USA > Illinois > History of Fourteenth Illinois cavalry and the brigades to which it belonged > Part 19
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After sunrise we marched out and camped on a beautiful green lawn a mile from town. Remained in this camp until September 22d, then marched at 7:30 a. m., reached Nicholasville at 3 p. m. The 14th went into camp one mile N. W. of town ; a beautiful camp ground. March 12 miles. Lieutenant-Colonel Jenkins, who has been in command of 14th, now went to Louisville, leaving Captain Thomas K. Jenkins, of Company "F," in command.
September 25th. Major Tompkins returned from captivity and took command of the 14th. The 5th In- diana went home to vote and we hear that the 14th, too, will be allowed to go. The only regiments now left in the brigade are the 14th Illinois, the 8th Michigan and the 16th Illinois.
September 29th and 30th. Captains Dent and Lupton and Lieutenant I. H. Allen returned from captivity. Lieutenant John A. Edwards, of Company "C," is ap- pointed assistant acting commissary, Lieutenant Bruce Paine having left us.
October IIth. We hear that Captains Dent and Lup- ton, who had started home on leave of absence, were cap- tured on the Ioth by a guerrilla party between Lexington and Paris. We thus again lost the services of these valu- able officers in one of our most important campaigns.
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CHAPTER XII.
A ROMANTIC NARRATIVE AND TRUE.
This Chapter Constitutes a Part of the Georgia Service.
When the night attack was made upon Colonel Capron's sleeping command, on August 3d, 1864, those who were not killed or captured were soon scattered into small squads. Many of the fugitives were killed or captured afterward, and those who eventually reached our lines did so on foot, and with great difficulty and suffering ; living on green corn and roots and berries. The varied indi- vidual adventures while making their way cautiously through the rebel lines and the rebel country, hunted by rebel soldiers and citizens with hounds, would make a vol- ume of unequaled exciting interest could they all be gath- ered and published. The forced limits of our history will not admit the publishing of more than one of length, and we select one which embraces the characteristics of the others, and which in distance traveled far exceeds any other. It was furnished by comrade George W. Norris, of Company "G," 14th Illinois Cavalry. Comrade Lieu- tenant John S. Welch, of the same company, and who was with Norris in this adventure, also furnished an account. We publish Norris', as it is more complete in narrating everything, though agreeing in substance. He says of the early attack : "Colonel Capron posted pickets and ordered the men to lie down and sleep two hours, but not to un- saddle their horses. The men were all so worn with fatigue and loss of sleep that a surprise was easy. Just before daylight the rebs made the attack, shooting the men in their beds. Captain Wm. Perkins, of Company "G," was shot in the foot while asleep, and a great many others were shot in their beds. Our camp was a mile from the bridge over Mulberry creek. Corporal Wm. Roberts and myself were orderlies for Colonel Capron, and were sleeping together near the Colonel. We were awakened
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by the volleys and yells of the charging rebels. By the time I was fully awake I found that comrade Roberts and nearly all of our command were gone. I had no time to saddle my horse, and while the rebs called upon me to sur- render, I sprang upon my horse barebacked, determined that they should not capture me as they had captured my brother, Sergeant Norris, on the trip down, while he was out trying to get a horse for a comrade. I dashed down the road after my comrades, and coming to where a line was formed, fell into line, like most of the others, without coat, hat or arms of any kind. This line was soon broken, and then every man for himself in a rushing mass down the road and on to the bridge, which broke down and pre- cipitated all into the water in a mass, drowning some. Here I found comrade John S. Welch, who had just res- cued a young soldier from drowning in the struggling mass. We ran to the bridge and springing across the gaps we succeeded in crossing. We then ran for a hiding place. We halted to wait for Corporal Smith to come up, but it was another man, and we hastened on and reached a hill covered with bushes, and concealed ourselves all day and saw the rebels pick up our men. At dark we left our con- cealment and moved toward our lines, and soon met six or eight of our comrades, mostly 5th Indiana boys, and Jesse Brown, Company "M," 14th. We decided that small squads were most likely to succeed, and taking Brown with us the others went a different course. After dark we came to a small log house and resolved to get something to eat. We were told that we could have something by waiting a short time. While waiting for the young lady to get sup- per, the old lady said : "Boys, was you uns in the fight at the creek this morning?" We told her we were. Then she inquired our command. We replied that we belonged to a Mississippi Confederate regiment. Then she asked why we had on blue clothes? We answered that we had captured some Yankees and exchanged clothes with them. She said "Oh! that was right." She didn't think the Yankees had any business down there." Supper was now ready and we ate heartily. The old lady was well pleased that we had whipped the Yankees, and that paid her for the supper. She said her son-in-law was in the Confed- erate army. We thanked them, bade them good-bye and
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started on our way. After traveling three nights and rest- ing three days, we resolved to get horses. We slipped close to a large plantation house in the evening, and seeing some darkies we called to one of them, and he was badly frightened. We succeeded in quieting his fear, and told him we wanted him to bring us something to eat before dark. We inquired about his master's horses. He had told us that his master was in the Confederate army. He said they had plenty of mules and horses, but they were all away in a pasture except some mules in the stables. We cautioned him to say nothing about us and bring us something to eat after dark. A rebel wagon train of six or eight wagons, guarded by boys and very old men, now passed us. We might have captured the whole outfit, but we did not choose to be encumbered. In the evening we left our hiding place and went to the house, where we dis- covered two young ladies and one old lady and an old gen- tleman sitting on the porch. We told the old gentleman that we wanted some animals to ride. He told us we could not have any of his horses ; but we had made up our minds to ride, and Comrade Brown and myself started for the barn, leaving Welch on guard. Soon we heard com- rade Welch call to someone to "halt and surrender." We ran back and saw a large man dressed in a new suit of gray uniform, and mounted on a good horse. Comrade Welch had the horse by the bridle, and was commanding the man to dismount and surrender, which he did, and Welch dis- armed him. We ran to the stables and saddled two mules and rejoined Welch. We now had a prisoner on our hands that we had no use for. He was a rebel enrolling officer picking up deserters and enrolling all he could find. His revolver was a prize for me, as I had none. A canteen of apple brandy we thought we could find use for. We ordered our prisoner to move along with us as fast as he could on foot. We planned what to do with him. If we let him go, he would soon have the whole country after us, and to take him along was a clog to our movements. After we had traveled four or five miles pretty lively, our pris- oner sat down and said we might kill him or turn him loose, as he had heart disease and now had an attack, and could go no farther. We gave him some of his brandy and took a little ourselves to prevent catching his disease.
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He then begged hard for us to turn him loose, promising faithfully that he would not follow us nor persuade others to follow. We saw that we could do no better than to turn him loose and trust to his word. We bade him good-night and hurried off, all three well mounted. Near morning we heard some persons coming the same road; it was quite dark. Comrade Welch ordered them to halt and surrender, and throw up their hands; they obeyed, when we found that we had captured a squad of our own men with one rebel prisoner. I had discovered that one had on one of our cavalry belts; after passing a few words this man said: "Aren't this comrade Norris?" I answered yes ; and said : "You are Andy Waddell, of 14th Illinois Cavalry." One of the others was a 5th Indiana man, and the other was a Johnny. We asked what they would do with their prisoner. They did not know. We told them what we had done with ours, and they decided to do the same. He promised faithfully that he would not follow them nor get any others to follow, and we believe he kept his promise. He kept with us for several miles, when he bade us good-bye after we had all tested the apple brandy again. Our comrades captured his horse with the pris- oner, who made no objection to their keeping it ; so that the two comrades had one horse between them. We five kept together until we reached the forks of roads where we disagreed as to the proper route to take, when each squad went their chosen way. They went to the left, and we to the right. At daylight we came to a house, fed our horses and got breakfast. We told a white lie-that we were Confederate soldiers going to our commands. We paid for our breakfast. We traveled till noon without interrup- tion ; got dinner and feed ; in afternoon, while quietly rid- ing along we heard the tramp of horses and looking back saw 12 or 15 mounted men coming after us as fast as they could ride. We put our horses to their utmost speed, but they gained rapidly upon us. They were armed with rifles and shot guns. We sprang from our animals and ran for a steep hill covered with thick brush. We climbed as fast and as far as possible, but were soon surrounded, and now saw that their leader was the enrolling officer, come for his brandy. They demanded our surrender and opened fire on us, which was returned by Welch and Bowman.
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My revolver refused to do service. Comrade Welch singled out the enrolling officer and fired. His gun fell from his hands and he reeled in his saddle. When he recovered his seat he turned his horse and rode away with his party, without even asking for his apple brandy. We hoped that comrade Welch had given him a pill that cured him of heart disease. One of the band, being near us, sur- rendered ; but we informed him that we did not want him, and that he had better "git ;" and he got.
We climbed the hill, keeping secreted by the bushes; traveling through the woods until we came to a small cabin occupied by two women and some children. We told them that we were Confederates going to our com- mands, and asked for something to eat. They promised supper if we would wait for it. One of them asked if we belonged to the command guarding the ford down at the river. We answered yes, and managed to keep her talking until we learned all we wished to know about this com- mand. We ate our supper and paid for it, and went our way to join our command as soon as possible. We reached the river a mile above the rebel post. Lucky that we could all swim. We took a few rails from a fence and constructed a rude raft, took off our clothes and tied in a bundle with our arms in it. We pushed the raft ahead of us and swam to the other shore; then dressed, and it was now dark. We hastened on and traveled all that night and found a good hiding place not far from a farm house, where we remained all day, sleeping and resting until even- ing, when we started to the house to try to get something to eat. We knew the rebels were in the vicinity and watching for our fugitives. We got supper and moved on all night. In the morning we found that we were at the foot of the Blue Ridge with only a bridle path leading over the mountains. We hoped that once on the mountains we would be comparatively safe, at least not likely to meet more than our number. After reaching the top of the mountain we reversed our order of march; traveling by day and resting by night. We lived on huckleberries and blueberries, which were abundant. We gathered our hats full and sat under shade trees and ate them. The best of water we found in abundance for drinking and for bathing our swollen feet. We did finely. It took us two days and
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a night to cross, not meeting a person on the route. The first house we came to we told them we were Confederates. The next night we had a fine hiding place on a hill behind a field of corn in sight of a big plantation. We left our hid- ing place and entered the road that led to the house. We met a woman, God bless her, and may we meet her in heaven; few can realize what it is to meet a good friend under such circumstances. She looked sharply at us and bade us good evening ; which salutation we returned ; then she said : "Boys ! who are you ; and where are you going ?" We told her we belonged to Colonel Young's (rebel) command, and that we were going to the farm house down the road to get something to eat. She said: "Boys, you haven't told me the truth who you are." We insisted that we were Confederates, but we could not make her believe it. She said she knew we were Yankee soldiers by our talk and by our clothing. We then admitted it; then she told us there was a company of rebel soldiers down at that house, feeding and getting supper, and that they were looking for us. I went with her a short distance to where we could see them feeding their horses. We went back and told my comrades that chances down there for our supper were not very good. This good woman then said that she was our friend, and that if we would hide till night and then come to her house a quarter of a mile from there she would have supper ready for us. She gave us a small basket of peaches. After dark we started out to find her house, but got bewildered and thought we would be with- out supper. At last we stumbled upon a small house. We knocked at the door and got the inquiry: "Who is there?" We answered : "Friends !" She answered: "Is that you, boys ?" We answered : "Yes !" She then opened the door and bade us come in. Then we got supper. She told us that she had concluded that we were not coming. She said she was a Union woman and it did her good to have us eat with her. Her husband was in the Union army. After eating a hearty supper, we wanted to pay her, but she refused pay. It was unsafe to stay. She told us where to find a Union man who would pilot us out of that part of the country. She said about four miles on that road we would find a two story log house on the right hand side of the road ; that was where he lived. We then
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bade her farewell, feeling that we were parting with a true friend. God bless her! She wished us good luck. With courage renewed we again marched on. In an hour we reached such a house as our lady friend had described. We knocked at the door repeatedly and finally received an answer from a woman, who inquired who we were, and what we wanted. We told her to open the door and see us. But this she refused to do for a long time. At last she opened the door and we went in. We told her and her daughter that we were Union soldiers and wanted to get to our lines, and that we had been directed by a Union woman four miles back to call and get her husband to pilot us to our lines. At first she said she had not seen her husband for three months, and did not know where he was. But we persisted in asking to see him. She then said : "Now, boys, are you Yankee soldiers?" We answered yes! She again asked: "Who told you that my husband was a Union soldier?" We again informed her. Then again and again she repeated her inquiry: "Boys, are you Union soldiers sure ?" We said we were, and if she would get a Bible we would swear to it on its sacred pages that we were. After a long time she said she thought she heard cattle in their corn. She went out to see and was gone half an hour; then returned and said the cattle were not in their field, but she repeated her question : "Are you Yankee soldiers?" over and over again. We used every argument we could to persuade her. After another long talk she again thought she heard cattle in the corn, and she again went out and returned in a short time and said she had been out to see her husband, and that he had sent in word for one of us to come out to him unarmed. I was selected to go. The woman was to go with me, but said she had no shoes. I then pulled off my boots and gave to her, as mine were the smallest we had, and I put on com- rade Welch's boots, and left my revolver. We went back of a field and down a hollow, then turned up a hill, follow- ing a narrow path. Suddenly two men rose up and called "halt." They questioned me as the woman had, and asked how we escaped from the Stoneman surrender. After I had recounted to them our perils and narrow escapes they appeared better satisfied. When we consider the great risk these good Union people run, in giving aid to the
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Yankees, we do not wonder at their extreme caution ; had the action of this family in our case been known to the rebels, every member of the family would have been sacri- ficed ; fortunate, too, if they had not been tortured. But these good people braved everything that they might serve their Yankee friends, and their country. We now re- turned to the house, exchanged boots, and taking my re- volver we three comrades went to the husband and his comrade. We had a short friendly talk, then went up the hill, where we found a lot of straw and some quilts, and our friends said: "You are all right now ; we can pilot you into our lines without trouble and little danger." They told us to lie down and sleep and they would stand guard. We slept soundly until sunrise and wondered why we were not wakened earlier. They said we needed rest and would lie by that day and start in the evening. This suited us well, and when the ladies brought breakfast, dinner and supper, the first meals we had eaten for a long time, we were in paradise, compared to recent experiences. We were then ready to start, after the husband had kissed wife and daughter good-bye ; and we, too, had heartily thanked them and bidden them farewell. We traveled about six miles until it grew dark, when our pilot halted us and told us that we must now cross a stream of water guarded by a squad of rebel soldiers ; but that we could surprise and drive them from the ford. We said we were ready for the attempt, but his comrade weakened, and would not at- tempt. Our pilot said : "Do as you please, but I am go- ing through with these men." He then commanded : "Draw your revolvers and be ready for action." We ad- vanced and found that the enemy were gone. We un- dressed, waded the stream and marched on. At daylight our guide took us to the house of a friend for breakfast ; we then traveled all that day, not halting till night ; then staid with another friend of the pilot. Started early the next morning, came to a town where Union men were organiz- ing a regiment, and our pilot was elected captain of a company. I forget the name of the town ; it was 30 or 40 iniles from Madisonville. There we parted with our pilot friend. I gave him my revolver, but he would not accept money. I am sorry that I have forgotten the name of that brave, good man. We started next morning
1
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through country we had been in before. We reached a mill that night where a lady friend of comrade Welch lived. We now concluded to rest among our friends a few days. Comrade Brown also had a lady friend two miles from there, whom he went to see. On the second day, as Welch and I were sitting down to dinner, a neighbor lady came running in to the house, wringing her hands and erving out : "Run, boys, run; Wheeler's cavalry is com- ing." We jumped up, and without finishing dinner, hur- riedly bade them good-bye, and started for Knoxville with- out time to notify comrade Brown, who was captured, after all his efforts to escape. We were sorry to part with him. Through kind friends we escaped. Being acquainted through this country we got along very well. We came to where one of our boys had left a horse in a pasture. We stopped and got him. We filled a sack with straw for a saddle and made a rope bridle and got along nicely by rid- ing and walking alternately. We came to a house where a big roan horse stood hitched at the gate, having on him a cavalry saddle and bridle, and on the porch sat a rebel cavalryman holding a baby Johnny. We rushed toward him, he seized his gun while the mother snatched her child and begged us for God's sake not to shoot, for we would kill her babe. The rebel soldier jumped from the porch and ran through the cornfield. We followed but a short distance, then returned. I mounted my own horse and Welch mounted the roan, and going on a few miles we overtook a refugee family moving. This man had a good saddle and bridle. We soon managed to exchange with him. That afternoon we reached Motley's ford, where we were once stationed. We supposed we were far ahead of Wheeler's cavalry, and stopped for the night. Started early next morning and traveled without molestation for a time. We came to a road and saw evidence that a large cavalry command had just passed. This we knew was a part of Wheeler's force. It was now evening. We came to a bend in the road and saw two rebel troopers mounted. They saw us and called to us to halt. We knew there was a large force near and did not choose to halt. They dashed down toward us and it was a race down the road. Com- ing to a lane with a closed gate, Comrade Welch sprang from his horse, opened the gate and closed it, when we had
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passed, mounted and we had a race down the lane. We came to a timbered lot and there the Johnnies gave up the race. We staid in the timber until dark; it rained hard. After wandering in the dark we came to a road near a house. We called and asked for supper. The good woman asked who we were and when answered, she said we could have supper, but it was not safe for us to stay in the house, as a large rebel command had been passing in detachments all the afternoon ; but as it was raining and no rebels in sight she thought we might remain in a while and dry our clothes, while herself and daughter would get supper and watch. When we were seated the woman ran in and told us to go out the back door and wait till she called us; a cavalry force was passing. The lady soon came and called us, but we were scarcely seated by the fire when we were again warned and hastened out. The lady now came out, and in a low voice told us where to get feed for our horses and that supper would soon be ready. We fed our horses, which we tied in a thicket, and then went to our supper while our friends stood guard. They soon warned us again, but these all passed without
halting, so we were permitted to finish supper. Our friends said if we would risk it we could have a good bed, but we did not want to run risks now that we were so near safety. They gave us some quilts and we went near to our horses and made down a bed. It rained as hard as I ever knew. At daylight we returned the good ladies' quilts, and as they insisted, we remained for breakfast. We then bade them good-bye. God bless them, they were friends. It was about 30 miles to Knoxville. Near evening we saw a Union soldier sitting near a house. We told him that Wheeler's command was marching on to Knoxville, and advised him to go with us, which he decided to do, but urged that we have supper first. After supper he bade his people good-bye, and we three journeyed on with two horses for three men, dividing time in riding. Toward midnight we were halted by a vidette. We told him we were friends. He ordered one forward with hands over head. Comrade Welch advanced. Soon the vidette called for the others to come up. We were glad to get within our lines again. We were sent back to the main post, where were a Lieutenant and Sergeant and ten men.
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After gathering around us and hearing our story the Lieu- tenant advised us to stay with him till daylight. This we were glad to do. They divided grub with us and the hard- tack and sowbelly eaten with our Union comrades was to us a feast indeed, after having been for 22 days afraid to eat or sleep for fear of being surprised and captured. Next morning, same fare, with good strong coffee. We felt O. K. and supposed our troubles were over. We pro- ceeded toward the city and reported to an officer in com- mand of the troops on south side of the river. He ques- tioned us and we told him our whole story, and that Wheeler was coming with a large force, and that he was near. He seemed to be posted on this matter. I asked him for a pass to cross the river and he wrote and handed me a pass for us three. Before we reached the end of the bridge we heard the command "halt." We obeyed and a lieutenant and sergeant came up and said they wanted us. They had six soldiers with them, who surrounded us and we marched with them. We asked an explanation, but got none,until we had crossed into the city, when they told us that we were arrested as rebel spies. A large crowd of soldiers and citizens followed us and amongst them a gray- headed old sinner who declared he knew us, and that we were rebel spies. When we reached the commanding gen- eral's quarters we were subjected to the most rigid scrutiny. We related the whole history of our adventures and told them the command we belonged to, and our offi- cers' names, and that we were often encamped in and around Knoxville. Though there was a large crowd around none seemed to know us or our command, except the old gray-headed sinner who insisted that he knew us and that we were rebel spies. We had forgotten the names of citizens we had known and the prospect was good for ending our adventures at the end of a rope. Finally I saw a citizen ride by whom I had known and so informed the general. The man was called in and declared that he had never seen me before. I asked, and was granted, the priv- ilege of asking him some questions. I said: "Did you not have charge of the government corral at the depot and bought horses for the government about a year ago?" He answered, Yes! He then looked at me again and said to the general: "I know that man, and he belongs to an
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