The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-29
DAVIS'S CROSSROADS.
A Short but Severe Encounter Under the
Shadow of Old Lookout.

Short but Severe Encounter Under the
Shadow of Old Lookout
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: 1t was on
the 18th of September, 1863, just after the
Army of the cumberland moved from Steven
son and vicinity across the Tennessee River
by the different pontoon bridges, that the
Fourteenth Corps, under Pap" Thomas,
threaded its way over Sand Mountain, via
Stevens's Gap. Across Lookout, down in
the valley it passed, along the headwaters
of west Chickamauga, Negley's Division IN
the lead, followed by Baird's, the other di-
vision having passed farther east by differ
ent route.
We had halted by the wayside near
Southern mansion, that of Mrs. Davis, l
think She was at home, but Mr.. Davis was
not anywhere around. Gen. Negley, with
Aids, was sitting on his horse underneath
the shade trees in the door-yard. He evil
IDENTIFY was seeking information, and politely
asked Mrs Davis how far it was to Lafay-
ette She replied with, go and see" l
think the General blushed little, but the
BOYS who heard the conversation knew at
once where we were and what to do. We
Just helped ourselves to everything good in
sight. After our rest and refreshments we
were sent forward across the creek south to
reconnoiter. Just south Of the creek little
way is Davis's Crossroads, with some old
buildings on the corners. We followed the
Lafayette road into Dug Gap, Pigeon Mount
ain, where we found the road blocked by
| leveled timber in the deep cuts This
stopped our progress for the night.
We were thrown into line of-battle facing
the supposed enemy, where we lay on our
arms all night.
We afterward learned that the whole of
.Bragg's army was just the other side of
| Pigeon Mountain, and that they were busily
planning TO surround and capture us In the
morning. But we were up early. We waited
patiently, peering through the woods in our
front, until late in the afternoon.
There was field to our left, with thick
underbrush in the woods beyond. Our
| skirmishers were thrown some distance for
ward along the fence on the opposite side of
the field. Suddenly long line of skirmish-
ers appeared, closely followed by a line-of-
battle. Our boys gave them warm recep-
ton, but when they had to fall back across
the field they had to run some distance ex-
posed to heavy fire from the enemy.
We were ordered to move out, as the rebs
were closing in on US from three sides. The
| General had ordered a new line-of- battle on
the rise of ground just north of Chicka-
manga, and it ran right through the Davis
yard.
There was a stone wall on the roadside
| Just north of the creek, and the 18th Ill. was
| lying behind it, for the rebel cavalry could
be seen preparing for a charge. They did
not see the trap, SO on they came with a
yell. Just as they got opposite the stone
wall the 10Th boys sprang up, as by magic,
and one long sheet of flame leaped from their
Springfelds. There was seething mass for
a moment, and then hasty retreat. 1t was
one Of the best things the 10Th boys ever did.
Meantime our line was forming hastily for
the next onset. While we are moving left
in front 10 the support of our battery, just
west of the house, the rebs coming from the
west ran up battery and commenced she'll
ing us with bad effect. AS soon as we got
to our place in the line we lay down, as the
storm had turned to grape anC canister. 1t
got too hot for our battery boys, and they
left their guns for a time, renewing the fight
whenever there was lull in the storm.
Finally we fell back, with the whole line,
to a strong position on a low ridge at the
foot of Lookout. We lay on our arms all
night. When morning came the Johnnies
had retired toward Lafayette. Then we
departed for Chickamauga.-W. S. BROWN,
20 18Th Ohio Hiawatha Kan