The National tribune., 1901-05-09

IN the SaINllle nils Ine heuIuchldlS
who, under Morgan, had met with dlsas-
ter when fighting Gen. Burbridge on the
~darE and bloody ground were to have
tEefr triumphant inning and TO some
what paraphrase the eXultant language
of my valiant friend, Capt. Allen, of the
irrepressible 7th Ohio Cav, Mt. Sterling
and Cynthiana were TO be avenged. Like
wise, Gen. Cerro Gordo Williams, still
"a-cussin' an a-roarin','' was TO have his
revenge for the terrible castigation he had
received at Rheatown just one year ago.
The Saltworks stronghold was i'll south
western Virginia, probably 30 miles from
the Kentucky line.
In the last days of September, nearly
q month after the killing of Gen. Morgan.
our scouts reported the rapid advance of
q Federal column from Kentucky, cav
airy and artillery, commanded by our old
kentucky antagonist, Gen. ). q. Bur
bridge. The commanders under him were
Gen. E. H Hobson, whom we had cap
tured at Cynthiana, and Col. Charles
Hanson, whom Morgan had captured at
Lebanon, Ky, soon after starting on the
famous Ohio raid. The advancing Fed
eral force was variOusly estimated at
from 1000 to 5000 Our scouts also re-
ported that there were negro troops in the
Federal column-probably two regiments
Giltner's little brigade was in advance
Of Saltville, there being no troops at the
Saltworks excepting a small battalion of
Virginia Reserves composed of 'old
men and young boys" as Gen. Burbridge
somewhat derisively called them. There
were, however, some earthworks there
and some formidable artillery.
Col. Trimble with $50 men was sent to
Richlands. 40 miles from Satville, to
watch and delay the enemy's advance. 1t
not being known with certainty by what
route the Federals would approach the
Saltworks, detachments % observation
were sent on various other roads leading
to the front and tlanks. We had not yet
forgotten Greenyille and the wide-open
Newport road.
Trlmble's detachment met the Federal
column and slowly fell back, skIrmishing
the while, not, however, checking the Fed
eral advance to any appreciable extent
Our main force, not more than 300
men, took position on the slope of Clinch
Mountain, and when the enemy came up,
Saturday, Oct. /, 1864, they were in plain
view, going into camp in the broad fields,
and meadows of stanch old Gen. BOwen's
plantation near the base of the mountain.
Early that morning, while obviously
looking down upon the enemy spread out
on the plain below, courier galloped up
with the cheering information that Gen.
Cerro Gordo Williams had Unexpectedly
arrived at Castlewoods, not far away. We
were now anxious TO hold Burbridge in
check until old Cerro Gordo could reach
Seltville.
THE BATTLE OF sALTyILLE.
The Fedsrals, about the middle Of the
forenoon, moved out of their encampment
and headed directly for our position on
the mountain side. The long, blue col
umns debouching from their camps made
a magnificent panoramic display. On they
came in serpentine course, bugles sound
ipg and panoplied in all the pomp and
circumstance of war. A white-horse bat
TALON in front was especially noticeable.
The mountain road ran in zigzag course,
and when the enemy had reached a turn
in the road, about 300 yards below one
occupied by the 4th Ky. and 10th KY,
our men fired down upon them, emptying
number of saddles, killing some horses
and causing the advance regiments to dis
mount and deploy. OF course, the SUI
perior numbers of the Federals, several
thousand against as many hundreds, en-
abled them to easily flank our position;
this they did, causing us 10 withdraw far
ther up the mountain, not, however, until
after sharp fight of half-hour's dura-
tion.
While falling back we felled some
trees across the road. The skirmisbine
was inconsequential until we had reached
the crest of the mountain. This position
the enemy attacked early in the afternoon,
and we had a lively fight until, as we e1-
pected, they hanked again. We then
withdrew, descending the mountain, with
out halting, falling back to Laurel Gap,
q veritable Gibraltar, a narrow passway
through q smaller range of mountains
than the one we had just abandoned. We
could have re-enacted Thermopylae there
but for the fact that within a short time
the position could be easily hanked. Here,
according to orders, we were TO make our
last stand before retiring TO the Salt
works. The Virginia Reserves" about
$50, were at Laurel Gap when we got
there. They were relieved and sent to
guard two less important gaps lower down
toward Saltville. Col. Trimble was sent
up the valley behind the mountains to
check any force that might cross above
and attempt TO come down upon our rear.
1t was late in the afternoon when the
Federals appeared in heavy forces, dis
mounted and determinedly attacked us.
Scaling the mountain on the right of the
pass, they charged upon the Gath Va, sta
TONED there, and easily drove that regi-
ment from It's position. Our right being
turned, again as we expected, there was
nothing left but to slowly retreat to Salt
vile. 1t was nearly night, and we knew
bostilities would cease until the following
day. GiItners little brigade had accom-
plished its object-held Burbridge in
check until the arrival of old Cerro Gordo,
who was now coming apace, his advance
at nightfall being in sight of the Salt
works. Had Burbridge been day earlier
he could have ridden into Saltville prac-
tically unopposed. Instead, we now had
the advantage. The presence of Gen.
Cerro Gordo Williams was unexpected to
us-eyen to himself. l never did fully
understand how he happened TO stray
away from his sphere OF operations with
Wheeler and Walker in Tennessee and
Join us at Saitvslle at that opportune time
The presumption is that before starting
from Kentucky Burbridge must have haC
information of the small, inadequate force
defending the Saltworks. he had moi
counted on the coming Of Gen. Williams
then 10 him as well as to ourselves ar
unknown quantity.
All was quiet during the night, oul
scouts reporting, however, that the entir'
Federal force had passed through Laure
Gap by midnight.
Early the next morning Sunday thu
battle of Saltville opened by the enem!
making a spirited and confident attack oil
our pickets and skirmish lines. When tn
firing began / was standing in the roat
In the center of our position, when Gen
Williams at the head of his division o
cavalry rode up, Robertson's Tennessee
Brigade in front. / was charmed witt
the appearance Of Gen. Robertson, wear
ing good clothes, en- negIige, gallant an,
handsome, the youngest-looking General
had ever seen, apparently not more thai
"A years old. Old Cerro Gordo looke'
much the same as when l had seen hir
IN Tennessee-tall and massive, the pic
ture of robust health. Standing there j
the middle of the road he stOrmed an