Scouting with General Wheeler
by E. H. M'Knight, M'Knight, Okla.

Confederate Veteran
Volume 19, Number 2, Page 72
February 1911

I belonged to Company K, Terry's Texas Rangers, and I was the Texan mentioned as being with James B,. Nance on the scout with General Wheeler across the Pedee River, notice of which was in the VETERAN for May last. We were on Sherman's flank, and were moving to his front when we came to the Pedee River. I think the crossing we struck was the Ten Islands crossing, and the river was up, swift, and dangerous. General Wheeler had gotten an old citizen to pilot him across the ford, but the old fellow got in deep, and downstream he and horse went until the boys pulled him out. He would not try again, so General Wheeler said he was going across. About that time I rode down to let my horse drink. Nance and I were side by side as the General rode into the water alone. Nance said to me: "Let's go with him."

As we both plunged in the General looked around and saw us and said: "Boys, hold your horses' heads upstream and let them float across." So we did as he said, and got to the first island all right. We got down and wrung the water out of our clothes and boots, and the General called a council as to how we would do. We knew we were going into the Yankee lines. We got across all the channels all right and rode about a mile from the river.

It was then late in the evening, and we rode up to a farmhouse to see if we could camp with the farmer that night. The old gentleman said he would like to keep us, but he was afraid to, as the Yankees were watching him. He said he had a son hiding out there who was at home on furlough. He then told us of an old man living on the big road who was friendly to the Yankees, and there was not so much danger of his getting burned out if we were caught there. He gave us details of the place and family, so we went on and found the old man willing to let us stop for the night. There were three of the family and three negroes.

We wanted to dry our blankets and clothes, so we built a fire in the log kitchen, and Nance and I went to work to dry out while General Wheeler kept the old man and family company, as we had agreed that he should dry by the old man's fire in the main house and watch him and the women, and we would look after the negroes. We told the old man that we were Confederates, but did not tell him of what command. We could hear him giving Wheeler's Cavalry the d and lamenting that they were on the other side of the river and likely to cross as the river went down. The General would agree with him that the cavalry were mighty bad men and would rob and steal everything in sight. The old man said he would have to hide all his stuff the next day, at which Wheeler laughed and agreed with him.

About twelve o'clock a company of the 4th Alabama or 4th Tennessee Cavalry scouts, who had crossed the river up above on a ferryboat, came down the river hunting a place to get food. They stopped and called at the gate, and Wheeler told me to see who it was, so as to give him a chance to get out the back way. I had a hard time to make the captain understand that General Wheeler was at the house, for he said he left Wheeler on the other side of the river, but I finally showed him that I was a Texas Ranger by my boots and Texas spurs, and we went to the house with a detail of his men to watch me. When we got to the door, we peeped around the side and said: "Well, General Wheeler, what are you doing here?" Wheeler said, "Looking for the Yankees," and I want to tell you that you could have tied that old citizen's eyes with a cable rope.

Well, the General told the captain to put out a strong picket around the place, so we could sleep. Well, we didn't have much supper, but the breakfast was butter and eggs, ham and big, fat biscuit. About daylight Shannon's Scouts, of the Texas Rangers, came up, but they hardly had time to feed their horses before the picket reported the Yankees just down the road robbing a house, and that was the reason that Comrade Nance had to sound his bugle.

This is all as I remember it after forty six years. I would have been gratified to meet General Wheeler and Comrade Nance after the war, and often looked for the latter at our Reunions. I was under the impression that he belonged to the 4th Alabama Cavalry, which is perhaps the reason that I did not find him. I would like to hear from any surviving members of the company that came to us that night or from any of Shannon's Scouts who made the charge that morning. When some of the Yanks decided not to go any farther with Sherman to the coast, they camped around that farmhouse.