Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-04-27
SOLDIERS TOLD STORIES
ABOUT The FIGHTING
Done Around Chattanooga in
Civil War

1868. Gen. Gordon, for instance, tells
of a brass-lunged federal soldier con-
ing up the side of Lookout mountain
from Wauhatchie with his command to
the assault on the Confederates around
the Cravens house This fellow had "A
most amazing voice; it could be heard
miles away. While the Yanks were
toiling up the mountain, putting ana
blowing, this private soldier with the
large voice sank to a manufactured
tune: Big pig, little pig, root hog or
del" The Confederates heard him and
cheered, regardless of the fact that
they knew they were soon to engage in
deadly combat
Gen William c. Oates tells of an en-
tcrprise of his own to take Williams
island away from the Yanks. That
island is just below the point of Look
out mountain. 1t contains about 900
acres of the richest ground on the Ten
nessee river. Williams having been
bothered a great deal by the Yanks,
applied to Gen. Oates for protection The
Confederates were hard pressed for
something to eat, and grazing was
reported good on Williams island, fine
corn and pumpkins Williams, ac-
cording to Gen. Oates, related that
there were only a few federal troops
on the island and that they could easily
be captured, killed or put to flight.
Gen. Oates called for fifty volunteers
to engage in a dangerous expedition.
The full quota was soon secured, but
no officer volunteered his services, and
Gen. Oates commanded the expedition
in person. They secured canoes, and
after night silently floated down the
river to the island They concluded
that inasmuch as the Yankees felt
safe in their retreat, that no pickets
were out. 1t was agreed to quietly
ascend the bank, enter the farm and
I econnoiter the enemy's strength. Two
or tire scouts went up the bank lit
tie in advance of the main body of the
eNpeditionary force. Just as the first
of these parted the cane on the out
skirts of the island a picket, placed
conveniently by the Yanks, poked his
gun through the brush and blazed
away. The shot passed over the head
of the Confederate scout, doing uo
harm. The shot, however was a Sig
nal for line of pickets all around the
island to get busy. Volley after volley
was poured in the direction of the in
vaders. The latter ran heller SHELTER
back to their canoes, and beat a hasty
retreat. Some of the more panicky
members of the party jumped into the
river and swan for it. Bullets fell
all around them, chugged the water
but nobody was hurt Stragglers from
this expedition were a couple of days
getting back to camp. They made an
effort to keep the farce a secret, but it
leaked out, and was the joke of the
campaign.
While the war game has it's dangers
and its hardships. it also has its pleas
ures and its humors. 1t is good en-
'C' 1oAiiiAiCHl 70 IlSIeH 10 couple CT
old soldiers, who have the eye to the
ridiculous side of the things, relate ex-
periences around Chattanooga. Many
good stories have never found their
way into print. During all the fighting
around Chattanooga, private soldiers
of both armies kept their eyes skinned
for trouble. The rattle of a bush has
been known to strike panic to a fellow
who may have been proving around
on the hunt for something to eat. Sol
diers have been frightened half to death
by men of their own uniform. This
panic, however, yanishes on the firing
line. Men in battle have but little re-
gard for the element of danger. They
will charge the mouths of cannot when
in battle, and run from sheep, if
thew don't knOur what u ic u.bav az.