Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1922-07-21
THE WYTHEYILLE RAID FIFTY
NINE YEARS AGO.

Interesting account of a Young
Tazewell's woman heroic service.i
On the 18th day of July, 1868,
rading party of Ohio cavalry orga-
nizcd at Camp Pictt, West Va, for
the purpose Of destroying the Vir-
ginia and TENNESSEE railroad at
Wytheville. (About 1926 men in all.)
Whilst these troops were Ohio men
the cavalry brigade was commission
ed End West Va. cavalry, for the
reason that at that time Ohio had
furnished its quota Of troops, and
the secretary of war would not allow
any more from that state to be COM
missioncd. These troops were from
Portsmouth and surrounding coun-
try.
They then marched to Parkers-
burg. Gen picrrepont was thus pro-
visional or military governor of the
new stale or West Virginia, and with
authority Of the secretary Of war
commissioned them the End West Va.
cavalry. This expedition started UNI
der command Col. VIM. III. Powell,
but for some unexplained reason Col.
.Ino. IT, Tolan assumed command
However, Col. Powell accompanied
the expedition and it is yet ques-
ton who was i'll command when they.
reached Wythevillc. From Camp
Fiettc the march was to the marshes
of Coal Creek thence over Little
Gyandottc Mountain to Wyoming
court house, thence to Tug River,
Abb's Valley, over Stony Ridge and
camped on the night of the 18th on
the Taylor farm near the Henry Bow
en- farm near TaZcwcll.
On the 18th the command marched
rapidly through Burkc's Garden via
Sharon and Stony Fork to Wythc-
vile, arriving about five o'clock in
| the evening. Coming down Tazewell
street Colonel Powell leading the
| charge, he was severely wounded
| Colonel Toler then came to the front
and was killed about one hundred
yards north of where the high school
building now stands. About the same
time Captain Delaney and first lieu
tenant Gansemnn of the Union forces.
was also killed The best authority
to be had put the casualties of the
Union forces at 81 killed and CT
wounded. Confederates 3 killed and
8 wounded. \ number of residences
on this street were burned and some
business houses in rear of now Bruce
~ Co., only one building OH main
street was burned, it being used az
Il sutlery for the confcderacy. and
was located on the corner diagnoally
opposite the residence of Governor
Trinkle.
The principal object Of this raid
was to destroy the Virginia and Ten
nessec railroad. However, but little
damage was sustained by the rail-
read from this raid. The Confederatcs
troops that repealed this attack were
a home guard of about so mon near
~ all being under military age. Sun
piemented by about so reserves sent
|" their assistance, were under the
command of Col. j. f. Kent. who
was then home from the regular
army on account of bad health. o.,
troops were quickly routed OH ac-
count of greatly superior numbers
and The Union troops had full possess
SOU OF the town, all of this occupied
rom one to two hours time, the bat
Tie about 10 minutes. Major o. NJ.
h'yer IN ms report of this engage
,hent who was then in command of
TWO companies at Dublin. a mail
ram as 1t was then tcrmee: was
stopped and all passengers made To
leave the coaches with his commonJ
numbering 1870 men. He was soon
near Wythcvillc. All left it. one mile
east OF town. Owing to the preot
confusion it was some time before
the artillery was unloade,i In tbc
mean time AN advance guard nro-
ceeded TO town. The yankees pot in
formation OF the advance of these
troops, and fed immediately from
| the town iii great confusion. They
iied OH Il die. route from what
they came ia. Af.er they got to the
top OF Wa. mountain thew cen
cured about ,..!n about rs prison
ers, many OF them some of our old
est ana most prominent men, viz:
ihos. j. Boyd, DR.. II. d. Gage. w.
A; Suit. JAS. Corvin, l.. ID. Hancock
Chas. Fountain, c. j. Noel. N s.
Sehornii Benz. Beyille, Henry Brady
Ihos Morrison, David Sexton. Jessie
and Ruben Bailey, Ephrium MEGA
v0cS, Frank Slater and many others.
1nese prisoners were q burden and
all were parolled at the top of Walk
|ers Mountain, and allowed to return
nome, and many sad homes wore.
MADE happy next day, as they stroll
ed IN sore tired and hungry, ana some
almost in a state of collapse from
the long walk and without food and
most of them old men.
After Col. Powell was wounded he
was carried forward into the town
with the Union army, where he re-
eeived for few minutes first aid.
On arrival of Maj. General Samuel
Jones one and half miles east of
town with achievements. This was
soon communicated to the enemy
VINO at once fled in great disorder.
leaving their wounded to the care of
the few good people, especially the
women of the town. '
Col. Powell was found in HIDING
under the bridge that then spanned
on main street, and over what is now
known as the town branch. He was I
for a while in grave danger of be.
ing hung by lot of infatuated citi-
zens on account of the burning ~
part of the town. Cooler heads ia
terceaed and for a while restored
L..