The National tribune., 1893-02-09
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
BRAVE WOMEN.
incidents of Pegram's Raid in Central her
tucl1N.

Of March. 1863. If all the episodes connected
with that remarkable raid were detailed aud
properly elaborated it would take good sized
volume to contsiu them. | do not intend tt
give a detailed history of the raid. tut only
enough to suit my present object. which is tc
rescue from oblivion she names and heroic deeds
of two brave noble hearted women whose 6 cal
service TO The cause oi the Union IN those
thrilling times Instead of being meanly sup
messed. should have tcen written in letters oi
gold on the brightest pages of our country
history.
Al the time of which / speak the Federal
authorities were taking preparatory steps To
organize strong Column 10 move forward 'hto
East Tennessee aud rescue that gardens spot oi
loyalty from the hancs of the enemy. and at
the same time our commanders had received
information. or had gotten ii into their heads
that the Confederate authorities were cOncen'
frating a largo force ia East Tennessee TO in
wade Kentucky.
Ii was little after the middle OF March,
1868. that the excitement commenced. Gel.
n. q. Wright then commanded the Depart
ment of Ohio. with Headquarters ut Cincin-
matt; Gen Q. A. GILMORE. that of the District
Of Central kentucky. with Headquarters ar
Lexington Col. Frank Wexford, wi:ieshe LIST
Ky. Cav was occupying a kind OF outpost po-
sition In Wray's woodland. near Stanford. -
miles south of Hickman STidge, recuperating
after recent hard scouting. and con;ending
with the desperate guerrilla bands that infested
the lines of the Cumberland from Nashville,
Tenn to Somerset, Ky. While resting he was
also scouting the country from his position TO
the Cumberland River.
AS early as March Is Gilmore received infor-
nation that large force of the enemy were
concentrating in Wayne County south OF the
Cumberland. On the 21st Wolford's scouts re
ported a large number at Stigall's Ferry ready
to cross On the 2Ist and 22d Pegram's forces
crossed the Cumberland. Gen. Carter, with
four regiments of infantry and a number Of
pieces of artillery was sent forward to Danville.
Col Ben. r. Bunkle with the oath and 4oih
Ohio MID Inf, was ordered from Richmond TO
Lancaster, aud there to report to Gen. Carter.
Bot as The enemy advanced they grew in num-
bers from $500 and 5000 up to 1000 cavalry
and three regiments of infantry, with consider
able artillery. Wolfoid. who always had on
his war paint, 7gsnted to fight, but he was only
a subordinate aud could not rule. a panic got
up among our leading commanders, the ex-
pected invasion was supposed TO have CON-
menced. and our force south of the Kentucky
River. consisting of four or five regiments of
infantry a section and battery of artillery,
two mounted infantry regiments aud regi-
ment Of cavalry were ordered in indecent; haste
across the Kentucky River TO take shelter
behind the impreguable position at Hickman
Bridge.
The main body of Pegram's force. which was
afterwards yariousiy reported TO be from l.''Oo
TO $500 men strong. followed us up aud took
position in our front on the south side Of the
river while the rest were busly engaged in
collecting the fine beef cattle and biooded
horses from the farmers of Lincoln, Boyle. and
Garrard Counties for Confederate use. At
Hickman Bridge, OF Camp Nelson. we were
housed up from the night of the oath of March
until the morning of the 2sth. And still the
panic grew The bottom OF the fine, archcd
turnpike bridge, which had stood the storms
of 20 years unscathed, was taken up. and the
bridge was ordered to be burnt if found neces-
sarv for our safety.
Governor Robinson became alarmed about
the State archives, and consulted with military
authorities about removing them. Even Gen.
Darlington. at indianapolis. became alarmed,
and could not spare a man for reimforcements
As late as the 26th Gen. Boyle, AT Louisville,
telegTa thed to Gen. Rosecrans, in Tennessee.
that Btcrkinridge. with force estimated at
from 7.000 to l., 600 men. supposed to be the ad
vance of much larger force still occupied
Danvilc and Harrodsburg. Orders were issued
to ali commanders OF attachments on the line
of the Kentucky River mp as high as Irvine
to destroy all the boats at the crossings on the
approach OF the enemy in force, and the boats
aAd ca,oes below Hickman Bridge were de-
strnyed as low down rs Shakers Ferry.
About this time Gen. s. E. Burnside came On
and relieved Gen. Wright of the command Of
the Army of the Ohio. Gen. Burnside had not
yet the means of becoming acquainted with
the strength Of tue audacious enemy. and Gem
meneed at once 10 concentrate his forces con-
sisting of the Ninth Corps, 10000 strong. which
was 10 arrive, aud other scattered forces
on the north side OF the Kentucky River.
Orders were issued to Gen. Boyle at Louisville
to concentrate all of his forces which could be
spared from guarding Rosecrans's communica-
tions between Louisville and Nashville at
Lebanon, KY, and to move in concert with
him. How many days il would have taken TO
be ready to move upon the enemy i do not
pretend TO say. il it had not been for the peril
Gus undertaking OF two loyal females.
In the town of Lancaster lived DR.. ii. Jack
man. originally from the north side of the Ohio
River but for a number of years a resident OF
the above named town. he was man of high
mora worth, and, as far as ! can remember
back. Was a strict member Of the church.
Though small IN dimensions every inch OF bin
WAS made of manly material, and he was most
intensely loyal 20 his Government.
Some 10 years more or less, previous to the
war Jiss Louisa West. reared amid the classic
scenes OF Georgetown, Ky, but al that time
residing with her father in Illinois, came TO
Garrsrd County, KY, on visit to her relatives.
She wSs handsome and accomplished, brought up
tenderiy. and always used to the best circles of
society. j, an awkward boy, met Der in those
days IN the family circle of her relatives. She
was timid and bashlul, and i never dreamed
that IN after years she would have under
taken an exploit that required the bravest
coolest. aud best nerve to execute. Bat after
experience has satisfactorily proven that boti
heroes aud heroines are generally composed o.
unobirusive material. 1t was while Oh THU
visit she met Dr.. Jackman, aud they became
eODgenial spirits aud welded for life.
] WAS not so well acquainted with Mrs
Vaughn, the other actress in the critical under.
taking. only knowing that she belonged TO
sterling family of Garrard County. and had
given two sons 20 the Union cause. and they
were members OF Wolford's cavalry Such wer,
the two OF the gentler sex who undertook ia,
dangerous task Of conveying the news of tn,
weakness Of the enemy's force across the river Il
our officers. Knowing all the time OF the vau
able services and adventurous expedition ant
having a use for the particulars, / succeeded, at
ter lapse OF nearly 80 years after they occurred
In getting them from Mrs. Jackmsn herself
which | give TO the readers Of The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, in substance. without making an,
changes:
On Thursday morning, March 20. 1868, Mrs
Margaret G. Vaughn went TO the home OF Mrs
Jackman. in Lancaster and told her of tn
troubles she had the night before that sh
had left her home, having spent sleeples
night that she had been annoyed ali nigh
with Pegrams men trying to take her tw
horses; that she had stood in her porch al
might holding them by their brides, and driy
Ing the men away when they would try
&c; theIa. While standing there she heard Tia
Of IN