General, with his command, variously estimated from six to ten thousand troops, and fought him all day, and repulsed him severely at night.

On the 17th instant the siege of Knoxville commenced. For several days parts of General Shackelford's command were upon all sides of the town. The gallant General Sanders, who fell mortally wounded while commanding one of the outposts, commanded one division in his corps. About the sixth day of the siege, Shackelford was placed in command of all the forts, six in number, and all the forces on the south side of the river. At the latter place he had two desperate engagements with the enemy of Hood's division, and defeated him each time; immediately after which the siege was raised.

Shackelford was ordered, with his cavalry corps, to follow Longstreet. He pursued the enemy to Bean's Station, skirmishing and fighting with his rear every day.

On the 14th of December, Longstreet, with his whole army, moved against Shackelford, who was at Bean's Station, with about four thousand soldiers. The battle commenced about two o'clock P. M., and

continued until after night had set in. Our forces possessed every advantage in position, but the enemy had at least five men to our one. The fighting was desperate. The enemy acknowledged a loss of eight hundred killed and wounded, including one General wounded. The Federal loss was about two hundred. They skirmished all the day following, and, on the night of the 15th, the Federals were ordered back to Blain's Cross-roads.

On the morning of the 16th instant, General Shackelford, on leave of absence obtained from General Burnside, left for his home in Kentucky, having remained in the field twelve days after permission had been granted him to leave his command.

When the General arrived at his home, he found his widowed mother, then seventy-four years old, in a helpless condition. He also had four small motherless children. The condition of all was such as to impress him with the feeling that it was his duty to quit the army and take care of his mother and children. He accordingly sent his resignation to Washington, with the reasons of resignation, and they were considered satisfactory. Accordingly, on the 18th of

January, 1864, the President accepted the resignation of General Shackelford; and thus has ended, for the present, the military career of one who has made for himself a name and a place deep in the hearts of thousands of loyal people in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, and Ohio.

CHAPTER X.

DOLONEL B. T. JACOB, OF THE NINTH KENTUCKY CAVALRY AND LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY—A HEROINE AND DAUGHTER OF BENTON-THE BIRTH OF COLONEL JACOB-HIS EARLY CHARACTER-PERILOUS JOURNEY TO CALIFORNIACOLONEL JACOB AND GENERAL FREMONT IN CALIFORNIA-RETURN TO THE STATES-MARRIAGE-ILL HEALTH-IN MISSOURI-UNITES WITH THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-A RULING ELDER-HIS CHARACTER-ELECTED A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE-DESERTS THE BRECKINRIDGE PARTY-ON THE COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL RELATIONS-SPEECHES-RE-ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 1861-HE IS STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THE UNION-ENTERS THE MILITARY SERVICE-AT RICHMOND-FIGHT AT CLAY VILLAGE-A MOST EXCITING FIGHT AT LAWRENCEBURG-COLONEL JACOB WOUNDED-EXCITING SCENE ON HIS RETURN TO HIS REGIMENT-ENGAGEMENT ON 10TH OF MARCH, 1863, WITH MORGAN'S ADVANCE-HIS PURSUIT OF MORGAN THROUGH KENTUCKY, INDIANA, AND OHIO-ELECTION AS LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY-HIS SPEECHES.

ARLY in the month of November, 1861, the

EAR

writer of this book met, in one of the principal thoroughfares of the city of Louisville, a lady of no ordinary character, when the following conversation took place:

"I am informed, madam, that your husband is raising a regiment, and expects to go to war in defense of his country. Is it true?"

"Yes, sir, it is true. My husband is a true Union

man, loves his country, and will make any sacrifice for its preservation."

"But what will you do, on your large farm, with no one with you but your little children?"

"Sir, I do not expect to stay on the farm. I intend to go with my husband."

"What good do you hope to accomplish by going with your husband to the tented field?"

"I expect, sir, to encourage my husband, and take care of him when sick or wounded, and to encourage every officer and soldier of his command to do his duty."

“Well, madam, I think you will find a cotton tent a cheerless place, during the cold rains and snows of this winter."

66

Sir, I can endure as much as any man that walks these streets. Besides, I do not expect to live in a cotton tent all winter."

"Where do you expect to spend the winter ?"

"I expect to take my Christmas dinner in Charleston, South Carolina."

This woman had enough of the heroic and patriotic in her character to make her equal, in these respects,