shower of rain cooled the air a little. About five o'clock in the evening when the artillery had ceased firing and only an occasional rifle-shot could be heard, we rose up in a body and moved for the edge of the woods, back far enough, as we thought, to escape any large bodies of the enemy, but to our amazement, as we came out of the heavy timber into a partially open space, we stood in the presence of a force of the vigilant enemy. A glance at their uniforms told us that they were not a part of those we had encountered at the forks of the road, as they wore dark brown, or, as the boys expressed it, butternut uniforms, and the men before us were dressed in light grey. The numbers in our front being less apparently than ours, induced some of our fellows to demand a surrender. Short and excited challenges came from both sides, succeeded by some of the wildest shooting ever done by soldiers. We were so close that from the number of shots fired it seemed a miracle that no one was hit. Sergeant H. Tipton, of Co. B, and a big rebel stood so close to each other that but a few steps separated them. Both fired and both missed.

It subsequently proved that these rebels were but the skirmishers of the 11th Tennessee Infantry, who immediately appeared on the scene with fixed bayonets, and with terrific yells charged among us, and, presto, we were prisoners of war. Not all. Two men, Jonathan Cornel and Thomas Graham, of Co. B, darted back into the woods and concealed themselves in the bushes. Two days afterward, with torn clothing and bruised bodies, they reached our lines at Cumberland Gap. Less than a year afterward, their names were on the death roll, and they were laid to rest in honored graves on the banks of the mighty Mississippi.

Published in Holmes County Republican
June 16, 1881

XVII.

Incidents of Prison Life.

Forming us in single rank they marched us up on the open ridge, where we met several regiments that were hurrying to the scene of the firing. These formed in open order and faced inward and we marched through under guard. Taking us to an open space at the edge of the forest, near the forks of the road, they formed a circle of guards around us. In a short time we were the objects of curiosity to the thousands that crowded around us. They all wanted to see the Yanks. The brigade that captured us was under the command of Colonel Rains. He was a gallant soldier and a gentleman. Captain Taneyhill's sword had been taken. Rains had it returned to him. Less than half a year after, Rains had been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and fell before the deadly fire of the Federals at Murfreesboro. During the evening we made many inquiries about the losses on both sides, but got nothing that we considered truthful.

During the two or three days succeeding, we received more reliable information. One thing we learned quite satisfactory to us, the enemy had lost more in killed and wounded than we did. Col. Vaughn, of the 3d rebel Tennessee Infantry, had a letter published in one of the Knoxville papers, setting forth the prowess of his regiment at the Tazewell fight, claiming they had lost nine killed and sixty wounded. One of their cannon, belonging to an Alabama battery was dismounted by our artillery.

The portion of the 16th that fell back toward the town, yielding the ground slowly and reluctantly, fought the enemy for hours under that