The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1905-02-02

Campaigning in Mountains.


Campaigning in Mountains.
Speaking of campaigns in moun-
famous country" said First Ken
tuclxy man. 81 was one of those who
looped the loop on Loup creek In
West Virginia at the time of the raid
TO Rolla. We started from Camp En-
yart on the Kanawha and went up
Loup creek valley, and in one nights
march crossed the stream thirty-fve
times. We made the march to Roila
ninety miles away, over one of the
toughest mountain roads in existence
and drove the relebs out of Rolla-
1--WE we're on the return march with
several wagons loaded with dry goods
and provisions, and ninety mead OF cat
tie, and were not many miles from our
own camp when the rebel cavalry
overlook the column. The boys were
not expecting pursuit, and were TAX
ing things easy. | was with the rear
guard, and when we saw the cavalry
coming we formed ncross the road,
waited until they we're in short range,
and blazed away. A good many OF
the Johnnies rolled off their horses,
and the charging column stopped. CIV
ing us time to load and fire again.
This second volley caused
change of program. The rebs as
mounted and came forward on foot 10
outfiank us. On one side was Coai
creek and on the other 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, revolver in hand. said
Now I've got you Yank But as he
had TO turn the cylinder with his hand
| had my doubts and charged him
with the bayonet 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 captured, retreated at full run.
II 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 a fence. As | sat
on the fence, getting my wind and TAX
ing observations, two rebel cavalry
men came up behind me and ordered
me to throw down my gun. | obeyed
orders so energetically that the old
musket was bent double. This en-
ragged my captors, because gun was
| a gun in those times, but | told them
| they ought not to scare man out OF
| his wits. Later when the command
| halted, | was permitted TO go to the
creek to fill my canteen, and taking
advantage of the situation l ran al
| full speed for the road. My guards lei
| loose with their shotguns, but dodg
| ed into a cornfield and ran on"
| 'I left the field when | struck ra
| vine that ran up into the mountain
and was making great progress when
4 plunged headlong into a sort of q
| sinkhole of a place, and came down
| on a hundred or more rebs lying in
| ambush. They greeted me with al
| WAYS room for one more and Blank
| YOU, keep STILL and after manner
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 it didn't come. and
the ambassadors started back tc
Rolla. taking me and other prisoners
with them. They tied a heavy rope
10 the rear end of wagon and car
ried It back to the tongue of another
wagon. Between the two wagons they
tied the prisoners in pairs, the escort
| .sas...- ~, asfhor cila nf
THE rain came down that night in
! torrents, and all of us were miserable
AS we passed through a thicket OF
underbrush 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 time | heard voices
and, listening TO the conversation.
felt the voices belonged to Unionists
| hailed the parties and was rewarded
by silence. In two minutes voice
from another direction said, Come
this way; be careful A man took my
hand and led me into a cabin where
all was dark and still as a deatl
chamber.
"Then the man who held my hant
said: I know by your speech you arc
a Yankee. My name is John Georg,
and am loyal to the old flag He or
dered a light and treated me to til,
surprise of my life. The room wal
crowded with West Virginia Union
lists, men and women, and they gave
me the most enthusiastic welcome.
had wandered, in the dark, into tn,
domain of the loyal West Virginian'
and had stumbled upon one of theil
meetings. | remained with them tha
night and the next day the Who'll,
neighborhood came to see the liy,
Yankee at the home of John George
Men came by the score and insist
ed that drill them. They were lik,
children in their eagerness to learn
In the earlier part of the day / wai
captain TO them, then l was major
colonel and general. and found mysel
in command of the best fighting arm,
for it's size in West Virginia. A full
company went with me into the CAM