The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-10
night when we had our rolls completed, and

in, when, without a moments warning, the
hurricane struck ms. Oar tent was whisked
away like a soap-bubble, together with our
precious rolls, blankets, and all our belong
inps that were not on our backs. lt was
dark ms a pocket, and with the first blast OF
the sto.m came n deluge of rain, warm at
FIRST. bat in an incredibly short space Of time
turning 10 sleet, and close following to snow.
We proped about in the slush and mud in
our shirt-sleeyes and bare-headed, drenched
20 the skin catching on TO what few arti-
Cles that fortunately were stopped by the
friendly brush, till we got together material
enough 10 afford us a partial shelter and
budding together like a nest of pigs, COW
cred ourselves with what blankets we had
collected and patiently waited for the morn
ing.
when daylight came we tipped of the top
blankets, frozen TO the consistency of oak
planlls and little further down, below the
line, the steam rolled away from us and
fell back IN sprays of snow. A thermometer
nj post headquarters registered l6 degrees
below zero during the day OF the LIST. IL was
said. and believe il 10 be a fact that mules
belonging TO the wagon-train
DOUBLED Up AND SWUNG STERN TO
when the storm struck them, and never lifted
a foot until they became fixed in the frozen,
mud, and either lost their balance and broke
their legs OF were chopped out
The weather moderated during the month,
and about the lst Of February we broke
camp, and by easy stages marched across the
mountains TO Knoxville, Tenn. Until the
the close OF the war our headquarters were
at Knoxville and Strawberry Plains, where
The East Tennessee AZ Virginia Railroad
crosses the Holston. We were never attached
10 any large command, although nominally
belonging to the TwcnW-third Corps, and
never except on one occasion did we leave
the State Of Tennessee until our final muster
out at Memphis in November, 1866.
Our service during the time was what
might be termed desultory in its nature, as
we secuted and fought in detachments and
squads, and very seldom as a regimental
organization.
The subdivision of Tennessee, always
designated as East Tennessee, was from the
FIRST loyal among its masses. 1t was carried
into the vortex Of secession by the few slave
owners, who constituted the sO-called ans-
t0cracy, and who almost TO a man went with
the Southern army, and left their beautiful
country prey 10 devastating boards Of cut
throats. IL was hunting down such charac-
tiers, aud an occasional interchange Of courte-
sieswith Breckenridge, Wheeler and Vaughn,
which filled in our nearly two years Of serv-
ice in that most
BEAUTIFUL AND ROMANTIC
portion OF the Union, apply termed the
Switzerland of America. j was charmed
with the country, and never tired OF The
varied panoramic views Of lofty parallel
ranges almost walling in the fertile valleys
OF the several rivers that finally converge
and form the Tennessee. ] planned that
when peace should come, and settled for
lie, il would be in one of the valleys of
East Tennessee, but the Kin Kluz troubles
OF Reconstruction disenchauted me.
Tor nearly the whole time of our service
there We were the only mounted Federal
troops. il was Of almost daily occurrence
THAI refugees would bring in reports Of ad-
vanciBg columns OF the enemy, and as il was
considered a necessary military precaution
10 investigate whenever reports Of start
ling nature were brought in, it kept us
busy campa gning East Tennessee by detail.
Generally We hunted the enemy in a manner
highly satisfactory 10 ourselves, and the
"MItchigans," as the
"sNUFF EATERS
termed us established an enviable reputation
rs stayen; but when, as il sometimes hap
pened the hunting process was reversed, aud
the scattered remnant Of a fine detachment
came struggling into camp, few comments
were made. ] went In command Of detach-
ments thought, more than my proportion
Of times may be because ] had established
o reputation ] did not deserve; for a. re-
view my East Tennessee service with the
judgment Of mature years find that il was
simplya succession OF lucky circumstances
and not my military genius that saved me
from experiences that might have proved
disastrous 20 my command and very humili.
Rting 10 myself
j bring 10 mind am instance that occurred
In the early Spring Of 1864 Officers cal
sounded late one night when repairing &,
headquarters we found our Colonel pacing
the floor In great agitation. He informed
ne that he had received authentic infOr
matlon from refugees just IN that Breckin
ridge was advancing IN great force, and tina
hls information Was 10 accurate and hil
knowledge o. the topography Of the countTl
80 thorough that he had figured the advanc
OF the enemy az Messy Creek MT dayligh
that morning lie ordered detail Of 40 O
the best mounted men in the regiment 1,
report % Capt. , who was 10 be ID Moss
Creek al daybresk meet the enemy ther,
fight tbem az he fell back with the sam
yalOr Michigan troops had displayed on =
many bloody ields, etc. Capt -- oleare
his throat and got an far as to say
COLONEL, AN NOT WELL -
when the Colonel turned on his heel am
almost yelled: Lieut. Soule is not afraid
he viii take command" Well, 10 tell IA
truth, j was not in ihe least frightened. "a
bad no more idea Of meeting Breckinridp
or any organized body Of troops than I ha