The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-06-28
Eighth Kentucky
History.
Thrilling story Of the Part this Gal
liant Regiment took in the Civil War
CHAPTER VIII.


BY the Goth Of December, 1862,
General Rosecrans had, by incessant
labor, accumulated a large supply Of
quartermaster stores, and put the re-
organized Army Of the Cumberland
in the best possible trim. He did
not wait for clear weather, but early
that rainy morning had the army all
in motion on the several roads lead
ing south from Nashville. The tents,
camp and garrison equipage were
left behind in charge OF GONZALES
cents. Every soldier and officer, in
light marching order, moved on
through the incessant rain, which
before night thoroughly soaked their
clothing; but, with undated courage,
every man was careful TO "keep his
powder dry" On that dark, rainy
night | came up with the Eighth,
biyouacked in the cedars north of
Lavergne.
A few days previous Captains Pow
ell, Company b, and Wilson, Com
pany G, with Lieutenants Quinn
and Mcdaniel, Company |, had been
granted permission, and had returned
TO Kentucky on leave OF absence;
and Captains Jamison, Company ID,
and Wilbourn, Company H, and
Lieutenant Neal, were left sick at
Nashville. This reduced our line
officers considerably, and, Company
ID having no commissioned officer
present, Colonel May, now in com
mand, put the author temporarily in
command of that company. The
other companies were commanded as
follows:
Company Ascend Lieutenant
Jacob Phips.
Company B-Second Lieutenant
Joseph Blackwell.
Company C-First Lieutenant
VIM. Park.
Company captain Robert B.
Hickman.
Company F-Captain John B. Ban
ton.
Company Captain Landrum c.
Minter.
Company II - First Lieutenant
Wade b. Cox.
Company i Lieutenant New
ton Hughes.
Company k Captain Henry
Thomas.
Skirmishing commenced at early
dawn the 9th, and increased into a
sharp battle. As we advanced on
Lavergue, at 8 o'clock, our shells soon
set the town ON FIRE, and two hours
after, as our brigade passed through,
the majority of the houses we're in
ruins. The enemy gave
way and fell back across Stewards
Creek, within ten miles Of Murfrees-
boro. Near dark we bivouacked in
the cedars just north of Stewards
Creek. The Eighth Kentucky did
not have time to kindle their fires be-
fore we were ordered on picket, one
half the command on the line at
time. The rain had been pouring
down all the afternoon, and our
which was wet 20 the skin,
felt anything but comfortable to a
man. We were not dis
turbed by the enemy throughout this
disagreeable night, which at last gave
way to a bright, pleasant morning.
Being Sunday, our good Catholic
general did not move his army, and
all Of us who were not detailed for
forage and picket duty had a quiet
rest.
The rebel pickets, though in easy
hailing distance of ours, kept very
quiet, and, in some instances relaxed
heir sullenness enough to indulge in
4 friendly chat with our pickets. This
private's armistice resulted in squad
rom each belligerent army laying
lown their arms and advancing to the
creek. Thus separated by the stream,
he following conversation ensued;
Rebel-"What command does you
ms belong tor"
Federal--"The Third Brigade.
Rebel-"Who commands that ar
Federal = Colonel Matthews.
What is your commando
Rebel-"We ar Wheeler's; an |
believe you-ens are the fellers we fit
It Dobbin's Ferry"
Federal-"You bet we arel What
lid you think Of us 2"
Rebel-"Darned good marksmen;
,ut whar yer fellers tryin' to 60 ter p
Federal-"To Murfreesboro."
Rebel-"Well you-ens II find that
II a mighty bloody job, sho."
After an exchange of newspapers,
brown over by attaching to them
tone, each party retired to their