Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 286, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1912 — STORIES of CAMP and WAR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STORIES of CAMP and WAR

TALE OF GEN. PEGRAM’S RAID Interesting Story of How Eighty Picked Men Charged Through Camp of Enemy 4n KentuckyEarly in the month of March, 1863 (between the Ist and 10th), General Pegram made a raid into Kentucky with a force of 3,500 cavalry apd three pieces of artillery. At the time the Ist Kentucky cavalry was guarding the south bank of the Cumberland river in the vicinity of Somerset On Pegram’B approach we were ordered by General Gillmore, whose headquarters were at Lexington, to fall back to Danville. After reaching Danville General Carter, who was killed at the siege of Knoxville, made dispositions to dispute Pegram’s further advance, but after a light skirmish at Danville General Carter was ordered to fall back and take position some ten miles northeast from that point, at Camp Dick Robinson. Lieut.-Col. Silas Adams, of the Ist Kentucky cavalry, was captured and Hade a prisoner of war in the skirmish at Danville, but afterwardß escaped from the enemy at Monticello, Ky. When General Carter “Camp Dick,” as. It was called, he was again ordered to fall back to the north bank of the Kentucky river. Before the retreat from Danville ■ General Carter ordered me to proceed to Lancaster, Ky., with 80 picked men from the Ist Kentucky cavalry to watch the movements of the enemy in that direction and to remain there until ordered away, writes S. M. Boone of the Ohio National Military Home in the National Tribune. No such order ever catne from the general, as the couriers sent or attempted to be sent me were all captured, At this Juncture and somewhere near midnight Col. Ben P. Runkle, .commanding the 44th and 45th Ohio Infantry, came Into Lancaster from Richmond, Ky., I think, and ordered me to sadle up and proceed to Camp Dick Robinson. I told him I could not leave the post, as General Carter had oornmanded me to remain until he ordered me away. Colonel Runkle replied: “Our forces have been driven back from Danville, and we must form a junction with them as quick as may be at Camp Dick Robinson. I rank you, and you must obey my orders.” We were soon in the saddle and given the advance, being well acquainted with the country. The night was dark and a drizzling rain was falling. Near the old brick church my little squad of 80 men ran upon the pickets, not of our own forces, as we expected, but of those of the enemy.

They were all asleep, and they were made prisoners before they knew It. The question then presented itself: “What shall I do?” I made up my mind In a flash and said: “Boys, we will go through or die. They are all asleep, and we have their pickets.” Gabe Greenleaf was by my side, and I dispatched Joe Blackeby to inform Colonel Runkle that instead of meeting our own we were upon the enemy, and I was going to charge through their camp. Whether Colonel Runkle ever received the mesage I may never know; but this much I do know, he came thundering down the pike right behind me with the brave and gallant 44th and 45th Ohio. After I had passed the barn that stood In the forks of the two pikes Colonel Runkle ordered Lieutenant Lemmon to take the advance, but the gantlet bad tLen been run, and we got somewhat mixed up in the darkness, and so, capturing the pickets at Bryantsville, we crossed the Kentucky river about daylight. No shot was fired, and the charge was a success. The boys used to call It “Boone’s dumb charge,” and I shall always believe that had we halted and not gone through we would have all been captured the nest morning. In two days after crossing the Kentucky river we were ordered to advance upon the enemy, with whom we skirmished from Crab Orchard to Dutton’s Hill, where Pegram made a stand in a strong position In order to move the stock he had captured safely over the Cumberland river. The battle was a sharp. cavalry engagement and Pegram was routed, but succeeded in crossing the Cumberland with what men he had left and making his escape to Virginia or Tennessee. The only troops I remember figuring \n this engagement were the Ist Kentucky cavalry, 44th and 45th Ohio Infantry—as brave and gallant nen as ever fospied In battle line —one battalion of the 7th Ohio cavalry, dashing fine fellows, and a batter; of mountain howitzers.