Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1914-05-15

had recognized in the voice one of the
Tazewell Troopers. We were then
led to Lieutenant Moss headquarters,
ebeing in command of the Troopers
The soldiers had nearly all retired for
the night.
1t is only necessary to state that in
less than twenty minutes the entire
company, commissary and all, were
mounted and on the march to the
head of Clinch; and before eleven
O'Clock Captain Moss halted the COM
pany right on the spot from whence
we started. He then posted pickets
and sent out scouts, and then went
into bivouac for the remainder of the
night.
Next morning all were up bright
and early. Scouts came in and re-
ported no sign of Yankees, and all
quiet in the neighborhood. Other
scouts were sent out. The citizens be-
gan to come into camp. All reported
no sign of Yankees. The sun was now
getting considerably up in the day.
Some had begun to doubt the correct
ness of the report, and intimated that
it was all a joke. Just then all ewes
were turned to the turn in the road.
about quarter of a mile away. Two
soldiers were coming at full speed.
In a few seconds they refined up in
front of Capt. Moss, and reported
that they had found the Yankees
trail; that they had come down off a
spur of the ridge near James R. Wit
tens house. The orders were to
march" We were soon at the cross
ing, where they had slid down out
of the brush in single file, crossed the
road and over the fence, going a di-
rect southerly course, leaving their
trail behind like some huge serpent
that had scented it's prey afar off, and
was now in pursuit. All now seemed
to understand that their motive and
object was to strike the railroad near
Marion, Smyth county, and destroy
the bridges along the railroad.
Captain Moss lost no time in dis
mounting a part of his men, and TAX
ing command of them started on the
trail of the Yankees, after giving
orders to the remainder of the com
pany to round the mountains and by
ways and keep in touch with him as
near as possible.
On the third day about II o'clock.
Capt. Moss, with his footmen, sud
denly came upon the Yankees quietly
resting in camp, waiting for the
darkness of night, in order to do their
work of destruction of the railroad
bridges. They were in camp, if I
mistake not, about two or three miles
northeast of Marion in a gorge on the
south side of Big Walkers Mountain.
near branch called Hungry's
Mother, and not far from the rail-
road as understood at the time.
The fray was soon over, when Capt.
Moss charged on them with his dis
mounted men, capturing a consider
able number of them, the remainder
scattering into the mountains.
Perhaps it was an hour after the
Tray before the mounted men with
the horses came up. The Yankees
had been brought down out of the
mountain and lodged in an old di-
lapidated blacksmith shop, near Hun
gry's Mother. 1 had never seen a
Yankee, and my curiosity was raised
to high pitch to see them. I lost
no time hitching my horse and going
to the shop. l walked around tn
shop looking through every crack to
see the game that had caused so
much excitement. / was somewhat
surprised as 1 could see no differ
ence in them and our soldiers ex-
cept in their uniforms. They were a
fine looking lot of young men. What
surprised me more than anything else
was that l had no ill feeling towards
them, but rather felt sympathy for
them. /
While looking through large space
between two logs, one young fellow
came up to the crack, and looking me
straight in the eye, asked me very
politely for chew of tobacco.
handed him twist of long homemade
and told him to take half of it. He
thanked me very politely, and gavc(
me back the other half.
Lack of space will not permit the
publication in full of MIR. East's let
ter this week. 1t will be completed
In our next issue.