The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-05-08
WAR STORIES.
Wheeler's Cavalry in Sequachee Valley in
1868.
Pirate ". e. Doelson IN .lHanta journal.

Federal army of probably 20, 900 men
insisting that nothing but certain dis.
aster could result.
Notwithstanding these pleadings
and the fact that by this time men and
horses were almost completely ex-
hausted, Wheeler selected 1900 of
the best mounted men and took the
saddle at 2 o'clock on the morning OF
the second Of October to scour the
valley in search Of his prey, while the
remainder of the command was order
cd to move slowly over the mountains
in the direction Of McMinnvillc.
After marching about six miles with
his escort and advance guard he cap
tnred ;!2 wagons, 200 mules and horse
and number Of prisoners These lie
turned over to the Fourth Alabama
Cavalry, which, with the men detailed
to guard his rear and flank, left his
force less than 900 strong. With
these he pushed on down the valley.
and ut about sunrise column Of the
enemy was encountered which he
charged and drove from every position
they attempted to hold.
Upon arriving at Andcrson's Cross
Roads magnificent spectacle was pre-
scntcd. Upon the level valley as far
as the eye could reach, and we'll up
the mountain side, the white tops of
an immense wagon train could he seen.
But it was guarded by brigade of
cavalry in front, one in rear, and di-
rcctly opposite our small force was a
brigade of infantry supported by ca
airy.
Reference was made in one of nv
previous articles to Wheeler audaci-
ty, and here would seem to be another
evidence Of it, for to attack force
two or three times his own was appar-
emily little short Of rashncss; but then
some OF the most notable victories of
history have been won by apparent
rashness. And further, nc knew tho
men nc had with him and knew that
they could be depended upon to ride
into an army corps with as reckless
abandon as they would attack regi-
ment.
The prize to be gained, however,
cqualcd the risk Of the undertaking,
aud dividing the command into three
columns Wheeler charged most furi.
ously, riding down both infantry and
cavalry; but tho reserves being favor.
ably posted gave temporary check.
For nearly two hours the enemy stub
bornly resisted. But by adopting the
| Nepolconie tactics of Jackson in his
valley of Virginia campain, of attack
ing each column in detail and giving
them no time to concentrate. Wheeler
at last succeeded in routing the enemy
and had them whipped before they
knew it, capturing the entire train and
about 900 prisoners.
Eight hours were now consumed in
selecting and sending to the rear such
articles as mules, horses, wa ons, etc
as could be carried off, in thoroughly
destroying the remainder of tho wagons
and contents, and in sabrcing and
shooting thousands of mules which
were not needed.
| No accurate estimate could be made
of the number Of wagons or the value
OF the property captured, as no one
person saw the entire train. The
Federal quartcrmaster in charge show
ed by his papers that there were 500
six mule government wagons, loaded
with all kinds Of quartcrmastcr, com
missary, ordnance and medical stores,
besides large number of sutlcr and
other private vehicles. Some of the
Federal newspapers represented it as
tho richest train captured during the
war and infiicting the heaviest loss Of
the kind ever sustained by tho Fed.
eral army.
The destruction of the ordnance
train of some 300 wagons presented a
fearful spectacle lc-thc noise of burst
ing shells and boxes of ammunition so
resembling tho sound Of battle as to
astonish and alarm the Federals in
Chattanooga, who were in doubt as to
the cause until the ascending clouds
of snake revealed to them that the
food and ammunition upon which
almost the vitality of their army de-
pended was being destroyed. Il sue
coring force sent out by Rosccraus was
driven back and the position held un-
iii the work Of destruction was COM
plctc.
AZ usual, this work Of carnage and
bloodshcd was not without its amusing