The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-07-12
ARMY OF THE
CUMBERLAND
scsat,nssa from page l.,

-
10th KY. Cav. was placed In cosnman nd
Of the Cavalry Brigade. The troops
were ordered to move without bag
gage. with 10 days' rations and 100
rounds OF ammunition. Il was deter
mined TO take the most unexpected
route through the wild. mountainous
and barren country OF Eastern Ken
lucky. SO as 10 surprise the enemy by a
movement against which they had not
guarded. As no supplies were TO be OBJ
tanned upon the earlier part Of the route.
a wagon train went 60 miles. or as far
as the roads were at all passable. and
there delivered its supplies to pack
mules.
The Start.
When the force came together 1t was
smaller than Carter had expected. hav-
were recruits and not the veterans who
should have been chosen for such i'm
porfant work. The country into which
he started from Goose Creek was now
absolutely destitute OF other roa ds than
rough bridlep paths along precipitous
mountain streams and over the ridges
so that progress was irritatingly slow to
q commander who had only 10 days
rations on hand. The foot Of the Cum
herland Mountains was reached Dec 2S
opposite rough and slight depression
in the range called Crank's Gap. some
IL miles from Harlan Court House.
The horses were there given good
liberal feed. loaded with forage for the
next day. and the pack train sent back
under the charge OF a detachment OF
the Kentucky State Guard. BY after
noon the little force had reached the
summit OF tho mountains. and there be-
fore them. spread out In biliowy ex-
panse far to the east and south. was
the enemy's country into which they
n MI h0A N.
intended to distract the enemy by d.
viding the force and operating In diff
ferent directions. but II was now de-
cided. In view Of the Information which
had been received Of the enemy's
strength, that this would be dangerous
Before midnight Carter reached the
foot Of the mountain on the Virginia
side near Jonesvilfe. and turned aside
to avoid some 400 rebel cavalry at that
place. and % miles further halted on
the top Of Walters Ridge TO rest and
feed. This far there had been no sus-
pfcfOn on the part OF the Confelerates
OF the entrance Of Carter and his little
force into their territory. Those citi-
zens who had seen II had mistaken II
for Confederate cavalry. but the knowI-
edge naturally began to diffuso IT.
self through the country. and upon ar
irving at Estil1viIle. Gen. Carter learned
that q force was collecting at Moccasfn
Gap to resist his passage. He moved
forward at once with the I'd Mich. I'm
advance. and secured the Gap without
trouble, but Sergeant was killed and
two men captured by the guerriilas
who were lowering around the rear OF
the column. Carter pressed on so rap
idly toward Union. or ZoIlIcoffer. as fits
name then was that he surprised the
garrison there. consisting Of $50 men
or the sd ". c., under Mai. Mcdowell,
and burned the exceedingly important
bridge across the HoIston River, the
structure being about 600 feet long.
The North Carolinians captured were
mostly Union men conscrfpted into the
army. and were only too glad to be pa
rolled and allowed to make their way
back to their homes. where they vowed
they would remain. In addition to de-
stroying the bridge. the stores. bar
racks. tents. large number Of arms. a
depot and wagon bridge were also
burned. A considerable quantity of
salt and inter were also destroyed AS
soon as Gen. Carter saw this work of
destruction fairly under way he started
Col Walker with 181 men Of the I'd
Mich. 9Th Pa. and 7th Ohio Cav. for
the Watausa bridge. 10 miles further on,
where they attacked and routed about
200 Of the ga N. c.. killing from IL to
16 OF them. They then burned the
bridge. some 800 feet long. with a guam
tity Of stores and cars. A locomotive
was run into the river, knocking down
a pier in its descent.
The Whole Country Alarmed.
BY this time the whole Of East Ten
nessee and southwestern Virginia was
thoroughly aroused. Humphrey Mar
shall, Sam Jones and John B. Floyd,
comma nding the Confederate troops in
that section. were seriously excited. and
marched hither and yon to intercept
the raiders. surround and capture them
Humphrey Marshall took II upon him.
self to occupy the Gaps to prevent re-
treat, while Sam Jones was to pursue
and attempt to head the daring raiders
or. By this time Carriers horses were
badly faded and sorely In need of food.
The march had been rapid and exhaust
Ing. and after eluding by the narrow
est chances several OF the pursuing
bodies. Carter gained Clinch Mountain,
jan. l, and reached place where he
could get forage and rest for the night
This was the first bivouac since the
night Of Dec. 81. The bushwhackers and
guerrilfas were beginning TO be exceed
fngiy annoying. and they grew worse
and worse as the command started
back to Jonesville. Va. TO recross the
mountains. The Confederate force
pressed upon the rear guard. and a fight
occurred In JonesvilIe in which the reb-
els were driven back with a loss OF
several killed and 20 captured. With
all the furors created, all Humphrey
MarshaH's and Floyd's telcgraphing and
sending OF messages by couriers. Car
ter was lucky enough TO find Crank's
Gap. by which he had entered the State,
unguarded and unblockaded. and
passed through II Jan. 2. bivouackfng al
night at the foot Of the Cumberland
Mountains on the Kentucky side, after
having been. In the last five days, but
80 hours out Of the saddle. The road
DOWN the mountains was strewn with
brokendown horses. abandoned saddles.
blankets. and clothing. which the dis
mounted troops had thrown aside TO
make their way forward on foot Since
starting out the command had marched
4T0 miles. 40 of which were i'm the
snemy's country. over the toughest pos
sfble roads. and through weather Of
Mtdwinter incIemency.- 1t had burned
geo feet OF highiy-important railroad
bridges. destroyed a locomotive. 10 cars,
q lumber train, some miles OF telegraph,
5000 pounds Of inter. several hundred
stand OF arms. and several car loads OF
salt. sugar. coffee. meal. etc. The Ohio
lost one killed and eight miss
ing; the Michigan battalion one killed
and seven niissInx, and the 9Th Pa. two
wounded: making total loss Of 10.