L. P. Brockett, The camp, the battlefield, and the hospital: or, lights and shadows of the great rebellion

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[93] toward Caney Springs, but before reaching the latter place fell in with some of Wheeler's cavalry, with whom he rode along, friendly and companionably enough. Some of them were old acquaintances, and very confidential. They were, they said, just on their way to burn a lot of Federal wagons at Lavergne and Triune, and, deeming him a good fellow well met, invited him to go with them. Thinking that there might be some chance to save the wagons, he declined the invitation, urging the pressing nature and importance of his mission as an excuse. It was soon found, however, that every avenue of escape northward was guarded, and the whole country filled with the cavalry, of whom there were, in all, about three thousand. There was nothing to do, then, but to leave the wagons to their fate and push on, which he did, and, arriving at Caney Springs, remained there over night. The next morning the cavalry began to loiter back from their marauding expedition, in squads of from fifteen to a hundred or more, and from them he learned the complete success of the enterprise. Making the acquaintance of a lieutenant, he was told that they were going at once to Harpeth Shoals, to burn a fleet of boats which was then on its way to Nashville. This determined him to abandon the idea of going to Shelbyville, and he accompanied a detachment back as far as Hart's crossroads, where they went on picket-duty at a meetinghouse by the road. Bidding them good-day, he started on alone toward Ratcliffe's. Stopping at Perryear's, he was told that Forrest was in Franklin, that the roads were all guarded, and that there was a picket just at Ratcliffe s gate. Perryear then gave him an open letter