The National tribune., 1899-03-23

arms and horses. and took their places in our
column. We were soon on good terms, as
they, as well as we, expected that they would
be turned over to the Federal authorities as
prisoners of war. From that time on they
marched with Us, sharing our applejack and
provisions. For several days We moved on
We all became very much worn out, but not
discouraged.
We had not as yet been annoyed by any
squads of Confederate cavalry. We were
moving to strike the Cumberland Mountains
some distance south of Cumberland Gap, and
We knew that the rebels had no troops at
that place, except infantry. and these we
could avoid. OF course, such body of men
marching along the public highway for the
Union lines would be noised abroad. have
no doubt we had spies among US who kept
the rebels posted as to our movements. The
Confederate authorities at Knoxville at once
started a brigade of cavalry, under the COM
mand of Col Ashby, TO intercept u.s. OF
this fact we were fully advised, and made
out calculations to reach the Cumberland
Mountains before Ashby, with his command,
could reach our crossing place.
This We could have safely done, provided
we could have forded Powell's River, rapid
stream running a few miles east of the
mountains. Here fate was against u.s. When
We reached the river it was up, and we had
no means to cross except in very small,
rickety boat. This delayed Us some time;
long enough, as l calculated, for Col. Ashby
to get in striking distance with his cavalry.
We got across between 10 and IL o'clock a.
m., and could have reached the mountains
in a few hours if not molested. / knew that
the enemy was not far in front of US, and
gave orders for our men to conceal themselves
tIsh hI,,ffc cnrtf -,
then TO travel, each fellow for himself, till he
could reach the mountains, and then get to-
gether again.
There were some serious objections to pur-
suing this course, and after mature consid-
Grafton, we decided to stand together, make
an advance, and take our chances in either
avoiding or thrashing Ashby and his cavalry.
We had to move through belt of timber
before reaching the open valley contiguous to
the mountains. This valley is about three
miles in width, extending all along east
OF the mountains and through it the main
road up to Cumberland Gap extends 1t is
fine valley, interspersed with farms and
farmhouses, and here and there clusters OF
plum-thickets.
On arriving near the open I halted the
column and made fiery speech to the men,
urging them, if We should be attacked, to
uSuL W Tue DllttT uedlu Idtfier t0an De beaten
and captured. We had moved forward per-
haps mile into the valley, when company
OF Confederate cavalry made its appearance
in our rear, between us and the timber we
had just left. / went with lot of our
best-armed men to the rear, and after few
shots the rebels retired into the timber. l
returned to the front and moved the column
forward.
Pretty soon noticed companies OF Confed-
crate cavalry coming towards us from all direc-
tions, and it was apparent that we were entirely
surrounded. The fight was soon on, and it
continued at long range for quite time.
Our men kept the rebels at bay until their
ammunition ran short. The rebels noted
this and at once charged, saber in hand, and
then pandemonium reigned.
Our men dubbed with their then empty
guns. The men with pixies used them to
good advantage and l saw quite q number
using fence-raDs, with which they tumbled
rebel cav -cn off their horses had
taken S1 my coats and stove-pipe hat /
was in my shirtsleeves, and having nothing
to fight with except the sword, went charg-
Ing around at furious rate; but it was no
usei the battle was lost, and the men began
scattering in every direction. Some sur
rendered, but the greater part made their
escape. !, by some good fortune. and un-