728 North CaRoLina Troops, 1861-’65.

bama regiment, were ordered to Baptist Gap. Captain Ter-
rell was with us, commanding a company of a hundred Cher-
okee Indians, who did good picket duty. The three regi-
ments were ordered to proceed to another gap, below Baptist
Gap, where the Federals were expected to pass, but as we did
not find them, on the second or third day we moved back to
Baptist Gap, and when nearing the Gap heard heavy firing
by the Indians, and were ordered to double-quick. Upon
arriving at the base of the mountain we were deployed as a
skirmish line and after advancing a short distance, met a
squad of Indians bearing off their Chief and Lieutenant,
mortally wounded, who died that night. The Federals saw
us approaching and retreated across the mountain, without
the fire of another gun. The next day I was placed in com-
mand of Company C to guard Lieutenant Anderson who,
with a detail of a hundred men, was ordered to cut the timber
off the road leading over the Gap, Captain Dyche, of Com-
pany A, and Captain Bell, of Company B, being placed as
guards on the sharp bluffs on either side of the Gap. I had

Company C advanced as pickets, and some of the Indians as
scouts.

We spent an exciting day, as the Federals were in the
valley only a short distance away. The Indian scouts cap-
tured three of their pickets and reported to me with their
prisoners, who were the worst frightened men I ever saw.
Their captors, the Red Men, wore feather plumes on their
heads, giving them a savage appearance. I ordered the pris-
_ oners taken to headquarters, after assuring them that the In-
dians would not scalp them. We remained on the moun-
tain several days, doing heavy picket duty, when a courier
brought the news that General Morgan, commanding the
Union army, had evacuated Cumberland Gap. Then came
the bugle call, and we began the race. General E. Kirby
Smith had us on the double-quick (in Raines’ Brigade), but
we could not overtake the fleeing army, which gave us the slip
near the Salt works. General Smith then shaped his course
towards Frankfort, stopping a few days at Danville, a beau-
tiful little city in a wealthy and refined community. I was
put in command of Company C, and detailed to guard a very

Turrty-NintH REGIMENT. 729

large distillery, owned by a prominent Union man. My in-
structions were to treat him and his family kindly and res-
pectfully, and to protect his property at all hazards. I had
with me Lieutenants Moss and Hall, and eighty men. We
gave the old man such satisfaction that one day he gave us all
a magnificent dinner. The tables were loaded with turkeys,
chickens, roast pig, etc., which was a great treat to a set of
hungry old Confederate soldiers. We were waited on by his
three daughters, forty of us seated at a time, the other forty
to guard.

IN KENTUCKY.

Tn a few days the army was on the march to Salvisa ( ?)
and was several hours in advance before we received orders to
move. When the company was formed in line to start the
old distiller made a speech of thanks, and fiJled every man’s
canteen with fine old rye whiskey, four years old. As we
left we gave three cheers for our kind-hearted host.

Having to march all night, I gave orders for the men to be
very careful with the “good spirit,” and let moderation be
their guide. Our tramp during that long night was light-
ened by an occasional sip from the canteens, and as we occa-
sionally overtook some poor old soldier fatigued and broken
down, we would administer a small dose of the rye and in a
little while he would rise and fall into line with a bright step.
When we arrived at Salvisa, in the afternoon, the skirmish
was over and the Confederates were holding the town. Our
command had left; we could not ascertain by what route, but
proceeding upon the theory that the right hand pike was the
safest we took it. After marching about a mile we were over-
taken by a squad of cavalry, commanded by Major Wash.
Morgan, who were leaving in a hurry as the Federals were
after them. He recognized me and advised me to break for
a thicket near by and hide like partridges until dark, and
then slip across the fields and take the other pike for Har-
rodsburg. Presently the Yankee cavalry came dashing by.
We took a good look at the “blue-coats,” but had no disposi-
tion to disturb them. As soon as darkness came on we
crawled out of the brush, and finding the pike, marched