The National tribune., 1898-03-10

Editor National Tribune: While Gen
Sherman was making final arrangements
preparatory to his march 10 the sea, the
bulk of his army was lying at Kingston
Ga. On Nov s. 1S54-Presidential election
day-Indiana troops not being permitted
TO vote in the field, my regiment, the 74th
Ind, was detailed to accompany the head
quarters train on foraging expedition.
Hoods army was concentrated at the
time at or near Florence, Ala, conse-
quently we were perfectly free from danger
from the enemy in any considerable force,
but we had been considerably annoyed by
a desperate gang OF from Seventy-fiye to
one hundred guerrilas under the COM
mand of a desperate known as Capt.
Hendricks. They were bold riders, well
mounted and well armed. and woe TO the
unfortunate Union soldier who was caught
outside our picllet-lines. 1t was o1 account
of the danger arising from the presence oi
this desperate band that SO large force
was detailed on the loraglng expedition
mentioned above
The expedition started in a nOrtheaSterly
direction, and when about 15 miles from
camp found sufficient forage 10 fill our
wagons. We had started very early in the
morning, marched rapidly, and had ac-
c0mpilshcd the task OF filing our wagons
by noon or a little later. Of course, we
were tired and hungry.
Col. Morgan, than whom a kinder man
ncTer commanded a regiment, told the
b US tn2t ne would allow them TO get din
nef and rest for an hour and a half before
starting on The return trip, and would per
mil a limited number from each company
Ia x ieto the surrounding country 10 get
something edible.
Volunteers To the number OF 30 or 10 were
quick to respond, and, with visions OF
chickens fresh pork and smoked ham,
soon disap DeaTed in various directions.
Possibly an hour had elapsed when we
were s.arJled by distant but rapid muSketry-
firing. We rightly conjectUred that our
fo-aginS comrades had been attacked by
Hendrcks's guerrilas.
Cpl. Morgan promptly dispatched a com
pany 10 tle relief of the fOragerS. The fir
Ing was at least two miles distant, and
before the company could reach the scene
II had entirely ceased and the guerrillaS
were Fastening with their prisoners in an
opposite direction. Those who had eS
capped came in, many Of them in a de
moraliz9d condition, one or two hatless,
co2tless and shoeless: indeed. they had
morning on their persons but shirt and
Uonsers, having shed, as they expressed |
II, an trial of speed with the guerrilla |
cavalry, declaring that in a square race Of
half mile in an open field they had come |
out ahead
One came in who, while he had man
thing except shirt and pants, had chung to |
a chicken that he had captured prior TO |
the attack. The chicken was stripped of |
rs feathers and The boys jokingly asked If |
he had found time To pick his chicken
while racing with the rebS He answered /
NO but declared, with solemn demeanor
that the chicken had saved his life, and
proceeded TO explain that in his desperate
hight he had gained such a momentum
that the resistance OF the air had stripped |
The chicken and the feathers flying so /
ihickly IN his wake had blinded his pur-
suers 10 the extent that they were unable |
TO shoot with accuracy; consequently he |
had escaped.
Alter waiting reasonable time we were /
oDllged To return TO camp and report the 1
loss OF several men. In order To a better !
understanding of what followed may state
that 1t was said to be known to Gen. Sher- |
man that the guerrilla Captain his Lieu
tenant and at least number of his men
lived within radius OF twenty or twenty |
i've miles from Kingston, and it was be |
lieved that they had no communication
with the regular Confederate army, neither |
had they any camp equipage, therefore
must depend upon the citizens and their
own resources for subsistence
They had never met US in honora bic
warfare, and when pressed by our cavalry
would suddenly disperse, scatter to !
Their MONIES, secrete their arms. and as sud |