The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-04-12
History of the Eighth Kentucky
Thrilling Story of the Part this Gallant
Regiment Took in Our Civil War


per, and had Gen. Nelson been pre-
sent, aud refrained from swearing
long enough to have heard the great
amount of profanity INDUCED in at
that ford, he certainly would have
been Disguised with this foolish hab-
il. In the meantime we arrived up
on the scene, and Col. Barnes, who
could, on slight proyocation, swear
equal 10 an army teamster, rode
around with drawn weapon among
the booty teamsters and made them
hitch up, and once more put the
train in motion.
The principal part Of our five
companies worked hard all night by
reliefs pushing wagons and artillery
up the mountain. Every one OF US,
from colonel down, had our clothing
thoroughly wet. In order to get
few hours sleep without laying down
in mud and water, lashed my wea-
ry body to a tree trunk, using one of
the mems gun straps and my own
sword belt. While thus suspended,
| slept quite sound.
About sunrise the next morning
the last wagon topped the noun
tain. Without taking time TO eat
breakfast, we struck out in quick
time to oyertake the division, and
soon came up with the column.
After forced march Of five miles, the
head Of the division met a scout.
General Nelson had a brief interview
with him, then commanded the col
umn to counter march, quick time,
march, This was 10 us discouraging,
to say the least. But Nelson had
been informed by Buell. that we were
about TO meet the principal part of
General Bragg's army, and that dis
erection was in this case, probably,
the best But our men said, Here,
we've lost sleep, waded rivers and
ran around in the cedars until our
shoes are worn out trying 10 meet
the enemy, and now, when we are
about to find the armed rebels, TO
retreat is worse than to fight and get
whipped. F."
At the crossing Of the river, the
Eighth refused TO 60 farther until
we bad time to get some rations out
of the trains and get on the outside
Of that grub, which we did, regard
less of friends in front OF foes behind.
Satisfying our hunger. we resumed
the march and arrived at McMinn-
willie little before midnight.
On this nineteen miles Of rough
roads this division Of as good men as
the United States had in the field
left more stragglers than they prob
ably ever did afterward. They all
came up during the next day.
We pitched our tent flies in an APP
pie orchard northeast of town. The
heavy crop Of green fruit Of that
orchard totally disappeared within
twenty four hours--fried, with plenty
Of sugar added, making a good dish
to hungry soldier.
On the evening Of the 9th, at dress
parade, several Of Nelson's trouble
some orders we're read; one OF them
requiring every regiment in the
division to have battalion drill for
two hours before breakfast; that at
7 o'clock, compelled us to be up and
in line at 8, and from that until sup
per no time was lost from drill and
other duties, except two hours for
dinner This lively exercise to men
whose feet we're yet very sore, was
anything but pleasant recreation.
On the 9th Of August, the Eighth
escaped the ordeal Of a knapsack
drill, by an order sending us one
mile out on the Smithyille road as
pickets We remained there in the
brush until the morning of the l1th,
encountering no worse enemy than
innumerable little insects called
seed ticks" The enemy was re-
ported to have large force at
Smithyille, twenty miles distant from
us, and our boys were given strict
orders. At late hour on the night
Of the 10th, General Nelson and staff
passed outside our pickets and re-
turned by the Smithville route. Leay-
ing the main road they came tearing
along the by-road, evidently to try
the mettle of our pickets When
within hailing distance, John w.
Barnett, Company II, commanded
"halt." Nelson and escort appeared
not to hear, and John, in loud
voice, repeated, HALT, there or by
Jupiter, III put hole through one
OF YOU" at the same time all six of
the mems pieces gave that ominous
click that generally causes even a
brave man to halt, aud the General