Kelion Franklin Peddicord of Quirk's Scouts, Morgan's Kentucky Cavalry, C. S. A.

by India W. P. Logan

To mention all of our actions would be to write a voluminous history. Such a purpose I have not the mind nor the time to undertake, and if I had you would not, I fear, have sufficient patience to follow my meanderings. I will only “touch and go.”

At one time, being advised by a scout that the garrison stationed at Carthage had crossed a large foraging party to the south bank of the Cumberland, we quickly mounted and started in that direction. The outpost which had been pushed forward in case of a surprise was soon discovered on a distant hilltop. A halt was ordered, preparatory to making a charge on horse. This was contrary to our usual custom, as we generally dismounted to fight. It was plainly seen that the enemy outnumbered us, there being upward of thirty, while our number was scarce twenty-five. But in imagination we were much more.

Dismounting to tighten our saddle girths, buttoning up our “faded grays,” and with everything closely rigged, we again mounted and advanced at a brisk canter. We were not perceived until within gunshot. We hoped to close on them before they could form, but although they showed some confusion at our rapid advance, the commanding officer was an old veteran, keeping his men well in hand and pretty steady, and much to our surprise and without our consent gave the command to fire when we were but ten yards distant. And yet the greatest wonder to all was that none received a hurt. They were infantry, without a second shot unless they reloaded, and it was not in our program to give them that advantage, so they came to the position of “charge bayonets,” while we reined our horses at a respectful distance beyond their reach. We presented “navies” with the command “Surrender, and ground arms!” which was instantly done, they perceiving our advantage over them.

Putting the prisoners under the protection of some of the company en route to camp, we thought a further little venture might be interesting as well as profitable. On descending into the valley leading into the river we could see trains of wagons guarded by infantry scattered over the various farms, gathering forage.

Seeing some half a dozen wagons on the nearest plantation with only a small guard, we clapped spurs and went, helter skelter, right into their midst, without saying so much as “By your leave, gentlemen.” Not a shot was fired, so much were they surprised and frightened. Taking their guns and putting the prisoners in the wagons with pistols unpleasantly near to each driver’s head, we moved off at a pace that would rival an express train, before the “Webs” had time to come to the rescue. We were very certain they could not catch us; infantry never did. Liberty was soon in view, and not long after we had the pleasure of turning our spoils and prisoners over to the General.

At another time, while scouting in the vicinity of “old Rosey,” we charged a large wagon-train out on a foraging expedition. They had a guard much too numerous for us to capture, but we successfully ran twenty of their wagons off in charge of their drivers, who were pressed into service, and, though hotly pursued by a larger force, carried them safely to camp.

After no little hot skirmishing, sometimes we could be found on the banks of the Cumberland between Gallatin and Carthage attacking gun-boats; at other times, chasing the enemy down by the Hermitage; then at Murfreesboro fighting with Rosecrans’s outpost, or pursuing the enemy’s cavalry and frequently being pursued ourselves by forces more than our size. Very often we caused trains to lay over at way stations by disconnecting the rails, and thus secured a variety of “Shoulder-strapped gentry” in connection with other articles of value. When the brigade accompanied us we had always the post of honor—the van.

Not few were the skirmishes on such occasions, for then we were a more saucy and formidable band, knowing that our General was in supporting distance. No slight barrier turned us back when the boys were all along. During the winter’s campaign we twice gave up Liberty to the enemy so that we could take position on Snow’s Hill, two and a half miles in our rear, which nature had strongly fortified.

At the first engagement, after a severe contest, we repulsed and drove them almost to their main lines in great disorder. The second ended not so handsomely for us. By a flank movement, with superior numbers, they compelled us to withdraw. But at neither engagement was the General or Colonel Duke with us, and to this our failure may be laid.

We were commanded by Colonel Gano of the Third and Colonel Breckinridge of the Ninth, and it was by them arranged that when the division under General Stanley was advancing upon us that we were to fall steadily back to Snow Hill and there give him fight. We were to act the part of seeming to skirmish with him and, if possible, draw him into our position. When that was accomplished we were to take post on our extreme right and front and watch them to keep them from flanking us.