The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1913-04-11

Springs and by the main road in uie same
direction.
Duke moved his brigade rapidly to Saltvillc
reaching that place before noon
General Breckenridge had already concentrat
ed there all OF the reserves that could be col
lected. and which had just returned from the val
ley.
Vaughan had retreatcd when he found him
self cut off toward the North Carolina line, and
was virtually out of the fight from that time
Our force for the defense OF Satvle was not
more than 1900 men; for offensive operations
not 500.
On that day the enemy made no demonstra-
ton against Saltve, and at nightiall General
Breckenridge ordered Duke to move with $50
men of his brigade through McCalls Gap, and
passing to the right of Glades Springs, where
the enemy was supposed to be, enter the stage
road and move toward Wytheyille He had re-
ceved information that 800 or 400 of the enemy
had gone in that direction ana ne NlSheu luke
to follow and attack.
Duke moved as directed He found the enemy,
not at Glade Springs but at the point at when
he wished to enter the main road. DRIVING IN
the pickets he advanced his whole force to with
in A short distance of the road, and discovered
convincing proof that the entire federal force
was there He did not attack, but Withdrew to
a point about mile distant and permitting the
men TO build fires. and posting pickets to "aich
the enemy at the crossroads, awaited daylight
His guide had fled away when the pickets Tired
on Dukes men, and he could only watch inc
movements of the enemy and be governed "'
dictated by circumstances
lust AZ daylight a force OF Yankees, about 100
strong appeared in Dukes rear and between nm
and Saltville The force had passed through
Glade Springs and far around to the rear TOT
trnately. his men were lying down in line AMI by
their horses, which had not been unsaddlcd' iney
we're at once formed, the plckets called III ana ''I
ti,o
halted.
The noise of the pickets galloping up the road
made the enemy think that reinorcementS were
arriving Not caring TO fight when dreC'y ps
tween two superior bodies Of Yankees, ana oul
short distance from either, Duke wheeled mo
column and soon as the pckets detailed arI'Ne"'
moved toward a wood on his right. Inc enemy
~ NOT nrrsuo vigorously and soon hailed Only
one shot was fired and that by ono OF our PICK
cts. who killed his man. No one OF Duke 1eI
tacbment knew the country, but citizen suuS"
hin, over an almost mpracticahlc route To- 'He
road which enters Saltville at Lyon zap
The enemy crossed at Seven-MUe I''U "l''
went toward Wythevillc. breckenridge
mined to follow, harass him and PIeNen' ny
waste which was the object OF the RAID nc
marched ont from Saltville on the mghl oil '"'
nth with BOO men. leaving the reserves an"
the men belonging 70 the cavalry N'".""' "' -
shot as there was no ono the,e u. "'o 81, .-
defeated detachment OF Vaughan ~
~ far from town, taking and d'Suoy 'ns Wv
artillery which was attached To- ul's co.,
: The Yankees also captured and seriously "'''
aged the lead mines. ii bo.r
ON the 18th Colonel Wycher, who n'9 n'e"
cont in advance Of the column comlnan9eV ny
General Breckenridge, attacked a oo9y U' Az.
kees near Marion. and drove 1t 10 noun W.
eiqbt miles from Wytheville General b'y0N
cnridqe pressed on to support nm ana ~ -
our men reached Marion they iounu w HN"o
coming hack closely pursued by mutn I'' =.
force 81 Yankees Cosby brigade VINO"
i'm front OF Our column. at once ata0NeN " anu
whole command, having deploye' ""u .b.
an Tho erc,,,, was easily driven back across inc
creek Dukes brigade crossed anu ~ - - -
fcderals back some distance further on "'' l's''
~ orr line ~ advance Night coming on buN'
took . nosition on commanding UdES VIM
stretches from the creek in a southe'S.I'N ~,
rection Dukes left flank rested near ''' ''..
al which he had crossed. and ms inc va
ob,,se .,cIc with that of the other nIlEdue'
which had moi crossed and iuclning l'Wd'U v
position Of the enemy. During 'le u's"' -,
kept his men i'm nnc OF battle lu '"' "' ~ -.
ing il become known that StoneuS" go
force had arrived during the n'ght anu Va" - I:
ir,,,t;r, ,to confederate. After feeling the line
co,nr,enc;nc on the left the enemy apparen'H
bec.rc ;r,,SresseJ with the belief that the proper
point TO attack was on the right ana nc .,"
heavy pushcs in rapid succession upon l,"NN
position Duke had about 20 men anu va Va
reinforced al midday By Colonel Ny0h'' WV
iif,v III his battalion The line Duke was re-
ouired to hold was at least hall mile long a'lD
the troops fought resolutely INC men =.
formed in single thin skirmish inc , NJ "a
tervals OF five ar six feet between 'ne
vet the Yaekees could not break inc '!o W
o. men were forced to re-