The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-24

from being captured. In the angle of the road
10 the west of the town. and the point from
where we charged, a large brick farmhouse stood
In front Of this. aud TO the south. II County
road obliques TO the southwest from the road on
which we reached Jonesville and off this road
another to the south. Down the middle road
we found Lieut.. Morgan. Go. T.. Orderly Brow
nell. 60. b. and three others On riding back
we expected 10 pass up into the main road but
when we got To where we could see the angle of
the road, the burning courthouse was on level
with us, and was chuck fun " of rehs.
Lieut.. Morgan, assuming command, ordered
us 10 follow him, and fire TO the right and left
aud ride on through them. Luckily, before
getting quito 10 them, the moon shone enough
so we could SEQ path, and taking this 1t led us
along a high cliff aud brought out right in
the rear of our forces and just in time, as tho
rebs were on orr heels AT this point tried
TO shoot an old Nirginian whom | saw coming
ont of his house with a gun, but the moon only
gave me a glimpse of him, aud then darkness
shut him from my view On ascending the
hill on the opposite side of the Tavine, Capt.
Winder was sitting on his horse, the roins
thrown over his head and with - navy rcvol-
yer IN each hand demanded 10 know VINO we
were. In answering his challenge, our voices
were recognized by Ira Powell now of Urbana,
o., who having lost his horse when the rcbs
charged, called to us TO help him make his
escape; but the narTowness of tho road and our
mountain howitzcrs aud an almost impenetra-
bic forest on either side, would have made 1T
hot for Stems forces, and they wisely kept
their distance. About one to two in the morn
ing we halted, and took spy from n house,
who had bushwhacked courier. He was given
10 a squad. and l am satisfied his services in
the interest of the Confedcracy ceased before
the sun rose. He was not with us in the morn
ing. He crippled Snyder's horse and gave his
life for his fun.
When we reached the Widow Culbertson's
farm, about - to 30 miles from the Gap, bridge
that crosses an ugly, deep ravine was torn
down, aud the planks cut in two. The party
OF robs who did this were lying not moro than
300 feet TO our left, and expected to pick us
mp in a dcmOralized condition. But seeing VIC
were well in hand, Let us pass quietly by. This
we learned few DAYS after by capturing one
of the men, who told what commands were
given while the bridge was being repaired, so
that our horses could pass over single hle by
this time some of the boys had imbibed too
freely, and the faded condition of man aud
beast rendered IL necessary TO abandon one OF
our men; but taking him into a farmhouse, we
swore the farmer TO keep him out of the hands
of the rebs. aud told him if he failed 10 report
TO US at the Gap we would return and burn
every building on his farm. He hid him, aud
when sober, fed him and piloted him to the top
OF the mountain aud gave minute instructions
how TO reach the Gap safely. Three days later,
while we were on picket duty at Wyerman's
Mills, Tom put in an appearance after peril
Gus trip.
Sometime about the lst of November our COM
mand was ordered out into East Tennessee to
destroy some railroad and do all the damage
we possibly could 10 the rebel interests IN that
section. Starting from our camp, about seven
or eight miles above the Gap. we marched 10
Tazewell, Tenn. This town is situated on
the middle road leading east from the Gap, and
IL. = H. Il = -. Il
basin about two miles in circumference aud sur
rounded by some of the finest hills in that part
of the State. 1t is beautiful village. and gave
every indication Of refinement and wealth but
the rebs set fire 10 the houses of the Union men
because of their loyalty. and the greater part Of
the best were only marked by the naked walls.
Some few Of the rebels. by their houses taking
fire from the Others, lost theirs also but the
rebel vandalism made the town somewhat des-
olate. From this point we marched up close to
the State line, and finally landed at Sncads-
WILLIE Hancock County. While at breakfa fast
the next morning, courier arrived from up
the country, asking for assistance against
party Of Stems forces, who had crossed the
mountains from Virginia, and were stealing
everything from the loyal Tennesseeaus. Di-
viding into two squadrons, one under Maj.
Wheeler and the other under Capt. Winder we
came up with them, but they had been in a
sort Of "A bushwhaeking fight with the natives,
aud had retired into the mountains. This rem
/ deTed their capture almost an imp0ssibility,
as they broke into little squads and hid in Sc
cure retreats. However, they were completely
dispersed and would risk nothing while we
were there. Moving on after our original pur-
pose, we shortly ran into some rebs in the dis
/ lance. The Major rode out TO meet them.
/ They proved 10 be descrters from a
| rebel force operating in East Tennessee, aud
4 which was to resist any movement Of our forces
/ from the west. There were about GOOD Of
/ them. and having had a brisk fight with two
7 or three Tennessee aud one Illinois regiments,
4 captured them all. They were old boys at the
/ business. and said IL we went any farther we
/ rendered our condition somewhat dangerous.
/ Considering the few Of Us and the many Of them
1 we filed TO the left aud reached Rogcrsyilie,
1 aud then on our return moved north into
I Virginia and struck Jonesviile from the south
I and east Here we captured a rebel Lieuten-
ant and from him learned OF the woundiug
and death Of StOnewal Jackson.
Again we went down TO Powell Valley, and
took good care that we gathered something TO
/ eat. am quite certain that IL the Culbertsons,
Balls, DIR. Ewing and a host Of other robS in
that section were interviewed they would ccr-
tainly agree that PowelIEaley had been opened
/ up and that without kid gloves, long before the
( 10th III. Cav. undertook The dangerous task OF
I trying 70 hold JOBesVillc. Ii seems to me that
an officer who would undertake 30 hold such an
unimpDrtant post as JOne5yiie when our main
Z operations were south from the Gap, lacked
good judgment in the disposal Of his force 80
as 10 make it effective venture this opinion
at this late date without fear of il being brought
into question.
Quite number Of other raids were made NJ
this valley, and ! became somewhat familiar
with HOther Ewing aud some Of the other
ladies who resided there In the early part ,0
the forenoon Of one day large negrO-altcf
ward the Majors YOckko-came into camp and
making up 10 me said, The rebs were up tht
valley taking of all dc boys 10 dc army"
took him TO headquarters, aud was detailed Il
act AZ Orderly in carrying a dispatch to Capt
Russell, who was then up the valley on a scout
, Piloted by the darby we rode out 10 or /;
miles, when / heard our buge sound tht
assembly. Looking of to the left saw seyera
troopers gallOpimg around knoll as hard "a
, their horses could go. Following raVne
coon saw they were our men. and after de
! livercd my message / went with the ad yance
guard and tried 10 capture the young master
OF Yackko, who was a.Lienteuant Ia the Con
} Tolerate army. The Quartermaster had charg
! Of the squad and through bic excessive lack o
J hard sense the chap got of; but only becau5
OF a large field Of high weeds that ran 10 within
3 about I01 feet Of his door. Here took n gun
[ something similar 10 the one the East Tennes
/ secan shot the long range shot with and kille,
8 his man, as related above. From here W
! dashed up the road at break-neck rate ant
. i rounded the hill near DIR. EWiug's houge