The National tribune., 1901-03-07

taking the valley. Our boys rather took
to bull punching" as they called it. We
got along very well the first day. and
We're climbing over spur of the noun
tain, calculating to go into camp in the
next valley, when the advance came rush
ing back saying that there was an army
coming to crush us. We soon discovered
that it was Gen. McCook's cavalry from
Rosecrans's army being sent to the rear
to keep them from starving to death. The
road was just wide enough for two horses.
PERCEPTIONS on one side and steep banks on
the other. What were we to do? We
could not turn back On they came with
that steady tramp. The cattle turned up
the steep Hill and let the cavalry pass.
There were over 1000 horses. and it took
long time for them to get by. 1t was
ritch dark before we saw the last OF them.
We could not see our cattle. so had to
camp right there in the brush. without
drop of water.
At the first dawn of day we commenced
to search for our stock. Our horses
saddles were fitted with double girths. one
over the breast, for climbing the noun
talns. / saw one of our boys squirting
after wild steer. when the girth broke.
and he, still hanging to the saddle. went
rolling down the mountain side We
worked like beavers. but we never could
find all of those cattle. | stopped he
hind the rest for a few minutes. and dis
covered in the bushes one of our cattle.
which had hidden. I soon pushed him out
of his lair and got him with the rest of
the herd
I never made the claim that saved
the Union but I do insist that saved
some of Uncle Sans beef. We were short
about 90 head.
The next day our route led us close to
the Tennessee River. almost under the
shadow of Lookout Mountain. The John
MES had lot of sharpshooters stationed
on the other side to make it interesting
for those who had to go that way. 1t
was only about half mile. but it was
enough. We got all ready. and then the
way we rushed those cattle over that road
was a sight to see. Strange as it NAV
seem. not one of the boys or cattle was
hit. Our ambulance did not fare so well.
The driver started in on the run. He
got about half way across. when one Of
the lead mules dropped. shot through the
head. They soon cut him loose. and got
through without any more trouble.
That night we got to Chattanooga and
turned over our cattle to the Quartermas-
ter. 7 do not know how they settled about
the shortage. During the niSht there was
quite fight on Mission Ridge. In the
morning we mounted and went down to
the river to the pontoon bridge. where
we crossed over to the city of Chatta-
on ton Of Lookout Mountain. I was glad
that It did not take long to transact our
business.
Fifty prisoners were turned over to us
to escort back to Stevenson. On our way
back over the mountain we came across
the smoking ruins of one of our wagon
trains which had just been destroyed by
Forrest. Some of the teamsters had at
tempted to escape down the mountain
with the wagons. They had been over.
taken and the wagons thrown over
precipice more than hundred feet down.
/ crawled up and looked over. l never
saw such sight befOre-mules, wagons.
harness and commissaries all piled in CON
fusion. | don't know whether the driv-
ers were in the pile or not.
We got along with our prisoners all
right until nearly to Bridgeport, when
lot of soldiers, camped by the side of the
road, commenced firing at our prisoners.
They did not hit any Of them. We re-
turned to Stevenson, where we did patrol
duty for few days; then we were Or
dered to turn over our horses and enuip-
ments and go with the regiment to Nash
yille.-F. B. CHILD Sergeant, 18th Wis.
Emerald Grove. Wis.