The National tribune., 1902-03-20

Gen. Basil w. Duke, continuing the
account of the operations of his command
saws:
THAT afternoon Col. Palmer arrived
from Ashyille. y. c., with 400 or ouO IN
fantrv. Gen. Breckenridge decided to make
no further attack upon the position, but
instead. to march through Iaylors Gap
three miles to the west, and get IN the
rear of the Federals and upon Their llhe
of retreat and communication with hhoA,
Vile. We began the movement about iU
O'Clock that night. Vaughn, who had re-
turned being in advance. Palmer IN
fantry. the dismounted men and the artll-
lerv were in the rear.
AS we passed through Tayior's Gap
information was received that the enemy
commanded by Gen. Gillem, were eNac-
uating Bulls Gap. and that an oppoftu-
nitv would be afforded US 90 take them IN
flank. Gen. Breckenridge at once ordered
Vaughn to post Il strong detachment at
RuSsplyille. in front of Gillems retreaung
column. and to attack with his whole com
mand Immediately upon the detachment
becoming engaged. i was ordered 10 turn
to the left before reaching Russeiville, go
around the place and cut the enemy OFT
ul,on the main road, mile or two below,
or failing 10 do this. take them in flank.
mont stationed in his front, but was in
medi;;tely attacked by Vaughn. Fight.
- your yelled a Federal officer to his
rcccilfng men, as the firing commenced;
its Only a scout No, I'll be - If 1t
is shouted one of Naughn's men; were
all herer'
'.Thc greater part of Gen. Gillem's col
unn and his artillery escaped before we
could interpose Il sufficient force TO stop
cIt pT and
driven away 10 the right Moving very
rapidly. my brigade managed to strike the
main body again at Cheeks S CrosSroad,
about two miles from the town, and drove
another slice from the road and into the
fields and woods While our column was
scattered and prolonged by the rapid chase
we crme suddenly upon the enemy halted
in the edge of a wood. and were received
with Il smart fire, which checked us.
TRAGIC DEATH OF CAPT. GUS M'GEE.
s:AIy advanee-guard was commanded by
Capt Gus McGee, one of the best and
most dashing officers in the brigade. de
was one of the six Captains that escancd
from the Ohio prison with Gen. Morgan.
When we encountered the enemy halted
in the wood. McGee charged in among.
them Followed by n few men, he leaped
the fence behind which the enemy were
posted and was shot from his horse. He
surrendered, and when he gave his name
n man. for some reason, shot and sabered
him. He lived short time in great
agony. One of his men, Sergt Sam Curd,
avenged his death that night Curd saved
himself by slipping into the Federal line,
and. in the darkness, escaped unnOticed.
Some 20 minutes afterward the man who
liai killed Mctiee was captured, and Gurd,
recognizing his voice, asked if he were not
the man. He at once Sprang upon CUrd
and tried TO disarm him The latter broke
loose from his grasp and killed him.
GILIEM ROUTED.
vaughn. when we moved on, kept the
road. and / marched upon the left flank.
endeavoring 10 gain the enemy's rear and
intercept his retreat. Col. Napier. who
kept in the advance with detachment,
succeeded in this object.
''Three or four miles from MOrriStOwn
the Federals halted, and. for half an hour,
offered resistance We. who were moving
TO take them in flank and rear, then saw
a beautiful sight. The night was cloud
lCSs. and the moon at its full, shedding
brilliant light. The dark lines of troops
could he seen almost as clearly as by day.
Their positions were more distinctly
marked, however, 10y the flashes from the
rifles. coming thick and fast. making them
leoi as they moved along. bending and
tSFilislilIE. lihf IblLuE WIVES OF UstIiH-
throwing off fiery spray. | moved my bri-
gadc far around upon the left. and, tax
in@ position Obliquing toward the en-.
eTns'- rear. ] suddenly opened fire upon
IhcIB- The Federal line recOiled. and
rlnso,i from both ianks toward the road,
in one dense mass, which looked before
the fighting ceased and the rout fairly
commenced like a huge Catherine wheel
sporting streams of fire.
4.l
rapidly and in confusion. closely pursued
by Naughn's foremost hattalions. At Nor
rist"wn a regiment. just arrived upon the
ears, and piece Of artillery. checked the
pursuit for short time, and enabled the
enemy to reform. However. they were
again driven, and making another and last
stand a short distance beyond the town.
abandoned ali further resistance when that
failed to stop us. From our standpoint
the rOut and disintegratiOn of Gen. Gil
LENS command appeared to be complete
More than 100 wagons and ambulanccs.
the wagons loaded with baggage six
pieces of artillery. with caisSons and
horses, and many prisoners were captured
In fact. the spoilS were strewn 50 tlickly
along the road that The pursuit was great
y retarded. Maj. Day. of Vaughns Bri-
gadc followed. however. beyond New
Market more than - miles from the point
where the affair commenced. The rest Of
uS halted when day had fairly broken.
On the next day we moved to New
Market. and. when all the trOons had come
up. proceeded 10 Strawberry Plains, seven
miles beyond. Here the enemy. in strong
Notifications. were prepared to contest our
further advance. There We remained three
or four days.
During the day 4 lively interchange Of
commitments was kept up in the way Of
shelins and Sharpshooting Our entire
strength was our picket line at night The
Il"lst1n River deep and swollen. was be
tween us, the enemy holding the bridge
Neither c0mbatant cssayed to attack the
other"
Sometimes there are compensations in
war Only q short time before GiIlem
came 10 grief he had attacked and routed
Vaughn at Russelvile, on the identical
ground where he hal been, in turn. disas-
trcuSly defeated. Giilcm had captured
:bout as many pieces Of artillery from
Vaughn as the latter and Duke had taken
from him. In fact, the disaster suffered
10y Vaughn had inspired Gcfi Breckinridge
10 make the movement bck from old Vir-
ginia to the hills of Tennessee. just at
present Vaughn was in high feather, but
Gillcm had another inning" later on.
MOrgau'S men. remembering Grcenville,
were greatly elated at Gillem's discom-
future.
Having intcrpoSed the foregoing reflec-
tive paragraph, 1 shall permit Gen. Duke
TO resume his story.
FALLING BACK.
Cen. Brcckiuridge was called away TO
Wyiheyille by rumors of an advance OF a
Federal force in another quarter, and We