The National tribune., 1899-01-05

sacrifice upon the altar of liberty, dying
as he had lived-for his country.
This ended my adventures in this lear
| fully bloody struggle-one in which our
men exhibited most heroic qualities, and
| which gained to us. in the end, tbe
ground we fought for, though the cost was
| frightful; and it was soon after. as every
reader knows, followed by sturendcus re-
/ suits.
Long will remember the proud look OF
defiance upon the face of every man
when once within the Qualifications at
Chattanooga. AS they were filing IN the
rebels reached the summit of Mission
| Ridge; and as they advanced in full line
tory, which were answered by our men
with cheer after cheer, as defiant and
proud as ever.
Soon the rebels opened with shot and
she'll upon every assailable point, but
they were promptly answered, with ac-
curacy, by our artillery, and they de-
clined to assault us in our position hop
ing to force Il surrender through famine
a deluSive phantom as they soon dis
covered To their cost.
FIGHTING WHEELER
At Chattanooga j was invited by Gen.
Crook to go with him up the Tennessee,
as there was n prospect that Wheeler
would make an attempt to get in our rear
with his cavalry. Such a movement on
tIle part Oh the enemy lS0t wen De view
ed with trembling by every patriot; for,
If our communications were once cut, or
even If only broken three or four days, it
would have compelled the surrender OF
the gallant Army Of the Cumberland
then hemmed in within the notifications
of Chattanooga, with only Il single route
for keeping supplies of ammunition and
stores to stand siege until reinforced
On Sept. % and "a Gen. Crook started
with the Second Division of Cavalry to the
vicinity of Washington, Tenn, to coun-
teract or check the intended raid If pos
sible. When he arrived at Smiths Cross
roads the General threw out pickets at
every ford for miles up and down the
river; but at COttonpOrt the enemy plant
ed artillery and shelIed our men back
from the bank, and then commenced
crossing.
As reinforcements were not to be had,
the General could not give Wheeler battle
at that place; but collecting all his scat
tered bands as rapidly as possible, he pre-
pared to fall upon the rear Of Wheeler's
army. At the ford the conflict was short
and desperate, and as soon as Wheeler
gained the north bank of the river, he
marched directly across the valley to the
mountains, while Gen. Crook pursued
him rapidly. Our force, attic ugh too
small to fight the whole force of the rebels
was still able to whip them en- the raid
every time they came upon their rear.
nessee with Wheeler S command was the |
rebel Provost Marshal of Chattanooga |
named VIM. OZieT, and his object was 20
conscript men en- the north side of the |
river. Mai. Matth ewS, of the 4th Ohio, |
had charge OF the picket and had given
coming over; Tut | had not heard the
order. We had been picking them up
four or five at a time, and making them
prisoners without firing gun; and but
for the fact that this PARTY came over |
and formed in line as they advanced, |
suppose we should have continued to do
| watched them closely as they came |
toward us, and thought | detected them
drawing their guns for use. stealthily. |
With the ring of Chic<amauga fresh lin |
my ears ] may have been a little |
nervous; but be that as ii may, without
waiting fer further developments ] raised |
my rifle and fired at the leader killing |
him instantly, while the next fellow
caught "a bullet in the temple; and then /
the firing became general, and the john
MES, badly frightened, wheeled their
horses and rushed them back to the shore |
Of the river.
The one who was shot in the head did
not die. The ball struck the temple, and
passed around under the skin to the OPP /
pos ite-o one where il me out-a tact |
which learned from the farmer who took
him out Of the river. On the body OF the
Provost Marshal was 81 ,400 but ! took
none OF il. | laid him out decently and
handed him over to the citizens OF the
vicinity for Identification
CLOSE CONFLICT.
Gen Crook s force at that time did not
exceed 800 while Wheeler had with him
Z coo; yet we whipped him at Cumberland
Mountain on the Sequatchie River, at
McMinnvile, and saved Murfreesboro
and the railroad and ali cur supplies;
then again overlook him at Shelbyville,
whipped him, then forced the fugaciGus
rebel To "a general engagement at Farm
ingt0n, where he was whipped badly.
taking all his cannon, a portion OF his
train, and 500 prisoners; then we drove
him from Pulaski, and overlook and de
feated lin at Sugar Creek and sent him
on the double-quick over the Muscle
Shoals.
1t was severe work, both parties dis
playi the most determined courage, fire.