The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-08-18

E. e caused delay. The h,
= 49, only mail routes from
Knoxville were by way OF Louisville, or By
steamer which came up the river from Nash
VILE but remained a month or SO to sell it
supplies 10 the soldiers Gen. Schoiield, il
seems was very anxious 10 get started on the
Atlanta campaign and conld not or did not wish
to leave Knoxville until Gen. Fry should put in
an appearance. it became necessary for Gen.
Fry to get a communication through. as Gen.
Schofed could not hear from him. 1t there
fore fell to my lot to carry dispatch with the
greatest possible haste across the Cumberland
Mountains. ] am not in the habit of telling what
1 did while in the army, as / did but little,
and when / look back upon my army life, i
think / ought to have done more; but, like
one of our ex-Confedcratc friends, will say
that did what was told TO do.
/ found the trip from Camp Burnside to
Knoxville rather rough one. / met Wolford s
cavalry and my own regiment the night of
the second day out, and camped with them for
the night The boys told iae that Longstreet s
forces were still in the vicinity of Knoxville,
and that would likely have some trouble in
getting through to our lines: which statement
j foand moi all fiction. ] found a small squad
of soldiers at Jacksboro, on the opposite
side of the mountain, some 30 miles from
Knoxville, where | stayed over night getting
there late, as it took me much longer TO get
down the mountain on the winding road than
the short distance it seemed to be In looking
down from the top into the little valley below.
By the way, in going down / passed hinge
rock which was chained to a tree, and the road
cut around it. This, learned had been un-
dcrmined and tipped into the road to stop the
progress O. the Union army.
left Jacksboro very early the next
morning, wishing, if possible, to reach Knox
vile that day. So ] took the left hand road.
he hrSr hut ghn test. A
O'Clock in the evening came into the military
road. where ! passed Government train
heavily loaded. 1 found, by inQuiring of some
Union people about dark that man by the
name OF Thompson, who lived just Ia miles
from Knox, las the people called it, was a
Union man with some means, where / would
be likely to find feed for my horse and accom-
modations, such as the country then afforded,
for myself. pushed on, and at o'clock rode
mp to the place which was the one described
to me. | found at the gate three men. two on
horseback and one holding his horse. j asked
If Mr.. Thompson was there and the man on
the ground advanced aud, in a low tone of
voice, said that was his name, and wanted to
know whether / was Union soldier. told
him was aud wanted feed for tired horse
and lodgings for myself. He then told me
that I0nestreet camped about three
quarters of a mile to the southeast. and that
they had been hid away since o'clock D. m.
and were going again as soon as they could get
their sGppers. He asked me about the train,
which had been looked fer; if had seen it, aud
where passed it, and said that Longstreet was
waiting for it. He also said that had better
not stop there, and 10 take trail TO the right,
after passing the first house. and j might pos
sibly miss them and get into Knoxville in time
for Gea. Scho6eld to send force out aud save
the train.
j tool; his suggestions and the TRAIL and
tn r.-f-
horse seemed TO take in the situation. Although
tired and to all appearance worn out. he
prclled up his ears and appeared fresh rs
If Just from the stable / passed within few
hundred yards Of their campfires, but they had
mo pickcts on The trail. came into the main
road again before coming TO our pckets, which
/ found cranky enough The officer at the
outer post could not believe that ] was any
thing but dcserter from the Southern army
until lac took me 10 the officer OF the day. who,
after examining my papers, wanted to know
how in - i managed TO get through, as citi-
zens had been coming in from that vicinity all
the afternoon; some OF the women saying
that their husbands had been killed and some
taken prisoners He also asked in regard to
the train which had been expected through
that day. Alter telling him where passed it,
he said 10 tell Gen. Schofield to send out some
troops. as that was what Longstreet WAS after.
u WAS balf-past ii o'clock when / arrived at
Knoxville and delivered my dispatch to the
Sergeant at Gen. Schofeld's headquarters He
sent for me 10 come in. aud asked me If
brought that dispatch frem Gen. Fry. j told
him j cid; also told him of the train and its
being III danger OF being captured. He asked
me where j was going 10 stop for the night,
and j told him that ! had brother there
somewhere who belonged TO the 9th Mich. bat.
terry, and he said TO 90 up to the fort, which
must have passed at the right of the depot,
L md AT hey Ho fead
my horse.
started, but lost my way on one of the
cross-sireets. but Enally found them. The
guard conducted me up to the room occupied
by l. Is. McCourtee, my brother John, and
Others. l had not seen them for nearly three
years aud must say they were somewhat sur
prised 10 meet me at that time of day as il was
then past midnight. They brought out some
bread made from NOW burned wheat aud some
sorghum molasses which / relished, as L had
eaten nothing since morning.
1t was z o'clock when we rolled in but we
dad not sleep wink, as We got TO talking and
talked until daylight. i took breakfast with
the company the next morning which was
passabiy good. at least thought so. The boys
said the beef WAS from animals killed the day
before, which could not have lived much
longer for want Of food.
! took a dispatch that afternoon from
Gen. Schohcld, and started back for Camp
outbsiue. Inc next DAY, ABOUT o CLOCK p. H.
i met Gen. log and two of the Orderlies
James BARNES aud Charles Tucker, and an es.
cort w!lich Gen. SchoEeld had sent from Knox
vile 10 hnd out what had become of him (Gen
Fry, thinking perhaps that lie had been killed
or captured. l went back with them about 10
miles, and We siaid all night with an old
man by the name Of Ross, where we received
good accommodations. Tue next morning
they went on 10 Knoxville, and the General
instructed he TO take The same dispatch to the
Colonel Of tie llth Mich. Cav who was sta
toned AZ Camp Burnside. / made the trip
without any difficulty, and two days after Gen.
Fry earle back with orders TO command the
posi-. learned that the Government train
arrived 1t Knoxville ali right, and that the
supplies we're very accep sbe.--P. W. HUGHES,
Corporal, Co. II, 6ih Mich. Cav. Coldwater,
Mich.
Why Don't They Write?