During the next day Camp Dennison was threatened but not attacked. Several hundred wagons were found near by and burnt, as well as a large quantity of other stores. With the advance Company B was again the first, and early in the morning was detached to cut the railroad.
On reaching the scene of operations a detail was advanced toward Dennison, who met the enemy’s outpost near a bridge, and, after a sharp and well-fought skirmish, drove the Yankees away, capturing several of their horses fully equipped.
We had scarcely time to put two large ties into a cattle gap like the letter X and to cut the telegraph wire, before we saw a train of passenger cars coming like a whirlwind around a curve. They certainly had seen our main column and were trying to get away. At the first intimation of her approach we disappeared into a cornfield immediately alongside. The train shot past like a blazing meteor, and the next thing we saw was a dense cloud of steam above which flew large timbers. Our next sight startled our nerves, for there lay the monster floundering in the field like a fish out of water, with nothing but the tender attached. Her coupling must have broken, for the passenger carriages and express were still on the track, several yards ahead. Over three hundred raw recruits were on board, bound for Camp Dennison. They came tumbling and rolling out in every way imaginable.
Company B was in line ready for action, when we discovered they were unarmed, except for a few having side-arms. All submitted without a single shot, and were sent under guard to the General.
Examining and closely inspecting the prize, orders were received to set her on fire. Just before leaving a locomotive came down from Dennison to see what had caused the train’s delay; but when the engineer discovered our men galloping to his rear to intercept his retreat, he put his engine back at her utmost speed and escaped capture.
There were but two persons hurt at the above break up, and they were the engineer and the fireman. The former was a little scalded and the latter had a bone fractured. Permission was given to several of his friends to carry him to the nearest house and liberty granted them to take care of him.
Soon we were again at the head of the advance, after an hour’s absence, perhaps. Our main force passed to the left of Georgetown several miles, but the advance, according to instructions, made a flank march and went to the county-seat of Brown County, where we halted to dine, feed, and see the “Lion.” We overtook the command at ten o’clock that night and took our position in front.
The next day we crossed the canal leading from Portsmouth to Cleveland, and the Scioto River, marching through Jackson about midday, dispersing a large force of Ohio militia who were guarding the railroad to Ironton and burning depot buildings, railroad and other property belonging to the so-called “Uncle Sam.”
At four in the evening we entered the town of Chester in Meigs County, after great difficulty. Every bridge had been destroyed in our front, and at every pass and ravine the road was blockaded and defended by troops in concealment, but we never failed to dislodge and drive them confusedly away. A large number of “blockaders” were captured and, accompanied by a guard, were compelled to clear away the obstructions that many of them had assisted in making. Poor fellows, they felt their time had come, so badly were they frightened. They would no more halt when we were after them than they could fly. Oftentimes the boys would dismount and go in pursuit of these bushwhackers and command them to halt, but on they ran, like some one that had escaped from the deaf and dumb asylum, never stopping until the boys laid violent hands upon them, holding them fast by main force. Even then they would strive hard to get away, just as some wild animals would do. At times it was difficult to keep the boys from shooting them down for such actions.
Halting in Chester for the arrival of the General and forces, we had a delightful time, certain delicacies having been prepared by the ladies for their gallant and patriotic defenders.