Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-01-10
Mt st. Louis without us.--Uncie Josh, In
North Carolina Ledger.
AT PINE MOUNTAIN,
Tho First Service of tho Ninth Ohio Cav
airy Under Fire.

airy Under Fire.
In the summer of 1868, four compan-
les of the 9th o. V. Cavalry did service
out in the beautiful blue grass country
of Kentucky and near the Cumberland
Mountains. Our first service under fire,
says the writer, was when we pursued
a lot of Confederates and drove them
over Pine Mountain. Colonel Gilbert,
with part of the 44th Ohio Mounted
Infantry was with us. We crossed one
mountain and camped in the valley be-
yond, when some time after dark a cap
tain with n detail of 90 men from each
OF our companies was sent forward
with orders to proceed until the enemy
was found The night was very dark.
The mountain sides rose up tall, dark
and gloomy on either side of our road.
Unframed by the woodsman's axe the
mighty pine trees covering the noun
tain sides rose up tall and stately,
and their thick foliage kept
out whatever light might have found its
way into that dark valley. We rode
along quietly. Not word was spoken
except in half whisper, but the clank
of saber and sound of the horses feet
on the stony roadway was sufficient to
warn the enemy of our approach. AT
ter going some four or five miles in this
way we saw the camp fires of the rebels
and were saluted with volley from
their slSirmish line, which in the dark
ness whistled harmlessly over our heads.
But we had accomplished our purpose;
we had found the enemy.
We retired a short distance and slept
on our arms till morning. When the
rest of the troops came up, strong
slsirmish line was thrown out, the
troopers dismounting and climbing the
mountain side. Our battalion had the
lead that day and we pushed along
slowly, the skirmishers doing most of
the fighting till we came to n bend in
the valley beyond which we could not
see. just then, whiz, buzz, bang, came
shell from Il small howitzer beyond
the bend. 1t was the first one we had
ever faced and it seemed TO me then
larger than the seige guns we captured
afterwards at Fort McAllister near
Savannah. 1t seemed to me that my
hair stood up on end, and | am pretty
certain my knees trembled.
The officer in command ordered n
charge and as the road was very mar
row where we passed the bend, only
two abreast could ride along there, il
looked to my inexperienced eyes, that
that monstrous cannon on the other
side would sweep out of existence our
whole battalion before we could form
a line beyond that narrow place in the
road. In the meantime, several shells
Il .-<N1, 4 -
but fortunately they did not have the
range and hurt no one, and just as we
were all waiting for the word to go for
ward, word came along the line that
the cannon was falling back and l
drew long deep breath of thankful
ness, that there would be no charge
around that deadly bend. We pushed
along rapidly until we reached the
end of the valley and commenced
to ascend the mountain. Here
the rebels had felled u tree across
the road and we could not
pass with horses. We quickly dis
mounted and clambered up after them,
but after we drove them up the face of
beating us back and as l stood on the top
| anu lOOhcU uOWn tIC SluG
into what is called Powell's Valley we
could see our foes going pell nell, hurry
skurry, panic stricken, dropping guns,
haversacks, canteens, etc, by the way.
oh, my how those fellows did run.
They We're scared fully as bad as l had
been an hour or so before. Some of
them may be running yet. Well, we
stood up there like Moses on Pisgah's
Top and viewed the landscape DER.
The scenery was grand and glorious TO
behold. The cool, bracing air of the
mountain in contrast to the sultry at
mosphere of the valley, in conjunction
with our victory made our hearts light
and happy and we slowly wended our
way back to the land of Boone and
Kcnton, proud of our first victory in
facing real enemy.-American Trib.
une.
FISHING FOR A GANDER.