On the 7th day of June, the regiment again crossed the Cumberland river and marched to Monticello where it had some fighting. On the 9th, when returning, the Seventh, O. V. C., being the rear guard, was followed by the enemy and attacked at West’s farm, at which place a severe fight ensued in which the Seventh lost several men in killed and wounded.
On the morning of the 10th, a detachment from the Seventh of 150 picked men and officers as follows: Capt. R. C. Rankin, commanding the detachment, Capt. Warren, Lts. Carr, Ketterman, Rich, Shuler, and Srofe, left Somerset and joined Col. Sanders at Mt. Vernon. A day or two was spent in making preparations for a raid. Everything being ready, on the morning of the 18th we took up our line of march, crossing the Cumberland river at Williamsburg, thence over Jelico mountains to Wartsburg where we captured 105 prisoners, they being utterly surprised, having no knowledge of our movements until we were upon them.
We also captured a supply train and destroyed a large amount of ordinance, Q. M. and C. S. stores.
This being the point from which Gen. Pegram drew his supplies, he being stationed at this time on the Cumberland river in front of Gen. Carter’s forces.
The prisoners being all paroled, their arms destroyed, we moved on toward Kingston.
Considerable skirmishing occurred with the advance, when we made a sudden move to the left, crossed the Clinch river and moved out toward Lenoir’s Station.
When within one mile of this place, we suddenly came upon a rebel camp at daylight capturing their guns, a battery complete. The number of prisoners captured there and at the Station were 132. We burned the depot which was well filled with munitions of war of every kind and description.
Here I will relate an incident that took place: As the column moved by the Station, owing to the bursting of shells and the explosion of powder in the burning building, the command was compelled to take the fields to avoid danger. Passing a man plowing corn with a fine mule, he said, “that is one of your Yankee tricks, is it?” Yes, said a soldier with a worn out horse, “and I will show you another.” So dismounting, he put his saddle on the mule and left him his jaded horse.
Being now on the Virginia and East Tennessee Railroad, we commenced the destruction of it by tearing up the rails, burning all the culverts and bridges.
Reaching Knoxville after night, we moved around to the north side of the city and attacked the place in the morning.