The National tribune., 1901-07-11

The early Spring days of 1910 were
gloomy-decidedly blue" to "we'uns Con
fedrits." To our little Kentucky Brigade
in Southwestern Virginia there came de-
pressing news from Petersburg and Rich
mond. Undoubtedly the COnfederacy was
being rounded up There were unmis-
taxable indications that Southwest Vir-
ginia was to be evacuated by 'we'uns'
and that the conquering Federal legions
would soon have undsputed sway. In
fact, our old acquaintance, Gen. Stoneman
was even then marching up and down the
valleys and over the blue mountains, do
ing lust as he pleased"
Cavalry and infantry were ordered to-
wards Lynchburg. Passing through Mar
ion, our old battle-ground with StOncman,
we found the town in mourning, and
mad. The citizens had closed their doors
and shut their mouths, being too full for
utterance-full of unutterable woe. They
had closed their once-hospitable doors and
withdrawn the latch-strings from the outer
side, because we were marching away
leaving them to the tender q mercies of
the enemy. All the same, we had TO move
on. going we knew not where.
Hearing that Gen. Stoneman and his
escort were at Christiansburg, in the
the Alleghanies, beyond Wytheville, be-
tween us and Lynchburg, an officer with
25 men undertook to surprise and capture
the General. 1t was the old story, The
best laid plans O. mice an men gang oft
aglee." The scouting party ran into a
formidable phalanX of the enemy and had
to git out" the commander and several
men being wounded, and Il number cap
tured.
Gen. Davidson, of latitudinarian dimen-
sions, whom we had known in the Valley,
had been in Southwest Virginia, perform
ing the duties of Inspector-G General. On
his way back to the east he vas inter-
cepted by the ubiquitous Stoneman and
captured. Stonemans men, however, did
not suspect the plainly-dressed, Falstaffian
prisoner of being General, and, not
watching him closely, he soon got away
from them.
Stoneman's movements were uncertain
ours more so. He seemed to be playing
the same game that had mystihed Breckln-
ridge in the Bristol-AbingdOn-Sa Saltville-
Marion campaign. We were, night and
day, in state of trepidation- kept on
the anxious seat" so to speak We knew
that we would be taken in sooner or
later, but we desired to defer the evil day
as long as possible. Besides, where there
is yet life there is hope. We had been
ordered to evacuate Southwest Virginia
and join Lees army, then being rounded
up by the relentless Grant. StOneman
was between us and Lee. Would he per-
init us to obey orders and "evacuate the
premises?' 1t was doubtful, very doubt
full Things looked ''bluer."
Moving from Marion towards Wythe-
vile, we met John Sandford afterwards
killed in Kentucky by VIM. GoebeD, who
with words, words. words, declared that
Stoneman was at Wytheyille, and that he
(Sandford) was the last Confederate to
g n n 4t.flS
learned that there were only 400 or 500
Federals at Wytheville, and that Stone
man had gone across the mountains, prob
ably to join Sherman on his March to
the Sea"
MY LAST BATTLE.
Immediately after receiving Sandford's
exciting report, the 4th Ky. and 18th KY,
were sent forward to reconnoiter and as
certain the facts, the brigade and Lynch's
Battery slowly following. When we
reached the turnpike bridge over Reed
Greek. within three miles of Wytheyille,
we found it burning, a detachment Of
FederaIs having been there about half
hour before our arrival, and applied fire.
brands to the bridge, and then went down
to the railroad bridge, setting fire to it
also. The 18th Ky. was sent over 10 the
railroad bridge to capture or drive off the
"incendaries," but they had already gone
away of their own accord.
The 4th Ky. crossed the stream near
the burnt bridge on the turnpike, the ford
being rough and devious. Col. Giltner
took the 18th KY, 10th KY, and 9th Va.
around to the ford at the burnt railroad
bridge, thence moving on the town. The
25th Va. and Lynchs Battery were left
to cover the crossing Of the creek in case
we were driven back.
The affair at Wytheville, April 4, 1865
my last battle, was now on.
The advance guard of the 4th Ky. had
scarcely crossed the creek when they
met a small scouting party of the enemy,
coming from the town. Realizing that they
were in the immediate presence Of the
formidable 4th Ky. the Federals turned
and, followed by our advance guard, ran
John Gilpin race to town. The clatteI
Of horses hoofs, of pursuers and pursued
could be heard q mile, the hard turnpike
road being an excellent conductor OF
sound. 1t will be borne in mind that We
were converging on the town by two roads
the 4th Ky. advancing along the turn
pike, and Giltner with three battalions by
way of the ordinary road from the rail
road bridge.
On approaching WytheviIle, we coult
plainly see 400 or 500 Federals drawn "
[n battle line, apparently not bit scared
They did not even await our coming, Blu
Instead, moved boldly forward in front o
the 4th KY, driving back the advance
guard and killing gallant Maj. jenkins,
youth hereinbefore mentioned. However
when the charging Federals came within
range OF the Enfield rifles Of the Who'll,
9TH KY. they stopped, then slowly ret;ret
before the deadly fire of the Kentuck.
tharp-shooters, and finally retreated some
what hastily.
A similar scene was enacted on tn
sther road. The Federals over there, hoy
nnny ] do not know, were driven hac
By the battalions under Giltner the lot
KY. very nearly intercepting them, as ha
been planned. Our combined forces the
charged through the town, pressing tn
enemy so closely that we captured nun
Der of them, about 20, who failed TO kee
up with the procession.
One prisoner, / remember, was exceed
ingly angry. He had lost his horse an
bat, both appropriated by some coyetOu
Johnny" who had generously "a give
the prisoner an old dilapidatcd "butternut
hat in exchange for that of the mad Fec
sral, whose chapeau was comparativel
new and stylish, II being decorated wit
brass bugles, swords, and black plume
evidences that the prisoner was a gentl
man of most excellent fancy" That irr
pressible captive viciously volunteered Il
Information that Stoneman would viii
us later In the campaign. However, Il
enemy was hastily disappearing over Il
mountain towards North Carolina, assu
Ing US that we would at least have
respite before being consigned to the dan