The National tribune., 1901-03-28


Sterling all day, June s, and the night fol-
lowing. Soon after the fight in the morn
ing Gen Morgan, with D. Howard Smiths
ton. Adopting his usual tactics the Gen
eral sent detachments in various directions
to mystify and mislead the enemy. Che
noweth had been sent TO Paris and Gym
thiana. Col. Jessee and Capt Pete Everett
had gone to Maysville; Capt. Willis and
Jenkins were scouting towards Frankfort;
Capt. Jackson was somewhere on the road
between Mt. Sterling and Paris, and Capt
Lawrence Jones was far advanced in the
State actively engaged in cutting tele-
graph wires, destroying railway bridges,
and, as some would say, raising hades
generally"
When night came, we who remained
at Mt. Sterling lay quietly down to sleep
in the captured tents, Col. Martins foot
cavalry" being in bivOuac some distance
in the rear between Giltner and the re-
turning Burbridge. Woeful situation! 1t
was the calm before the storm.
THE SECOND FIGHT AT Mt. STERLING.
Gen. Burbridge, hearing of Morgan's
presence in Kentucky, countermarched be-
fore getting into Virginia, and made a
forced march for his base at Mt. Sterling.
At the dawning of daylight, June 8,
He had already charged through the en-
campment of ''foot cavalry" killing,
wounding and capturing many of them be-
fore they were fully awake to the situa-
ton. The morning was rainy, somewhat
stormy. Somebody on our side had mex
cusably blundered. The officer command
ing our division rear guard, strangely
enough, was unaware of Burbridge's ap-
proach. More strangely, he cncamped his
guard within 800 yards of Martins weary,
dismounted brigade, and posted his pickets
on foot, not more than 200 yards in the
rear.
Taking advantage of the situation, Of
which he was doubtlessly well Informed
| by the many Union citizens living there
abouts, Gen. Burbridge charged Martins
| camp while it was yet dark. My pen can
not adequately describe the confusion that
ensued. As the novelist would say, 1.-The
situation can better be imagined than de-
scribed." Any old ''Yank" or Johnnie"
who has "been there" can well imagine
the "h- that was raised" Col. Martin,
most gallant and daring young officer,
succeeded in rallying about 300 young
| men, and, in turn, charged the enemy,
temporarily checking them. The Federals
| then dismOunted and in overwhelming
force drove what was left of Martins
Brigade from the field. Martin had two
| horses killed under him and received q
shot in the foot that was very painful and
disabling. Lieut.. Guy Flusser, n proud
and gallant Louisville boy, and Lieut. Wal
Ter Bullock, brave and accomplished
young staff officer, were among the many
killed.
Having forced Martin to retreat through
the town, Burbridge charged Giltncr'.
camp, his coming being unannounced. Or
account of the rain and wind, and the
fact that we were sound asleep, the Fed
erals were in our camp before we haC
realized what was happening. My owl
experience was similar TO that of others
Sound asleep, did not hear wars alarm
until Campbell Ross, of the 4th Ky, hur
riedIy passing my tent, called to me t,
get out of there; the camp is full o
Yankees" Poor fcllowi he was almos
instantly killed. Bullets were whizzin;
through my tent, and, somehow, / sue
ceeded in mounting my horse-I do not re
member just hoS i did it. The enemy
only a few rods distant, kept up sucI
a lively fusiilade thatsI lay fiat down ol
my horse and rode Ike the wind to lin
of Confederates i saw forming in the dis
tance. / "got there and found the At
Ky. preparing to fight. Many of ou
men were captured before reaching thei
horses. Nearly all lost their baggage,
which, however, did not amount to much
The 4th Ky. held the Federals In checl
. while the other battalions were beinj
formed and the prisoners gotten out of tn
way. The brigade then moved around tn
town to form junction with Col. Martin
who was on the Lexington pike. We foun,
Martin in a towering rage. He had witt
him about $50 nen, the remnant Of hi