CHAPTER XLVI. COMPANY B CAVALRY. ITH the exception of Company B Cavalry, we have now followed the varying fortunes of the noble phalanx of brave men, who early responded to the bugle call, and went forth from Camp Hammond twelve hundred strong. We have noted the return of their shorn battalions and skeleton ranks, with scarcely enough left to chant the praises and epitaph the graves of their buried comrades. In resuming the story of Company B, it will be necessary to go back to the autumn of 1862, and to Perryville, where we left them in full career of victory. Perhaps no band of men of equal numbers who drew sword in the defense of their country, was made up of better material, or accomplished as much as they, with as little loss of life. During Bragg's somewhat leisurely retreat from Kentucky, the policy of Buell was to fight him as lightly and harry him as little as possible, and the pursuing columns were restrained from accomplishing all they wished, or all they might. Company B was always in the advance, skirmishing with the enemy's rear guard, scouting the country, and obtaining valuable information SHERER AND COMPANY AT LANCASTER. 751 as to their movements and designs. Aside from the usual incidents and excitements of the chase, nothing of moment occurred until nearing Lancaster, on the afternoon of the 14th, when the enemy was found in line of battle, with artillery and infantry supports. Company B was deployed as skirmishers, and boldly assailed them with the leaden compliments of the season, until darkness put an end to the rambling skirmish, in which one of the enemy was known to have been killed. were again in the It was found that At two o'clock the next morning the men saddle, reconnoitering the Rebel position. the main body had left, and only a rear guard of cavalry remained. At daylight permission was asked and obtained to make a charge, and with only fourteen men Capt. Sherer broke their picket line, dashed through town, and after a short but severe fight put their rear guard to flight, killing one, wounding one severely, and capturing thirteen prisoners. The inhabitants of Lancaster were loyal, and warmly greeted the little squad of cavalry who were the first Federals to enter the place. During the preceding night the town had been occupied by five thousand Confederate infantry and cavalry, who had withdrawn but a half mile when their rear guard was so handsomely charged and put to flight. Soon after the 2nd Michigan Cavalry came up, and were somewhat chagrined as well as indignant to find that all the honor connected with the brilliant dash belonged to a mere handful of the 36th. The demonstrations of loyalty on the part of the people, and their expressions of admiration of the gallant conduct of the boys, has never been forgotten by them, and is often referred to as a bright spot in their soldier experience. For gallant conduct at Lancaster, as well as at Perryville, Gen. Carlin in his official report paid a fine compliment to Capt. Sherer and his Company. At Crab Orchard the pursuit of Bragg was virtually ended, and the Company remained in camp at that place several days, receiving orders in the meantime to report to Brig. Gen. Woodruff as escort. The army then retraced its steps to Lebanon, where communication by rail was opened with Louisville. Meanwhile Gen. Buell was superceded in the command by Rosecrans, who, after garrisoning the most important places, proceeded with the main army to Nashville. November 7th, while on the march from Tyree Springs, an army sutler was met, who reported a band of guerillas but a short distance ahead, who had captured a number of wagons, and confiscated his goods, chattles and effects. Gen. Woodruff ordered Company B to press forward and endeavor to overhaul and punish the band of depredators. The supposed guerillas proved to be two or three thousand of John Morgan's freebooters, who, learning of our approach, stationed a regiment in ambush along the rocky sides of a ravine overlooking and commanding the road passing through it. When nearly at the foot of the hill, the first intimation of an enemy near at hand was a volley from double barrelled shot guns fired at short range from behind overhanging rocks, almost over the heads of the Federal troopers. Their shots ranged high, and only three of the men were wounded. The Company attempted to storm the hill, but its almost perpendicular sides could not be scaled by cavalry. Forming the Company in an open space or field on the opposite side of the ravine, a spirited skirmish was maintained until word could be sent to Gen. Woodruff, who dispatched an infantry force to the enemy's rear, and drove them from their advantageous position. In this skirmish Ephraim Gardner,were wounded, the Captain's horse was shot, and the blankets and clothing of most the men perforated with buck shot. -and PURSUIT OF MORGAN. 753 Somewhat chagrined at being unwittingly drawn into the Rebel ambuscade, the men were anxious for an opportunity to wipe out the fancied cloud upon their good name, and go in pursuit of the marauders. Permission was granted, and the next morning, having been joined by detachments from other commands, they started out in quest of Morgan. Proceeding up the Gallatin pike to Sanders-. ville, they learned that their wily adversary had left the road for Murfreesboro, and was to cross the Cumberland at Shackle Island. After a rapid march they were overtaken at the river, and stinging volleys of carbine shot sent into their rear, changing an orderly retreat into a wild stampede. Two of the gang were made prisoners, and three horses with their equipments, two carbines, two revolvers and other property captured. The next day the Company reached Nashville and encamped in the environs of the city. On the 15th, Gen. Davis assumed command of the Division, and Company B was soon after detailed as his escort. Scouting parties were constantly patrolling the country, who made it lively for Morgan's and other prowling bands. About the middle of November a detachment was sent by Gen. Carlin into Cheatham County, under the command of Col. McKee, in quest of guerillas. Lieut. Reynolds, with twenty men from Company B, accompanied the expedition, and after many adventures, returned on the 20th with forty-six prisoners and thirty horses. A similar expedition, for the purpose of clearing the country of the guerillas infesting the valley of the Cumberland, left Nashville November 27th, under the command of Capt. Sherer. This, on account of the lively incidents attending it, is worth mentioning somewhat in detail. The inhabitants had been previously warned against harboring "bushwhackers," and threat ened with the iron hand of military power in case the warning was unheeded. These notices had produced little effect, and scarcely a day passed that some unsuspecting Federal soldier was not waylaid and shot, or Union citizens murdered in cold blood. Nameless and numberless outrages were perpetrated, compared to which the atrocities of Digger Indians would be regarded as acts of humanity. So bold did these deperadoes become, and so numerous and flagrant their outrages, that it was determined to give their aiders and abettors a foretaste of what they might expect if these depredations were continued. Every trooper knows the nature of such service. Many hundred times have they seen from one to three gaunt specimens of the genus "butternut" often shoeless, hatless and coatless, break for the nearest timber, on the approach of cavalry to some suspected house. None better understand what "tall running" means than the troopers engaged in such service, nor can better appreciate the fun and excitement of chasing these fellows, and their forlorn, hang-dog expression on being overhauled and compelled to march back, often over long, muddy or dusty roads on foot to Nashville, perhaps to be immured within the vermin infested walls of some guard house for months. Once, however, a squad of the boys were badly sold. The day was dark and stormy, but we doubt if even comrade Strang would offer that as a sufficient excuse for chasing a darkey five mile through the mud, and when overtaken, find him on his way to a negro prayer meeting. At another time squads were marched through woods, thickets and across lots in order to surround a house where it was suspected guerillas were harbored. None were there, however, only women and children just ready to sit down to a sumptuous repast of sweet potatoes and hot corn dodgers. The boys were |