The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1904-07-07
THE BOOMING CANNON
REClTALS OF CAMP AND BAT.
TILE INCIDENTS.
Survivors of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl.
dents of Marches, Camp Life, Forag.


Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents Of Marches, Camp Life, Forag'
ing Experiences and Battle Scenes.
Speaking of campaigns in noun
famous country" said a First Ken
lucky man. Il was one of those who
iooped the loop on Loup creek, in West
Virginia. at the time Of the raid TO
Rolla. We started from Camp EDyart
on the Kanawha and went up Loup
creek valley, and in one nights march
crossed the stream thirty-five times.
We made the march to ROlla, ninety
miles away, over one Of the toughest
mountain roads in existence, and drove
the rebels out of Rolla.
I'VE were on the return march with
several wagons loaded with dry goods
and provisions, and ninety head OF
cattle, and were not many miles from
cur own camp when the rebel cavalry
overlook the column. The boys were
not expecting pursuit. and were taking
things easy. l was with the rear
guard, and when we saw the cavalry
coming we formed across the road.
waited until they were in short range,
and blazed away A good many Of the
Johnnies rolled off their horses, and
the charging column stopped, giving us
time to load and fire again.
''This second voiley caused change
- Il HoI ND
came forward on foot to outflank US.
On one side was Coal creek and on
the other a fence We were ordered
to meet the rebels, and we met them.
was loading in haste when a rebel
parted the weeds near me, and, re-
volver in hand, said: "Now I've got
you, Yank.' But as he had to turn the
cylinder with his hand l had my
doubts and charged him with the bay
onet. He lodged and his pistol went
off, but the bullet missed me- He still
insisted that he had me, and as the
Johnnies were climbing over to my
side of the fence, and all my squad
had by this time been killed or cap
tured, retreated at full run.
Il ran across a field of red clover,
the reb bullets nipping the blossoms
off as ran, and then climbed through
laurel and holly bushes on the noun
tain until came to fence. AS sat
on the fence, getting my wind and tax:
Ing observations, two rebel cavalrymen
came up behind me and ordered me to
throw down my gun. l Obeyed orders
so energetically that the old musket
was bent double This enraged my
captors, because gun was gun in
those times, but told them they ought
not to scare a man out of his wits.
Later, when the command halted,
was permitted to go to the creek to
ill my canteen, and taking advantage
of the situation ran at full speed for
the road. My guards let loose with
their shotguns, but l lodged into a
corn field and ran on.
Il left the field when l struck ra-
vine that ran up into the mountain,
and was making great progress. when
plunged headiOng into a sort of
sinkhole of place. and came down
on a hundred or more rebels lying in
ambush. They greeted me with AL
ways room for one more and Blank
you, keep STILL and after manner 1
felt at home in spite of the odds
against me. They were lying in wait
for my own regiment to come out from
Camp Enyart, but 1t didn't come, and
the ambassadors started back to Rolla.
taking me and other prisoners with
them. They tied heavy rope to the
rear end of wagon and carried 1t
back to the tongue Of another wagon.
Between the two wagons they tied the
prisoners in pairs, the escort riding on
either side of us.
1.-The rain came down that night in
torrents, and all of us were miserable.
AS we passed through a thicket of
underbrush l cut the cord that bound
me to the Southern Confederacy, drop
ped to the ground, and sneaked into
the brush After the rear guard had
passed took the road back toward
camp. After n time 1 heard voices,
and. listening to the conversation,
felt the voices belonged to UniOnists.
1 hailed the parties and was rewarded
by silence. In two minutes a voice
from another direction said. Come this
way; be careful A man took my hand
and led me into cabin where all was
dark and still as death chamber.
Then the man who he'd my hand
said: I know by your speech you are
n Yankee. My name is John George,
and am loyal to the old flag He Or
dered light and treated me to the
surprise of my life. The room was
crowded with West Virginia Unionists,
rnen and women, and they gave Inc
most enthusiastic welcome. 1 had
wandered, in the dark, into the domain
of the loyal West Virginians, and had
stumbled upon one of their meetings.
| remained with them that night. and
the next day the whole neighborhcod
came to see the live Yankee at the
home of John George.
'Men came by the score and insisted
that 1 drill them. They were like chill
dren in their eagerness to learn. In the
earlier part of the day l was Captain
to them, then 1 was Major, Colonel,
and General, and found myself in COM
mand Of the best fighting army for its
size In West Virginia. A full company
went with me into the camp at Maiden
and joined the different companies
there. After month or two 1 saw
none Of them again until the day of
the battle above the clouds at Lookout
Mountain. As l stood on Hog Back
Mountain watching the movements on
Lookout, John George of Skerman's
army came up, out Of breath, to shake
hands with me. 1t was only for min
ute. We shook hands, and he went as
he had come, and l have never heard
Of him slnce''
THAT reminds me-" said Shorty. "of
another West Virginia story. l was
born and raised in the wild country