The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-10-22
RESCUE THAT FAILED.
The 1O3d Ohio Could Not Carry Out Their
Brave Plan to Aid the Tooth Ohio.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / want to
tell you how the 103d Ohio tried to re-
lieve the Tooth Ohio. When Gen. Bnrnside's
forces took possession of Knoxville, Tenn,
in September, 1863, there fell into our hands
three locomotives and considerable number
of fiat and box cars To reconnoiter the
country along the East Tennessee & Virginia
Railroad as far east as possible, a train of
cars was made ready and the Tooth Ohio
went on board.
With little or no opposition the regiment
got east as far as Limestone Station, a dis
lance of 50 miles from Knoxville. At or
near this point large force of the enemy
was found, with which the Tooth soon be-
came holly engaged. Reinforcements were
called for.
On the evening of Sept. z, the 103d Ohio
received orders'to board train of cars which
came from Knoxville to US at Concord, 16
miles west from Knoxville. We reached the
latter place at 10 o'clock at night. The re-
mainder of the night we lay on the depot
platform. Our regiment was again placed
on board train OF cars next morning. Our
Colonel, John S. Easement, was in command
A Col. Foster accompanied us; he seemed to
be III general command. The train soon
pulled out eastward, arriving at Greenville
at dusk.
The train moved forward again, but it
soon became too dark TO move on with
safety. Our company (A), of which l was
the Orderly-Sergeant, occupied the forward
car Col. Easement ordered me to take 10
men from the right of the company, march
on the track in advance of the locomotive,
and keep sharp lookout for distractions.
Moving forward in this manner at a rapid
pace we soon came to a long trestle at Hen
derson's Station.
When about midway of the bridge, we
discovered rail torn off and thrown into
the creek. / signaled the train and with
my men crossed to the other side, where we
found the remnants of burnt car lying a
smoldering heap on the main track.
In a short time the rail was replaced and
firmly spiked down, and the hot wheels and
other debris of the burnt car cleared from
the track. Moving forward again in the
same manner for about three miles we came
to burning bridge, which had but short
! time before crashed to the bottom of the
Deep rocky chasm which it had spanned.
We scrambled TO the bottom and up on the
other side, deploying as skirmshers. AS
soon as possible the regiment nOwesn foot,
| followed US to the other side of the gulch.
With my men as advance guard, we pushed
| forward through the darkness.
At little after daylight we had reached
| a point from which we could see Limestone
| Station. We were now about seven miles
from the train. Our commander had def
mite information from citizens that the Tooth
Ohio had been overpowered, and those who
had not been killed were now prisoners.
We could plainly see, from where we
stood, the movements Of the rebels, evident
ly aware Of our presence. They were no
doubt trying to trap us also. We immedi-
ately faced about and marched by the left
flank in the direction of our train. The
enemy marched on a parallel road half
mile distant from the railroad upon which
we were travelling. They were evidently
trying to cut us off from our train, but they
acted very cautiously. Upon our arrival
near the train, Co. A was thrown out as
skirmishers facing the advancing enemy.
AS soon, however, as the regiment got On
board of the cars and all was ready, we
came in on the double-quick. Away we
went to the rear about 30 miles, and into
camp near the railroad. Here we lay till
heavy reinforcements came to us from Knox
vile.
would be pleased to have some member
of the Tooth Ohio write a full description Of
their struggle at Limestone Station, and
have it published in the best soldier paper
in Observation-Disclosures DUNKE, Bear Lake
| Mich