and left, oftentimes when his navy was
against "his man," five of whom felt the
effects, while the tears were streaming down
his cheeks. I could not help thinking, "Ven-
geance is mine, saith the Lord."
When the enemy realized the smallness of
the force that was chasing them, they halted
in a strong position and showed fight; but
our General, who seemed more like our gal-
lant Captain of old than he had for some
time, was too shrewd for them. Quickly de-
taching a single scout around to their left
flank secretly, with orders to fire his gun and
navies in rapid succession into their line,
proved, much to our amusement, to have the
desired effect. Back they flew again, using
their rowels as vigorously as before. But we
were soon in their rear, making good use of
time and pistols. Sabres were useless orna-
ments in our service. The trooper that at-
tempted to carry one would be forever after
a laughing stock for the entire command.
All of the twenty were ahead of the Gen-
eral, who was on his favorite "Glencoe," with
hat in hand, cheering the boys with "Charge
Kelion Franklin Peddicord 115
them, boys; charge them!" and right hand-
somely did they execute his orders.
Yet, on flew the Yankees, and after them
went the twenty, in a dense cloud of dust,
never halting until we had chased the Yankee
cavalry through a brigade of their own in-
fantry then in line of battle and supported by
artillery, which the immense cloud of dust
prevented us from seeing. We charged
them so near that they were afraid of open-
ing on us for fear of doing injury to their
own troops.
One of the boys, riding near the General,
saw the line first, and caught the reins of the
General's horse, stopping him instantly. At
the same moment a line of bristling bayonets
were pointed out to the General. All saw it,
and quickly wheeling our horses, with spurs
in flanks, went out in true Indian style, lying
flat on our horses, perhaps a little under.
When we had cleared the line so they could
open fire, and not fire into their own line, the
whole line poured a volley at short range
right into us. But "fortune," they say,
"favors the brave." Only one man received
a wound, Captain Tom of Company B,
whose rein arm was broken, and who was
afterward, much to his regret, left at Burks-
ng Kclion Franklin Pcddicord
ville. With this exception we got back to
town safely.
At an early hour in the morning of the 3d,
we were again in the saddle, en route to
Columbia, Col. R. C. Morgan's regiment,
the Fourteenth, in advance. This honor the
General entrusted to our charge to be kept
untarnished. How well the Fourteenth suc-
ceeded had best be told by others than myself.
My object is to tell you "some" of the events
that occurred.
The column passed up the same valley
through which we marched the first of the
year on our return after the Christmas raid,
when a large number of horses disappeared,
and the General promised the ladies that he
would hang and shoot every one of his scouts,
without a court martial, etc., for such un-
courtly, ungallant, and unsoldierly actions
toward "good Union people." It afforded
the members of Company B much sport as
they rode by these places of interest.
Gaining the upland, the command halted
long enough for the regimental commanders
to read "special orders," which were to gov-
ern the troops during the march.
The advance moved on to Columbia about
noon, where we found a squadron of the
Kelion Franklin Peddicord 117
First Kentucky Yankee Cavalry in possession
of the town. Driving their pickets in we ad-
vanced to the edge of the town, where we
rode into line and dismounted to fight.
In a few moments we were closely engaged
with the enemy, commanded by a Kentuckian,
Captain Carter, afterward killed or shot by
a member of Company B. Carter fought
his force well, being shielded by the houses;
but as soon as he was wounded they retreated.
He, with other wounded, fell in our hands.
As only a brave man can do, he talked with
the soldier who visited him a few minutes
before he died, telling the Confederate that
he was a gallant soldier and that he shot him
in self-defense and while in the service of his
country. The gallant Captain surely met his
fate soldierly.
Supplying our wants we left town and
marched within two miles of Green River
bridge (not the railroad bridge), which was
defended by a regiment of Yankee infantry
inside of a strong stockade. Placing our
picket out, we encamped for the night.
The next morning, the Fourth of July, by
some error of the A. A. G., two regiments
were put in advance of the Fourteenth, and
by a further misconstruction of orders they
xig Kelion Franklin Peddicord
advanced against the stockade, which on this
side of the river was impregnable, and there
were obstacles of every description to impede
a charge. Nevertheless, our troops hurled
themselves against it with great gallantry and
fought desperately until the General had them
withdrawn. The troops were cut up badly,
and many of our "best and bravest" fell in
this engagement, among them being Colonel
Shenault of the Seventh Kentucky, Major
Brent of the Sixth, First Lieut. Chas. Kirtley
of the Thirteenth Kentucky, commanding his
company at the time, and many other gallant
men and officers.
I cannot say who was the author of this
movement, which was not a skilful move cer-
tainly, for we had to flank it finally to gain
the pike beyond. By using our artillery on
the opposite side they could have been shelled
into submission, beyond reach of their rifles.
The brigade halted to feed at Campbells-
ville. Mounting again at dark, we did not
halt until in front of Lebanon, about three
o'clock in the morning. At daylight we ad-
vanced on the force garrisoning the town,
which was the Twentieth Kentucky Yankee
Infantry under Col. Chas. Hanson, a brother
of the colonel of the Second Kentucky In-
Kelion Franklin Peddicord 119
fantry, afterward a general in our service,
killed at Murfreesboro.
The garrison, as we advanced into town,
had posted themselves in brick houses, depot
buildings, and churches. But forming our
line in a circle enclosing the town we moved
to the attack. A street fight is one of the
most deperate modes of warfare known to a
soldier. The advantage is strongly against
the storming party.
The Fourteenth charged mounted to within
seventy-five yards of the railroad depot, and
dismounted under the most deadly fire that
we ever saw. The artillery took position on
our right, opening on the depot in dead
earnest. At every report the boys would
cheer, the building tumbling at every dis-
charge. Before the General commenced the
assault he sent in a flag of truce to Colonel
Hanson, demanding an immediate surrender;
but if he would not consent, a limited time
would be allowed to him to remove all non-
combatants. He would not permit the in-
habitants to leave, however, thinking they
might prove to be a protection to his force,
as we would probably not cannonade the town
while the women and children remained. In
that the Colonel was badly mistaken. His
I2 o Kelion Franklin Peddicord
troops numbered about six hundred, and all
fought desperately to keep the boys out of the
houses. But the cavalry would go up and in.
Some of our troops would frequently run
their guns and pistols through the windows
and fire, while others would storm the doors
and gain their entrance.
The fight was raging terribly when Thos.
H. Morgan, first lieutenant of Company I,
Duke's regiment, a brother of the General,
while acting aide-de-camp and gallantly bear-
ing orders, was shot through the head, caus-
ing his instant death. This happened in
sight of the General, who became so enraged
at such inhuman fighting that he sent his aides
flying with orders to burn and destroy, which
soon brought our brutal foe to a sense of
feeling.
The whole town was quickly in a blaze and
getting disagreeably hot. The engagement
had lasted from morning until noon, and but
for the burning would have lasted longer, at
a great sacrifice of life. The white flag ap-
peared in many places at the same time.
Before it was discovered or acknowledged
they were nearly "rare done." Everything
but hot stoves suffered that day. The troop-
ers, not without cause, were much enraged,
Kelion Franklin Peddlcord 121
and they could scarely be controlled by their
officers.
During the taking of Lebanon two Yankee
regiments were within two miles of the town,
but would not and did not come to the rescue.
The officer in command was afterward re-
lieved for his timid and cowardly action. It
was proven that he was half a day marching
seven miles.
When the General was ready to march he
privately detached a piece of artillery out of
town, in charge of an officer, with instructions
to shell the town. The order to mount had
been given, but the boys fell slowly into line.
However, the explosion of the first shell was
sufficient to place all in line, ready for march-
ing, as the General expected.
We moved out on the Springfield road, ar-
riving at that place before night, with the
prisoners, who were paroled. The advance
halted to feed six miles beyond the town, on
the road to Bardstown. The brigade stopped
nearer the town. One of the officers of Com-
pany B was killed at Lebanon, another cap-
tured while en route to Bardstown the night
we left Springfield, so that when the advance
reached Bardstown I was the only officer in
Company B, in which there were seventy-five
122 Kelion Franklin Peddicord
men, which kept me pretty active during the
trip.
The night's march to Bardstown was one
of the darkest we ever experienced. It was
impossible to see even your fellow-soldier in
the same set riding by your side. We halted
near but not in sight of the city, and con-
ferred with Captain Sheldon of Company C,
Second Kentucky Cavalry, who had been the
morning previous detached on a scouting ex-
pedition in the vicinity of Bardstown.
After meeting and skirmishing with, chas-
ing, and being chased by a detachment of the
regular Yankee cavalry, he had eluded and
followed them, without their knowledge, into
town, where, finding them quartered in a
livery stable, he formed his line around, and
barricaded the streets and alleys so strongly
and successfully that they could not get out
except at great sacrifice. Under Captain Shel-
don's guidance Colonel Morgan dismounted
his regiment to go to the relief of Company
C, supporting him until morning, when an
immediate surrender was asked. The Major
commanding, however, refused to comply.
The brigade having arrived about daylight,
a piece of ordnance was brought to bear upon
the stable, the "expression" of which ap-
Kelion Franklin Feddicord 123
pearcd so ferocious that the Major submitted
and hung out his white flag without further
hesitation. The Major, a lieutenant, and
fifty men surrendered, with as many horses,
splendidly equipped.
Feeding and breakfasting, we were soon
moving for the "Lew" and Nashville Rail-
road south of Shepherdstown, and not more
than twenty miles distant from Louisville.
The head of the column reached the railroad
about the hour that the evening passenger
train north was due. The General, who was
riding with the advance, sent Company A of
the Fourteenth to the road on our left to ob-
struct the cars after they passed. Company
B was ordered to intercept them in front.
We had just arrived at the crossing when
the train hove in sight. Quick as thought
the General had one of Burns's field pieces
upon the track, and sent its contents booming
down the track, checking the train, and almost
instantly the engineer commenced reversing
his engine. But Company B, which was
rapidly advancing, put a stop to its wild
career. The guard on the train, consisting
of thirty or forty infantry, contested their
ground stubbornly. Getting out on the op-
posite side from us, they used the train for
124 Kelion Franklin Peddicord
breastworks. But, to use a soldier's term,
"we went for them," dislodging and driving
them into the woods.
After ordering the driver to move his en-
gine up to the crossing, Company B, already
formed, escorted her to the General's
presence.
Her passengers were principally Yankee
officers, field and staff, from whom I fell heir
to several useful articles without their con-
sent, I imagine, if their faces were a true
index to their feelings. Nor could I blame
them much, for the cavalry boots, No. 6,
were splendid, the navies handsome, and the
swords and rigging rich and beautiful.
Besides all of these, the boys appropriated
some valuable property, such as gold and
silver watches, meerschaum pipes, greenbacks
and specie, etc. The U. S. mail numbered
over a hundred sacks, which were turned over
to the brigade A. Q. M., with the exception
of a few sacks the boys reserved for their
own use. The General let all the passengers
retain their effects, save the military, and
without injury, and ordered the train to re-
turn to Elizabethtown.
Burning a stockade and bridge, we con-
tinued our march until three o'clock and then
Kelion Franklin Peddicord 125
encamped until morning. Late as it was,
the boys built small fires to open and examine
their mail by.
Hardly a moment elapsed, "day or dream-
ing night," but what we were capturing the
enemy's forces, sometimes in small and often
in large numbers. At daylight on the morn-
ing of the yth we were found in the saddle
en route to Brandenburg on the Ohio River,
and forty or fifty miles below Louisville,
Kentucky.
The advance, after a few exciting adven-
tures, marched into the above place just after
dark, and found two steamers lying at the
wharf, which Capt. Sam. B. Taylor, of the
Tenth, who had been sent on that service
early in the day, had captured without much
difficulty. The steamboat Alice Dean was
taken while lying at the landing, and soon
afterward the steamboat General Combs ap-
peared in view, coming up the river. Cap-
tain Taylor, commanding the Alice Dean,
went out to meet and escort the General into
the wharf, very much to the astonishment of
the captain and the passengers.
I could mention, and yet it will be omitted,
much that happened during the night and the
next morning, or rather the next day, which
I2 6 Kelion Franklin Peddicord
was spent crossing over "Jordan" into the
"Promised Land."
Upon our arrival we dismounted to form
line on the beach until the brigade came up.
We then returned to our horses to feed them
and to steal a little nod, if such were possible.
Some of the boys gave champagne parties
that night in the meadow, which doubtless
was taken from the stores of one of the
steamers; as also were a few other luxuries
that had so mysteriously come into their pos-
session. After satisfying their unnatural ap-
petites all took a sly snooze, dreaming of
home and of the fair fields beyond the waters.
Tired nature must have its requisite amount
of rest ; it may be overtaxed for a long time,
but sooner or later exhaustion will come,
when the body, in spite of all we can do other-
wise, will repose. Many have been the times
when I would have given worlds, if I pos-
sessed them, to lie down in a fence corner
with permission to sleep a few hours. But
the enemy was in front, and the watchword
was "forward, march." After crossing the
Ohio we never halted except to feed, to fight,
and to destroy U. S. property.
Our balmy slumbers were very easily dis-
turbed by an explosion of a shell in our midst,
Kelion Franklin Peddicord 127
thrown from a. piece on the Hoosier State
side. Burns's battery returned the fire, and
at the second shot dismounted the Yankee
gun, a splendid rifled cannon, that afterward
fell into our possession.
It occupied the entire day of the 8th to
effect the crossing, there being many interrup-
tions. Four or five gun-boats tried hard to
intercept us, but our rifle field-pieces of longer
range kept them at arm's length, and finally
compelled them to take shelter behind a point
in the river.
Several U. S. transports, loaded with
troops, had accompanied the gun-boats down
from Louisville, and partly disembarked
them on the Indiana side. But Duke's and
Ward's regiments, who had first crossed, were
on hand to receive them, and drove them pell
mell on the boats again, which steamed up the
river hurriedly beyond their reach. The
General Combs and Alice Dean ferried all
over safely by sunset. One of them, the
latter I think, was a U. S. transport. She
was set on fire and burnt up. A poor reward
for her gallant and faithful service. The
General Combs, being private property, was
liberated with many thanks for her efficient
services.
I2 g Kelion Franklin Peddicord
The command that night, which was in-
tensely dark, marched on Corydon. We ap-
peared before Corydon early in the morning
of the 9th. The advance, then in command
of Captain Hines, moved upon the enemy in
front, met their outpost, a company of cav-
alry, and on exchanging a few shots drove
them back into town. Hines' company was
the first and Company B the next in order
for that day's march; therefore, when his
company engaged the enemy, Company B
supported him. Regiments when marching
have it so arranged that each company has
its respective days for marching at the head
of the column, it being easier to march at the
front than at the rear of a column, and thus
they change alternately.
While the advance was passing a farm-
house the proprietor was suddenly seized with
a patriotic feeling, and taking down his old
fusee deliberately fired into our line, killing
one of Hines's men. This enraged the boys,
and one of them, who had been riding by the
side of the one killed, threw himself from his
horse, cleared the enclosure at a bound, and
with a chunk of fire from out of the house, set
it on fire, leaving the patriotic gentleman in
the second story to take care of himself.
Kelion Franklin Peddicord 129
I know you have heard many wonderful
stories about our burning private property on
that raid. If any other than this house was
burnt, I am not aware of it. All other prop-
erty that I saw burning was U. S. Govern-
ment property, and that we considered our
sacred duty to destroy whenever and wher-
ever we found it, especially if we did not have
transportation for it.
When almost in sight of town we turned
off of the main approach upon a side road,
leading to the right and the rear of the town,
with the intention of flanking and getting in
the enemy's rear, while the brigade assaulted
in front.
We had not proceeded more than one-half
mile when we noticed three women standing
in a yard in front of a house, crying bitterly
and wringing their hands as though their
hearts would break. The column passed
silently and respectfully, but the silence lasted
only until they had passed the house, then you
might have heard them saying to each other,
"Look out, boys, the Yankees are near," and
soon all were closely inspecting their arms,
capping their Enfields, and arranging navies
so as to be speedily handled. Those women,
jjo Kelion Franklin Pcddicord
by their tears, informed us in a simple, but
reliable, way that the enemy was close by.
Soldiers do not know a truer sign. Anticipa-
tion of a battle and the anxiety concerning the
safety of some loved one caused those tears
to flow. This we well knew by actual ex-
perience and observation.
So it happened. We had gone scarce two
hundred yards before our line received a
terrific and well directed volley from nearly
three hundred stands of arms, wounding and
killing twelve of our column.
In an instant the line was dismounted, and
forwarding quickly into a line of battle
charged them with a yell and with great de-
termination, driving them with no little loss
from their ambuscade, with little loss to our-
selves.
While pursuing them hotly, to within a
short distance of the road in the rear of the
town, our foe unexpectedly ran into the Third
Kentucky, who had flanked the town on the
left, and to them they surrendered without
conditions. But unHl the white flag was
hoisted we never ceased firing, neither could
the Third resist the temptation of giving a
broadside to bring them to a stand. The
prisoners were taken into town by the Third.
Kelion Franklin Peddicord 131
We advanced out the Albany road, and it
was not long before we discovered a squad of
Yankees, although we remained unnoticed by
them. Company B received orders to attack
them. By advancing to the brow of the hill
we concealed ourselves behind a fence until
the enemy ascended quite near, then rising
and firing my navy, that being the signal for
B to open fire, we poured such a hot fire into
them that it caused a stampede unrivaled in
war, which I shall never forget if I should
live for a thousand years. I will wager that
"Harrison County Home Guards" can beat
the world running, get them frightened or
panic stricken.
Mounting our horses again we marched till
we arrived at the forks of the road, four miles
from town, where Hines concealed his force,
except Company B, in an orchard behind a
thick hedge. He then ordered my company
to take post in a large log stable, immediately
within the fork, with instructions to invite all
passersby in, as they arrived.
Upon concealing my men I took position
alongside of the road, and as the Yankees
came by in twos, fours, and up to companies,
hurrying to Corydon to reinforce Colonel
Jordan, the commandant, I would step out,
1 32 Kelion Franklin Peddicord
as a representative of the "Home Guards,"
and take them in charge, or rather in the
stable, disarm them gently, and send them
under guard to Captain Hines.
This deception was successfully carried on
till the firing in town had ceased, when we
started to the town with over one hundred
prisoners, which, as we confidently supposed,
was in the possession of our men. Turning
our prisoners over to the provost guard, who
had nearly seven hundred to parole, we were
soon on the road to Salem, Colonel Dick com-
manding.
As we advanced every mile had to be
strongly contested for. Militia, home
guards, and regular troops were on every hill
top, bushwhackers and armed citizens behind
every tree, and hardly a moment elapsed but
you could hear the Minie's sharp report.
Everything was in an uproar. Families de-
serted their dwellings to hide in the woods.
Yet nothing stopped us. On we galloped,
driving all obstructions from our front, enter-
ing the town of Salem some time before night,
and capturing nearly five hundred regular
soldiers, militia, home guards, bushwhackers,
and fighting citizens. It would be difficult to
say which was best represented.
Ki lion Franklin Peddicord 133
When the men had been supplied with a
variety of necessaries, such as boots, hats, etc.,
the advance left Salem, the county-seat of
Washington County, and moved out on the
road to Lexington, the county-seat of Scott
County. We stopped at a little village, four
miles from Salem, to feed and rest our
wearied horses, and to get something re-
freshing for ourselves. The main force
halted long enough in Salem to feed, and de-
stroy all military supplies, together with the
large depot buildings.
During our stay in the little burg some of
the boys went into a Dutch shoe shop and pur-
chased a number of pairs of home-made boots,
paying for them in Confederate funds.
While a portion were buying, others were
securing suitable pairs without the Dutch
woman's knowledge, who was the acting sales-
woman. She at last detected them in the act
of shoplifting, and such a cry arose as never
was heard before the most distressing and
heartbreaking cries that mortal ever gave
vent to. Our commander, on hearing the
uproar, and thinking a murder was being com-
mitted, came double-quick to the scene of
action to ascertain the cause of the sudden
alarm. On his learning what the difficulty
134 Kelion Franklin Peddicord
was he attempted to pacify the Dutch woman
by settling the amount in current funds. But
with no success. She would not listen to any-
thing; she was "forever ruined." It was one
of the most laughable scenes associated with
the raid, and one the actors will long re-
member.
As soon as our steeds were a little re-
freshed we mounted and pressed on to Lex-
ington, followed closely by the brigade. As
we moved forward there was nothing but a
succession of charges It seemed the entire
population was in arms, behind every bush the
enemy was to be found. Shots flew thick and