668 Nort Caronina Troops, 1861~’65.

ties of Henderson, Polk and Transylvania, and suffered many
hardships. At one time when Captain Deaver was in trouble
in Transylvania County, I was ordered to send him ten good
men. At that time I had a detail out on a scout in Polk
County, the only commissioned officer I had with me was
Lieutenant Morris, and he had command of that scout, so the
best I could do was to send him ten young men under Cor-
poral Gilbert. They reported to Captain Deaver and when
they had served the purpose for which they were sent, they
were ordered back. On their return there came a heavy rain,
during which they took shelter in a house on Crab Creek, and
when the rain was over resumed their march. When about
one mile from the house they were fired on by a band of
bushwhackers who had taken all the advantage of the boys.
They had selected a place in the road where there was a large
rock above the road and on the top of a little knoll, they had
carefully trimmed the brush out of the way, so that when our
boys got within fifty yards they fired with shot guns or mus-
kets and Enfield rifles, killing one man, Thomas Coggins, a
brave and good young man. All the others of our detach-
ment except one were wounded, but fortunately all slightly.
One of them (Lewis Laughter) was shot in six different
places. A minie ball had struck the front part of his pants
and cut them from seam to seam, but did not touch him. The
boys returned the fire, but the instant the bushwhackers fired
they ran and were soon out of sight. Our boys had a slim
chance, but it was said that there was a young man missing
out of the settlement who has not yet turned up. By the time
the boys came into camp the other detail had come in, so we
at once took a strong guard, went up and brought our dead-
comrade to camp, carried him to his home and buried him
with the honors of war. A great many of our brave boys
were not allowed such a burial.

Henry Perkins had leave of absence to visit his family. He
lived in Green River Cove, in Polk County, about sixteen
miles from camp. When he arrived at home and had been
there but a short time he walked out in the yard and was shot
down; he saw the man that shot him and told who he was.
He was a vile fellow who made it his every day business to

Srxty-Fourta REGIMeEnr. 669

bushwhack every detail that passed through the country.
Word was immediately conveyed to camp and at the proper
time leaving camp late in the evening so that our movements
should not be known, we travelled nearly all night, arriving
before day and having been informed that he was a frequent
visitor at a house near the river where some bad women
lived, we put our men in ambush to wait for daylight to de-
velop something. Just at the break of day the women came
out of the house and began a general search as if suspicious
of something. They continued their search till they came
upon some of the boys, and they made all the racket they could
make and it did seem as if our trip was vain. Two of our men
who had not been discovered, walked up a little branch only a
short distance from the house, when suddenly a little dog com-
menced barking. The man we were seeking sprang to his feet
and made an effort to get his gun, but was too late. They fired
into him one ball cutting the artery in his right arm, and in a
few minutes he was dead. Thus ended the life of a man who
only a few days before had taken the life of his next door
neighbor and that without a cause. From this time on that
section was more quiet. Many other raids were made which
were necessary to keep down such bands.

The last camp we occupied for any length of time was
Camp Woodfin, two miles north of Asheville. While in camp
at this place in April, 1865, General Stoneman made his raid
on Asheville. One bright day, while we were at dinner, the
beating of the long roll commenced and soon every man was in
line. The enemy had captured some of our men out on the
river road. The Sixty-fourth was ordered to remain in camp,
but to keep in line. Colonel Palmer was commanding and
formed a line of battle on the top of a ridge between our camp
and the River road. The enemy was in the road and in some
trenches that had been thrown up there. Several rounds were
fired, the Yankee balls passing over our men and rattling on
our shanties, which were covered with boards. About 3 o’clock
the Sixty-fourth was moved to the front and took part in a few
shots, one man of the Sixty-fourth was wounded. This was
another game of bluff. Colonel Palmer who had only about
three hundred men, moved one company passing a certain