The Syracuse Journal, Volume 6, Number 40, Syracuse, Kosciusko County, 29 January 1914 — Page 6

The War Fifty Years Ago ♦ Winter Campaigning In East Tennessee—-Attempt to Drive General Longstreet’s Confederates From the State—Federal Advance Checked—Cavalry In Hand to Hand Encounters—Troopers Charge a Battery. Longstreet Leads In Infantry Reserves—Federals v Finally Retreat to Winter Quarters—Strength of Confederates In the Field at the Beginning of 1864. Lee's Army In Northern Virginia the Largest.

By C»qt. GEORGE L. KILMER. Late U. S. V. TSE middle of January fifty years ago found the Confederate cqrps of General James Longstreet still encamped along the Virginia and Tennessee railroad; in east Tennessee. After his vain attempt to capture Knoxville in November had marched slowly tc the northeast to await events, He was is a position to menace Knoxville; Late in December Federal raiders had destroyed army supplies in southwest Virginia which might have served Longstreet’s troops for a campaign. They had also destroyed miles of track and several bridges and culverts. Owing to the lateness of | A * ’ Mm! ' * '" 'J x- ?, x @ by Patriot Publishing company. KINER AT, FRANK 0. ARMSTRONG, C. S. A., OAVfikLRY COMMANDER IN GENERAL LONGSTREET’S COLUMN. the this isolated Longstreet’s command from the source of supplies and re-ewforcements in Virginia. Believing that Lotigstreet could be driven to a safe distance from Knoxville and perhaps across the Virginia border, the Federal commander in east Tennessee, General J. G. Fostbr. decided to march his entire force against him. The Confederates were thirty to forty miles northeast of Knoxville and ten to twelve miles north of the French Broad river. Federal Advance and Retreat. On the 15th of January three Federal corps, preceded by cavalry, advanced across the Holftbn at Strawberry Plains into the angle river and the French Broad, intending to cross the latter southward on a floating bridge. Longstreet’s cavalry under General Martin detected the move of the enemy, and Longstreet chose to fight rather than turn his men out of their snug winter huts and retreat, as he must do if the Federals gained bis flank south of the river. With two divisions he marched to give battle at Dandridge, but the Federals promptly retreated and took up winter quarters at Knoxvitte. ’ A general thaw set in, making the roads almost impassable for heavy movements. Meanwhile the Federal cavalry corps under General S. D. Sturi gis. three divisions strong, had marched fom Knoxville across the Holston up the south side of the French Broad, living off the country and sparing only what was necessary to support the inhabitants who were friendly to the northern flag. Getting news of this new danger on his southern flank, Longstreet sent General W. T. Martin's cavalry across the French Broad on Jan. 24 and ordered General F. C. Armstrong’s division to follow and get in the rebr of the Federals. Sturgis decittod to fight the newcomers. Gexeral Martin first fell upon the isolated brigade of Colonel A. P. Campbell, of General Edward McCook’s division, with General J. T. Morgan’s command. Sturgis hoped to destroy Morgan before Armstrong’s men reached the field and. leaving strong guards to hold the road against Armstrong, threw his whole command, consisting of McCook’s. Colonel Frank Wolford’s and Colonel Kenner Garrard’s divisions, into the fray near Fair Garden. Campbell’s brigade was roughly handled, but Colonel O. H. La Grange’s brigade galloped to the scene and beat the Confederate troopers back until it an open field, which was raked ®y the enemy’s battery. Charge on a Battery. Harting his line under shelter. La Grange fprmed for a grand rush. A column of dismounted men advanced to within 150 yards of the battery, and the Fourth Indiana cavalry charged forwrd.’ Seeing the danger, the batNotice of Administration Noticeus hereby given that the undersigned has been appointed by the Clerk of the Kosciusko Circuit Court, in the State of Indiana, administrator of the estate of Alfred M. Rogers, late of Kosciusko County, deceased. Said estate is supposed to be solvent. A. A. RASOR, Administrator. Tan. 22, 1914. Eefad The Journal ads. today.

tery limbered up and moved back through the line of mounted supports, which opened tight and left to make way for the guns. The Confederate supports outnumbered the indianians. but the Federals were bent upon capturing the guns. Two companies dashed on after the fleeing battery, and Major J. P. Leslie wheeled four companies against the supports, who made a stand around Morgan’s battleflag. This band was routed and the flag captured, with many of its defenders. The gallant Leslie, however, was killed in the charge by a bullet in the breast. Such was the enthusiasm with which Leslie’s onset was made that General McCook and all his staff caught the spirit and joined in the rush. Meanwhile the two companies overtook the battery, sabered the drivers and stopped the running teams. Seeing the small force of Federals with the guns, a battalion of Confederates turned and advanced to recapture them, but the four companies of Indianians which had fought with Major Leslie swept down and drove the would be rescuers from the field In this brisk fight at Fair Garden the artillery divided honors with the wielders of the saber. When the Fourth Indiana formed for its charge upon Morgan’s battery Captain Lilly of the Eighteenth Indiana battery brought his pieces within 500 yards of the hostile guns and opened furiously. One gun moved forward with the charging party which captured the battery. Campbell's brigade having formed its ranks after the first setback moved forward on the right of La Grange to support his gallant attack along the main road. This line was held up also by the enemy’s battery. Campbell asked Lieutenant Miller of the Indiana battery whether he could get a gun to bear upon the enemy. “Yes. before the enemy can load,” was the prompt response. This gun went forward as the troopers advanced after the fleeing enemy and made some crack shots at the moving target. One shot killed a Confederate driver, a mule and three horses. A seconß shot took off a gun wheel and cut in two a sponge staff in the hands of a Confederate cannoneer. A third went through a caisson. “ Longstreet Leads Up Reserves. It was dark when McCook’s victorious troopers cleaned up the battlefield at Fair Garden. Having two fresh regiments at hand, McCook sent them after Morgan’s fleeing horsemen and prepared to drive them into the river next day. Meanwhile Armstrong’s

i • ■ kiiiii Xi WB ' A* - ■"x 'Wk Copyright by Patriot Publishing company. GENERAL EDWARD M’COOK, U. S. A., LEADER OF FEDERAL CAV« AT.RY DIVISION IN EAST TENNESSEE.

Confederates had crossed and taken a I strong position in rear of Sturgis. Longstreet, supposing that Foster had marched his infantry at the heels of Sturgis’ cavalry up the river, according to the program brought In by Confederate scouts, also crossed the French Broad, taking along Bushrod Johnson’s division of infantry. The Confederate leader rode boldly at the head of the column and expected to find the Fed- j erals in battle with Armstrong. Sturgis on his part looked for certain victory over Armstrong, who. he believed, was cut off from Morgan and nt his mercy. The Federal leader bold- ■ ly threw Wolford’s division and La j Grange’s brigade into action against Armstrong, but the fighting was barely begun when the scouts of Garrard’s division brought word to Sturgis that Pierceton Sdloomsts Lose z Judge Drake at Goshen, has ruled that the second local option election at Peiiceton is valid and that the Kosciusko county commissioners did not err when they refused to grant licenses to Gaven and Smith. The cuse will be appealed.

Confederate infantry had been fording the French Broad for an hour. Arm strongs men had built rifle pits t<* strengthen their position, and Sturgis was in danger of being cut off from his route back to Knoxville. Sturgis Retreats. Sturgis could only save himself by retreat and presstxl the attack of Wolford’s Um* to cover the withdrawal Longstreet, with his headquarters flag and staff, rode out to Armstrongs front just as a hand of Federal troop ers -broke through on a desperate charge. One boy in blue galloped into Longstreet’s party, bent on capturing the flag. Seeing the reckless Federal running amuck. Colonel Fairfax ot Longstreet's military family put spurs to his horse and rode at the intruder, pistol in hand. Before the trooper could level his gun the nimble Virginian covered him and called out. “Surrender!” Astonished at being let off so easily when on murder bent, the Federal dropped his carbine and went to the rear as a Confederate trophy from the last dash at Fair Garden. The retreat of Sturgis left the Confederates in possession of the foraging grounds. There were loams in the country, and sometimes Longstreet’s soldiers were given a bolt of cloth by citizens in sympathy with their cause, if the owners of the cloth were not patriotic in that direction the stuff was taken anyway as a necessity of wy. Longstreet’s men belonged in Virginia and had been long from home on many'weary tramps. They were nearly barefoot. It was the boast of the Yankee soldiers that they eould do anything in emergencies. For once the Confederates displayed a versatility not looked for among the sons of gentlemen planters. Soldiers in gray tanned the hides from beeves* killed for food. They made shoe pegs and shoe lasts and turned out a hundred pairs of shoes a day for the covering of the feet of the most needy. Naturally the Federals didn't look calmly on while the enemy from Virginia reveled in the fat of the land. In fact, they needed some of the good things themselves, being far away from their supply depots,' with rugged mountains intervening. Their horses were dying for lack of forage; the men lived on part rations, which had to be baul<Sd by wagons from Chattanooga. Confederate Field Strength. Early in 18G4 the Confederate authorities began to give attention to their depleted army. A conscription law was being rigidly enforced, but there were many exemptions. A law was in force prohibiting men liable to military service from sending substitutes. and on Jan. 5 this was strengthened by an enactment that “no person liable to military service should be exempted by reason of his having furnished a substitute.” At that date the draft took only ablebodied men between the ages of eighteen and fortyfive. The number of the Confederate troops in the field known as veterans at the beginning of 1864 was about 225,000 of all arms. These were distributed from the Atlantic coast to Texas. General Robert E. Lee bad under his command approximately 100.000 men, including the corps of Longstreet, which was in east Tennessee, and the command of General Sam Jones in southwest Virginia. At Richmond and Petersburg

there were troops acting as garrisons, and forces in North Carolina swelling the total in that state and in Virginia to about 110.000. Lee’s army was the largest in the field and was mainly encamped on the Rapidan river. The army commanded by General Joseph E. Johnston, with headquarters at Dalton. Ga., numbered over 50,000 men. Johnston’s command was known as the Army of the Tennessee and was iu camps or stations in Georgia. Alabama and Mississippi.. There were 10,000 to 12.000 Confederates in South Carolina and about the same number in Texas. The cavalry under General N. B. Forrest and his lieutenants in Tennessee and Mississippi aggregated about 8.000. and there were about 8.000 Confederates of all arms at Mobite. Ala; Will Raise Ducks The violent taking off of Orange Cory’s guineas last spring, has influenced him to raise ducks instead, this spring. Anyone wishing a setting of thoroughbred ducks should speak to him early. Journal Want Ads. give results.

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Court This Week The Kosciusko circuit court is ! taking a recess this week and will | convene Monday for February term Examination At Benton M. H. Wissinger of the local civil service board Saturday conducted an examination for postmaster at Benton which was taken by Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Juday.

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Special Prices Now Prevail IMfcL 'i ? ii r WE MUST MAKE ROOM FOR NEW STOCK When we made our 1914 purchases we bought heavier than we realized and as the shipments begin to come in we find that we need considerable more room. We are not offering you any old stock. It is all new and up to the minute, but it must be sacrificed so that we may use the floor space is occupies. There Isn’t a Better Place to Buy We buy our furniture in large quantities and give our customers • the advantage ot our savin g. You will find us ever ready to right any complaint and we do it cheerfully. We Pay Railroad Fare and Freight to Out of Town Purchasers SMITH-CLARK COMPANY goshen

Try To Use It I We have placed an item box I alongside of the bulletin board at 1 the foot of the stairway leading to the Journal, office, in which yon may drop al! news notes or articles. To insure publication, we must insist that the name of the person ; turnishing items be attached. We will not publish the names unless the writer of the items requests, but in the event of the news being of ' doubtful import, we want to know ! the identity of the paragrapher.

THE STORE AHEAD THE HUDSON CO. Goshen, Indiana ■ January Clearing -SALEGREATEST STORE NEWS For two weeks you have been told what a good place “The Store Ahead” is to buy all the winter materials that you need right now. During the past two weeks wo have shown to hundreds of careful buyers how splendid are the values here. Now for the last w eek of our January Clearihg Sale as a final demonstration, we have centered all our efforts on a One Week’s Selling. This whole offering is planned and everything is priced to save money for our friends and to make new friends for THE STORE AHEAD

CHUKCH ANNOUNCEMENTS. Grace Lutheran Church H. C. Getter, Pastor Sunday 5ch001.... 9:30 am Preaching 10:45 am Bv the president of synod, the Rev. B. F, Hoefer of Elgin. III'., and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The public is cordially invited to. attend these services. Church of God Rev. Alvin Eshelman, Pastor Preaching Sunday, -Nov. 30, and every two weeks at 11 a m and 7pm Sunday School 10:00 a m Y P S C E•••• 6pm Mid-week prayer meeting Thursday evening 7:00 M. E. Church Chas. A. Cloud, Pastor Sunday School 10:00 a m Preaching. ....11:00 a m Epworth League 6:15 p m Patching.... 7:00p nt Wednesday prayer meeting 7:30 pm . U. B. Church L. E. Eaton, Pastor Sunday School 10:00 a in

Preaching. 11:00 a tn 7:oopm Mid-week prayer service Wednesday 7:00 p m Brotherhood meeting’ Thursday event ngr.E verybodv invited to these services. With theeolder weather comes the cry for Buckwheat Cakes. Start the season right by ordering a sack of the Goshen Buckwheat Flour. It’s the real thing. —We sell and guarantee Ajax tires. “5,000 Miles.’’ Lepper Garage I J. w. ROTHENBEJRGER : Undertaker : SYRACUSE, : Is | ’ IND.