Chapter VI: Preface (3)

The next morning, the Fourth of July, by some error of the A. A. G., two regiments were put in advance of the Fourteenth, and by a further misconstruction of orders they advanced against the stockade, which on this side of the river was impregnable, and there were obstacles of every description to impede a charge. Nevertheless, our troops hurled themselves against it with great gallantry and fought desperately until the General had them withdrawn. The troops were cut up badly, and many of our “best and bravest” fell in this engagement, among them being Colonel Shenault of the Seventh Kentucky, Major Brent of the Sixth, First Lieut. Chas. Kirtley of the Thirteenth Kentucky, commanding his company at the time, and many other gallant men and officers.

I cannot say who was the author of this movement, which was not a skilful move certainly, for we had to flank it finally to gain the pike beyond. By using our artillery on the opposite side they could have been shelled into submission, beyond reach of their rifles.

The brigade halted to feed at Campbellsville. Mounting again at dark, we did not halt until in front of Lebanon, about three o’clock in the morning. At daylight we advanced on the force garrisoning the town, which was the Twentieth Kentucky Yankee Infantry under Col. Chas. Hanson, a brother of the colonel of the Second Kentucky Infantry, afterward a general in our service, killed at Murfreesboro.

The garrison, as we advanced into town, had posted themselves in brick houses, depot buildings, and churches. But forming our line in a circle enclosing the town we moved to the attack. A street fight is one of the most desperate modes of warfare known to a soldier. The advantage is strongly against the storming party.

The Fourteenth charged mounted to within seventy-five yards of the railroad depot, and dismounted under the most deadly fire that we ever saw. The artillery took position on our right, opening on the depot in dead earnest. At every report the boys would cheer, the building tumbling at every discharge. Before the General commenced the assault he sent in a flag of truce to Colonel Hanson, demanding an immediate surrender; but if he would not consent, a limited time would be allowed to him to remove all non-combatants. He would not permit the inhabitants to leave, however, thinking they might prove to be a protection to his force, as we would probably not cannonade the town while the women and children remained. In that the Colonel was badly mistaken. His troops numbered about six hundred, and all fought desperately to keep the boys out of the houses. But the cavalry would go up and in. Some of our troops would frequently run their guns and pistols through the windows and fire, while others would storm the doors and gain their entrance.

The fight was raging terribly when Thos. H. Morgan, first lieutenant of Company I, Duke’s regiment, a brother of the General, while acting aide-de-camp and gallantly bearing orders, was shot through the head, causing his instant death. This happened in sight of the General, who became so enraged at such inhuman fighting that he sent his aides flying with orders to burn and destroy, which soon brought our brutal foe to a sense of feeling.

The whole town was quickly in a blaze and getting disagreeably hot. The engagement had lasted from morning until noon, and but for the burning would have lasted longer, at a great sacrifice of life. The white flag appeared in many places at the same time. Before it was discovered or acknowledged they were nearly “rare done.” Everything but hot stoves suffered that day. The troopers, not without cause, were much enraged, and they could scarcely be controlled by their officers.

During the taking of Lebanon two Yankee regiments were within two miles of the town, but would not and did not come to the rescue. The officer in command was afterward relieved for his timid and cowardly action. It was proven that he was half a day marching seven miles.

When the General was ready to march he privately detached a piece of artillery out of town, in charge of an officer, with instructions to shell the town. The order to mount had been given, but the boys fell slowly into line. However, the explosion of the first shell was sufficient to place all in line, ready for marching, as the General expected.

We moved out on the Springfield road, arriving at that place before night, with the prisoners, who were paroled. The advance halted to feed six miles beyond the town, on the road to Bardstown. The brigade stopped nearer the town. One of the officers of Company B was killed at Lebanon, another captured while en route to Bardstown the night we left Springfield, so that when the advance reached Bardstown I was the only officer in Company B, in which there were seventy-five men, which kept me pretty active during the trip.

The night’s march to Bardstown was one of the darkest we ever experienced. It was impossible to see even your fellow-soldier in the same set riding by your side. We halted near but not in sight of the city, and conferred with Captain Sheldon of Company C, Second Kentucky Cavalry, who had been the morning previous detached on a scouting expedition in the vicinity of Bardstown.

After meeting and skirmishing with, chasing, and being chased by a detachment of the regular Yankee cavalry, he had eluded and followed them, without their knowledge, into town, where, finding them quartered in a livery stable, he formed his line around, and barricaded the streets and alleys so strongly and successfully that they could not get out except at great sacrifice. Under Captain Sheldon’s guidance Colonel Morgan dismounted his regiment to go to the relief of Company C, supporting him until morning, when an immediate surrender was asked. The Major commanding, however, refused to comply.

The brigade having arrived about daylight, a piece of ordnance was brought to bear upon the stable, the “expression” of which appeared so ferocious that the Major submitted and hung out his white flag without further hesitation. The Major, a lieutenant, and fifty men surrendered, with as many horses, splendidly equipped.

Feeding and breakfasting, we were soon moving for the “Lew” and Nashville Railroad south of Shepherdstown, and not more than twenty miles distant from Louisville. The head of the column reached the railroad about the hour that the evening passenger train north was due. The General, who was riding with the advance, sent Company A of the Fourteenth to the road on our left to obstruct the cars after they passed. Company B was ordered to intercept them in front.

We had just arrived at the crossing when the train hove in sight. Quick as thought the General had one of Burns’s field pieces upon the track, and sent its contents booming down the track, checking the train, and almost instantly the engineer commenced reversing his engine. But Company B, which was rapidly advancing, put a stop to its wild career. The guard on the train, consisting of thirty or forty infantry, contested their ground stubbornly. Getting out on the opposite side from us, they used the train for breastworks. But, to use a soldier’s term, “we went for them,” dislodging and driving them into the woods.

After ordering the driver to move his engine up to the crossing, Company B, already formed, escorted her to the General’s presence.

Her passengers were principally Yankee officers, field and staff, from whom I fell heir to several useful articles—without their consent, I imagine, if their faces were a true index to their feelings. Nor could I blame them much, for the cavalry boots, No. 6, were splendid, the navies handsome, and the swords and rigging rich and beautiful. Besides all of these, the boys appropriated some valuable property, such as gold and silver watches, meerschaum pipes, greenbacks and specie, etc. The U. S. mail numbered over a hundred sacks, which were turned over to the brigade A. Q. M., with the exception of a few sacks the boys reserved for their own use. The General let all the passengers retain their effects, save the military, and without injury, and ordered the train to return to Elizabethtown.

Burning a stockade and bridge, we continued our march until three o’clock and then encamped until morning. Late as it was, the boys built small fires to open and examine their mail by.

Hardly a moment elapsed, “day or dreaming night,” but what we were capturing the enemy’s forces, sometimes in small and often in large numbers. At daylight on the morning of the 7th we were found in the saddle en route to Brandenburg on the Ohio River, and forty or fifty miles below Louisville, Kentucky.

The advance, after a few exciting adventures, marched into the above place just after dark, and found two steamers lying at the wharf, which Capt. Sam. B. Taylor, of the Tenth, who had been sent on that service early in the day, had captured without much difficulty. The steamboat _Alice Dean_ was taken while lying at the landing, and soon afterward the steamboat _General Combs_ appeared in view, coming up the river. Captain Taylor, commanding the _Alice Dean_, went out to meet and escort the _General_ into the wharf, very much to the astonishment of the captain and the passengers.

I could mention, and yet it will be omitted, much that happened during the night and the next morning, or rather the next day, which was spent crossing over “Jordan” into the “Promised Land.”

Upon our arrival we dismounted to form line on the beach until the brigade came up. We then returned to our horses to feed them and to steal a little nod, if such were possible. Some of the boys gave champagne parties that night in the meadow, which doubtless was taken from the stores of one of the steamers; as also were a few other luxuries that had so mysteriously come into their possession. After satisfying their unnatural appetites all took a sly snooze, dreaming of home and of the fair fields beyond the waters.

Tired nature must have its requisite amount of rest; it may be overtaxed for a long time, but sooner or later exhaustion will come, when the body, in spite of all we can do otherwise, will repose. Many have been the times when I would have given worlds, if I possessed them, to lie down in a fence corner with permission to sleep a few hours. But the enemy was in front, and the watchword was “forward, march.” After crossing the Ohio we never halted except to feed, to fight, and to destroy U. S. property.

Our balmy slumbers were very easily disturbed by an explosion of a shell in our midst, thrown from a piece on the Hoosier State side. Burns’s battery returned the fire, and at the second shot dismounted the Yankee gun, a splendid rifled cannon, that afterward fell into our possession.

It occupied the entire day of the 8th to effect the crossing, there being many interruptions. Four or five gun-boats tried hard to intercept us, but our rifle field-pieces of longer range kept them at arm’s length, and finally compelled them to take shelter behind a point in the river.

Several U. S. transports, loaded with troops, had accompanied the gun-boats down from Louisville, and partly disembarked them on the Indiana side. But Duke’s and Ward’s regiments, who had first crossed, were on hand to receive them, and drove them pell mell on the boats again, which steamed up the river hurriedly beyond their reach. The _General Combs_ and _Alice Dean_ ferried all over safely by sunset. One of them, the latter I think, was a U. S. transport. She was set on fire and burnt up. A poor reward for her gallant and faithful service. The _General Combs_, being private property, was liberated with many thanks for her efficient services.

The command that night, which was intensely dark, marched on Corydon. We appeared before Corydon early in the morning of the 9th. The advance, then in command of Captain Hines, moved upon the enemy in front, met their outpost, a company of cavalry, and on exchanging a few shots drove them back into town. Hines’ company was the first and Company B the next in order for that day’s march; therefore, when his company engaged the enemy, Company B supported him. Regiments when marching have it so arranged that each company has its respective days for marching at the head of the column, it being easier to march at the front than at the rear of a column, and thus they change alternately.

While the advance was passing a farmhouse the proprietor was suddenly seized with a patriotic feeling, and taking down his old fusee deliberately fired into our line, killing one of Hines’s men. This enraged the boys, and one of them, who had been riding by the side of the one killed, threw himself from his horse, cleared the enclosure at a bound, and with a chunk of fire from out of the house, set it on fire, leaving the patriotic gentleman in the second story to take care of himself.

I know you have heard many wonderful stories about our burning private property on that raid. If any other than this house was burnt, I am not aware of it. All other property that I saw burning was U. S. Government property, and that we considered our sacred duty to destroy whenever and wherever we found it, especially if we did not have transportation for it.

When almost in sight of town we turned off of the main approach upon a side road, leading to the right and the rear of the town, with the intention of flanking and getting in the enemy’s rear, while the brigade assaulted in front.

We had not proceeded more than one-half mile when we noticed three women standing in a yard in front of a house, crying bitterly and wringing their hands as though their hearts would break. The column passed silently and respectfully, but the silence lasted only until they had passed the house, then you might have heard them saying to each other, “Look out, boys, the Yankees are near,” and soon all were closely inspecting their arms, capping their Enfields, and arranging navies so as to be speedily handled. Those women, by their tears, informed us in a simple, but reliable, way that the enemy was close by. Soldiers do not know a truer sign. Anticipation of a battle and the anxiety concerning the safety of some loved one caused those tears to flow. This we well knew by actual experience and observation.

So it happened. We had gone scarce two hundred yards before our line received a terrific and well directed volley from nearly three hundred stands of arms, wounding and killing twelve of our column.

In an instant the line was dismounted, and forwarding quickly into a line of battle charged them with a yell and with great determination, driving them with no little loss from their ambuscade, with little loss to ourselves.

While pursuing them hotly, to within a short distance of the road in the rear of the town, our foe unexpectedly ran into the Third Kentucky, who had flanked the town on the left, and to them they surrendered without conditions. But until the white flag was hoisted we never ceased firing, neither could the Third resist the temptation of giving a broadside to bring them to a stand. The prisoners were taken into town by the Third.

We advanced out the Albany road, and it was not long before we discovered a squad of Yankees, although we remained unnoticed by them. Company B received orders to attack them. By advancing to the brow of the hill we concealed ourselves behind a fence until the enemy ascended quite near, then rising and firing my navy, that being the signal for B to open fire, we poured such a hot fire into them that it caused a stampede unrivaled in war, which I shall never forget if I should live for a thousand years. I will wager that “Harrison County Home Guards” can beat the world running, get them frightened or panic stricken.

Mounting our horses again we marched till we arrived at the forks of the road, four miles from town, where Hines concealed his force, except Company B, in an orchard behind a thick hedge. He then ordered my company to take post in a large log stable, immediately within the fork, with instructions to invite all passersby in, as they arrived.

Upon concealing my men I took position alongside of the road, and as the Yankees came by in twos, fours, and up to companies, hurrying to Corydon to reinforce Colonel Jordan, the commandant, I would step out, as a representative of the “Home Guards,” and take them in charge, or rather in the stable, disarm them gently, and send them under guard to Captain Hines.

This deception was successfully carried on till the firing in town had ceased, when we started to the town with over one hundred prisoners, which, as we confidently supposed, was in the possession of our men. Turning our prisoners over to the provost guard, who had nearly seven hundred to parole, we were soon on the road to Salem, Colonel Dick commanding.

As we advanced every mile had to be strongly contested for. Militia, home guards, and regular troops were on every hill top, bushwhackers and armed citizens behind every tree, and hardly a moment elapsed but you could hear the Minie’s sharp report. Everything was in an uproar. Families deserted their dwellings to hide in the woods. Yet nothing stopped us. On we galloped, driving all obstructions from our front, entering the town of Salem some time before night, and capturing nearly five hundred regular soldiers, militia, home guards, bushwhackers, and fighting citizens. It would be difficult to say which was best represented.

When the men had been supplied with a variety of necessaries, such as boots, hats, etc., the advance left Salem, the county-seat of Washington County, and moved out on the road to Lexington, the county-seat of Scott County. We stopped at a little village, four miles from Salem, to feed and rest our wearied horses, and to get something refreshing for ourselves. The main force halted long enough in Salem to feed, and destroy all military supplies, together with the large depot buildings.

During our stay in the little burg some of the boys went into a Dutch shoe shop and purchased a number of pairs of home-made boots, paying for them in Confederate funds. While a portion were buying, others were securing suitable pairs without the Dutch woman’s knowledge, who was the acting saleswoman. She at last detected them in the act of shoplifting, and such a cry arose as never was heard before—the most distressing and heartbreaking cries that mortal ever gave vent to. Our commander, on hearing the uproar, and thinking a murder was being committed, came double-quick to the scene of action to ascertain the cause of the sudden alarm. On his learning what the difficulty was he attempted to pacify the Dutch woman by settling the amount in current funds. But with no success. She would not listen to anything; she was “forever ruined.” It was one of the most laughable scenes associated with the raid, and one the actors will long remember.

As soon as our steeds were a little refreshed we mounted and pressed on to Lexington, followed closely by the brigade. As we moved forward there was nothing but a succession of charges. It seemed the entire population was in arms, behind every bush the enemy was to be found. Shots flew thick and fast. Dogs howled, horses neighed, cattle lowed, and every living creature was sending forth some distressful and pitiful noise.

Still on we galloped, very often hotly chasing detachments of the enemy and riding them down without a sigh of regret. When within seven or eight miles of the Jeffersonville and Indianapolis Railroad we commenced descending from the hills into the valley, meeting parties of from ten to fifty citizens with axes on their way to the highlands to obstruct our line of march by blockading the road with trees. Such orders had been telegraphed to them by Governor Morton, which news “Lightning” had previously intercepted, and was one reason for our rapid marching. The poor citizens suffered that day in mind, and also, I expect, in pocket, their new axes being sadly treated, so much so that I doubt if they ever found the edge again. We got the edge off them without any difficulty.

Company B formed the head of the column on this day, and when within six miles of the railroad was detached with orders to hasten to Vienna. Putting spurs to our steeds we passed the videttes at a brisk canter. En route we met several parties of wood choppers, hurrying to the blockading-ground.

Passing Company B off as Washington County Home Guards, we urged them forward by telling them that Morgan had passed through Salem. In a very few moments we had charged into Vienna, accompanied by our operator. We found all the inhabitants in the streets at two hundred yards distance. This looked suspicious, for many of them were in Yankee uniforms, which signified to us that it was a solid line of battle. But this was no time to hesitate. Our instructions were to take the town, and into town we went, pell mell, feeling very much like a man who expected to be shot at; but we were agreeably disappointed, as it happened. There were many soldiers, but all unarmed.

The women were soon crying, begging, and imploring us to spare their children. The boys heard this with amazement, and asked the women if they thought we were barbarians that they should think we could hurt women and children. The men assured them that not a hair of their heads would be injured, nor would they wound their feelings in any way. Quieting them as best we could, we ordered all in their houses excepting the men. These a sergeant with a guard took charge of.

Another sergeant was sent after the U. S. operator, who was found at the house by the side of his Dulcinea, little dreaming that Morgan’s men had possession of his office. When Sergeant T. inquired for him he arose, saying he was the gentleman asked for. The sergeant informed him that he had business for him to attend to in his office. On their walk down to the depot he eyed the sergeant closely. The sergeant noticed this, and asked him if he did not think he knew him. He replied, “I am not sure, but I think you are one of Morgan’s men.”

He was quite certain of that fact a little later, after he had been turned over to “Rebel Lightning,” who had some trouble in getting the necessary signal known to the operators. But on seeing a navy pistol presented he was more communicative.

On “Lightning” receiving the necessary news a courier was dispatched post haste to the General, and soon after another. The track was also destroyed on both sides of the town, and when the General arrived all orders had been executed, destroying what U. S. stores had been found there, and burning the depot and railroad bridges.

The command moved on to Lexington that night, where, arriving about midnight, we fed and rested until morning. The “home protection” stationed there left on our approach.

At an early hour the next morning several companies of the enemy’s forces marched into town, without knowing who was there. None of our troops was in the town at the time, but General Morgan, with a small bodyguard, the rest of his men being encamped near by feeding. Both parties were struck with surprise, and for some moments all was confusion. However, the General did not long hesitate before he sent a courier to us to come to his assistance.

Mounting our horses we soon galloped to his relief, though too late to have a tilt with the Northmen, for before we could report they had suddenly disappeared. With such an opportunity, what simpletons they were not to attempt a capture and perhaps be able to carry off our General. Had they been men of nerve they might have accomplished that which would have secured them a brilliant place in Yankee history. Yet they lacked the pluck.

Receiving our instructions the Fourteenth moved off in the direction of Vernon, the county-seat of Jennings County, through which runs the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, and also a railroad running from Columbus, a point on the Jeffersonville and Indianapolis Railroad, to Madison on the Ohio.

Vernon was reached in the afternoon, where a large force had collected. We deeply impressed them with the idea that we intended to give them battle, but this was only done to draw their attention from certain military supplies, railroad and railroad bridges, the depot, etc., that we designed destroying.

We then continued our march to Versailles, making sad havoc with all railroads and public property, and at the same time our detachments were operating on each flank, by which the Yankees were deceived as to our whereabouts, reporting us very often at as many as twenty towns almost at once. When we reached Versailles the inhabitants made a grand mistake in taking us for Federal soldiers, and not until we were leaving did they learn that we were Rebels. One old lady declared she knew it, had known it all the time. But I am afraid not, if I am to be guided by her actions and from the bountiful way she provided our men with such a variety of nice edibles.

One mile from town a force in ambush fired on the advance, and then ran, we after them full-tilt, giving them fits every jump until the road was entirely clear.

The many towns between Versailles and Hamilton, Ohio, could not be mentioned under several pages, and besides I cannot call them all to mind. Yet I do remember that every town, day, and hour had its stirring adventures. The command was almost worn out, and dead for want of sleep and rest. Yet on and on we marched. Soon Hamilton, Big Miami River, the canal and railroad were in sight, and while descending the hill a magnificent view was before us. The valley beyond possessed a great variety of beautiful scenery; the town itself was very handsome and beautiful; and the canal, river, and railroad gave the finishing touch to as grand a picture as nature affords. We remained but a short time in Hamilton, yet long enough to exchange some of our wearied horses for some fresher ones. Then passing through we halted to feed beyond the city limits.

Soon the column was moving, and during the night’s march passed within seven miles of the Queen City, where a detachment, previously instructed, drove their outpost in, causing unbounded excitement in “Porkopolis.” It was without doubt the darkest of all nights. The troops were almost exhausted for want of sleep. Many of them during the night, while asleep, wandered off on some of the many side roads, notwithstanding the officers’ vigilance to keep all awake by riding from the head of their companies to the rear and back again, and constantly urging them, if they loved their country’s cause, to keep each other awake. Oftentimes I have seen on that raid both man and horse nodding together, and at such times the horse staggering like one intoxicated. The Little Miami and railroad to Columbus were crossed before the day appeared.

During the next day Camp Dennison was threatened but not attacked. Several hundred wagons were found near by and burnt, as well as a large quantity of other stores. With the advance Company B was again the first, and early in the morning was detached to cut the railroad.

On reaching the scene of operations a detail was advanced toward Dennison, who met the enemy’s outpost near a bridge, and, after a sharp and well-fought skirmish, drove the Yankees away, capturing several of their horses fully equipped.

We had scarcely time to put two large ties into a cattle gap like the letter X and to cut the telegraph wire, before we saw a train of passenger cars coming like a whirlwind around a curve. They certainly had seen our main column and were trying to get away. At the first intimation of her approach we disappeared into a cornfield immediately alongside. The train shot past like a blazing meteor, and the next thing we saw was a dense cloud of steam above which flew large timbers. Our next sight startled our nerves, for there lay the monster floundering in the field like a fish out of water, with nothing but the tender attached. Her coupling must have broken, for the passenger carriages and express were still on the track, several yards ahead. Over three hundred raw recruits were on board, bound for Camp Dennison. They came tumbling and rolling out in every way imaginable.

Company B was in line ready for action, when we discovered they were unarmed, except for a few having side-arms. All submitted without a single shot, and were sent under guard to the General.

Examining and closely inspecting the prize, orders were received to set her on fire. Just before leaving a locomotive came down from Dennison to see what had caused the train’s delay; but when the engineer discovered our men galloping to his rear to intercept his retreat, he put his engine back at her utmost speed and escaped capture.

There were but two persons hurt at the above break up, and they were the engineer and the fireman. The former was a little scalded and the latter had a bone fractured. Permission was given to several of his friends to carry him to the nearest house and liberty granted them to take care of him.

Soon we were again at the head of the advance, after an hour’s absence, perhaps. Our main force passed to the left of Georgetown several miles, but the advance, according to instructions, made a flank march and went to the county-seat of Brown County, where we halted to dine, feed, and see the “Lion.” We overtook the command at ten o’clock that night and took our position in front.

The next day we crossed the canal leading from Portsmouth to Cleveland, and the Scioto River, marching through Jackson about midday, dispersing a large force of Ohio militia who were guarding the railroad to Ironton and burning depot buildings, railroad and other property belonging to the so-called “Uncle Sam.”

At four in the evening we entered the town of Chester in Meigs County, after great difficulty. Every bridge had been destroyed in our front, and at every pass and ravine the road was blockaded and defended by troops in concealment, but we never failed to dislodge and drive them confusedly away. A large number of “blockaders” were captured and, accompanied by a guard, were compelled to clear away the obstructions that many of them had assisted in making. Poor fellows, they felt their time had come, so badly were they frightened. They would no more halt when we were after them than they could fly. Oftentimes the boys would dismount and go in pursuit of these bushwhackers and command them to halt, but on they ran, like some one that had escaped from the deaf and dumb asylum, never stopping until the boys laid violent hands upon them, holding them fast by main force. Even then they would strive hard to get away, just as some wild animals would do. At times it was difficult to keep the boys from shooting them down for such actions.

Halting in Chester for the arrival of the General and forces, we had a delightful time, certain delicacies having been prepared by the ladies for their gallant and patriotic defenders.

On General Morgan’s arrival we moved on to the river at a double quick, never reining our horses until dark, and then we were on the bank of the Ohio. We soon captured the picket of the forces guarding the ford, which consisted of three hundred militia from Marietta, with three field-pieces, and though strongly entrenched they left the country as soon as they heard of our arrival, leaving their guns in our charge.

Our brigade and artillery did not come up until midnight. It was then extremely dark and foggy, and knowing that we undoubtedly would have to swim a part of the way, at least, across the river, and that it would be extremely difficult to get our battery over it, it was thought advisable to delay until daylight and fair play. I am now confident that had we attempted it very many of our men would have been drowned. Every one was broken down with fatigue, and thus the delay.

Twice during the night I was ordered with twenty of Company B to cross the river in search of flatboats, but failed to secure any. If we had not been under orders, how easily we could have escaped the coming disaster, and yet we never suspected that such would be our fate.

When daylight appeared couriers from every part of the field were seen flying to headquarters. One reported that the rear was attacked, the next our right, and another, our left, and soon the engagement was general and hotly contested. Duke, with two regiments, drove General Judah’s forces back, but being struck in the flank by another force, he retreated. The enemy, so much our superior in numbers, we being reduced to not more than fifteen hundred, if that, had all the advantages, assisted by small gun-boats that had succeeded in getting above the shoals by a rise in the river. Several Yankee officers informed me afterward that over sixty thousand regular troops, not mentioning militia, home guards, bushwhackers, and armed citizens, were opposed to us on that day. However, until noon, we lost little of our position; but it was very evident that we would have to yield finally, or run for it.

Seeing this, the General knew he would have to sacrifice a part of his force to save the other. While a portion was holding the Yankees in check, under a terrible fire of shot and shell, our General made his escape up the river with the remainder. And for the first time a white flag, the sign of surrender, was seen in charge of an officer going to the enemy’s lines.

On sight of the flag the old scouts begged me to lead them out; but this I could not do, except by the permission of my superior officer, and when I asked the Colonel he refused me that liberty, saying it would be impossible or at a great sacrifice of men. I replied on behalf of the scouts that all were ready and willing to run that risk, particularly when imprisonment with all its horrors was staring us in the face. Still, the Colonel would not consent. Had we attempted without his will, and succeeded in cutting our way out, and he been captured, it would have been called a glorious deed. On the other hand, if he had, through some mysterious way, been extricated, our leaving without orders of our superior would have been branded as desertion. But the fight was over, and we prisoners of war.

I will not continue my sketch further. You are well posted as to events which have transpired since the 19th day of July, 1863, the day of our capture. I have written only a very limited account of what happened, and in a humble way; but if it pleases as well as interests her for whom it was designed, I will be richly and amply rewarded for this feeble struggle.

I will say in conclusion, my dear sister, that this unadorned outline was written and intended for your eyes alone, free from comment, for the memory of comrades gone is sacredly dear.

Very affectionately yours,
FRANK.

N. B.—Not being with General Morgan after the 19th of July, it would be impossible to relate his further adventures.

FRANK.

Completed December 23d, 1865,
expressly
for a
Christmas Present.