The National tribune., 1899-06-01


Il We moyed away from that vicinity as
fast as we could We headed down the
HolstOn till we came near 10 our pIcket
post, then struck west for Blain's Cross
roads.
About 7 D. m. it commenced raining
and we urged our horses on at fuil speed.
| Ii being now dark, and raining in torrents
we had a gay time of it. BY 8 O'Clock
we reached the Crossroads, but no sign ol
soldiers greeted our view. Beng ac-
quanted with n Union man who mad a
son in the 1st Tenn. Cav, and who lived
not far from the Crossroads, we rode to
| his place, and were mortified and dis
gusted to learn that no cavalry were
nearer than Is miles, on the knoxvIiie
| road. On the top of this came these
words:
"Bovs. you are in danger here, for this
section is full of rebs and bushwhackers.
Last night nine came here looking Tor
horses and plunder, and threatened to Kill
me because | had a son in the Yankee
| army"
We, however, concluded to stay there
and take chances. When night came we
spread our blankets in little cabin not not
far away. Barricading the door, we lay
down and tried to sleep. About a. m l
was aroused by loud voice in the di-
rection of the road fronting the house.
'Hello in there" came the voice again.
/ nudged Meyers and whispered, "Rebs,
rebS."
We heard the rebels hold a brief talk
with our host, and then they moved away.
At daylight we decided to head for May
nardsville, believing that if our brigade
was on the march to Powelfs Valley we
would surely hear of it, if not meet it.
Making as good time as we could against
snow and wind, by dark we were within
seven miles of Maynardsville, but could
learn of no Yanks nearer than Knoxville.
Next morning at Maynardsville, we found
the place as quiet as death. We noticed
i'm the road through town tracks OF horses,
seemingly not very old, and directed west,
the way we desired to go. On this road, a
short distance from town, was building
used for schoOlhOuse and church. We
observed several horses tied to the fence,
and the door of the building open. The
house stood back from the road perhaps
300 yards, and was approached from the
road through a narrow lane. We rode on
leisurely, planning as we went.
Three men came to the door and stood
looking at us. We kept right on, and
coming to the lane turned as If we in
tended riding up. Then the men in the
door stepped back.
At this we wheeled our horses and
spurred them to their utmost speed on the
road to the west We glanced back, and
beheld, coming after us at full tilt, four
hOrsemen. After going about two miles,
and finding us gaining, our pursuers
Stacked up and turned back. When be-
yond sight of them we left the road and
entered the timber. That night we were
within Is miles Of POwelPs Valley.
We learned that no YankS were nearer
than JacksborOugh, a small town I'm Pow
ellis Valley on the road from Cumberland
Gap to Clinton.
Gap road by dark, then headed for Jacks
borough, and by s p. m. reached the town,
finding there a detachment of infantry, |
and got some corn for our horses. Here
wesstayed till morning, and learned that
no cavalry were north Of Clinch River. !
We saw no more soldiers that day until, |
by fast travelling, we reached the town of |
Clinton by dark, finding there quite
force of infantry and n battery of artil-1
lery Reporting to the officer command |
ing the post, we told him we had come |
from Cumberland Gap, and were on our
way to join our company at Knoxville,
and asked if he could not let us have Pa
tions for self and horses. We were given
a few hardtack and a little corn.
The Clinch River at that point was
crossed by means of a scow ferry, and the
river being so high the day previous, the
scOw had broken adrift and gone several
miles down stream ere being caught. We
wanted to swim our horses across but the
officer would not let us, saying we could
never reach the opposite side with such a
current running; therefore, we had to wait
till the afternoon OF next day. Then,
the scow having been brought up, we
were crossed over, and onward towards
Knoxville we went reaching hat place
the following afternoon. Knowing that
our Regmental Quartermaster was on
duty there, we hunted him up, and was
told that our regiment had started for
Kentucky via PowelTs Valley and Cum
berland Gap.
Great Cesar's ghost" said l. eve have
Just came from there, and we think you
are mistaken"
"Well," said he, "you had better go to
General Headquarters and see."
Going there we were told that our regi- ,
nent was at the front in the vicinity of
Plains. 1t seemed to us the !
more we travelled the farther we got from
'ur destination. Thinking we had. our {
egiment located for sure, we moved on.
md next day rode to General Headauar,