The National tribune., 1899-03-30

| them o long time. TO take this Gap by
direct assault could not be considered, and to
undertake to starve them out was worse than
folly. There was no hope for success unless
this mill With all the grain in it could be
burned.
| About so coon-hunters from the East
Tennessee regiments volunteered to perform
the feat. They prepared themselves with
turpentine balls, and in the dead of the night,
with q guide who we'll knew the road, on
double-quick. made for the mill. They
reached it, broke the door down, scattered
the flaming turpentine halls all around, and
beat retreat They returned to camp with
ont the loss of man. Of course, the mill
was at once wrapped in flames and made a
bonfire long to be remembered in that part Of
| the country.
This struck the rebels with CONSERVATION,
rs they had to starve. fight out, or surrender.
Gen. Frazier took few days to decide. On
the west side of the Gap we knew nothing Of
this occurrence Gen. De .Courcey took O
notion that he would capture the Gap by
direct assault. Early one morning received
an order to proceed with my command to a
point directly under Fort Chnrchwell, have
my men tie up their horses, and at O'Clock
sharp, if not otherwise. ordered, to storm
Fort Churchwell. About this order 1 was to
say nothing till the time arrived.
We took up our position under Fort
Churchwell as ordered. The men were
amusing themselves. not knowing why we
were there. lay down upon big poplar
log and took in the situation. 1t was worse
than madness to make such an attempt. Fort
Churchwell was the best fortified point
around the Gap, and was full of soldiers.
have always thought that 1 would have been
justified in refusing to obey that order, but
while on the log determined to do all in my
power to plant the United States flag on
Fort Churchwell.
got up, drank some strong coffee, went
back and lay down again. l heard a yell
going up at the far end of the camp. saw
courier coming in gallop swinging his
cap and screaming at the top of his voice
that the rebels had surrendered. got my
command into line, and we marched back to
the road, entering the Gap on the west side,
and went into camp. l found Gen. De-
Courcey in his quarters, under arrest for some
disobcdience of orders. He was greatly
broke up" He was a fine officer; and l
here, as then, spread the mantle of charity
over him.
received an order from Gen. Burnside to
report to him with my entire command on
the east side of the gap early next morning.
On arrival 1 found the rebels marching
down into the fat near Murel's Spring,
stacking their arms.
finally found Gen. Burnside sitting under
the fly Of a tent. He received me kindly,
and handed me my order. was directed
to proceed without delay with my command
to Morristown, where I would join Gen.
Foster and three other cavalry regiments,
with view Of making raid up to Bristol,
on the Virginia line, to burn bridges and
tear up the railroad-track, to prevent the
rebels at Richmond from sending reinforce
ments into East Tennessee. We had no
time to tarry, and the bugle pealed forth one
IF its loudest strains, and we were on the
march right along and through the section
Of country through which we had passed the |
year previous as Lincolnites and outlawed |
'calawags.
No finer regiment ever entered the service. |
Dur horses we're first class, in good condi- |
Jon, and every man armed to the teeth, and !
oaded with ammunition. We had more of
IN ovation than a march. The Union
,eople hailed us with joy-the old men and
,oys throwing up their hats, the women and
,irls waving their handkerchiefs, and last, |
nut not less interesting, the old ladies clap |
,ing their hands and shouting as the Stars
nd Stripes were futtering in the pure air of
East Tennessee. Oar regiment was COM
'osed mostly Of men from this aart OF the |