The National tribune., 1901-03-07

whence the retreat was continued 10
Abingdon, Va. At Zallicoffcr the enemy
destroyed the long railroad bridge, two or
three locomotives, Il number OF cars, and
the old pine-log fort, such only in name
The railroad rolling-stOck was worthless,
but the bridge was Il valuable structure.
Gen. Wm. f. Jones was an eccentric
officer, who had served under StOnewall
jackson. He rode a little ''clay-bank"
mare, TO which he was much attached.
The famous Stonewall had ridden the un-
Notwithstanding animal in the battles
of Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg and Sec
ond Manassas. Jones was a small man,
middle-aged, exceedingly plain iii dress,
cool and imperturbahlc, notably brave. To
ward the close Of the war he was killed
at Piedmont, Va, shot through the head
while charging the enemy, hat i'll hand.
Arriving at Abingdon, about Oct. 16,
and receiving reinforcements, it was de-
termined TO fight another battle. The po-
sition was an admirable one; the batteries
of Burrows, Otey, Lowry and Lewis, post
ed on four high hills, commanded all ap-
proaches in front.
The Federal cavalry, commanded by
Shackeford, consisting of Wolford's, Fos-
ter's, Carter's and WellS's Brigades, and
% pieces of artillery, continued to ad-
vance, Il strong force of infantry lelSurely
following. Witcher and his 'Nighthawks,"
bringing up our rear, fought them almost
continuously. We were well fixed" at
Abingdon, having about 5000 men in pO-
Sition naturally strong and fortified. The
enemy, however, having advanced to with
in six miles of our battle-line, suddenly
withdrew, going in the direction of Cum
bcrland Gap.
GEN. JOHN S. wILLIAMS's FAREWELL.
Old Cerro GOrdo was rough and-ready
fighter, but no strategiSt Having made
himself famous for bravery in the battle
Of Maxian bn had af-
terward been known as CerrO GOrdo Will
Hams. He was n man of tine physique,
bluff, but genial and pleasing in manner.
He was generally popular with officers
md men serving under him, but almost
invariably incurred the disfavOr of his su-
perior officers. He was severely criticised
Tor his movements in the East Tennessee
campaign, especially for his conduct at
Rheatown. Soon after the retreat to
Abingdon he issued the following address:
"Fellow-soldiers: l have asked to be
temporarily relieved from the command
Of this brigade, because my honor would
not allow me to retain it longer.
.'1t is unnecessary for me to recitG the
reasons which have prompted me TO take
this step.
My association with you has been
short, but full of stirring events The pa
tient endurance and devoted courage you
have shown in one of the most trying and
war command my highest admiration and
endear you to me by one of the strongest
of human ties-that of sharing common
hardships and a common danger.
Il hope it may not be long until / shall
be with you again; but whether the sep
aration be temporary or final, | shall ever
cherish in kindest remembrance the many
evidences of generous confidence you have
given me.
"JoHN S. WILLIAMS,
''Brigadier- General"
We knew the address was a valedictory
that it meant final separation. We saw
the genial General no more until he op-
portunely appeared on the field al the
battle Of Saltville, year hence.
GEN. RANSOM.
Gen. Ransom, Commander-in-Shief in
East Tennessee, was West Pointer"
OF fine martial appearance, but his Reg
ular Army regulations" were not pOpu-
lar with the volunteers-cSpecialy Ken
tucky volunteers. Because of his i'm
periousness the cavalry was in an almost
constant state of incipient rebellion" An
order prohibiting officers and soldiers from
entering the homes of citizens unlimited,
was, of course, exceedingly unpopular. In
fact, number of proud Kentucky Off
GERS incurred the martinez Generals dis
pleasure, and his edicts became more and
more oppressive. Finally, Col. Pryor,
commanding the 4th Ky. Cav, roundly
''cussed" Maj. Branch, Chief of Ransom's
staff, and, of course, was Immediately or
dered under arrest. Col. Giltner, who
succeeded to the command Of Williams's
Brigade, soon became restive under the
iron rule of Ransom and threatened TO re-
sigu-following Williams's example.
THE BATTLE OF BIG CREEK
Wiliahs's Brigade, now commanded
by Giltner, was again in Tennessee, Gen.
Ransom's headquarters being at Blount-
vile. On the morning OF Nov. 4, 1868,
Gen. Ransom desired q conference with
Giltner, and sent for him two or three
times before the Colonel condescended to-
honor the summons. Giltner was much
Modified, however, when he learned that
the General was planning to capture a
Federal force that had appeared at Rog
ersyille. commanded by Col. Israel Gar
rard, the force consisting Of the 7th Ohio
Cav, the 2d Tenn. M'td Inf, | think, and
battery Of artillery.
The plan was for Gen. VIM. Z. Jones
TO march his brigade south Of Holston
River and gain the enemy's rear, while
Giltner should attack in front.
Nov. Giltner's Brigade moved TO q
point below kingsport, where it went into
camp for g short time late in the after
noon. 1t was raining-cOld, dreary, dis
gusting November weather. Just before
dark we began crossing the Holston, a
turbulent stream.
Our COluLuuI ABOUT ltOUD uSnlIng men,
had many tribulatioDs. II rained nearly
all night, and was dark as Erebus Cross
ing the river was both difficult and dan
Gerous. Lost in the darkness, the men,
contrary to orders, would call the names
of missing comrades. Men and horses
were rolling in the rapid stream, the big
boulders at the bottom making it difficult
for the horses TO retain their footing. II
was Jordan Is a hard road to travel" ="
and nearly every mothers son of a Ken
tucdsn was sorry he had ever left the
Old Kentucky Home to 'jine the cav
airy" However, we "tumbled over,
every man in his own way, no regulation
cavalry tactics being observed. Having
CROSSED over the river" We found our
selves "all present or accounted for" wet
cold and shivering. We were delayed by
Gen. Joness column crossing our road, he
having found his original route impractical
bic. He was now on Il longer circuit, in.
tending to strike ROgersyille in the en-
emy's rear. We were forced to further
delay our advance in order 10 give Jones
time TO make his longer march.
Before daylight our advance met q
company of scouts and chased them sev.
eral miles toward ROgersyille They, OF
course, warned the Union forces of oul
designs.
The day dawn revealed the enemy post
ed on high and apparently strong posi-
ten. Not many were visible, but we sus
pected that the whole force was concealed
behind the ridge al,d in the timber Oul
artillery, Lowry's Battery, far behind OF