A Friendly Visit for Corn into an Egyptian Country -- Ohio
Regiments -- "Corn or Blood" -- "Fanny Battles" -- The
Constitution Busted in Several Places -- Edicts against
Dinner Horns, by Colonel Brownlow's Cavalry -- A Signal
Station Burned -- Two Rebel Aids Captured.
Camp at Triune, Tennessee, _April 26, 1863_.
Last Thursday was a "gay day" for a portion of the Third Division.
General Schofield, thinking it requisite to lay in a good supply of
provender, ordered out one hundred and fifty wagons, to go on an
errand of mercy to our benighted "brethren of the South," and _borrow_
of them some corn, oats, and fodder, for Federal horses. Well, as it
is a recognized breach of etiquette to send such a train without
escort, therefore, the General sent a retinue, consisting of the 35th
Ohio, under Colonel Long; 9th Ohio, Colonel Josephs; 17th Ohio,
Colonel Durbin Ward; 31st Ohio, Colonel Phelps; also, the 87th
Indiana, Colonel Shyrock; and the 2d Minnesota, under Colonel George;
together with two pieces belonging to the 4th Regular Battery, under
Lieutenants Rodney and Stevenson. We went forward with the
determination of obtaining food--"peacefully, if we could; forcibly,
if we must;" but we had to use the rebel women's motto, lately made
public in Richmond, "Food or Blood." Our new commander accompanied
the expedition. We started, after partaking of an early breakfast, and
crossed Harpeth River about nine o'clock. I had forgotten to mention
that the 1st East Tennessee Cavalry were along: the rebels haven't
forgotten it, however, as they were ordered to the front, and, as I am
fond of seeing them "go in," I was appointed chief aid and
bottle-holder to the command under Majors Burkhardt and Tracy, and had
a splendid opportunity of seeing the "Secession elephant." After
passing through the town of College Grove, we commenced feeling our
way carefully, as we wished to make our visit a sort of "surprise
party" to the "brethren in arms;" as a matter of course, this was only
the "by-play," for while the Tennessee boys were unloading their
muskets, the teamsters were loading corn and oats from Secesh cribs.
They are excellent _cribbage_-players by this time.
As our cavalry advanced, the rebel cavalry fell back, declining to
hold any communication. Major Tracy and "ye correspondent" went off
the main road, in pursuit of knowledge, and came upon half a dozen
negroes working in a field. The Major introduced "ye innocent lamb" as
General Morgan, and demanded of the darkeys if any d----d Yankees had
been about there lately. The darkeys replied very evasively; would not
say a word that would injure the cause of the Union forces; denied all
knowledge of them or their whereabouts. There were some two or three
hundred fat sheep on the farm, and a good lot of cattle. I suggested
the propriety of driving them within our lines, but was astonished
when the Major told me it was "against orders" to do so. All the males
of the family who owned the negroes and _other cattle_ were in the
rebel army--the master and two sons. While talking there, we heard
firing, and so started for the fun, and soon came upon some of the
"gentry," yclept "butternuts." The Major had about twelve men in the
lead; a few others, with the colors, remaining a quarter of a mile to
the rear--the _regiment_ a mile in rear of the advance. When we
arrived at what is known as Tippets's farm, the rebels, who were
sheltered by Wilson's house, poured a volley down the road, and
without inquiring the cause of such unkind treatment, on their part,
this "individual" _retired_ some twenty yards. I have before heard the
sound of the Enfield-rifle ball, and have heard many persons say, 'tis
"quite musical;" but "_I can't see it_." The boys advanced in the most
daring manner on the open road, while the _valiant_ and "_noble
chivalry_" of Alabama kept continually retreating. In order to obtain
a better view of the fight, and watch the maneuvers of the combatants,
I went upon the side-hill of an open field to the left of the road,
and while quietly looking on, three rebs came out from behind Wilson's
house, and, without as much as saying, "By your leave," they blazed
away at me. Isn't it a shame that these fellows should act so? Why,
they "_busted_ the Constitution all to the devil," in firing at _me_.
The Major kindly rode up and told me, in his usual bland and benign
style, that I was a d----n fool; that "them fellers was a-shootin' at
me." I merely replied that I guessed he was mistaken, as I saw the
bullets _plowing_ the field some twenty yards in front of me. While
this conversation was going on between the Major and myself, the
rebels reloaded their guns and gave us another trial of their skill,
and settled the dispute at once, as I had asseverated; their bullets
would not reach that distance. The Major was right, for a little while
the nastiest shriek I ever heard came from that volley. The Major's
horse didn't like it much, and _cavorted_ like the "fiery, untamed
steed" ridden by the fair "Adah Isaacs." Then we changed our base: we
went toward the chaps, and, when they would get ready to fire, put
spurs to our horses and ran from them. This so delighted the "rebs,"
that we gratified them with two or three trials, and every time we
ran, they shouted and said _bad words_. After placing five men in
ambush, we retired, as if leaving the field, and as the traitors were
advancing directly into the trap of three hours' hard setting, the
Wilson family came to the door and told them to go back, as the
"Yankees" were in the orchard there by Tippets's house. The men were
then within two hundred yards of the ambush, and, upon being so
informed, hastily wheeled their horses and left on a double-quick.
This act on the part of a citizen rebel so exasperated the men that
Wilson was given one hour to get out of the house with his furniture,
as all houses used for military purposes, signal stations, etc., would
meet with destruction.
While the house was burning, the women boasted they had warned them,
and would do it again. One virago-looking Secesh asseverated, in a
voice of unearthly screechiness, that they had lots of "_Southern
friends_, and _millions of money_."
The citizens along the road will learn a lesson by this occurrence. It
will teach them not to make signal stations of their houses.
BLOWING HORNS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Another source of annoyance to our men was the frequent blasts upon
dinner-horns. These "quiet, peaceful" citizens, as our men advanced,
gave the enemy information by this _blasted_ method. Upon being
questioned as to the "cause why" they did so much blowing, they
replied, "They were calling in the boys from the field, for fear they
would get shot;" and Mrs. Tippets said, "'T was near dinner-time." One
of the men said he would like something to eat, and went in the house,
but no sign of dinner preparation could be seen. Major Tracy took the
horn from Mrs. Tippets, at which the lady (?) protested most
violently; said there "was no reason in that man," and asked me, "if
it wasn't agin the Constitution for that feller to take that horn."
I told her, in a _pacific manner_, that that was nothing; Tracy took
from ten to fifteen horns a day. She didn't see the joke, and I became
disgusted with her want of penetration, and left.
Mr. Wilson and a man who was in his employ were brought into camp as
prisoners. Mr. Wilson protested he didn't tell the States-rights men
any thing, and held that he "couldn't hender the women talkin'."
About four o'clock we commenced a retrograde movement for the "old
camp," and soon caught up with the big train, filled with all the
delicacies of the season, for the brute portion of our division.
The Miss Fanny Battles who is now so sweetly sojourning in the
Seminary at Columbus, Ohio, under the guardianship of "Uncle Samuel,"
was a resident of this county. Our troops were encamped upon the
Battles farm for a month. Miss Battles was very industrious in
circulating about the country. When she was taken, she had her
_drawers_ stuffed with letters, and was trying to steal through our
picket-lines. The _Secretary_ of State, or those connected with the
_bureaus_, will, we hope, see that there are no more such _drawers_
allowed within the lines.
THE DIFFERENCE.
At the house of a Mr. Bolerjack are the wounded men belonging to the
1st Tennessee Cavalry. I called there yesterday, and, in conversation
with Mr. B., he expressed surprise at what he termed the difference
between our wounded and the rebel wounded. He said that he had a house
full of Secesh at one time, but that they kept moaning and groaning
all night and day, and kept his family busy, while our men have never
muttered, but, on the contrary, are always cheerful, and only anxious
to get back in their saddles.