cavalry
at our heels, and hid running fight oil
the way to Newman, Ca, where we (tht
Sth Iowa and three pieces Of the 8tt
Ind. battery were ordered to hold tht
enemy in check while the balance of the
command found crossing at the Chat
tahooche, River; for it must be remem
bered that the pontoon train that haG
crossed US over on the 29th had return
ed, for it was not practicable for
wagontrain to travel at the rate we had
been going.
To add to our misfortune there were
several regiments of rebel infantry lying
at Newman, which had been delayed
from going to Atlanta by our cut-ofi
at Palmetto station. OF course at that
time we were not aware of all these
facts. We fought all the afternoon, and
when we wanted 70 leave them they en-
phatically said no. Charge after charge
was made on their lines, and no weak
places could be found. Every move We
made only increased our list of killed
aud wounded. In fact, whether we were
charging the enemy or lying quiet, the
keen zip OF the mimic ball was every
where. The awful truth was revealed
to US that we were surrounded on al
sides, and that the space we occupied
was getting smaller as the time passed
One of our men, already wounded and ii
the ambulance, was wounded second
time.
1t must be remembered that we hat
now been on the raid some four day
and three nights, with only such sleel
as cavalrYman can get while his trust
ed animal is in motion; that nearly al
of our horses had already given out, ant
n arly all the command were mounted
on the mules we had captured. A coun-
Gil of war was held an hour, perhaps. be
fore the going down Of the sun, and th,
unanimous verdict was to give them on,
more charge, more desperate than an,
before, if possible, and abide by the con
sequences. Sabers were drawn, and will
as wild yell as Johnny ever made VI
dashed down to their lines.
The balance of my story is soon told
The head of the column, with some /,
men, got away; the balance of the com
mand remained to suffer all the horror
of Southern prison. Let me here stat
ahat my main reason for writing tins ar
ticle was to please an old comrade'
daughter who, on reading former arti
Gle OF mine in the National Tribune,
wrote me to know If I knew her father