The National tribune., 1898-04-28
SCOUTING INCIDENTS
Brief Stories of Bushwhacker
Hunting in Tennessee.
BY HENRY RoMEYN, BREvET MAJOR, U. s A.,
RETIRED

The duties of the scouts chosen from
Wards Brigade at Gallatin, Tenn, in 1882
/ SO, were varied. AT times sent in pur-
| suit OF bushwhackers; then hunting for
| smugsiers OF "contrabands of war; next
perhaps acting as guards for a forage
train. they were kept busy. The Sergeant
| In command OF one OF the attachments is
| authority Tor the statement that of 3S con-
| secutive days he did not have one in
| camp, and during one raid of five days
! duration did not remove his oyercoat or the
/ saddle from his horse.
| This Sergeant (iobinson) once was sent
across the Cumberland, force of so men
with him, and a Major, who said he was
along only for fun"
The party crossed the river early in the
| evening so as to have all night for work,
and a section of Nicklin's Q3th) Ind
| battery was sent to the river to protect, if
necessary, the recrosSing of the little
| force.
For guide they had a negro who had
lived in the country. He went voluntarily,
but was, to save appearances, tied to his
| saddle.
At the first farm visited, the house de-
tails had not reached their posts when the
Corporal OF the squad detailed to the
staoies came running up, saying there
must be men in the house, as they had
found two horses in the stables; which,
y,
they had found had worn saddles during
the past day.
Two men were in the house. and sleeping
SO Soundly with the sense of perfect Sc
curity, that all the noise made in rousing
the other inmates, and by half dozen
more tramping through it, failed to rouse
them. They were only awakened when
shaken by the shoulders, after their cloth
ing and pistols had been secured.
When he did get awake, one sprang up
in bed, took a look into the muZZle of the
pistol not far from his head, and with the
expression, "Baggedi" asked for his
clothes, an example speedily followed by
his comrade. They were furloughed men
from Bragg's army at Tullahoma, on their
way to their homes in Kentucky.
The party found the negroes not averse
to giving information, when it could be done
without attracting attention, and were told
by one at this place that rebel officer was
stopping for the night at house about
mile away. Owing to a noise made by
dog, the house was not quite surrounded
when the officer was alarmed, and though
rush was at once made, the heavy door
could not be burst open in time to prevent
his escape by a back window A fine pair
OF pistols, of English make, with his belt,
were left behind.
AT this house negro gave information
of a dance having been held that night
some distance off, and that he thought
after it was over.
As the guide was not sure of the loca-
ton, the informant was taken along, and
when he had located the house, was we'll
paid and dismissed, that he might evade
recognition
BY this time day was dawning, and as
the diSmOunted men were running forward
to surround the house, one of the guests
OF whom seven or eight had slept on the
rear pOrch-came to the end of it clad only
in Undertaking, and without shoes or
hat. He saw the advancing party, and
shouting an alarm, dashed down lane
leading to piece of woodland some hum
dreds of yards away. A shot and order to
halt only added to his speed, and
mounted man started in pursuit.
Though the Johnny" ran like a scared
rabbit, the horseman gained at every
stride, but a hundred yards away the lane
made a square angle TO the left. Over the
fence at the angle the pursued leaped like
deer, though a thick hedge of blackberry
bushes lined the farther side. The pur-
suer's horse, not long in the service, re-
fused the leap, and by the time he had
refused it twice the quarry was out of
reach. All the others were captured.
The men having been in the saddle all
night, were hungry. They never carried
full ratlOnS, because of difficulty of carry
ing during rapid movements, frequently
haSty departure from camp. and the fact
tfdt Tie SfI1dli Size OF the command u1dOo
living off the country" practicable. The
party was divided into four squads, with
orders to get breakfast at houses not far
away and to keep pickets out.
AS part of the squad at the house nearest |
to the river were eating their meal, the |
picket from his place among the bushes !
near the house reported the approach of |
three horsemen from the direction of the |
stream.
The non commissioned officer in charge |
had only allowed half his men to eat at |
once, and it was the work of but moment |
for the others to mount and charge the
who were rebels that had been
to Kentucky. Returning with : fresh
mounts, they had crossed the river during
the night, and thinking themselves secure
on that side, were riding leisurely and
carelessly.
Confronted by twice their number. they
lid not stop to fight, but fled along the
which led past house where
he second squad had stopped. The firing
which announced the presence of an
enemy had been heard, and they found
themselves between two parties.