The National tribune., 1898-03-10

the woods on our flank. Cos. G and I
started after the regiment.
The house just burned belonged to Lieut.
Billings q think that was the name), o
the guerrilla band. The next house or
our return was that of the elder Hendricks
while the third, i'll succession, was that o
his son, the Captain. These three houses
were burned in the presence of our pris-
onerS, who, OF course, were furious.
As we approached the fourth house, the
sight OF women and children engaged III
carrying out the furniture touched oul
Colonel's heart, and we marched by with
out doing them any harm. No more houses
were burned on the return trip.
We had covered perhaps half of the dis
lance, plodding along more dead than
alive, the regiment strung out more than
double its usual length and the head
climbing hill on an open field, when the
Colonel, who had just reached the brow OF
| the hill, wheeled his horse, and in stem
+ torian tones ordered double quick into line.
Then came rapid firing, with bullets whist
ling near.
The guerrilas had conceived the idea OF
! heading us off; by a sudden attack throw
/ ing us into temporary confusion, and II
! possible efecting the rescue of Capt.
Hendricks and his men. 1t will be re-
membered that Hendricks was in charge
/ of two soldiers of Co. G. This company
! being near the rear, had emerged from the
/ woods only a short distance when the
! head OF the regiment was attacked. In
! the excitement of whiStling bullets and
commands of the Colonel, Hendricks was
mOmentarily forgotten, and his guards
started with the rest of the company to
form line battle. Hendricks just as
promptly started for the woods, but Serg't
Rich soon thought OF his prisoner, and
wheeling, leveled his gun at the Captain
/ and commanded a halt. The Captain
quickly dropped to the ground. The Ser
geant was upon him in moment, and at
the point of the bayonet marched him
! back TO the company.
One Voley from our boys was sufficient
to cause the guerrllas to disappear from
our front as quickly as horses could carry
them. We arrived late in the evening
safely in camp with our prisoners.
But we had wrought far better than We
knew The fact developed that Hendricks,
who, through his spies, had a perfect
knowledge of every detail of our camp, had
a well -matured plan for making sudden
dash in the night, with his entire force OF
bold riders, and either capturing or killing
Gen. Sherman. The accomplishment OF
such an undertaking would not have been
as difficult as might at first appear The
well-lSnown fact that no Confederate army
was near had caused d relaxation OF the
usual precautions. AS consequence
light picket line was all that stood be
tween the enemy and the sleeping army,
and as q further aid to HendrichS's plan
Gen. Shermans headquarters were well to
one side Of the encampment.
Hendricls's plan was to approach with
his entire force as near our picket-llne as
possible without discovery, and then send
two OF his men, dismounted, to an isolated
picket under pretensc of being Union cltl-
zenS fleeing from guerrillas, and seeking
protection, engage the picket in friendly
conversation, when off his guard TO seiZe
and diSarm him, then, with the prisoner,
quietly return to the waiting band.
Through the gap thus opened the whole
band were to quietly ride and approach as
near as possible the tent of the sleeping
General. before an alarm would be given.
An alarm once given, then they were to
rush with all speed upon the Generals
camp asSassinate Sherman and as many
more as possible, then make their escape.
The very night that Hendricks was
marched into camp was the night IN winch
he had expected to attempt the killing OF
Gen. Sherman, and the very man who had
been forced TO act as our guide on that
memorable night had been sent into camp
by Hendricks for the purpose OF making
final Details. ID. Myers, Co. |, 74th Ind,
Goshen, Ind.