The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-09
THE RAID OF GEN. SToNEWAH.
Escaps of Squad of Cavalry Connectefi
With that Expedition.

A{AA AfsAR1 ~ SIias
Escape of Squad of Cavalry Connected
With that Expedition.
EDIToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The
writer and some comrades of Capron's COM
mand managed to escape capture on that
fatal morning of Aug 3, 1864 when 1veson' s
men swooped down on us, sleeping SO
soundly. We were the first to bring to
Sherman's lines the sad news Of Stoneman's
disaster.
After Stoneman surrendered, and during
our 20-mile ride for liberty, ON the after
noon of Ang. ?, Capt. Lupton, my company
commander, said to me:
g feel IS though we VIII have trouble
yet" which remark set me to thinking.
An old darky soon came along our line,
and ] began to pump lrim for information
regarding cur location, etc Among other
things j learned that the nearest point OF
the Chattairoochee River was distant 80
miles, in a northeast direction, and over q
rough hilly, and wooded country. / did
not like Capt. Luptnns remark, and begaD
to consider how to act IN case 1t came TO be
every man for himself"
j shall never forget that night ride OF
Aug 2, and our terrible awakening from SO
sweet a sleep. That rebel yeILl j can hear
1T yet. That night when the column halted
IN the lane, Capt. Lupton passed along the
hne and said:
Men, dismount; make no NOISE; don't
unaaddle; throw the bridle-rein over the
fTorse's head, and lie down with arm through
the britfle-rein.'
i WIS mounted an ligh-spirited animal
that l had picked up on the route three
days before, and the saddle had not been off
her back during that time. When Capt.
Lupton had passed to head Of company col
umn quietly lowered panel OF She rafl
fence on one side of The lane, led my horse
through the gap, te0S saddle off, threw
brIdle-rein over horse IL head, and hooked 1T
over a limb of q tree close to tue fence. i
finally get to sleep. / was suddenly aroused
sherefrom by someone shaking NE.
Vino is it?n asked T. "Capt Iiuptnn,h
said a voice in a whisper. "Get up quick
and saddle your horse ); we are surrounded
by the enemy"
j WIS taking my time trying to open my
eyes, when Luptoh caught me by the
shoulder, yanked me TO nay feet, exclaiming
IN n whisper:
9 For God's sake, be quick and mount!
have not closed my eyes tonight. An old
darky found me and gsve the alarm He is
HOW passing along the. line. / have my
company All mounted and in line. 1t is
just a scratch that i found you in here.
Quick. quick Mount and fall into line :"
By this time / had grabbed saddle and
blanket, thrown thnmisn my animals back,
and was buckling the gTth. Bang bang!
went the first shots. Then came a yolley
followed by the rebel yell.
/ started on toward the head Of column
"Come back" cried an officer land someone
muttered "Shoot him! !" Fire away,
boys" said / and with that pressed my
animals sides with the spurs. Away we
dashed, passing men, some running into the
brush, some trying to mount, and others still
lying asleep
Reaching the head of the command as it
was stretched out along the lane, l found
Col. Capron on his horses bare back He
was bareheaded. / reined up and listened
to what he was saying.
My men have neither arms nor ammuni-
tion to defend themselves with, and it will
again be every man for himself"
You are right, Colonel" said /, "and |
guess / will get out of this in hurry"
Away l went again at full speed till / was
brought up standing by voice that cried
out Haiti"
"Where are you going?" asked an officer
" l am going to get away from that rebel
yell" said |, while | have chance"
mo you DON'T" said he. "If you at
tempt to pass L will shoot you. Ride in
there, and form line with my men,"
"All right" / responded, and obeyed
But put spurs to my horse again as soon
as lie went forward to investigate telling
the Sergeant in charge of the squad Of %
men why | knew the camp was surrounded
and what Capron had said.
/ came to fork of the road. Here
rened up. 1t was now light enough to see
30 yards Pretty soon | heard the clatter of
hoofs on the other fork of the road, and
who turned out to be Capron's men, Il in
number six of whom belonged to the 18th
i'll. Cav, two to the 9Th bich. Cav, one to the
11th KY. Cav, two to the 18th KY. Cav, one
to the 9TH Ind. Cav, and one to the 9th Ind
Cav.
"Well. boys, what of the fight ?" 1 asked.
"All taken prisoners except us" said they.
The enemy had charged down the lane and
into the lane from both sides and taken our
men ere they had time TO mount and get
away This squad had managed to break
through the enemy's lines and get into the
brush, and finally into the road on which
they were.
We finally decided to move west until
sunrise, then shape our course for the Chatta-
hoochee A little Corporal of CO. K 18th
III. CAV, was chosen to lead US out of the
wilderness. We Travelled at full speed till
it became full break Of day, then left the
road and entered the dense timber.
We finally came"into a cornfield, and
noticed smoke curling up skyward. We
next saw a log cabin.d Draw revolvers!"
was the order. When we dashed up in
front of the house t,Wo rebels were standing
in the door. Hands ipp!" and from our
surprised Johnnies we obtained revolvers
carbines, two horses, and ammunition to load
all our empty weapons. They had not
heard of Stoneman's defeat and Capron's
disaster, and we gave them yarn that made
their eyes bulge. Obtaining food, two of us
exchanged uniforms with them, and we bade
them adieu. They had said they belonged
to squad of cavalry stationed at bridge