When I was marched back to the tent, a mile off, I got a good view of Huntersville; and if a sheep-skin, just taken off, were spread on the ground, with the tail southwest, the head northeast, it would convey a ver)' good idea of the shape of the valley in which the town is situated. The mountains rise on all sides, leaving but four gaps, through which pass the roads. It is impossible for any one to come into or go out of the town without going through these passes, or climbing the rough mountains. The town contains a few old frame buildings, one church, now used as a hospital, (in fact, every house almost was a hospital at this time,) also a brick hotel, now head-quarters, a brick courthouse and a jail, two-stories, side by side, and not unlike.
In the valley, and up the mountain-slopes, were camps ; and every day new men were coming in. Alabama had two or three regiments; Tennessee had the Seventh, Fourteenth, and Sixteenth ; Virginia, the Forty-second and others, — I could not get the number ; Georgia, the Sixteenth and others, — number not ascertained ; also the Rockbridge Cavalry, and a company of Mississippians, mounted as Rangers.. In all, my estimate of General Lee's forces amounted to over eleven thousand men. This knowledge, and the fact that General Reynolds had but a handful at Cheat Mountain, with his works unfinished, made me fear that Lee might advance immediately ; but, thank God, our capture had this one good result, of delaying his advance for more than six weeks.
Both Clark and myself had refused to answer questions in regard to our numbers and our artillery force, except 'that we admitted having seen some ten or twelve large guns, and a few howitzers, but knew nothing of the number of infantry, beyond " some ten regiments which we saw on the road."...
To add to our misery, two lousy Georgians, who had been found asleep on picket, were put in prison with us, where they cried and whimpered like sick girls, day and night, for fear of being shot. Thank heaven, the Sixteenth Georgia were ordered on, and we once more changed camp. We inquired what State our new regiment was from, and were delighted to learn it was the Sixteenth Tennessee, Colonel Savage commanding, and that it was now the only regiment in HuntersviUe. We were put into the guard-tent, along with three or four West Virginia men, who were charged with disloyalty.
Many unpleasant restrictions were removed. We could talk ; we could stand outside the tent, and enjoy various other small liberties. But this state of things did not last long. A mean little lawyer came around and got the supposed Union men released. Having nothing further to do, he must hurry up Clark's case before the authorities. 'Squire Skeen was prosecuting attorney for the State...
" How uncertain men are ! " said the General, thoughtfully.
Mr. Skeen then questioned and cross-questioned me in regard to Clark. There were two men, strangers, writing down my answers. Several men were examined who had known Clark at home, for years ; and, with one voice, they said he was, at home, a steady, honest man, intelligent enough, but a strong Union man, and they had no doubt could do, and might have done, great harm to the Confederate cause. After this examination, I was taken over to the tent, accompanied by General Donelson's adjutant, whose name I think was Elliott. He was formerly connected with one of the Nashville papers ; — I am not certain in regard to the name.
The moon was at its full, and had just rolled up over the eastern mountains, lighting up the valley with a pale glow, almost sufficient to read by. When I reached the tent, Clark asked me where I had been. I told him Skeen had brought some strangers there, and I had been examined as to my knowledge of him.
" They are going to kill us, Fletcher, — me, at any rate."
" Oh, no ! don't get gloomy ; they will not dare to kill us."
No comments:
Post a Comment