Heavy skirmishing all day with cavalry, artillery and
infantry. Afternoon preparations for a general engagement. Squadrons wheeling
into line, and maneuvering at the front. At night the torch was again at work
and soon the heavens were aglow with burning buildings. Firing ceased. Next day
all was quiet. The enemy had felt our position, did not like it and withdrew.
The notorious Quantrel, the bushwhacker was on the opposite side of the river
so the Second brigade was ordered to cross and take positions to protect that
part of the town. We encamped near a house in rear of Pineville. It was empty,
and the soldiers re
girded it as lawful plunder, and raided it, as was their custom. It
seemed to be an unwritten law that, if the family fled, it was evidence of
guilt, and the property was theirs; but if they remained the property was
respected and a guard was placed over it to protect it. In the case in question
the house was occupied by a lady who had gone to a neighbor's for a short time,
but on returning and seeing what had been done she wept bitterly, and
complained that she had been treated unfairly, and well she might, for it
turned out that her husband was a union man, and had been hiding in the woods
for several months to keep from being drafted into the rebel army, and she had
been feeding him. It is needless to say she got her things back, and officers
and soldiers chipped in and gave her a barrel of flour, and stocked her house
well with provisions. And I might as well say that this was not an isolated
case for we found many men, and women too, throughout the South faithful to
their country and flag: ready to sacrifice property, and life too, if need be
to protect them from that wicked rebellion. We raised a company of mounted
Mexicans, and put many recruits in the union armies.
SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from
a Soldier's Diary, p. 105-7
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