The National tribune., 1897-10-21

ry was ready to start back to the war agar
1ss So having packed my haversack full
SIT grub, and bidding all an affectionste far
en- Wen, L left for Tennessee River, having Or,
~ Viously made arrangements with neighbC
M 10 put me across. / found him waiting Il
ed me with about the Sorriest-l looking boat eve
saw, and was actually afraid TO get in i
er put the river was calm, and he assured m
n 1T was safe.
rs 1t was the only chance, at least so ven
lie lured In, and when we landed on the soutl
a bank felt great relief to be out of reacl
Is OF the Yankees, where could breathe freel,
t once more
: April Arriving safely ON the Confed
1 crate side of The river, / started across The
country, taking the most direct route to-
5 wards Mount Hope, where we were ordered
a 20 assemble on our return. | crossed the
NJ q {. K. X. at Barton, and three miles from
i mat pace stopped for the night at Mr.. Joe
] Ihompson's, an uncle of our Captain
April 81 had long, lonely walk through
ram and mud, reaching Mount Hope
, Iate IN the evening, where found about
} IUo OF The boys camped in vacant houses,
very comfortably fixed. | was very tired,
ana after drying myself by the fire turned
III early and went to sleep.
April 1l.-Having learned that $50 Fed
u
Ola home, seven miles north of the river.
the Colonel propos, d to cross over at night
ana take them IN. y We readily agreed to
IT. ana hastily cooking what rations we had
Oh hand moved out in the direction of Tus-
cumbla, marched IL miles ami went into
camp.
Aprli l2-Arriving at Tuscumbia Land
ing at 3 p. m., opposite Hutchin's Island,
"hlch Is seven miles long and found our
| serves III dilemma. If we crossed above the
Island we would be so near Florence that
| the enemy, OF whom there is considerable
force. would discover Us and Illustrate our
plans; to 20 below would land rs 10 or -
miles from cur destination. so we could not
make the trip and return by daylight. It
was decided to ferry US all into the island.
and under cover OF the night row the boat
around the upper point, and then carry US
over
Everything went on smoothly except that
We LAD very inferior old fiatboat which |
was abie to carry only a few men at time.
Dut by patience and hard work the last load |
was landed into the island at 9 o'clock. We /
then made detail to row the beat around
Inc island, while the rest of us marched
through, which was accomplished in about
Two hours; then commenced the ferryinp
across the north branch of the river and il
was nearly o'clock when the last load wa,
landed, and we were still seven miles from
our desllpatlon, IN dark bottom where we
could not see an inch before u.s.
Inc trouble that now confronted us WAS
that we could not possibly make the trip TO
Inc jackson place and back to the river by
daylight, and IN case of failure to do this
the enemy would have time to gather their
FORCES from Florence and other places. cut ,
US off and capture u.s. Col. Jackson said he
aid not feel like taking so much RESPONSE ,
oiiity on himself, as we were sent up here to G
recruit and not TO fight, and if ii should re- i
'ait dlsastrously he would have to bear all
he censure >
We were 10th to give up the expedition, '
1ut rea.lzed The situation and felt that the I
0oiohei was right. While we were parley- b
ng over the matter, Col. Ives (of the 35th)
vas out accommodating on his own book f.
nd struck trail which led us in another l.
Erection. He went to a cabin. roused the O
Id darby from his slumbers, and told him e.
lie had deserted the Coniederates and wanted II
o join the Yankees.
Having gained his confidence the old O.
egro tod hlIn there was company of cav II
Try canlped at Alr. Peters's about four miles
istant. Ali right" said the Colonel, come
'ith me. but the old darky demurred
OF reilshins the idea of going ont with a til
ranger AT that time of The night. However. II
lih some persuasion ut tue point of an I'll
rmy pistol, lie consented much against his al
III. They arrived while we were discuss of
* the question of going to the Jackson fla
ace, and our plans were immediately tx
Hanged. With the old negro for a guide III
e began cropping our way through the
ense ana almost lmpenetrable bottom. and NJ
IN
'nntry, where we could get along very we'll of
the light of the stars pa
Our guide was instructed to lead IA fei
trough The fields as far from public roads tn
possible to avoid meeting with anyone In
no might give the alarm When wa
shteu their campiires we were halted and ur
rmed IN line-oi-battle. Our guide was re- Is
ased and told 10 go straight back home by
es nlassa, I'll do dat sure" and he s,enned III,
1 IKE he meant it. The Colonel then told in
ne wanted US TO move slowly and with me
70 least possible noise until he gave the the
inmand Charge" then TO fire volley me
sht into the camp, and 20 at a double sta
'lek, yelling Forrest, Forrest,D
When within $50 yards of the camp the rer
inmand Charge 'em, boys" rang out on fiel
. clear night air, and with q volley Wa CIR:
shed forward, every fellow trying to sac toy
40 could make the most noise Tie very Sec
me OF Forrest is host in itself and bro
ming in the dead hour of night q COM VIII
tte surprise, it is no wonder that III. flag
INKS were scared. know l would have as {
en- under such circumstances They wers MAJ
nped IN the horse lot, some sleeping in saw
. barn and others in the fence-corners aral
ose who were outside rushed nell NELL pos
o the barn and began firing ON us through I
cracks aud windows, but we soon had new
IN surrounded, and I'VE surrender ". the
render" was heard in all parts OF the bee
n star
We ceased firing, but excitement ran high. ARA
ii was some time before order could be in t
tored. After awhile the Yankees. having flag
nd we were not going 10 kill them, came otht
, and We learned that we had captured flag
White Horse Company" of 9th Ohio. very
y were much surprised that Gen. For flag
" had only 100 men, and they afoot but mon
would not undsceive them for fear some on t
mem might make their escape and report cult
real strength, when they could easily get be "
lclent force from Florence to prevent us of til
'sihg the river. Summing up the result stars
our little expedition, we got az men. A
tie horses, a lot OF fine guns and pistols. and
Or 40 horses and mules which they had FL
en from citizens, besides quite number Ohio
'A,te which they had gathered up and 3Ot
nded driving eft. These We turned ont men
ing that most OF them wouId fs,a hi. IL