The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-05-12

purpose. As TO lying down, we had no such
| orders, and If there had been II would have
been impossible TO have done so, rs there were
! % men in each command or boat, besides the
/ bOaimen.
The Captain then says: when all were
ready the lines were loosed and the barges
began to float down the river. This was about
! 10 r. M Which is another mistake.
Our orders were TO leave camp so as to be at
/ the place designated by the commander at IL
o'clock, each regiment having the same orders
! (of those who were to take part, and every
thing to be done very quietly; and it was done
SO quietly that one regiment did not know that
the other WIS going until We came together
near the river, where we were to embark.
/ believe our officers were ignorant OF the
expedition outside OF those who had special
| command, until we were in the boats, when
each company commander was told what was
expected OF him and his Command
The Captain speaks as though we foated or
drifted down the river promiscuously; which
would have been very disastrous TO the ezpe-
dition, owing 10 the channel hGgging the base
OF the mountain closely, where strong picket
post of tie enemy were stationed, and whero
| there was said to be a number of dangerous
| whlrlpools. But this was not the case. As
stated before, we had a number of men who
were experienced boatmen to keep US out OF all
such dangers.
Each regiment had its place in line and each
company its place in the regiment, each keep
ing their places strictly. This" says the
Captain, was all done on q moonlight night; !"
which ] think would have been dead give
away Of the whole thing had it been so, aud
therefore pronounce it another mistake. Now,
1 remember it as rather dark night, just such
one as would be chosen for this kind of work.
This expedition was planned and carried out
in every way to make it successful. When the
head of the expedition arrived at a certain
point an understood signal was given, aad every
boat was turned with bow to the south shore
and quickly landed, almost before the enemy
could realize what was coming. Consequently,
there was but few shots fired before the landing
was accom- plished.
In less time than il takes me to tell it each
commander of his company had his,men out,
skirmishers deployed, ard all were advancing
as fast rs the steepness of the mountain would
permit. and were soon in possession OF the
ground just occupied by the rebels, they giving
mp after quite lively skirmish. Having now
driven them from this important position, there
WAS no time lost in laying . pontoon bridge
across the river at this point Browns Ferry)
to make ii easy for rein sorcements to cross.
providing they were necessary, the above
mentioned portoons being used for the pur-
pose.
This was accomplished by Hazen's Brigade,
assisted by Turchin's Brigade, who marched
across from Chattanooga and crossed by aid
Of the pontoons used by Hazen in coming down
the river.
This opened our com muDications with Bridge
port, so that our rations from that time in
creased some but n OF 10 full rations by half
CEAs. BANKS Co. II, LIST Ohio, Second Brigade,
Third Division, Fourth Corps, Silver Lake.
Kan.