The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-11-28
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TALE OF GEN. PEGRAM'S RAID
Interesting Story Of How Eighty Pick
cd Men Charged Through Camp
Of Enemy In Kentucky.

Of Enemy In kentucky.
Early in the month of March. 1863
(between the 1st and 10th), General
Pegram made a raid into Kentucky
with force Of $500 cavalry and three
pieces of artillery. At the time the
1st Kentucky cavalry was guarding
the south bank of the Cumberland
river in the vicinity Of Somerset On
Pegram's approach we were ordered
by General Gilmore, whose headquar-
ters were at Lexington, to fall back
to Danville.
After reaching DanVille General Car
ter, who was killed at the siege Of
Knoxville, made dispositions to dis
pute Pegram's further advance, but
after a light skirmish at Danville
General Carter was ordered to fell
back and take position some ten miles
northeast from that point, at Camp
Dick Robinson.
Lieut.-Col Silas Adams, of the 1st
Kentucky cavalry, was captured and
made prisoner OF war in the skir-
mish at Danville, but afterwards e.
capped from the enemy at Monticello,
Ky. When General Carter reached
Camp Dick" as 1t was called, he was
again ordered to fall back to the
north bank Of the Kentucky river.
Before the retreat from Danville
General Carter ordered me to proceed
to Lancaster. KY, with 80 picked men
from the 1st Kentucky cavalry to
watch the movements of the enemy in
that direction and to remain there un.
til ordered away, writes 8. M. Boone
Of the Ohio National Military Home in
the National Tribune No such order
ever came from the general. as the
couriers sent or attempted to be sent
me we're all captured,
At this juncture and somewhere
near midnight Col. Ben P. Runkle,
commanding the 44th and 45th Ohio
infantry, came into Lancaster from
Richmond, KY, l think, and ordered
me to sadie up and proceed to Camp
Dick Robinson
told him l could not leave the
post, as General Carter had command.
ed me to remain until he ordered me
away.
colonel Runkle replied: Our forces
have been driven back from Danville
and we must form a junction with
them as quick as may be at Camp
Dick Robinson. rank you, and you
must obey my orders"
We were soon In the saddle and
given the advance. being we'll ac
Quainted with the country. The night
was dark and drizzling rain was
falling. Near the old brick church
my little squad of 80 men ran upon
the pickets, not Of our own forces, al
we expected, but of those of the
enemy.
They were all asleep, and they were
made prisoners before they knew 1t
The question then presented itself:
What shall I do?" I made up my
mind in fash and said: Boys, we
will go through or die. They are all
asleep. and we have their pickets.'
Gabe Greenleaf was by my side, and
l dispatched Joe Blackeby to inform
Colonel Runkle that instead of meet
ing our own We were upon the enemy
and I was going to charge through
their camp.
Whether Colonel Runkle ever re-
ceived the message may never know;
but this much l do know, he came
laundering down the pike right be-
hind me with the brave and gallant
44th and 45th Ohio.
After I had passed the barn that
stood in the forks of the two pixies
Colonel Runkle ordered Lieutenant
Lennon to take the advance, but the
gantlet had then been run, and we
got somewhat mixed up in the dark.
ness, and so, capturing the pickets at
Bryantsville, we crossed the Kentucky
river about daylight.
No shot was fired, and the charge
was success. The boys used to call
it "Boone's dumb charge" and / shall
always believe that had we halted and
not gone through we would have all
been captured the next morning.
In two days after crossing the Ken.
tucky river we were ordered to ad-
vance upon the enemy, with whom We
skirmished from Crab Orchard to Dut.
toms Hill, where Pegram made a
stand in strong position In order to
move the stock he had captured safe
ly over the Cumberland river.
The battle was a sharp cavalry en-
gagement and Pegram was routed, but
succeeded in crossing the Cumberland
with what men he had left and max
ing his escape to Virginia lor Tennes-
see.
The only troops remember figuring
in this engagement were the 1st Ken
lucky cavalry, 44th and 45th Ohio in
fantry-as brave and gallant men as
ever formed in battle line-one bat
talon Of the 7th Ohio cavalry. dash
ing fine fellows, and battery of
mountain howitzers.
Tha Ao.oaIoktan