The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-05-02
"REMINISCENCES.
Harper's Ferry and Knoxville.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In reading the
communications of Comrade VIM. ii. Nicn6is
LIST Z. l. Cav, Salem, Mass, and Comrade Oar
row, 18th III. Cav, concerning the services of
these regiments at Harper's Ferry and else
where, was forcibly reminded of the anxiety
OF cur regiment Goth Ohio to also cut its way
ont of Harper's Ferry on the night before the
surrender-Sept. Ii, 1862. But we were ordered
to remain and hold Bolivar flights at all haz-
ards, aud We did stay and hold them until about
y o'clock the next morning, when we, with
about 1900 others, laid down our arms in sur
render to Gen. Stonewall Jackson. For several
days we were very anxious as TO the fate of the
cavalry that had left us on the night Of the
l4th, but we soon heard that they had gone
out safely, or with but small loss. Gen. A. P.
Hill, who was division commander under
Gen. Jackson, had more of the appearance of a
cowboy than that OF Major General. He had
on neither coat nor vest, and what clothes he did
wear were the color of a Virginia big road"
de wore slouch hat and rode dun colorcd
horse. Gen. Jackson had his clothes on, which
were OF the regulation Confederate gray, with
the stars on the collar Of coat and embroidery
on the sleeves. His conversation and bearing
gave US the impression that he was humane
aud honorable gentleman. He wore short,
dark iron gray Whiskers, and rode dark brown
or black horse.
Now, l have described Gems Jackson and
years ago. But our memories are not infalli-
bic, hence the controversies between comrades
concerning military events which took place
from 24 to % years ago. We then saw battles
from different staudpoints. We often marched
and camped and fought in cloudy weather,
without proper location of the points of the
compass. Let US once get it firmly into our heads
that certain direction is north, and it is next
to impossible to remove the deluson / re-
member marching one cloudy day from Fred
erlck City in the direction of Ellicott City, Md.
During the forenoon | got the impression that
we were going due west, but later in the day /
was made to understand that we were going
east, yet If l did not watch myself closely l
would speak of the point of the compass ahead
of us as west, when | knew better.
After the Goth Ohio-a one-year regiment
was mustered out of the service re-enlisted in
the I'd Ohio Il. a., and we spent part of our
time at Knoxville, Tenn. In reading the ar
ticle of Comrade w. r. Carter, 1st Tenn. Cav,
my memory is refreshed as to some of the scenes
and persons of the historic city of Knoxville.
l believe the 1st Tenn. Cav. was Col. Jim
BrownloWs regiment. During the war there
was story going that Col BrownloW had
challenged the Colonel of the LIST Tenn Confed-
crate Cav. to regimental duel in open field,
and that when our military authorities got on
to IT," 1t came near costing Col. BrownloW his
commission Who knows anything about that?
well remember Parson Brownlow and Hor-
ace Maynard. The latter could often be seen
on the Gay-street sidewalks, near his Office
door, bareheaded, with his long. straight
locks, like those of an Indian, hanging down
upon his shoulders in close and animated con-
versation with a friend
In March, 1865, he and the old Parson went
up TO Strawberry Plains, whittier / had gone,
and was acting Quartermaster and Commits
sary OF that post They went to hold politi-
ont ~, - L I
previous been nominated for Governor of Ten
nessee. They both made speeches from the
platform in front Of my warehouse. May
nard's speech was calm, earnest and argumenta-
tive, while that Of Mr.. BroWnlow was fiery
and epithetcal TO the last degree. He was then
very ieshy, so that l had to assist him in re-
moving his cloak, yet he would lean upon the
table in front of him and score those Tennessee
rebels and their sympathisers till we could al
most see the blood running out of them. He
went for Isham G. Harris with an especial rel
ish. He was grand old man.
l well remember Fort Sanders but I am
sorry to say that we got there a year too late
to be competent witnesses as to whether cotton
was used in its defense.
One morning in October, 1864, while we were
stationed at Knoxville, | was ordered to ap-
pear Immediately at the headquarters of Gen.
Stoneman who was then in command of that
post. l could not tell what was the matter,
but expected to be drawn and quartered before
escaping from the presence of that august and
weather-beaten warrior I obeyed ORDERS and
promptly reported at the Office of the General,
who Immediately ordered me under arrest for
the alleged crime of changing the location of a
picket-post at the foot of Gay street near the
depot of the E. T., Va. & Ga. r. r. had been OH
Ger of the Guard the day before, but the change
ofpicket post had been made several days before
OF this | soon convinced the General, who let
me offwhole
]. w. DalzelI, 10Th Ohio Cav, Columbiana,
o., asks what has become of Gen. Stoneman?
He has been in California for several years, and
has recently retired from the office of Governor
of the State.
A. ]. Burgess, 18th Ohio Battery, Center
vile, Iowa, asks the address of Lieut.. Chest
nut, 18th Battery. 1t is probably Samuel Chest
nut, Joliet, Ill.
l may hereafter have something to say by
way of "reminiscences of our soldier life in
other parts of the South.-F. NJ. THOMAS NJ
D., I'd Ohio d. a., Samantha, o.