The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-03-29
History of the Eighth Kentucky
Thrilling Story of the Part this Gallant
Regiment Took in Our Civil War.

our regiment. Lieutenant Park, by
the assistance of the family with
whom he was boarding, eluded the
rebels by secreting himself in the
cellar. The other two played off
citizens ON the rebels, who only held
the town few hours.
About this time Bragg's and Kirby
Smiths troops in and below Chatta-
nooga began to feel their way north
ward, which caused a part Of Buell's
army, under General Smith, to con
centrate about 10000 infantry and
cavalry here to resist an expected at
tack from rebel cavalry. About
5000 of General Woods command
arrived at Elk River, and our two
companies rejoined us. The morn
ing Of the 18th, we moved into town,
and, with other troops, began forti-
flying the place, as later reports con
firmed the rumor Of a large rebel
force from Chattanooga making their
way toward this place. A large force
felled trees while others threw up a
line OF earth works encircling the
town. At the same time large
number OF wagons we're sent out over
the country under strong guard, to
collect supply Of -four and other
provisions. A string OF pickets were
placed around the place, and artillery
placed in good position. All this
began to look like war in earnest
To husband our half rations of beel
and -four, Companies G aud II OF
the Eighth, while on picket the 10th,
took the preeaution to lay in good
supply Of pork and potatoes, the lat
ter, as 5. Wood, remarked, he "jesi
found growing wild up yonder in a
patch Of weeds" and Burgess, Com.
pany II, said tine rebel hog hadn't
the countersign." After all this pre-
paration for siege, our men appear
ed somewhat disappointed, the even.
ing OF the Sth, to learn that the
enemy had fallen back, and we were
ordered to march back TO Murfrees-
boro, via Shelbyville. Accordingly
the 18th, we loaded our train, and
with the other three regiments Of oul
brigade, marched northwest, oyel
poor country, meeting part of Gen.
eral Woods division. Encamped
early, within ten miles Of Shelbyville
The 10Th, after passing over rough
road, we arrived at that town at noon
where we cooked and ate dinner
That evening we made a short march
Of eight miles, and bivouaced ON the
Murfreesboro Pike, in fine section
Of country, large, well cultivated
fields Of splendid crops Of corn and
cotton, with occasional stacks OF
wheat. The slaves were yet gener-
ally at home. The face of the coun
try showed no ravages of war, thanks
20 Buell's orders and the mild man.
ner Of the administration in dealing
with these aristocratic slave-owners,
who were principally in the field
fighting to destroy the government,
while their slaves were raising boun-
titul supplies to feed the rebel army
the coming winter II mattered not
how much our tired, hungry soldiers
wished a mess Of green corn as a
change from our hard tack, not an
ear of corn, or peach, or apple could
be had without violating general or
ders. Many staff aud line officers
had become disgusted with enforcing
these strict orders and this "concili-
atory policy of putting down the
rebellion, and did not see a few green
cobs lying about camp fires before
the boys had managed to bury or
secrete them.
TO BE CONTINUED