The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-24
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
an INJUSTICE CORRECTED.
What Troops Opcne5 Powell yaIIcyI

What Troops Onenei Powell yalIcyI
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Having re-
Gently read hook in which the writer claims
that his regiment. 10th III. Cav, opened Powell
Valley TO our foraging trains desire 10 say
q few words upon that subject. This valley rs
about 40 miles long, extending from Cumber-
land Gan on the west to louisville on the east,
the Countyseat of Lee County, Va. IT Is about
on an average thrCe-eighths OF a mile VIDE and
bounded by PERCEPTIONS mountains on either
side. A coodly portion of the mountains are not
accessible on the north side till the Butt oil
Rocks" is reached, and this viii take you fully
one-half the Journey from the Gap to Jonesville.
Here there lisa narrow Path by which the Cum
bcrlaud Mountains can be crossed, and at this
point is where that loyal East TenneSseean,
Col Lane was ambushcd and his 400 refugees
massacred. which was an inefaceabe blot on
the Confederacv. and IL ought 10 be an eternal
curse On the valley. for its perpetrators were
those who made this valley their home. A
long trench was dug and IN this the dead were
buried no care being taken rs 10 how, but pro-
miscuously laid in and hastily covered so as TO
hide the CHASTITY sight.
Al this noiut is where Col. DeCOurcey crossed
the mountains into the valley when the Gap
was taken the last time. De marched up the
Cumberland River on the north side OF the
mountain from Cumberland Ford, and crossing
at tins pont came down on the rebs at the Gap
like ihundeTholt. Great was their coirsterna-
tion when they beheld Federal army IN their
rear. Nothing could be- done but surrender,
DeCourcey having disposed his forces SO as to
render retreat or escape almost impossible.
This gave the Federal forces an easy entrance
into East Tennessee. and served as a base from
which scouting parties could be sent out TO
prey on the disl0yal farmers rs well as harass
tie Confederate troops whose duty II was 10
guard Powell Valley and keep it clear, If pos
sible, OF Union troops.
Sometime during the early part Of the Fall
OF 1863, and late in he evening, our command
marched up the tortuous road from the west
side OF the Gap. and then wound over the road
that ZiEZagged its course through forts, rifle
pits. trenches etc, down into the valley on the
east side OF the Gap, thence down the Jacks
bOr0 road into Tennessee, where we remained
in camp for a while. From this point we
raided whenever we desired, and had things
pretty much our own way.
few days after our arrival Col Stem, OF the
goth OF 64th Val forget whch-yentured too
near the Gapand paid dearly for his temeriiy.
The c6th Ohio. think, with 100 mules and "a
wagons, was up the valley foTaging when Col.
Stem quietly slippei up on them and the entire
command-s5 men-were captured in less time
than Il takes 10 give this account. portion
OF our command also formed part Of the escort,
but were between the wagons aud the Gap, so
IS 10 guard against an attack from any force
getting in the rear Of the loraging party. A
little creek followed the road, which wound
around high hIll. and this is what so com
pletely hid US from them. Col. Stem sent a
part OF his command down the road to cover
the rear on his retreat These troops met Capt.
Russell, Of Co. c, right AZ the point OF the hill
where the road wound around IL, and every one
OF them fired at him; luckily only one bullet
touched him. Instantly wheeling be shou ted.
Right forward fOurs right Chargem In
tie tWInkling OF an eye our boys were on them,
and being armed with brecch-loading carbines.
navy reyolvers and sabers, and they only
mounted infantry, you can imagine the result.
Victorious a moment before, the rebels were
nov flying for dear life. each one feet footed
Nlrglnlan. From this point there was a run
ming light for many miles until darkness
put end 70 IT, The Coniederates lost . Of
their number, killed aud wounded. The
heaviest part Of their loss was in the death Of
Capt Love. he was morially wounded. and
Staggering out Of some bushes, held up his
hands ia token Of surrender, and was taken
prisoner. lie was taken into a house. where a
hasty examination OF his wound indicated that
u Was mortal, having been shot through the
lett shoulder from the back; the bullet not
quite coming through the breast. lie was
engaged 10 be married 10 the daughter OF Capt.
Gibson, Of the same command. aud lac died
within a mile Oh her home. He tried to get per-
mission TO see his allanced before we with
drew, bet the stern usagCs Of war were inexOF-
abe, and this poor boon was denied him. lie
died next morning.
This action took place a little 10 the east Of
where an Old kirgin.an resisted the invasion OF
the sacred soil by stepping from his door and
deliberately firing into the 10th Ohio, aud then
running 10 gain q aceway between two
rO0ias 50 as 20 escape 10 the rear OF bis house
thence down 4 revIae, aud OF into the mount
aims but the unefTiHg bnilets a six soldiers
stopped him ere he reached the goal. and his
liieiess body lay al has own door, the price ol
his folly.
A short time after this Co. 3 was detailed
20 make an incursion mp the valley a. far a.
the Butt u Rocks" We struck a few OF Col
Stems forces, and followed them perhaps II
miles farther. where they made a stand ii an
EBgie Ia the road which gave them a great ad.
vantage In 30 enblaginp Us as 70 hold as al bay
bent With an Last Ienuessecau up on a hill q
tie right, ~ make a reconnaissance. lie carried
AZ old 1iut-ioek gun about seven feet long
We could see The rebels coming out from behind
some hay-stlcEs. and firing at the command
HE lsiaDce from u 10 the rebels was yery
great, but tnIs IaaB raised his gun and lowered
u several times, AID then fired. One Of tn,
Tebeis threw up his arms ana staggered of I,
de. The Tenuessccau had made good calcula
ton, aud when old calamity coughed." il
seemed someone WAS 10 be hurt hdi't Jane
Waters then charged the rebels aud they Ie,
pFcclP Iiouzly up the road toward J0nesyilie
4 short time after this Mi Wheeler took Tia
battalion aud marched up The valley 10 wher
DE. Ewing lived, and completely cleaned il O
al kinds Of stock. The valley was rich. an,
We made them fee! what war meant, for the
Wcre thoroughly rebel in principle
On Tuesday, October u, 1863, a squadron 0
14S VI ns, ali told, started Ga a raid for Jones
willie. u was ( O'Clock when the c0muIant
feil Ia. ! had the honor Of commanding ia
RdgaBce-guard. We marched about 20 mile
out when we were halted, and tile souadro
divided; Aal. Wheeler taking command Of on
and Capt NiHder the other Watches wer
compared, 50 as to make 20 mistake, aud eac
was 10 charge the town at exactly the sam
hour-slz IN the morning. By some "hocul
pOEu5 Capt MIBder's watch gained Il mir
uies during this time, aud that caused us
charge too soon. The Major coming up 500
after was very angry because Co. b had bee
tAere lrst.
but 70 20 back 10 the starting point OF Ii
charge. Directly west Of the town say abgf
one mile, the road makes q right angie Of abot
20 yards - the north, and then on an air-lin
runs directly east 10 the town, which laws q
the cast side Of a bill, aud as a consequence Il
courthouse and tic tops Of only few hous
could be seen.
Capt. Wlndcr and an Artillery CAPTAIN l.
the charge, making u Of us. Our orders wer
the front rank 10 ride out on each street ON al
rceFrsrf5Up sides aud -bggf Aosst ,,.,.,.gf.s.