The National tribune., 1899-12-14

gray and my curb-chain being broken. he
| got the rens from me and when the } johnnes
| made their stand and checked our dash he
ran on too near their lines 10 be comforta bic,
which threw me considerably in advance OF
! our column. The rebels perhaps thought
the boy on the iron-gray horse the bravest
lad i'll our command, but had they known
my feelings at that time they would have
thought differently. | became separated
from my regiment and found the 10th Mo.
in line-of-battle and fell in with them, and
shortly after found my regiment.
CHARGE AND RECAPTURE.
Soon afterward the rebels were discovered
in line-of- battle at Barton Station. immedi-
ately in our rear The 1st Ala was ordered
to charge. We raised the yell and went
through them and they scattered That
brought us back again in communication
with our infantry at Bear Creek ard we
also recaptured one of our guns that the
Joiinnies had taken from us a few hours
before.
After skirmishing the remainder of the
evening we went into camp on the ground
we had skirmiShed over all day. The
writer with seven others of the company
was detailed for picket-guard on the road
leading back to Bear Greek, with orders to he
cautious about firing, as our infantry was
expected to come upon that road before day
Sure enough, between midnight and day.
the infantry began to march through, and
their commander told us to lie down and
take our rest, that his command would be
passing until daylight and we need not
apprehend any danger from that quarter
That was good news to U.S. We took him
at his word. The next night Co y, LIST
Ala. Cav. was ordered back to Bear Creek,
where we found a squadron of the 10th Mo-
Cav. They were preparing to bury one of
their men who had died from wounds re-
ceived the day before at Cherokee I
asked What commando" as we passed their
quarters. The reply WAS "Co. /, 10th Mo-"
The writer and one other comrade of Co.
Il were detailed to accompany detachment
under Lieut. Smith, of Co A, to carry dis
patch to our fleet of boats at Eastport, Miss
There We met Col. Streight's command
on their famous raid. We re-
manned at Eastport two or three days and
joined the command again at Town Creek
several miles above Tuscumbia; from there
we returned to Camp Glendale, after several
days fighting, scouting and raiding through
the Tuscumbia Valley.
In the latter part of September or the list
Of October, 1863, the 1st Ala. Cav started
Dut on raid. We had wagons loaded with
tools for the purpose of tearing up the rail-
-oad track. About $50 started on the raid
with two small pieces of artillery, and about
go sick and dconvalescent remained in camp.
It was rumored among the boys that they
we're ordered to strike the railroad about
Rome, Ga. had not been able to find out,
Iut learned something of the results before
to camp Glendale.
We Travelled about 125 miles south down |
o Jasper. the Countyseat of Walker |
Jounty, Ala. There were $50 men and two |
mall cannon in the heart of rebellion, 125 |
niles from our lines. The rebels had spies |
N our track and knew every move We made |
md where we encamped every night. We |
uddenly turned back toward Jasper, why |
never knew, and took up our line of march |
oward COrinth about II o'clock, and at |
'atterson's Store we found the rebel pickets.
We fired few rounds and drove them in.
md we then halted for dinner and rested |
lntil o'clock.
We started again and proceeded about
alf,mlle and encountered the pickets again
We mad kept two men in disguise in front |
our column TO learn what they could, and
hey reported no troops in our front. but a
attallon OF cavalry under Maj. Moreland,
nd when we encountered the pickets the
econd time we went but a short distance
ntll we encountered their main line.
Wnen we struck their line Cos. A, j, F
nd Il dlsmounted and went into action on
ne left of the road near Widow Clark's
ouse. Cos. ID and f formed mounted TO
ur rght-rear in a little field or clearing.
oS. Z, II, and X were in reserve. The
ebels yelled and charged us. The artil-
'ry opened ilre on them and checked them
n the start, but they soon rallied and came
gain. /;
We used our carbines then and reserved
ur Colts for close quarters. About the
econd volley Lieut.. Swift, Co. b, fell NOR
lortally wounded; Capt. Sternberg, of Co.
J, was killed, and number of brave BOYS
the 1st Ala. Cav. went down in defense /;
their country's flag.
On that day we fought until late i'm the ]
VenIng and held our ground until the reg- !
.ent had all retreated but the dismounted
Dmpanles We fought on, ignorant of the
treat of the remainder Of the regiment '
nd also Ignorant of odds. We We're con
'ndlnS with them when we discovered we l
ere under crossfire and nearly surrounded.
nd we ran out under a heavy cross-fire and
Vertook the regiment about two miles from
lere.
The rebels pressed us hard until about
ark, and our company was completely de- G
orallzed. We had been informed, as be- =
ire stated. that there was no troops in our
ont but Maj. Moreland's battalion. and we
new that We We're equal in numbers or a | C
tile above it. But the facts We're that {
oreland was there with his men and a
bout five. miles above Col. Fergfson. n
lth n mississippi regiment of mounted | O
1antry, was Watching another road for us,
ld IL mad been so arranged that the two II
could:be brought together on i.
Fry short notice if we encountered them on
ther road. Our halt for dinner and a little a
st gave Ferguson ample time to reinforce a
oreland, so when We struck their line we Il
lcountered about 400 cavalry and 500
Ounted infantry. h
The writer with about 100 others went to Q
lerman's lines on their way east. Some /,
ent to Corinth and various points along h
e Memphis d Charleston Railroad, and o
g were consolidated again at Camp Davis. Ia
! the Mobile q Ohio Railroad a
While do not claim the honor for the 1st
la. Cav: above any other good regiment, N
10 say they did great deal of hard service, a
III DO not claim any merit for the Ioyai
)uthern men above the comrades of the t,
orth as to valor and fighting qualities, il
1t they made greater sacrifice for the
mon than the men of the North Con- a
Ter the loyal men in the South, especially el
far south as Alabama, what they had ID
endure for their country. They were ex- a
sed and in danger every minute OF their v
es. They We're shot sitting by their fire d
les or walking on the road; they had to
I'VE their families to the abuse of the u
emy; had to keep themselves closely con- ii
iled like the vermin in the woods until e,
ey could make escape through the lines,
d then had to share the same hardships b
Soldier life that the comrades Of the North ST
re. n