Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-07-07

khere was announcer review OIL DAT
urday, May 10th, and the tide Of
enthusiasm was If anything, high
er from the tone of the cheering
The diar Y says, "His men have the
greatest confidence in his efficiency
and ability" Rum ors were to the
effect that guerillas had blockaded
the pike beyond Monterey, and the
Dixie boys had closed up the
Franklin route. Then it was re.
ported the uniopists had halted and
would make q stand. Soon after
wards came. the word that they
"were skedadling and blockading
behind them" in the direction Of
Franklin. The presence of 200
men of AshbY cavalry coming from
the east Friday morning made mat
ters more hopeful. There is this
item in the diary: "We get orders
to cook a days ralions, but before
We get the dough ID the oven, get
orders to fall in march.
Before getting started. some lady
friends came in and told about
some federals coming to their house
and installing Gen. Taylor's por.
trait for Gen. Edward Johnson's.
About sundown, Saturday, May
10th, the army reached the forks
of water in pursuit of the retreat
ing unionists. The rumor was
again ripe that the unionists had
halted three miles farther OIL, and
were going to fight If attacked, and
this item appears in the note book,
1--WE expect another desperate
struggle to. morrow" Sunday
morning, May II, we see from the
diary that its writer enjoyed anoth.
er very excellent nights sleep"
and the only thing that seems to
worry him is the missing coffee
4
pot, which was estimated "as a
great loss just now" The march.
ins was resumed on Sunday morn.
ing. May 18th. and no resistance
was apparent until within two
miles of Franklin.
The unionists took a stand and
there was an artillery duel. At
$50 pm. the Slst is ordered to
the scene of action, whereupon we
find this entry, MAY God have
mercy on us, and spare our lives
and help lis to defeat the enemy"
Ia close connection we find this
reflection, I'VE have spent this ho.
ly Sabbath day marching. ! be-
lieve our commander to be a true
christian, but the army at times is
compelled to break the Sabbath"
1t turned out however that before
the infantry reached the firing line
the unionists 'schanged POSITIONS
and the confederates camped for
the night near the famous Trout
Rock. and the note book writer
says he slept well after the tselve
hour march, for a Sabbath days
Journey. In the morning hours OF
Monday there seemed to be con
slant expectation Of marching ON
in pursuit of the unionists, the in.
fautry having formed several times
for the purpose, but were merely
kept waiting, and many were ex.
pecting battle during the day, but
this item explains what did occur
"Stonewall sets this day apart as {
day Of thanksgiving, prayers and
praising for victory at Mcdowell
and prays for further success.
The writer has the moral courage
to confess that as for himself HI
spent much Of the morning sleep
ing, and missed the sermon. one o
the best that Dr.. Dabnev eve
preached. And then when hi
morning nap was over, he WASHED
his socks so as to be in proper tim
for marching. To the surprise o.
all, the order to "about face" wa
gwen near 3 pm, and after rap
id march went into camp on to
farm of Henry Simmons. Tn
soldiers found the road verv dusty
, and suffered much from sore feet
Nevertheless, he slept very vel
at the wagons. From what ha'
, taken place the previous Afternoon
an early start was anticipated, bu
the command fingered at the Sim
mons farm as late as 10 am, Tues