Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-07-20

successful knoXv lie expedition. he was
ordered to take command of Thomp-
sons cavalry and advance eastward
and destroy the Virginia & Tennessee
railroad, now the Norfolk e Western.
On March 20 he started on this expedi.
ton, but turned north at Boone, n. c.
Entering the valley at New River, in
Virginia, ne captured Wytheville and
continued along the railroad, destroy
ing 1t nearly to Lynchburg On this
raid he laid waste miles of adjoining
country. AS this had been the first in
vasion of northern troops into Floyd
and Wythe counties, the inhabitants
were very bitter against Gen. Stone
man. The more the raid was talked of,
the more bitter became the spirit of
the people, and many were the threats
made against Stoneman and his troop
ers. William Beaden. who gave the
writer the facts while standing at
Bordunix's grave, said that a secret
organization, whose object it was to
be revenged on Cen Stoneman. was
formed directly after the surrender Of
Gen. Lee of all the young men who had
not previously taken active part in the
war, and of soldiers home on leave of
absence.
In the meantime SLOVENIAN continued
on his raid, which ended at Salisbury,
n c., n prison camp, three days after
Gen. Grants victory. Instead of re-
naming in North Carolina, as Gen.
Sherman had ordered. he left and en-
tered Jonesboro in the eastern part of |
Tennessee. April is, where he received |
the news of Lees surrender.
On May IS Stoneman, with six thou
sand cavalry, ten thousand infantry and |
twenty-eight guns. started on one
hundred-mile march over the mountains
to the Virginia &c Tennessee railroad
at Christians burg to embark for Wash
ington.
Mounted couriers of FLOYD county's
little army were Immediately dis
patched from the different sections TO
inform the recruits in outlying districts
of the movements of Stoneman's army
and to notify them TO gather at Floyd
Court House under arms. 1t was the in
tention of the foremost in the sc heme
TO secrete the men in different parts of
the town and neighborhood and at the
appearance of the army to fire on them
from their places of concealment and
thus harass the northerners for dis
lance of ten miles on each side of the
town. Early in the morning, on May
%. two hundred ex-confederate soldiers
and recruits had arrived 1T the town.
AS the advanced and no new arrivals
were reported, they became disheart- !
sned and desertions were numerous
Another hour passed and the advance !.
guard of Stoneman's army was report :
ID within ten miles of Floyd's Court :.
House. BY the time the information +
was received about one hundred men, :
III that remained of the bold band,
we're concealed along the highway.
But as soon as the federal column hove
n sight the self-appointed protectors
# Floyd county deserted except the b
hree men whose graves l have do e.
cribed. Nerved by drink and sense n
f injury, they boldly entered the iowa r,
nd with oaths boosted that they Of
ronld exterminate the whole of Stone G,
mans army. s.
In another hour the head of the army r
ppeared at the outskirts of the vii "
age. BY this time the three were al
RACED by liquor, and. in marching
rider. with Bordunix in the lead. act
~ as commander. boldly advanced 10 ?.
leet the great army OF stoneman with a.
S little fear as did David to battle g
18th the mighty hosts OF tie Philis- ~
mes When within a stones throw 81
/ the front Of the column they entered Gu
field thiclly grown with bushes. 70
he march of the three men was ~
atched with interest by the inhab-
ants Of the town. who had turned out "
fun force 10 see the army pass ~
hey had no idea the boasts OF the 7"
en- were more than lille threats eis
fter entering the field Bordunix halt 10
his followers and. greatly to the 'io
nusement of the union troops, put 81
EN- through drill They were greet "a
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