Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1915-04-29

over the news of the big time at La
fayette, and you may be sure that the
accounts Of the dance were not under
drawn by the participants. Most of
the younger officers felt like kicking
themselves for not having been in the
expedition, and determined to be a.
long next time The brigade COM
mander went to Chattanooga and pro-
cured an order to send out another de-
tachment to thoroughly go over the
country down toward Van Buren,
Ala, with larger party, and about
June 30 the start was made-camping
the first night at Lafayette. of course.
l presume that in all the history of
war no reconnoitering or scouting par
ty was ever sent out so we'll officered.
So important was the business in hand
that the Brevet Brigadier-General
himself went in command, and took
with him about half or more of the
other officers of the brigade, including
the Colonels of both of the other regi
ments. At Lafayette considerable
forage was left aud, before proceeding
toward Van Buren,, foolishly, very,
very foolishly for military men of any
rank, cards we're distributed inviting
tho ladies of the town to dance to be
given by the officers of the detachment
on the evening of Juue 23 The de-
tachment, about $50 strong, made the
trip as planned and on the afternoon
of the 93rd, returned to Lafayette and
went into camp, with about one
third of the number at and around the
Court House, and the rest mostly in
little strip of woods few hundred
yards away, and pickets were, of
course, put on on the different roads.
Up to this time l was not with the
party and DO not speak from personal
knowledge, but ! know that the invi-
tations were sent out as stated, because
l afterward saw some of them and ver'
fled the dates.
Now it seemed that someone Of these
good ladies (perish the thought) or
some low spirited man without the
fear of God before his eyes. took up
the foolish notion that the dance
would be more enjoyable il the colors
Of the uniforms could be mingled, and
sent one of the Invitations
TO Gen. Roddy. who, with four or five
thousand of the Johnny rebs, was in
camp some 40 or so miles away Now
this man Roddy was. az Abe Potash
would say, "a low life and no sport
at ALL" and only saw in the invita-
tion the fact that certain small band
Of Yankees would be at a certain place
1T given time, and, having taken
this sordid and purely mercenary
view of the matter, he determined to |
attend tue ball; but trus to his in
,tincts, be made arrangements to ar
rive about or little after the gather
ing time and to take his whole COM
nand with him, and did 80 without |
The common courtesy of acknowledge |
ing the invitation.
From this time l can speak from
personal knowledge, which came in
ibis way: Owing to my services as a
writer and otherwise on the former
rip, was slated to go on the second
and was directed to go to
and get supply of the
,est quality of paper and envelopes
,btainable for the invitations. After
Getting the supplies went to the old
Jrutchfield house near the depot to get
Inner and there met Capt. Lehman,
IN officer of the Regular Army, under \
whom had formerly served. He was
hen attached to Sherman's headquar-
ers in the Engineering Department,
nd was out on some secret expedition,
he nature of which l never exactly
Understood. He said was the very