274 Nortu Carotina Troops, 1861-65.

and commenced bombarding the city at close range. The
other companies of the Fifth North Carolina Battalion had
joined Company A and together with the First Louisiana
Regiment under Colonel Scott, attacked and drove off the
enemy before much damage was inflicted by the bombard-
ment: meanwhile, a detachment of the enemy had been sent
forward to destroy the railroad bridge across the Holston
river at Strawberry Plains. The enemy then commenced a
rapid retreat towards Cumberland Mountains, when a run-
ning tight was kept up during the entire day. It was evi-
dent that the raiding column was making for Big Creek Gap
with the hope to reach Kentucky by way of Pine Mountain
road. During-the day several bloody encounters took place
in which the Fifth Battalion participated, notably a fight
that took place in the vicinity of Maynardsville. The enemy
was sorely pressed and it looked like surrender was about the
only thing possible for them to do. It was certain that they
could not hold out if daylight continued, and in order to kill
time they took up a strong position at the end of a long lane,
commanding the only approach to the stronghold, and awaited
the approach of the Confederates. A detachment of the
Fifth Battalion led by Major Baird, and a similar detach-
ment from the First Louisiana under Captain Scott, charged
and drove the enemy from their selected position. In this
charge the brave Captain Scott, of the First Louisiana, was
killed, while Major Baird’s horse was killed under him. The
writer did not see the gallant charge, being detailed with his
company to support a battery in another part of the field, but
those who did witness it spoke of it in the highest terms.
Night was coming on and the enemy was making heroic ef-
forts to reach Cumberland Mountains. Clinch Mountain
had been crossed and the enemy driven across Clinch river.
Orders were issued to press forward with all possible speed
and use extra exertions to overtake the enemy before night—
with the enemy it was night, the Cumberland Mountains or
certain capture. Company A, of the Fifth North Carolina
Battalion, was ordered to the front and commanded to charge
the enemy. The order was obeyed and the charge was suc
cessful. The enemy was routed, scattered in every direction

seb rhein cro rte onl nnn abet Se Na eR a a ee

Frrra Barracion. 275

and abandoned a battery of artillery, horses, guns, blankets
and everything else that retarded their escape across Powell’s
river to the trackless wilds of the Cumberland Mountains.
We followed them next morning across the mountains, but
they had made good their escape, and we only found here and
there an abandoned horse or a straggling soldier.

The raiding force having been driven across the Cumber-
land Mountains into Kentucky, we returned to Powell’s Val-
ley and went into camp near Big Creek Gap to recuperate our
jaded horses and rest the exhausted men. This, I think, was
the first time the battalion had all been together in camp
during the organization. This much-needed rest was, how-
ever, of short duration. The battalion was destined to par-
ticipate soon in more serious and bloody warfare than it had
been engaged in during the whole of its military career.

Just at this time General Morgan had invaded Indiana
and Ohio, and it very soon developed that the result would
probably be the capture of his entire force unless something
was done to relieve him of the embarrassing position by which
he was surrounded. What I am about to state on this subject
is information derived from Colonel Scott. Seeing the posi-
tion of General Morgan in Ohio, it was determined to organ-
ize a movement from East Tennessee for his relief, and to
that end a cavalry force from Chattanooga, another force
from the Cumberland Gap section and a third force from
Bristol were to be pushed forward into Kentucky with all
possible speed to the relief of Morgan, unite the three columns
at Lexington, and if necessary to relieve General Morgan, to
make a descent upon Cincinnati. The Fifth North Carolina
Battalion was brigaded with the First Louisiana, Tenth Con-
federate (Alabama) and the Fifth Tennessee, all under the
command of Colonel Scott, of the First Louisiana Cavalry.
Unfortunately, Major A. H. Baird was stricken down with
a very severe attack of typhoid fever and was unable to be
moved, much less accompany the battalion on a long and
onerous expedition, and had to be left in the hospital at Fin-
castle.

INTO KENTUCKY.

The battalion was placed under command of Captain Lusk,