740 Nortu Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

rifles). The enemy were the One Hundredth Ohio Regi-
ment (Infantry) and were a fine looking body of men. Know-
ing that this capture would arouse the enemy, we fell back to-
wards Carter’s. Ten days afterwards the enemy approach-
ing in force with several regiments of cavalry, battle was
given them at Carter’s. Our cavalry was much weaker than
theirs. Owing to the general advance movements by the en-
emy, the capture of Cumberland Gap, or rather its shameful
surrender by General Frazer 9 September, 1863, and advance
movements all up to the Salt Works and into West V irginia—
a long line of defense—we were compelled to draw in our line
and concentrate our forces.

Our position at Carter’s on the east bank of the Watauga
river, was impregnable, and the enemy, after two assaults,
flanked us at Devault’s Ford on the north, and Taylor's
on the south side, causing us to fall back to Zollicoffer,
or “Union Depot,” now Bluff City. The enemy about this
time hearing about our great victory over them at Chicka-
mauga, hastily retired towards Knoxville. We followed
them to Bull’s Gap, the Sixty-ninth being the only infantry
regiment. _On 5 October, 1863, the cavalry had a fight at
Greenville, killing seven, wounding twelve and capturing ten
of the enemy, with a loss of three killed and seven wounded,
General Jno. S. Williams, of “Cerro Gordo” fame, command:
ing our troops. On 15 October, after several days skirmish-
ing with the enemy, General Williams gave battle at Blue
Springs with his 1,800 dismounted men, holding in check
Burnside’s 7,000 veterans. The Sixty-ninth was ordered to
his aid, but hearing of a flank movement of the enemy, we
were ordered to retreat towards Jonesboro, and finally to
Abingdon, Va. In our retreat three miles above Greenville,
our cattle, wagons, artillery and infantry, in order named,
were surrounded before we knew it. General Burnside had
thrown General Foster with 3,000 cavalry in our front, at-
tempting our capture. The first intimation we had of re
presence was in the capture of our Adjutant, L. C. May, si
Captain Tip (H. H.) Taylor, Acting Adjutant-General fe}
our brigade. Captain May escaped and gave us warning.

Stxty-NintH ReeGmenr.

GREENVILLE, TENN.

In a few moments after the presence of the enemy was known
Colonel Love turned back the wagons, ordered forward the
Sixty-ninth at double quick, threw it in line of battle across
the road, and bringing forward the artillery, began at the ear-
liest dawn of day a furious artillery fire upon the enemy in
corn fields and meadows confronting us, fortunately for us,
bursting shells in their very midst. Before they could real-
ize the sudden change of the situation, the Sixty-ninth, with
the “bear hunter’s rebel yell,” was upon them. Our men
realized at once that quick and deadly work must be done, or
we would all be captured. The entire 600 men at sunrise
dashed forward at the enemy in a heavy skirmish line, Love
upon the right and Stringfield upon the left, with company
officers all in place, all cheering and directing their men.
Lieutenant Welch, of Company F, afterwards killed at Win-
chester, was shot through the thigh by the side of the writer;
very few others hurt. This was a running fight for ten miles,
Two Federals were killed in the yard of Senator Patterson,
son-in-law of President Johnson. Twelve or fifteen others
were killed. General Williams, while slowly retreating be-
fore Burnside, heard our artillery open upon the enemy.
Dashing forward at a gallop, he materially aided us in the
achievement of one of the most brilliant retreats of the war.
General Williams was profuse in his compliments, personally
and in special orders, to our regiment. We retreated sixty-
two miles in thirty hours, fighting and driving the enemy
much of the way towards Jonesboro, but not losing cattle or
wagons and but few men. The retreat did not stop until we
reached Virginia and fortified Abingdon, and covered Salt-
ville, where we were reinforced by the brigades of Corse and
Wharton, Virginia troops, under General Robert Ransom.
We remained quietly here until 1 November, when we began
another forward movement. towards Knoxville, Tenn. While
here a beautiful Carolina maiden, having heard of the hero-
ism of our men and of complimentary orders about them,
sent the following acrostic to our gallant Colonel, J. R. Love,