The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-05-11
TO Be continued
THE SAUNDERS RAID.
Nice Work Done on a Flying Trip into
East Tennessee.

Nice Work Done on a Flying Trip into
East Tennessee.
= SAW in your issue Of March I6. in the
column of Picket Shots" under the
q head Of a Great Raid" an item by
Conrad Morgan Co. X. Isl Tenn. which
he calls the Saunders and Bird raid. made in
the Summer of 1863 by the LIST Ky. Cav. two
pieces of artillery, the 55th Ind. 1l2th H.. and
tie lst Tenn. Inf. mounted for the occasion
In the organization given tie comradc is
a little Off aud with your permission / viii give
the organization Of the Saunders raid made
in June, 1863, into East Tennessee for the pur-
pose Of destroying the East Tennessee aud
Georgia Railroad, which is ~ follows: The LIST
Tenn, as a regiment; detachment OF 200 nen
with officers from the ll2th H. the same from
the 44th Ohio. all mounted for the occasion a
detachment Of 200 men and officers of the 81
Ohio Cav, $50 men aud six officers from the
eth Ohio Cav. % men and three officers from
the lst Ky. Cav, and one section of artillery
from Battery ID. lst Ohio l.. A.
The orders received by the rcgim com
manders issued 10 days before starting were
that the details were to be made OF picked men
and horses regardless as 10 who claimed the
horses aud the officers to be selected, and all
were 10 be kept of Of duty Of any kind FOR 10
days for recuperation.
We crossed the Cum berland River June 1S
1868 captured a supply train and 100 pris-
ouers at Wortsburg. We captured battery
complete with horses and harness aftd 100
prisoners al Lenoif's. on the railroad, IL miles
west Of Knoxville; burned the station and
wooden mill. Then we began our work of
destruction of tic railroad, and reached Knox
Vile at dark and exchanged few shots at
College Hill We drew off and went over "A
bill 10 the northeast OF the city, and lay in the
woods till daylight. when our artillery fred
three shots. The 6rst blew up caisson the
second dismounted gun; the third killed a
Capt. McCiung aud three other men.
Now We drew off over the ridge and struck
the railroad east of the city and began our
work Of des roying the track heating and
twisting the rails and bending them around
trees. burning bridges and trestle- works
reaching Strawberry Plains before night 20
miles east of Knoxville. where we captured an
other battery complete. with 100 prisoners.
The next morning We continued our work OF
destruction, burning wagon road bridges a.
well as railroad. on through New Market and
on TO Noisy Greek. whore we burned Con-
fedeTsIe machine-sEop and depot and store
houses flied with provisions aud munitions OF
war.
By this time the Johnuies were barass;ug
our rear and Mudwall" Jackson was APP
preaching our front. AS we had already de-
stroycd 90 miles Of railroad aud burned 5000
feet of bridge and trestle- work, we then struck
north for Cumberland Gap. Near the Gap, aud
on the Knoxville road. we captured another
supply-train aud 30 prisoners The Gap was
too strongly guarded for as. and We burned the
| train and paroied the prisoners. as we had done
! on all previous occasions.
We now headed FOR Big Creek Gap, which
/ was found too strongly guarded for US. when
We headed off for Childer's Gap, which was
/ guarded by cavalry command, which was
! soon brushed out Of the way, aud we crossed
over the valley and into The mountains. We
spiked guns aud cut the wheels down IN
4 front Of Big Creek Gap. We crossed the Cum
Z bertrand River Ju'y AID Joined our commands
( about the 4th. with the loss Of 30 men out of
whole number Of LOO officers and men.-R. c
! RANKIN, Captain. commanding detachment
4 9TH Ohio Cav. Ripley o.