The National tribune., 1907-09-19

OnS and everything that would retard
their flight had been burned. Seven
lnew-inade graves in which officers had
been buried and 19 dead privates, reb-
els, unburied, were found. Thirteen of
| these had been thrown in a crevice in
| the rocks and the others covered with
leaves. Their wounded, afterward as
certained to be S5, were carried away.
Our losses were one killed of the 14th
KY. and l. wounded. OF these eight
We're 42d Ohio boys. Two. Frederick
H. Coffin. of Co. F. and William Card
ner, of Go. G., were mortally wounded
and died few days afterward. and
were buried at Paintsville. Charles
Carlton, of Co. f, was severely wound
| ed. When they carried him from the
field his only grief was for his mother,
and who would care for her. Capt
F.. II. Mason, now Consul at Berlin,
then AID Ohio boy. wrote a thrilling
account of the engagement for the
Clevenlad Leader, in which in pathetic
language he recounted the grief and
anguish of Comrade Carlton, that after
ward was made the basis of the song,
Who Will Care for Mother Now?'
After the Battle.
The morning after the battle the
ground was frozen, the boys were clad
in raiment soaked with rain of the day
previous and the fording of the creek,
and had now become a frozen mask.
Our rations were exhausted, and we
Iretraced our march to Prestonburg. We
remained here three or four days pend
ing the arrival of our scouts, who re-
ported that Gen. Marshall had crossed
the mountain into Virginia. The re-
turn to Paintsville. the headwater of
navigation, was made, where the regi-
ment went into Winter quarters. The
rain became almost incessant The Sc
we're exposure was telling on the health
of the men. Many were taken to the
hospital, and not a few were buried in
the graveyard at Paintsville. The stu
dent company of the AID Ohio made
frequent raids in quest of speciments
in entomology, botany and geology.
Color Sergt CowleS, who collected bugs,
sent a number OF rare specimens to the
Smithsonian Institute, while rich stratas
of coal were found protruding from the
hills on Paint Creek.
The rains had swollen the river so
that boats could now ascend as far as
Piketon, about 130 miles from Catletts-
burg. Frequent raiding from rebels
were constantly Outraging the people
of the upper valley, who appealed to
Garfield for protection. Gen. Buell. is
Isued an order, Drive every rebel from
eastern Kentucky" and the work was
assigned us. On Feb. the 42d Ohio
broke camp, and went aboard boats
that were to carry US to Piketon, where
We arrived next day about noon. The
remainder Of the Eighteenth Brigade
were in turn transported, and Piketon
became headquarters.
Scouting parties We're frequently sent
in quest of guerrilla bands that were
terrifying the people by their wanton
lawlessness- Frequent skirmishes with
this class of desperadoes resulted. The
rain. SO persistent. had now reached
climax. For "a hours it continued to
pour down. The valley at this point
was narrow, tho the channel Is quite
deep. About midnight the boys were
awakened by the water coming into
their tents, aitho encamped on knoll
above the town. The rail fence near,
that had not yet been burned, was piled
on the highest point and blankets and
tents piled on top. The boys stood
about until morning, discussing their
chances and cracking jokes
When morning dawned the valley was
inundated, the town submerged and
the river filled with drift; stacks of hay
live stock and occasionally a house
fioated by. The Oldest inhabitants could
not recall similar rise of &c feet in
"a hours.
large detail was made that worked
all night. removing commissary stores
to higher ground, only to see the flood
rising and sweeping them away. The
loss was estimated from $4,000 to
$4,000. The waters receded almost
as rapidly. leaving a covering of shiny
mud from which a sickening stencil
arose, causing much malaria.
Pound Gap.
Meanwhile Gen. Marshall had re-
turned from Virginia and established a
permanent camp at Pound Gap. Gen.
(now) Garfield determined to capture
the place, and on the morning of March
13. with force of coo infantry and
100 cavalry, set out for the Gap. The
distance was about 25 miles, over per-
haps the worst roads in America. The
force was divided, one part taking a
mountain path over divides" and
streams and the other following the
river. the two detachments uniting at
point about three miles north of the
Gap, on the morning of the 18th. Mai
Mclaughlin, with his cavalry. was or
dered to make show of attack in
F, front on the road, partially obstructed
| by logs and brush, while Gen. Garfield,
| with the infantry, was to climb to the
crest of the mountain. and on a rude
path approach in flank and rear.
AT o'clock the march began. The
| top of the mountain, a distance of two
miles or more, over logs, rocks, dense
thicket of laurels and vines, was reach
ed The firing of McLaughlin's troops
was heard, showing the cavalry were
engaged. Capt. Bushnell, of the 42d
Ohio. with small advance guard, was
hurrying forward. The cold, drizzling
rain that was falling when the ascent
of the mountain began had turned into
a furious snow storm. The air was so
filed with snow that the advance guar |
suddenly ran upon picket of three
! rebels, who fired and then fed our
guard returning the fire. The whole
force of infantry then deployed in line
of battle and started down the noun
tain slope, yelling, in pursuit The
l frightened sentinels had given the alarm
that the mountain was full of Yankees
The garrison, panic stricken, fled, leav-
ing their dinner unfinished, clothing and
bedding in their hunks, so confused and
terrified were they in their haste. a
detachment that was fighting the cav
airy was cut off, but escaped along the
mountain side. Three rebels were kill
ed, several wounded and a number OF
prisoners taken. The cavalry followed
the retreating enemy several miles into
Virginia, but without results. After ex-
plofing the Gap, securing trophies and
feasting on the Johnnies' corn bread
and bacon, orders were given to burr
the so log cabins, Quartermaster stores
: and all other property. The work oi
! destruction completed, the expedition
, returned to Piketon. The raid had oc.
cGpied four days. a march of about 6(