main work in most brilliant style, and were the only troops that effected a lodgment within the defenses. The fact that the 11th Cavalry alone lost eighty-six in killed, wounded, and missing, more men than were lost by any other brigade of the command, proved conclusively that the success of the troops under Brown was not the result of lack of courage or of determined and desperate fighting on the part of their opponents, but was a result of their own gallant and persistent fighting. The rebel position proving too strong to be held, the command, after most stubborn fighting, was withdrawn, but not until all its ammunition had been expended. On the retreat the 11th constituted the rear guard, and next day skirmished with the enemy's advance, and the day following the battle was renewed near Sandy Mountain, where the regiment became cut off from the division and surrounded by a body of cavalry numbering about 4,000, under Cerro Gordo' Williams. After a very sanguinary conflict of over an hour, the enemy closing in upon the regiment, Col. Mason, determined on fight before surrender, gallantly led the regiment to the charge and succeeded, after a bloody hand-to-hand encounter, in cutting through the rebel lines, punishing the enemy so severely that he abandoned any pursuit. This brilliant affair was not accomplished without loss, which included the gallant Mason, a noble soldier; he was mortally wounded in the charge and died next day."

For its gallant conduct in this affair the regiment received the thanks of Gen. Burbridge in general orders. It was found impracticable to carry off the body of Colonel Mason, and he was buried by his command in a lonely spot near the place where he fell.

"Slowly and sadly we laid him down,

From the field of his fame fresh and gory;
We carved not a line, we raised not a stone,
But we left him alone in his glory."

A correspondent furnished the following:

"I hereby transmit a statement of our raid under Gen. Burbridge into Western Virginia. The command, consisting of some three thousand mounted infantry and a like number of cavalry, left Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, Monday, September 19. Six pieces of artillery, light mountain howitzers, accompanied us; rations and implements for tearing up railroad track were packed on mules. The expedition, though intending to be secret, still was so well known that the rebels made every preparation to meet us. When the command reached Salyersville, Kentucky, a woman mounted an excellent horse and sped on with the knowledge certain of our strength and whereabouts. The rebels thought we would enter Virginia through Pound Gap, and I think we should have done so had not they, in anticipation, blasted the rocks on each side of the road, completely obstructing it, and which would have taken a great deal of time to remove. We moved farther to the north, crossed into Buchanan and Tazewell counties, thence to the salt works near Abingdon at a place named Saltville. We met small forces of the enemy for nearly the whole route after leaving Piketon, skirmishing and driving them at every point. On the 30th of September the 11th Michigan took the advance, and about one hundred were dismounted and sent forward to sustain the advance guard, which had become hotly engaged. The rebs had a strong position, with the river between them and our forces, but a charge over a mountain to the left flanked them, and drove them in confusion. Sergeant Charles Johnson, Company 'M,' was killed, and two men wounded. At 10 o'clock P. M., we again met their pickets, and had one man, Sergeant W. H. Brownwell, Company L, mortally wounded. About 12 o'clock we met the regiment again. Here we could fire only as we saw the flash of the guns. After a few volleys the rebels retreated, and we encamped on the battle-ground, which was the farm of Gen. Rees P. Bowen, of the rebel service. Our 7,000 animals fared of the great plenty we here found, and our boys made themselves at home in the General's well furnished house. Seymour Skinner, Company H,' was killed, and Captains Wells and Buck slightly wounded in the skirmish at this place. Saturday the 37th Kentucky took the advance, and lost one killed and several wounded, but notwithstanding all the obstructions and opposition, we passed Laurel Gap, the key to the whole position, about midnight. Had the rebels ever calculated that we were able to sustain ourselves after passing this gap, I very much doubt whether we would have been allowed to pass it with so little resistance, as it is only five miles from the salt works. Sunday the road was skirmished from camp to the works of the enemy. Efforts were made by them to hinder our advance, by throwing shell from the forts, but in spite

6

of them we advanced to within a mile of the village, dismounted, and prepared to carry the works a la infantry. The attack was made at three points. The 3d brigade, Col. Charles Hanson, 37th Kentucky, commanding, took the right; the 1st brigade, Gen. Hobson of the 4th brigade, the center; and Col. R. W. Ratliffe, 12th Ohio, the left. The duty of the 4th brigade, consisting of the 12th Ohio, 11th Michigan, and 5th U. S. Colored Cavalry, was to charge a mountain and capture or silence the batteries placed upon it. The peculiar position of the salt works, one of the strongest in the whole Confederacy, renders it impossible for an enemy to hold any one of the mountains without artillery, as each hillside is commanded by batteries from the others. The salt works are in the valley and the hills seem to encircle it. The strength of the position needs only to be known to show what a desperate undertaking was before us. We were ordered forward and forward we went, with the 11th Michigan on the right, 12th Ohio in the center, and the colored troops on the left; in the face of a galling and murderous fire from rifle pits and breastworks, though solid shot and shell were falling all around, charged the 4th brigade. With a cheer they rushed down the hillside, and hand to hand fought the enemy in their intrenched ravine. Then up the hillside, which seemed ablaze with the flash of musketry, charging over rifle pits, through briars, brush, corn, and logs, we pushed the terrorstricken foe till we reached their batteries. The rebels had taken great precaution to remove their guns a few minutes before, and after a desperate fight of three hours we carried the hill, planting our colors on their works.

"We were sure of victory, and had the other brigades done their part as well as we, we should have captured these formidable and valuable works. But at sun-down, being out of ammunition, the forces were withdrawn, and knowing the enemy to have been heavily re-inforced during the day by Breckenridge, we commenced falling back immediately. We found the road at Laurel Gap so nearly destroyed that it took till morning to pass the ford. Lieut. Burgher. Company C,' was mortally wounded and left. Our loss here was severe, as was also that of the 12th Ohio and the Negro regiment. The loss of the brigade during the whole raid can not be less than 350, killed, wounded and missing.

"Tuesday morning, October 4th, while passing over Big Sandy Mountain, our regiment being rear guard, was attacked by Colonel Witchar's infantry (lying in ambush), and a regiment of cavalry. The rebels, elated by their success, and inspired by the hopes of large spoil, and believing our forces to be demoralized, came on with a cheer; but with the coolness of veterans, companies E,' 'K,' 'G,' and 'B,' Major Wise commanding, dismounted and held them in check till the enemy closing in with so great force, the regiment (every other man) was dismounted and sent to the support of the rear guard. Our gallant Lieutenant Colonel, James B. Mason, assumed the command, and the fight became general. The rebels were in bushes and concealed behind rocks, while our boys were in the road and utterly ignorant of their whereabouts or numbers except from their firing. Ammunition was fast giving out and men began to falter. One word of cheer from the noble Mason and again they were firm as a rock. Those Spencer carbines were our salvation. Colonel Mason sent forward for more help, and scarce had the messenger gone when he fell mortally wounded. Had this occurred in the early part of the action, our defeat would have been the result, but with his fall ceased the fighting. A brave man has fallen, the loss to us is irreparable. The regiment mourns him as a brother or as a father, for he was the idol of his men. Search the ranks of the Union army and you cannot find a nobler officer, truer soldier, warmer patriot. Let Michigan mourn him, for he was worthy the noblest tribute she can give him. The conduct of officers and men was praiseworthy, and such as sustains the high name which Michigan soldiers have always won. The whole force engaged could not have exceeded 2,000, though the rebels claim 400 killed, 300 wounded, 2,000 prisoners, among which are 160 officers." The regiment arrived at Lexington on the 19th of October, 1864, after a wearisome march in which it had suffered many privations and hardships. On the 29th it proceeded to Mt. Sterling and encamped.

From the commencement of its service up to this time the 11th had lost: Died in action or of wounds 11, of disease 60, wounded in action 49, missing in action 22, and 73 in prisoners.

In November the regiment was employed mainly in clearing that section of the country of guerrillas, and was engaged in skirmishes with them at Hazel Green November 9th, McCormick's Farm November 10th, Morristown November 13th, State Creek November 14th, and at Mt. Sterling November

1

16th; and on the 17th it was ordered to Crab Orchard, arriving there on the 20th, when it joined its division and moved to Cumberland Gap, East Tennessee. From there it marched to Clinch River, and had a sharp fight on the 28th, and then proceeded to Bean Station December 1st. The next day it made a scout to Morriston, Russellville, Whitesboro and Cobb's Ford, skirmishing at the first two named points on the 2d, at Cobb's Ford on the 3d, and on the 4th it returned to Bean Station, and was engaged in scouting and foraging until the 11th, when it moved in command of Lieut. Colonel Chas. E. Smith, with the command of Gen. Stoneman, on the raid into North Carolina. The regiment, with another of its brigade, charged into Bristol on the 13th, taking a large number of prisoners, and capturing a large amount of the enemy's stores. Passing through Paperville, Va., on the same day, it arrived at Abingdon on the 15th, having skirmished with the enemy at both places, and the next day fought Vaughn's brigade during the entire day, routing him and capturing all his artillery, and taking 250 prisoners, reaching Marion during that night. The command having been engaged at Mt. Airy, entered Wytheville, at which place a large amount of stores was taken and destroyed, the regiment proceeding to Max Meadow Station, being ten miles further in that direction than had been reached by any other Union troops. There it destroyed a large arsenal, returning the same night to a point three miles south of Wytheville, and reached Marion on the 17th, when a detachment of the 11th, then forming a part of the brigade of Colonel Brown, coming upon the enemy under Breckenridge, charged his cavalry and opened the engagement, which continued with much vigorous fighting for 36 hours, during which repeated and daring charges were made by both sides, and the enemy, after the most determined fighting, fell back in disorder across the mountains into North Corolina. A detachment of the 11th Michigan, numbering 120 officers and men, under the command of Captain E. C. Miles, held a bridge during the whole engagement which was of much importance, being the key to the position held by the Union troops. Captain George B. Mason, while gallantly attempting to reinforce Captain Miles with a squadron of the regiment, was mortally wounded. The bridge was stubbornly held under a severe fire from a heavy force on the opposite side of the river, and, in addition to the loss of Captain Mason, Lieutenant Davis and five enlisted men nobly fell in its defense. For this important service, the detachment of Captain Miles received the highest praise from General Stoneman, and the regiment was thanked in the general orders of the department commander for its meritorious and valuable services in the battle of Marion.

The command, with the regiment in advance, then made a rapid march to Saltville, Va., arriving there on the 20th, and, after a severe engagement of twelve hours, the place was taken, with a large amount of supplies, and considerable artillery. After destroying all the salt works and the captured property, the command moved in the direction of Pound Gap, passing through Jonesboro and Morristown, Va., skirmishing almost the entire distance, arrived at that point on the 26th, having been engaged at Clinch River, Morristown, and McCormick's Farm.

Three-fourths of the men having become dismounted, they were sent on foot down the line of the Big Sandy River, the others crossing the mountains. The 11th then proceeded towards Lexington, Ky., arriving there January 2d,

1865.

A correspondent wrote as follows:

“Thinking that a detailed account of the late great raid of Generals Stoneman and Burbridge into East Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia might not be uninteresting to your numerous readers, especially as a regiment of the Soldier Citizens' of Michigan participated in the fatigues, hardships and honors of the same to a conspicuous extent, I am pursuaded to communicate the same to your columns in as brief space as possible, as the leading features in the matter have doubtless been furnished you by the regular telegraphic dispatches some days in advance of this. "On the 30th of October last the 11th Michigan Cavalry left Lexington, Ky., for Mount Sterling, where they arrived on the 31st, and established their camp, supposing that the regiment had settled down for winter quarters. But on the next day, Nov. 1st, the regiment was divided up into detachments as follows, for the protection of the eastern part of Kentucky against the numerous bands of guerrillas and robbers who infest the mountains of this part of the State, robbing and murdering the peaceable citizens without mercy; at the same time claiming the name and protection of Confederate soldiers. Their atrocities had assumed such proportions that Gen. S. B. Burbridge, commanding the district of Kentucky, issued an order making it a military offence, with severe punishment, for an officer or private soldier to take prisoners among them, or in any way to respect them as regular soldiers in the Confederate service-thus substantially declaring war against them under the black flag, which military order is still in full force and effect. Companies 'F' and M,' under command of Capt. D. D. Buck, of Company F, were sent to Flemingsburgh. Companies 'A' and 'C' under command of Captain E. C. Miles, of Company C, were ordered to Hazel Green, and Company I,' under command of Captain George, was sent to Owensville, and the remainder of the regiment, under command of Major Charles E. Smith, was ordered to remain at Mt. Sterling for the protection of that place, and to scout the surrounding country whenever their services might be needed. All of the detachments did efficient service, taking many of the guerrillas, and executing them under Gen. Burbridge's order, and guarding a front of over seventy miles from depredations and invasions by the enemy.

On the 18th of November, Major

mand for Crab Orchard immediately.

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received orders to march with his comHe issued orders calling in the different detachments, and moved with the squadrons that were left with him at Mount Sterling early on the morning of the 19th. Nothing out of the usual routine of marching transpired between this place and Crab Orchard, where he arrived on the morning of the 21st, and was joined by the detachments from Hazel Green, Owensville and Flemingsburgh. Here we remained all day, drawing forage for our horses, and receiving commissary and quartermaster's supplies from Camp Nelson.

"We here joined the forces of Gen. Burbridge, about 4,000 strong, composed of cavalry and mounted infantry, which he had gathered together from all parts of his department, in a few days. The troops were under the immediate command of Col. S. B. Brown of the 11th Michigan Cavalry, Gen. Burbridge and staff pushing forward in advance of the division, or in the rear, as his duties might call him.

"We arrived at Cumberland Gap on the 24th, when Gen. Burbridge organized his forces into three brigades as follows:

"1st Brigade-Consisting of all the cavalry of the division, Col. S. B. Brown, 11th Michigan Cavalry, commanding.

"2d Brigade-Col. Buckly, 54th Kentucky Mounted Infantry, commanding. "3d Brigade-I. F. Wade, 5th U. S. Colored Cavalry, commanding.

"Being thus organized, and having rested and refreshed ourselves from the fatigues of the march from Crab Orchard to Cumberland Gap, we resumed the march at an early hour on the morning of the 25th for Bean Station, situated in what is known as the Richland Valley, on the road leading from Knoxville, Tenn., to southwestern Virginia. We arrived at the ford of Clinch river about 9 o'clock A. M. of November 20th, where we found the river so swollen and the current so rapid from the recent heavy storms as to be impossible to ford it. Consequently we were obliged to build a raft to ferry the men and horse equipments across, driving the horses into the river and swimming them. Here Capt. George, Co. 'I,' 11th Michigan Cavalry, in command of a detachment of about 100 picked men from different squadrons of the regiment was sent across in advance of the balance of the troops to take possession of and hold a gap in the mountains which we would be obliged to pass through. He had a slight skirmish with a small force of the enemy, driving him from the mountain and killing a Captain Hipsie, a noted guerrilla chief in these parts, and mortally wounded one of his men. Captain George met with no loss. The process of crossing the river was tedious, but finally effected about 12 o'clock on the night of the first of December, the whole of the force having been crossed without loss. The command moved on immediately after crossing, and arrived at Bean Station on the 2d of

December at 2 o'clock P. M., where we remained foraging the country and occasionally scouting and skirmishing with the enemy until the 12th, when, having been furnished with six days' rations, and joined by Generals Stoneman and Gillam with a force of about 1,200 men, we again resumed the march. But this time we changed our course, and instead of marching southward, moved eastward toward southwestern Virginia, where the field of our military operations lay. Our march was rapid, and evidenced the zeal and determination of our generals to outstrip the rebel forces in East Tennessee, under command of Vaughn and other rebel officers, which was suecessfully accomplished and to which we owe much of our success which crowned the expedition. Gen. Gillam's brigade had the advance. We arrived at Rogersville about dusk, where we went into camp and remained three hours for the purpose of allowing the men to cook their supper and feed their horses upon the forage which the rebels, by their industry, had gathered here in large quantities for transportation to the salt works and to Richmond, for which they will please accept our thanks. After our three hours were up we were again in the saddle and rapidly marching on our way. Gen. Gillam still had the advance, and skirmished with the enemy all night. We arrived at Kingsport early in the morning of the 12th and found the rebels, with some force, ready to dispute our passage over the north fork of the Holston River. But they were not maneuvered. A force of 'blue coats' succeeded in getting in their rear and routing them in a panic, and causing them to fly in every direction. Our loss was only one man killed, while the enemy lost 20 killed, several wounded, and quite a number of officers and from 75 to 85 men taken prisoners. Among the officers captured was Col. Dick Morgan, brother of the late Gen. John Morgan, horse thief to his highness Jeff. Davis, for the state of Kentucky.

"We crossed the river about 3 o'clock, P.M., Gen. Burbridge in the advance, the 1st brigade having the advance of the column. We moved immediately to Bristol, which place we reached at 3 o'clock A. M. of the 14th. We charged the town, capturing a large number of prisoners, five locomotives, two trains of cars, (belonging to the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad), and a large supply of quartermaster and commissary stores, and fixed artillery and rifle ammunition belonging to the Confederate government. The large and commodious railroad depot at this place was stored full of tax in kind,' collected by the rebel revenue agent, and awaiting shipment to Richmond, which, together with its contents, was burned to the ground, which will be heavily felt by the Johnnies.' We also burned the Court House and all public buildings here, as they were used by the enemy as store-houses. We here found that we had flanked Gen. Vaughn, who had been straining every nerve to get in our advance and join Gen. Breckenridge at Saltville, and that he was trying to get around us by the valley road, running south of this place some four miles. Col. Brown was ordered to take his command and cut him off. Getting in Vaughn's front at Paperville, Col. Brown took a commanding position and awaited his coming, but Vaughn, learning of our whereabouts, took a road running still further south, and intersecting the Saltville road at Abingdon; but we were not to be out-maneuvered in this way, and learning Vaughn's intention, we abandoned our position and started at 4 o'clock P. M. by the most direct road for Abingdon, at which place we arrived at about 11 o'clock P. M., and entered the city whose sacred soil had never been trod by the feet of armed Yankees before, with but little resistance. A portion of the command pushed on two miles beyond Abingdon, and took up a position effectually cutting Vaughn off from the salt works and compelling him to take a new road in the direction of Wytheville. At Abingdon we also captured a large quantity of quartermas ter and commissary stores for the rebel army, and vast stores of tax in kind,' awaiting shipment to the rebel capital; also, one piece of artillery, a good quality of ammunition (both artillery and musketry), one train of cars, one focomotive, and about fifty prisoners. Here, as at Bristol, we burned the railroad depot and other buildings, also all the public buildings in the city, including the Court House, which was one of the finest structures of the kind I ever saw. The fire communicated from these buildings to private buildings, destroying much of the city, which was unintentional, as we did not wish or intend to destroy private property.

"At daylight on the morning of the 15th, Gen. Gillam moved out with his brigade in pursuit of Vaughn, and at 11 o'clock A. M. the whole force was in motion in the same direction. At early daylight on the morning of the 16th, Gen. Gillam came up with the rebels at Seven-mile Ford (a ford over the middle fork of the Holston river) capturing 75 of his rear guard. At Marion the rebels made a stand, but were speedily put to flight, being unable to withstand the impetuous sabre charge of our troops, Gen. Gillam having been joined by Col. Brown's brigade of cavalry. Here com menced a running fight, which lasted from Marion to Wytheville, a distance of twenty-four miles. The rebels had seven pieces of heavy field artillery, to save which