On “Lightning” receiving the necessary news a courier was dispatched post haste to the General, and soon after another. The track was also destroyed on both sides of the town, and when the General arrived all orders had been executed, destroying what U. S. stores had been found there, and burning the depot and railroad bridges.
The command moved on to Lexington that night, where, arriving about midnight, we fed and rested until morning. The “home protection” stationed there left on our approach.
At an early hour the next morning several companies of the enemy’s forces marched into town, without knowing who was there. None of our troops was in the town at the time, but General Morgan, with a small bodyguard, the rest of his men being encamped near by feeding. Both parties were struck with surprise, and for some moments all was confusion. However, the General did not long hesitate before he sent a courier to us to come to his assistance.
Mounting our horses we soon galloped to his relief, though too late to have a tilt with the Northmen, for before we could report they had suddenly disappeared. With such an opportunity, what simpletons they were not to attempt a capture and perhaps be able to carry off our General. Had they been men of nerve they might have accomplished that which would have secured them a brilliant place in Yankee history. Yet they lacked the pluck.
Receiving our instructions the Fourteenth moved off in the direction of Vernon, the county-seat of Jennings County, through which runs the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, and also a railroad running from Columbus, a point on the Jeffersonville and Indianapolis Railroad, to Madison on the Ohio.
Vernon was reached in the afternoon, where a large force had collected. We deeply impressed them with the idea that we intended to give them battle, but this was only done to draw their attention from certain military supplies, railroad and railroad bridges, the depot, etc., that we designed destroying.
We then continued our march to Versailles, making sad havoc with all railroads and public property, and at the same time our detachments were operating on each flank, by which the Yankees were deceived as to our whereabouts, reporting us very often at as many as twenty towns almost at once. When we reached Versailles the inhabitants made a grand mistake in taking us for Federal soldiers, and not until we were leaving did they learn that we were Rebels. One old lady declared she knew it, had known it all the time. But I am afraid not, if I am to be guided by her actions and from the bountiful way she provided our men with such a variety of nice edibles.
One mile from town a force in ambush fired on the advance, and then ran, we after them full-tilt, giving them fits every jump until the road was entirely clear.
The many towns between Versailles and Hamilton, Ohio, could not be mentioned under several pages, and besides I cannot call them all to mind. Yet I do remember that every town, day, and hour had its stirring adventures. The command was almost worn out, and dead for want of sleep and rest. Yet on and on we marched. Soon Hamilton, Big Miami River, the canal and railroad were in sight, and while descending the hill a magnificent view was before us. The valley beyond possessed a great variety of beautiful scenery; the town itself was very handsome and beautiful; and the canal, river, and railroad gave the finishing touch to as grand a picture as nature affords. We remained but a short time in Hamilton, yet long enough to exchange some of our wearied horses for some fresher ones. Then passing through we halted to feed beyond the city limits.
Soon the column was moving, and during the night’s march passed within seven miles of the Queen City, where a detachment, previously instructed, drove their outpost in, causing unbounded excitement in “Porkopolis.” It was without doubt the darkest of all nights. The troops were almost exhausted for want of sleep. Many of them during the night, while asleep, wandered off on some of the many side roads, notwithstanding the officers’ vigilance to keep all awake by riding from the head of their companies to the rear and back again, and constantly urging them, if they loved their country’s cause, to keep each other awake. Oftentimes I have seen on that raid both man and horse nodding together, and at such times the horse staggering like one intoxicated. The Little Miami and railroad to Columbus were crossed before the day appeared.