Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1919-06-20

suffered any casualties.
While it should be remembered
that 1 am only recounting reminis-
cences of the "Tensas Cavalry" ]
would not withhold the need Of
praise from the member Of any 9TH
er company of the regiment, il my
own treacherous memory should re-
call any incident to assure me that
the recipient was justly entitled to it.
We returned to Morgantown,
where we camped the ensuing night.
posted guard around the camp.
and sent out pickets on the road
leading to Green river.
An incident occurred during the.
night, which alarmed the camp and
caused the troops to assemble under
arms. 1t was a very dark night.
so much so, that a sentry Could not
distinguish an object ten feet from
him. About midnight, one IT the
sentinels heard something advanc-
ing toward him. He could not dis
cover its identity on account OF the
Cimmerian darkness, but as it con-
tinued to advance. he ordered it 10
halt and give the countersign. Fail
ing to do 90, he fired and soon dis
covered that the advancing enemy"
was a COW, which bis unerring aim,
had killed. While it was a ludi-
crous and comical incident. the
sentinel could not be censured for
disturbance of the midnight rest
of bis comrades, as he acted strictly
within the line of his duty and pur-
suant to the USUAL instructions.
We returned to Bowling Green
the next day, / presume Major
Hagan reported the result of his
mission, which must have been APP
proved, as / never heard aught to
the contrary.
But we soon learned that events
of military nature were 80 shaping
themselves. as to terminate our 90
journ at Bowling Green. / refer to
the impending capture by the
enemy, Of Fort Henry on the Ten
nessee and Fort Donelson on the
Cumberland river.
The imminence Of their fall
rendered longer occupation Of Bowl.
ing Green untenable and its i'm
mediate evacuation q matter ol
military necessity. General Johnston
was supposed to have ut this time
not less than 20, 900 men, while
those Of the commanders opposed
to him had frqn, sc, 600 to 100. 600
who could easily form a junction
and with their concentrated com
mands, annihilate his diminutiv'
forces. With such an alternative
| confronting him. his military gen
Jus was equal to the emergency
and he realized acutely, that th'
only solution Of his complicabe<
situation was to get South OF th'
Tennessee and Cumberland rivers
where be could keep his communi
cations open and receive bis sup
, plies without molestation by tn
, enemy. But be would also be in !
position to re-enforce bis alternate,
ranks, BY uniting with Beauregar'
at Corinth. Miss, a. well as b!
the concentration Of other Troops o
! his department 1t that place, whicl
, would 80 strengthen him, that b.
, would be able to march against ant
give battle to Grant, defeat an,
capture his army at Pittsburg land
: ing, and be ready to devote his at
, tention to Buell.. who was enrout
to the assistance Of Grant at th
latter place. Grant had. in the in
terval, been defeated at the battl
Of Belmont. and his military repu
/ tation was not above par.
i Under such circumstances. Gen
eral Johnston issued the order 70
the evacuation Of Bowling Greel
and the troops and supplies begal
to move out.
u Ito be continued.