Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1915-04-29
UNLIMITED
GUEST
A Ball Where Blue and Gray
Mingled, a Sleep and a
Rude Awakening.

Sometime ago we were requested by
a subscriber TO give an account Of the
engagement at Lafayette, Ca, during
the Civil War We publish below an
account taken from the National Tri-
bune, which we trust will give little
insight into the episode. 1t is written
by CYRUS Edwards, Historian, De-
partment of Kentucky, G. A. R.,
Horse Cave, KY. [Ed.
In the early part of June, 1864,
was serving with my regiment. the 7th
XIV. Cav, in brigade composed of
that regiment and the 4th and 9th reg
iments, Kentucky Cavalry, command
ed by Brevet Brig. Gen. l.. ID. Wat
kin. who was colonel of the last above
named regiment in camp at Wauhatch-
ie Station, in the Lookout Valley, a.
bout seven miles from Chattanooga,
Tenn.
I was sent out as, one of detail of
about $50 men on a scout towaid Gay
esville, Ala, stopping the first night
at Lafayette, the county seat of Walk
er County, Ga We then proceeded
on our way down into Alabama.
gathering such information as could
be obtained of the location and move
ments of parties of the enemy, and,
ON the afternoon of the third day,
about A or O'Clock, as now remem-
ber. returned to Lafayette. Forage
had been left there on the way out,
and we fed our horses and cooked sup
per. and made such preparations as we
could for a nights lodging these
preparations being few and simple, as
the ground was dry and the weather
pleasant Soon after going into camp
an orderly called for me to report at
head quarters, which l found at a ho-
tel at the corner, where the Chatta
.nooga road enters the public square.
On arriving at the hotel found
that some of the officers bad been in
formed that considerable Union SEN
timent existed in the town, and that
the ladies, both Union and rebel, al
ways treatsd all soldiers who acted as
gentlemen with consideration and
respect, and on being questioned some
of the ladies had stated that in their
opinion, if invited, most of the ladies
OF the town would probably attend
dance to be given at the hotel under
the auspices of the officers present,
and it had been decided to risk it and
invite them, and I, with one or two
others of the party who were more or
less skiIlful with the pen, had been
selected to write the invitations, and
| think one was sent to every woman
of good standing in town-the names
being furnished by some of the ladies.
There were very few men in town
only few old men and boys 1t seem
el-and, of course, the ladies had in
self protection to be kind and oblig-
ing to soldiers of both armies alike,
whether their feelings dictated so or
not; as they we're on the border in a |
time of peril of which the Younger |
generation has no idea, and knew not
at whose mercy they might be on the
morrow.
There were not many officers in the
detachmnent. and all non n-commisslon-
ed officers aud privates were notified
that their attendance was desired, and
there was soon great scurrying a.
round for blacking and BRUSHES, and
sundry old negroes harvested pocket
full of shin plasters in connection with
making the outfit presentable AT the
appointed hour we we're sent for; the
ladies were assembled generally in
parties of three or four aud waiting
for an escort. =,
Most Of us were trained in the old
fashioned dances, were young and ac-
tive, and ranging in age from II to
about 90, and it 10 reasonable TO sup
pose that each one fully did his duty:
Il had been long time since we nao
been in company with real ladies'. ana
we considered that each one must per,
sonally keep up the reputation OF oid
Kentucky. The ladies' were mostly
dressed In homespun-it seemed to me
the finest aud best made up ever saw
land were good looking and well
behaved company, and they seemed to
enioy the occasion. Owing to the Pc
cuIiar circumstances there was very
little of the sly hits at love making I
usual on such occasions, even among
the yainer sort Some elderly women
we're present and they talked feelingiy
and sensibly of the terrible conditions I
by which they were surrounded and
which thew understood much better !
than we did at that time. AT the
conclusion of the dancing we escorted
the ladies to their homes and in most
c,tses were politely asked to call upon
them IL we should pass that way
again.
The next morning before the com
mand started to Chattanooga ] was de-
Jailed to act as guide for small de-
tachment under a Lieutenant OF the
tth KY, to cross the the mountains
INTO the Lookout Valley aud examine /
The country toward Trenton and be- 9
rond for traces of the enemy. The
previous fall, while serving in differ
mt command, had become we'll ac- q
,uaiuted between Bridgeport and a
lookout Mountain, and this acquainf- y
,nce was now to become of use. did t
lot get back to Wauhatche for two or t
hree days after the arrival of our par
" from Lafayette. and on my arrival t
Innnd the whole brigade in q Torment .