518 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-65.

for drill, was without arms, except a few old muskets which
were furnished them for drilling purposes.

The regiment had not been in camp at Haynesville but a
few days, when it was separated, three companies going to
Zollicoffer (now Bluff City). Three to Carter’s Depot (now
South Watauga), two to Limestone, in Washington county,
the rest of the companies remaining at Haynesville (now
Johnson’s City )—all these points in Tennessee. The writer
of this sketch was sent to Zollicoffer, to take charge of the
three companies there, put them under rigid drill, and at the
same time guard the bridge spanning the Holston river at
that point and prevent railroad communication from being
disturbed. The other two companies mentioned were put
to like service. A very small amount of ammunition was
furnished the forces placed in camp for drill and guard
duties. This was true as to this regiment. We had a few
old fashioned muskets, and a small amount of ammunition
furnished for the purposes indicated. In this condition, this
regiment was by no means in condition to meet an attack by
the enemy, especially when in any sort of considerable force,
being simply in a camp of instruction.

In the early fall of 1862, date not now remembered, one
Battalion of the Regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Clay-
ton was ordered to Causby Creek, Cocke county, Tennessee,
to help suppress an uprising of disloyal citizens there. It
seems that some conscripts and deserters had been turned
out of the Waynesville jail by their friends. Sheriff Noland
while pursuing them, was killed on Noland or Utah Moun-
tain, three miles north-east of town. The militia of the
county was called out and followed the outlaws to the Ten-
nessee line, via Cattaloochee and Big Creek, north forty
miles.

Major W. W. Stringfield with 150 Cherokee Indians and
whites of the Sixty-ninth North Carolina, also on a scout in
Sevier county, Tenn., and Jackson county, N. C., rapidly
crossed the Balsam mountains at Soco Gap (fifteen miles
northwest of Waynesville) and in company with several hun-
dred militia—old men and boys—under Major Rhea and Col-
onel Rogers, Green Garrett, Arch Herren and others crossed

Stxty-Seconp REGIMENT. 519

over the Tennessee line, killed several of the outlaws and soon
reduced the others to submission.

The Sixty-second, badly armed and equipped as it was,
presented a formidable and war-like appearance. The out-
laws were killed, captured or scattered and restive citizens
were quieted. Not a great while after this the Sixty-second
was ordered to Greenville, Tenn., the home of President
Johnson. It was there brigaded with the Sixty-ninth North
Carolina and others and all were subjected to drill and disci-
pline. Railroad bridges were now threatened both from ex-
ternal as well as internal forces. The raid of General Carter
mentioned above and its success emboldened all the people,
three-fourths of whom were “followers of Belial’ and disloyal
to the South. All the bridges and depots were threatened
and some were burned. Hayden and others were hung and
hundreds sent South to prison and thousands ran off North
and joined the Union army.

I have noticed, in Brigadier-General Frazer’s report, of
his disgraceful surrender of Cumberland Gap, he refers to
this regiment as at one time having been commanded by its
Major (referring of course to the writer), and as having been
surrendered by him to a gang of Yankee scouts, or raiders.
A more unblushing falsehood was never penned by living
man.

CAPTURE OF THREE COMPANIES.

I have stated the condition of the three companies under
my immediate command at Zollicoffer, which eliminates the
necessity of repeating it here. On the night of 30 December,
1862, General Samuel P. Carter, with three regiments of
Federal cavalry, made his (the first) raid into East Tennes-
see for the purpose of burning the bridges and destroying
railroad communication. The East. Tennessee & Virginia
Railroad bridge at Zollicoffer was the first point struck by
this “Yankee raid,” of not less than 2,500 men. I was there
with three companies of poorly armed men, with no means of
defense and absolutely helpless. In this condition these three
companies were surrendered. And yet, the gallant General
Frazer has me surrendering this whole regiment to a Yan-