This morning we leave Henderson. Captain Ring is ordered to take charge of the prisoners, and act as rear guard. Our captures up to this time are about thirty. After leaving Henderson, and while riding slowly along, bang! bang ! bang! go about thirty guns, and the bullets whistle harmlessly over our heads and leave their impress in the trees beyond. The rear guard, consisting of twelve men from company H wheel, and about two hundred yards down the road, we see coming and yelling like so many demons, about thirty guerrillas. The men stand very coolly; the Enfields now commence rattling. The guerrillas seeing the coolness, halt, wheel, and away they go into the brush. Soon a company of horsemen come dashing back from the front (a company of the Third Tennessee Cavalry). In the meantime the guerrillas ambushed, and as the Union troops went charging through the woods, they fire a volley and away they go through the woods into the swamp, making good their escape. By this volley one brave trooper was killed. “Oh! ye sons of the South, boast of your chivalry.” We leave the fallen soldier at the house of Major Aldridge, (Union) for burial. Thus we leave him as a sacrifice at liberty's shrine, in an enemy's country. Peace to the brave trooper's ashes. The bugle blows and the regiment moves on. Passing a fine peach orchard, Captain Ring gives three of his men permission to stop and get some peaches for his company. The lady of the house meets the boys, expressing a sympathy for the Union soldiers, bids the boys take all the peaches they want, invites them to remain and take dinner, and brings out some milk and proffers it to the boys. They turn to go; her object is partially accomplished; the tramp of horsemen is heard. “Guerrillas, boys!" says one, and they are off. Bang! bang! “halt, halt, you blue coated vandals!" The rear halts and wheels, and up the road we see the boys coming, the guerrillas closely pursuing, with their carbines raised to strike them on their heads. Bang! bang! go the Enfields and Captain Ring's revolver. They suddenly wheel and are soon far away. We succeeded in wounding one, so we concluded from the blood seen on the road. The column halts and again cavalry is sent back, but they accomplish nothing. The cowardly rebels sought shelter in the dense undergrowth, soon putting themselves out of harm's way. Night coming on, we go into camp between Purdy and Corinth.
No comments:
Post a Comment