The National tribune., 1902-01-16
THE STONEhAN RAID.
Extracts from a Long-Forgotten
Diary.
BY DIR. SAMUEL D. TOBEY, ASSISTANT
SURGEON, STH MICH. CAV.

VINO started on Iue StoneDdn rllu III
Georgia with great expectations of i'm,
portant results. The soldiers starving in
Macon and Andcrsonville bullpens were
TO be Released, and the railroad lines lead
ing from Atlanta to the South We're to be
destroyed. How we failed i'll our efforts
will appear from the following extracts
from n vcst-pOckct diary carried in the
riders vcst-pOckct, and only recently dis
covered among some old papers:
June 3, 1SGI-StaIted from Nicholas
vile, Ky, for Il trip over the mountains
and marched Is miles. We have been
at NiCholaSvillc six weeks, recruiting from
our losses at the siege Of Knoxville. and
are now rcmounted and armed, except as
to revolvers.
June 4-Marchcd through Lancaster
and camped AT Stanford. Weather
showcry. Wrote Home. Eighteen miles
today.
June 5-Marchcd is miles to Waynes-
burg Roads good. Weather cloudy, but
not raining.
June G-Marchcd to Somerset, Ky. Sun
hot, burning rays all the way. Roads
rough Seventeen miles today.
June To Burnsidcs Point, 10 miles.
Halted for rations and forage. Bad roads
for horses.
June S-Brokc camp at $50 a. III.
Marched 10 miles up Dry Hill, and camp
ed at Beaver Creek. The hills are of solid
rock, and most Of the regiments were sent
back to assist the wagon train. We were
until ; p. III. reaching this place, with no
water all day for the horses. Here a
splendid spring gushes from the solid
rock, with water clear and cool as ice.
Sent seven men to hospital at Burnside s
Point.
June 9-Broke camp at $50, as usual,
after getting up at 3, and eating break
fast Road much smoother, but muddier
than yesterday, and we made 23 miles,
going into camp at Chitwood, Tenn. at
p. IN. The Cumberland Mountains loom
up majestically directly in front of us, and
remind us of what we must do on the
morrow. 1t has showered occasionally all
day, and we have left the Tennessee one
mile and half in our rear.
June 1O-Marchcd through a dismal
country over JeIlico Range of the Cumber-
land Mountains: Roads miserable for the
train. Reached New River, which we
fOrded, and then went into camp. We
passed but two houses during the days
march Raincd all day.
June Ill believe it rains all the time
in the mountains. Left camp at q Il. III.
in the steady pouring rain. Our march
was up the mountain all the day. only
stopping two hours at White Oak, II
miles from Montgomery The Sth Mich.
was left behind. Capt. Mills ordered the
ambulance and Surgeons to remain. and
come on the next day. ] rode to head
quarters and DR.. MigIIault. Brigade Sur
econ. ordered us to 90 with the command.
At sundDwn crossed Little Rock Creek,
now Il raging mountain torrent. swollen
by the recent rains. Half Il mile farther
on forded the Little Emory River,
which was up to the horses bellies. Here
we found Montgomery, a village of 30 or
10 houses, but all deserted. not man,
woman, or child to be seen. Went up a
rocky hill nearly Il mile in length. in the
dark, passing through Watsbure, n very
pretty village, and camped on south side.
Lost a shoe off my horse, and could hard
ly ford the rocky stream We have
marched 80 miles today oyer the worst
roads ever Travelled by man, and have
fOrded six or seven mountain streams
without a name. The command is out of
provisions. 500.
June 12-Last night DIR. Robertson and
| slept in a deserted house. with Col. Mix
md Maj. Buck, on the floor Up at )
o'clock and off at ,. and must reach King
ston, % miles by night. Hungry,
tired, with sore-foOtcd horses. and
A long, difficult march before US. Passed
some lofty peaks yesterday. Last night
made supper of hardtack and onions, n
pipe of tobacco, and a drink of commits
5ary whisky Breakfast this morning con.
sisted Of the same minus the hardtack and
Dnions.
Three o'clock p. IN. Just crossed the
Big Emory. 1t was too deep for fOrding,
and we were ferried across on flatbcats
The roads have been very good this morn
ng, and the farms show more signs of
civilization. Rode two miles with Il Bap-
list minister and his two daughters, which
was the first intimatiOn | have had that
.oday is Sunday. We are now six miles
from Kingston, and must ferry the Clinch
River before we can reach there. I am
afraid we shall not reach there tonight.
Got n good dinner lin houscD Of corn
bread and butter. At o O'Clock p. m.
.amped north of the Clinch River.
June 13-Crossed the Tennessee and
Tlinch Rivers at their junction and camp
ID four mites south of Kingston. The
'est of the command has come up, and
ire now three miles back.
June 14-Remained in camp today for
rest.
June 15-Marched about 20 miles, to
within six miles of Athens, Ga.
June 16-Marchcd at q o'clock Il. m,
passed through Mt. Nerd, where was Il
cotton mill in full operation. Reached
Athens ut s Il. m, where we heard that
Morgan had come into Kentucky as soon
rs we left it, and was making clean
sweep thlouSl Iic tot'tt. NpHu'i VIII
we be ordered back? The weather is cy-
'essivcly hot. Expected mail at Athens,
but were disappointed We may get it at
which place we are to reach to-
night. Have had no letters since we
started, and are now on the 18th day of
our march Three o'clock p. III. Reached
Calhoun, on the banks of the Hiawassee,
and camped there Eighteen miles.
June 17-Iteached Cleveland Mt - m
At 3 p. Ill. we were ordered out to meet
a rebel force. At p. III. we were drawn
up III line of battle. Buckner is reported
to be after us with force, intending to
cut us off, but we We're a few hours too
late. The telegraph wires are cut. and
we have but 800 available men with u.s.
Stayed on II skrmish line till s p. M, and
then went into camp. The rebels have
gone. Marched IS miles today.
June 1S-Remain i'll camp all day.
Nothing new.
June 19-Whecler, with 5000 men, is
reported approaching. All ordered out at
midnight, mules packed, and wagons
hitched up, but no enemy as yet.
small mail yesterday, but nothing for me.
June 20 and 21-StiIl in camp.
June 22-Marched to one and Il half miles
Of Georgia line.
June 23-Scouted south to Spring place,
10 miles north of Resaca. Weather eX-
redingly hot. We have met no gucrrillas,
but there are always a few hundred sew
eral miles off, according to the reports of
the inhabitants. Everything here looks
poverty-strckcn. Nothing can be had to
eat for love Of money, and how the peo-
pie keep body and soul together is q
mystery to me.
June 24-Regiment gone to the COhutta
Mountains on scout. Temain in camp.