HOW A LIEUTANANT ESCAPED.–

The following incident is connected with the flight at Sommerville, during the raid of Forrest through Tennessee:–Lieut. McIntyre, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, who was sent by Gen. Grierson with dispatches from Newcastle, eight miles east of Sommerville and twelve miles north of the La Grange, finding himself suddenly surrounded, threw away his arms and crawled under a house. From there he crept to a cotton gin near by. In the gin was a large pile of cotton seeds. The lieutenant dug a hole in it, crawled in, pulled a large basket over his head, and was thus completely ensconced, save his legs, over which he drew sufficient to conceal them, some of the seed. No sooner had he hid, than a surgeon of the Seventh Illinois also came rushing into the gin, pursued by ten rebels. He had just time to conceal himself between some boards in the loft, when the rebels came rushing up, and began to search for him. They had not seen the lieutenant enter the gin, but they were certain the surgeon was there. They put a guard at every avenue of escape, at each door and window, and then commenced the search. They went all through the building upstairs, tried upon the plank beneath which lay the surgeon, but did not find him. They peeped into every knot-hole but in vain.

Not long after it was ascertained that Forrest had returned South, and the various columns of infantry, cavalry and artillery were accordingly ordered back and went into camp.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.