Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-11-29

TALE OF GEN. PEGRAM's RAID
Interesting Story Of How Eighty Pick
ed Men Charged Through Camp
of Enemy In Kentucky.

Early in the month of March, 1868
(between the LIST and .10th), General
Pegram made a raid into Kentucky
with a force of $500 cavalry and three
pieces of artillery. At the time the
LIST Kentucky cavalry was guarding
the south bank of the Cumberland
river in the vicinity of Somerset On
Pegram's approach W. were ordered
by General Gilmore, whose h%eadquar-
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 fall
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 a prisoner of war in the skir-
mish at Danville, but afterwards es-
capped from the enemy at Monticello,
Ky. When General Carter reached
Camp Dick" as it 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 so 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 S. M, Boone
Of the Ohio National Military Home in
the National Tribune. No such order
v e came from the general, as the
couriers sent or attempted to be sent
me were all captured,
At his j%uncture and somewhere
lear midnight Col. Ben p. Runkle,
commanding the 44th and 45th Ohio
infantry, came into Lancaster from
Richmond, KY, l think, n ordered
me. to sadie up and proceed to Camp
Dick Robinson.
l told him l could no leave the
post, as General Carter had command
ed me to remain until he ordered me
away.
Colonel RunkIe replied: Our forces
have been driven back from Danytlle,
and we must form a junction with
them as quick as may be at Camp
Dick Robinson. l 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 a drizzling rain was
falling. Near the old brick church
my little squad of 80 men ran upon
the pickets, not of our own forces. as
we expected, but Of those Of he
enemy.
They were all asleep, and they were
made prisoners before they knew it.
The question then presented itself:
What shall / do?" l made up my
mind in a flash and said: Boys. we
will go through or die. They are all
asleep, n we have their pickets."
Gabe Greenleaf was by my side, and
l dispatched Joe B~lackeby to inform
Colonel Runkle that instead of meet.
ing our own we were upon the enemy,
and l was going to charge through
their camp.
Whether Colonel Runkle ever re.
ceived the message l may never know;
but this much I do know, he came
laundering down the pike right be.
hind me with the brave and gallant
44th and 45th Ohio.
After l lac 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 beer 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 a success The boys used to call
it "Boone's dumb charge and l shall
always believe that nae we halted and
not gone through we would have all
been captured the next morning.
In two days after crossing the Ken.
lucky river we were ordered to a d
vance upon the enemy, with whom we
skirmished from Crab Orchard to Dut.
tons Hill, where Pegram made a
stand in a 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 or Tennes
see.
The only troops / remember figuring
IN this engagement We're the 1st Ken.
lucky cavalry, 44th and 45th Ohio in.
fantry-as brave and gallant men as
yer formed in battle line-one bat.
talon of the 7th Ohio cavalry, dash.
ing fine fellows, and a battery oil
mountain howitzers.