The National tribune., 1900-07-19

| When it came opposite the house, which
stood back short distance from the road
| Serg't Lyon diSmounted, went to it alone,
knocked at the door, and, the General him
self having opened it. covered him with
| his revolver and demanded his surrender.
He surrendered, and being in his night
clothes, asked permission to go into his
room to dress, which was granted.
| In a moment the report of pistol was
heard, and the lifeless form of Serg't Lyon
was found by our boys when they rushed
| in, lying on the doorstep, shot through the
back window and escaped. Had we recap
! tured him there was a rope ready, willing
| hands, and trees convenient. one Of which
would soon have had for its fruit rebel
| Brigadier.
We captured and brought within our
large number of thoroughbred Kentucky
| horses, losing only one man; he was
Serg't Pat Lyon.
SToNEMAN'S RAID.
The three companies which had been on
duty at Department Headquarters Joined
the regiment in the Spring of 1865. We
| were for the first time put in brigade, and
we found the service much less arduous
| than as an independent regiment. 1t was
commanded by Col. Palmer, now Brevet
Brigadier, and Lieut.-COl. Betz, brave
| and gallant officer, assumed command
OF the regiment.
The brigade formed part Of Gen. Stone
| mans command when he moved from
Knoxville, in the latter part of March,
| across the Smoky Mountains into North
Carolina, for the purpose of destroying the
| few remaining railroads in the Confederaoy
| and depot of supplies. We halted first near
Wilkesboro. N. c., on the YaGkin River,
| where we rested and feasted for a few days
tha ~
| houses filled with supplies intended for the
rebel armies, and destroyed what remained.
The command then proceeded by a
forced march to Christianburg, Va, and
| was busy for two days destroying the
railroad; One battalion Of our regiment,
was sent along the line of the road as far as
Lynchburg and destroyed several i'm
portant bridges. This was q hazardous
expedition for so small body of men, as
they. marched through the heart Of the
Confederacy. 1t was very successfully
conducted, and with small loss, after
| severe marching, this battalion Joined the
command at Statesville.
Stoneman returned from Christianburg
| into North Carolina for the purpose of de-
| stroying the railroads in that State, captur-
| ing Salisbury, and releasing the Union pris-
oners. When we reached Salem detach-
| ment Of 80 men of our regiment, under Col
Betz, was sent to destroy railroad bridge
near Greensboro.
Upon the march he was informed that a
part OF the Sd S. G. Cav. was in camp near
him. He charged their camp, completely
surprising them, and they broke and fed
to a neighboring meadow, where they
finally. surrendered. The Colonel found
when he counted his prisoners that they
| about equalled his own number Of men.
A detail of 10 men under Serg't Wilson
destroyed the bridge. Capt. Kramer with
the 1st battalion destroyed gun factory
near the same place, and the Sd bat
talon was sent to destroy an important
trestle work near Greensboro. We did not
succeed very well in tile attempt, as our
only tools were some very aged axes,
borrowed from farm houses, none Of which
seemed to have been introduced to a grind
stone since theft early youth.
While we were hacking at the trestles a
rebel cavalry command which had been
following us on, the march attacked our
skirmish-line. We dropped our axes.
mounted and formed in haste, Just as our
skirmishers, led byiSerg't Marshal, charged
them, and we following with genuine
Yankee yell, they took to the woods, and we
did not see nor hear Of them again.
In the meantime Stoneman, with the bal
ance OF the division, captured Salisbury;
butthe Union prisoners bad been removed
be left small force in the town and moved
to Statesville. It was subsequently driven
out by the enemy, and our Sd battalion
was much disappointed when, one evening
at dusk, in our forced march to join our bri-
gade, we found Salisbury in the possession
OF the enemy. We had already been in the
saddle three days and nights in succession,
and another weary nights march ensued
and at dawn Of the next day we Joined the
brigade. Our regiment lay at Lincolnton,
N. c., during Sherman's and Johnston's
armistice. After Johnston's surrender the
division started for Knoxville, but at Ruther-
fordton, n. c., it was orGered in pursuit Of
jeff Davis.
CAPTURE OF BRAGG.
In this pursuit we crossed North and
South Carolina and Georgia, and drove
him into the hands Of Wilson's cavalry, who
were south and west OF us. We secured
the country in small detachments which
made some important captures, among
them Gen. Bragg, his wife, some Of his
staff and all OF his Headquarters baggage