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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eb9492b --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #60363 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60363) diff --git a/old/60363-8.txt b/old/60363-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 17925fe..0000000 --- a/old/60363-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2848 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ninth Cavalry, by Daniel Webster Comstock - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll -have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using -this ebook. - - - -Title: Ninth Cavalry - One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteers - -Author: Daniel Webster Comstock - -Release Date: September 26, 2019 [EBook #60363] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NINTH CAVALRY *** - - - - -Produced by David King and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive.) - - - - - - - Ninth Cavalry - - - - - NINTH CAVALRY - - One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment - - Indiana Volunteers. - - Daniel Webster Comstock - - RICHMOND, IND.: - PUBLISHED BY J. M. COE. - 1890. - - - - - PREFACE. - - -The papers here collected were read by the Regimental Historian, from -time to time, at Annual Re-unions of the 9th Indiana Cavalry. They are -printed at the request of the boys of the regiment, and are for their -benefit. - -Combined, they give, as seen from the standpoint of the individual who -narrates, the principal events in which the regiment took part, but do -not even refer to many skirmishes in which it participated with the -forces of Wheeler, Forrest, Rhoddy, and other Confederate Cavalry -leaders, in the Department of the Cumberland, and "brushes" with -guerrillas in the Military Division of the Mississippi,--"affairs" -unimportant from the insignificance of the numbers engaged, but in which -the most soldierly qualities were often displayed. - -The papers were not all prepared by the Historian: with those he did not -write he has, with the full consent of the respective authors, made such -changes as he thought proper. - -The paper by J. A. Brown, corporal Co. L, on "Sulphur Branch Trestle," -appears as written by him, without a verbal change. - -The other paper upon the same subject is made up of accounts furnished -by Col. Lilly and Capt. J. B. Harrod, Co. B. - -While the writer assisted in making up the detail sent upon that -unfortunate expedition, it was not his fortune to go with it. - -The very able and graphic chapter upon the Hood Campaign is from the pen -of Capt. O. B. Hayden, Co. D. - -The account of the Lynnville fight appears substantially as given by -Capt. Harrod. - -If in these sketches it appears that too much stress is put on minor -matters, and things of importance but lightly stated, it should be -remembered that the statements are made from individual observations, -and the shading must be looked at from the observer's angle of -observation. - -Hereafter, if the boys desire, the story of the regiment may be further -told. - -It will be noticed that but brief mention is made of the officers, -especially in the chapter upon the Hood Campaign. There is no -intentional slight in this--a fair share of the officers were on hand -and did their duty, as is attested by the fact that four of them were -killed in action and others wounded during that campaign--but the fact -is that the privates fought the war and the officers got the pay and the -glory. It was a peculiarity found in the volunteer service--found in the -army of no other Nation--that however brave and capable the officers of -the line, a dozen privates in each company were found equally brave and -capable. The accident of rank should not affect the distribution of -credit. It is enough to participate in the glory of the boys--too much -to claim the lion's share. - -D. W. COMSTOCK. - - - - - SULPHUR BRANCH TRESTLE. - - -On the afternoon of the 22d of September, 1864, the 9th was ordered to -furnish a force of mounted men to march to Elk River Bridge, on the -Nashville & Decatur Railroad. - -The detail was promptly made from the mounted men of each company, and, -under command of Major Lilly, senior major of the regiment, started the -same night. The force leaving Pulaski, consisting of portions of the 9th -and 10th Indiana Cavalry, being under the command of Colonel Pace, of -the latter regiment. The command arrived at Elk River Bridge about noon -of the next day. Intelligence having been received that a rebel force -was threatening Sulphur Branch Trestle, some miles further south on the -same railroad, Major Lilly was ordered to report with his command to the -commander of that post. - -Late that afternoon he arrived there and reported to Col. Lathrop, -commanding the garrison occupying the earth-work constructed with a view -of protecting the trestle at that point. The garrison consisted of two -companies of colored troops. After a brief consultation between the -officers a reconnaissance was determined upon and moved out on the -Athens road about sunset. About two miles from Sulphur Branch the -advance guard was fired upon by the pickets of the enemy. Light -skirmishing ensued, and, night coming on, by the light of the enemy's -campfires, their camp was reconnoitered, and they were discovered to be -in heavy force. The enemy thus discovered proved to be the command of -Gen. N. B. Forrest, estimated at twelve thousand men, with three -batteries of artillery. On coming from Pulaski a courier line had been -established, thus keeping open communication between Major Lilly's -command and headquarters at the latter place. The courier line was under -the command of Sergeant Anderson, of Company "B." By means of this line -the situation was reported to Rousseau at Pulaski, and, in response -thereto, came the order to "hold the fort at all hazards and to the last -extremity." Major Lilly withdrew his command to the fort and established -his picket lines. It was then 9 o'clock P. M. This fort was a small, -four-bastioned earth-work, mounting two twelve-pounder Napoleon guns. It -was located upon a knoll by the railway trestle, and was commanded by -higher points within 500 to 800 yards, while on the east side within a -few hundred feet, rose a higher hill covered with timber. The remainder -of the night was spent by the men in throwing up traverses and otherwise -strengthening the fort. Firing commenced on the picket line at midnight. -It increased as the night advanced until daylight, when it was evident -the fort was being surrounded, and before sunrise the battle was on. The -parapets were manned so far as they could be with so small a force. The -members of the 9th were in position on the south and east parapets, and -on the southeastern bastion, on their left along the east parapet, were -about sixty men of the 3d Tennessee Cavalry, under command of Col. -Minnis, who had been driven into the fort the evening before; the -remainder of the work was covered by the two companies of Col. Lathrop, -who also manned the two guns, situated on the northeast and northwest -bastions. The entire strength of the force called upon to defend the -fort may thus be fairly estimated at 450 men. The 9th was armed with -Gallagher carbines, a very ineffective weapon, and on leaving Pulaski -had but forty rounds of ammunition, and probably not more than thirty -when the real fighting began. - -The attack upon the fort began before sunrise, and at the first onset of -the enemy, Col. Lathrop was killed. During the brief period in which -they knew him, Col. Lathrop impressed himself upon the officers and men -of the 9th as an intelligent and gallant officer; the manner of his -death was worthy of a soldier. - -About 9 o'clock Col. Minnis, who succeeded Col. Lathrop in command, was -wounded by a piece of shell and carried unconscious into the magazine. -The command then devolved upon Major Lilly. He was with his men near the -southeast bastion; they were meeting each successive charge of the enemy -with well-delivered volleys, waiting for the command to fire; husbanding -their failing ammunition, the enemy were permitted to come within close -range, showing a good front, before the order to fire was given. -Meanwhile the enemy had gained possession of the wooded hill to the east -of the fort, and their sharp-shooters from the tree-tops had the range -of every part of the fort, except immediately under the east parapet. -The artillerymen suffered severely and the brave men of the 9th were -falling along the lines. The enemy's artillery raked the works from -every direction with great destruction. From every point except the -north, where the ground rose gently across the creek into an open plain, -the rebels were in heavy force and poured into and against the fort an -incessant fire. Eleven o'clock came, and then, in the lulls of the -artillery, the gallant defenders of the old flag were gladdened by the -sounds that told them that reinforcements were engaging the enemy to the -north toward Elk River bridge, but the sounds grew fainter and died in -the distance and they knew that from that quarter no help would come. -Still they hoped for relief and still held the fort. Suddenly across the -open ground to the north appeared a heavy line of the enemy. Major Lilly -sent two messengers, one after another, across the fort to warn the -officer in command of the colored troops and to inspire his men with -coolness and firmness to meet the impending assault. Both messengers, in -making the perilous journey, were killed. Lieut. Jones, of Company M, -then volunteered to go, and in making the attempt was wounded. Placing -Captain Nation, of Company G, in command of the battalion, Major Lilly -went himself across the bloody space in safety. - -The rebel line halted out of range; within the fort the ground was -strewn with the dead and wounded. The men of the 9th Cavalry were out of -ammunition; for two hours they had been whitling Springfield musket -balls to fit their carbines. The Tennesseeans were out of ammunition; -thus two-thirds of the line was left without defense. Twelve o'clock -came, and along the rebel line the bugle sounded "cease firing," and -from the north across the open plain was borne a flag of truce. It is -likely that not a member of the 9th had ever seen one before; it is more -than probable that it was now looked upon with satisfaction. Every man -had done his whole duty; they had fought like heroes; they had held a -brave army under a skillful and fighting general in check for a day, -thus giving Gen. Rosseau time to concentrate at Pulaski, and had -literally at a great cost, "held the fort at all hazards, and to the -last extremity." - -Major Lilly answered the flag of truce, taking with him the Adjutant of -the 3d Tennessee, and, meeting Major Strange, Adjutant General of -Forrest's staff, after the formal salutations, Major Strange handed -Major Lilly a paper, which read: - -"General Forrest demands the immediate and unconditional surrender of -the United States forces, with all materials and munitions of war, at -Sulphur Branch Trestle. In case this demand is not instantly complied -with, General Forrest can not be held responsible for the conduct of his -men." - -After reading this paper Major Lilly said to Major Strange, that Sulphur -Branch Trestle would never surrender under a threat; that it was a -humiliation his command would not bear and one that should never be -asked by a soldier; that it was true his forces had suffered heavily, -but they had undoubtedly inflicted greater damage upon the enemy; that -they were still capable of inflicting greater damage; that -notwithstanding this he felt that they had done their whole duty, and on -honorable terms he would counsel a surrender. Major Lilly then rode back -toward the fort, but had not reached it when he was halted by Major -Strange, who galloped after him, saying that General Forrest wanted an -interview. He returned and met Generals Forrest and Buford. He then -repeated to General Forrest what he had said to Major Strange, and -added, that he did not believe that General Forrest could not control -his men, and if he did not he would be held responsible. In reply to -this General Forrest handed him a paper, which read in substance: - -"General Forrest demands the immediate surrender of the United States -forces and materials of war at Sulphur Branch Trestle. All United States -officers and soldiers will be treated as prisoners of war. - -"All officers and soldiers shall retain and be protected in the -possession of personal property. - -"Officers to retain their horses, if personal property, and also to -retain their side-arms. - -"All officers and soldiers to be taken to some point in the States of -Mississippi or Alabama, and there held for exchange and parole so soon -as communication can be had with General Washburne at Memphis." - -Major Lilly then demanded one hour before giving an answer, meanwhile -the troops on both sides to remain status quo. The hour was given, and -he returned to the fort. Colonel Minnis had by this time recovered -sufficiently to resume command, and a counsel of war was held. The -counsel was a unit, with the exception of Colonel Minnis, in favor of -surrender. While the subject was being considered it was reported that -the enemy were moving troops, and our white flag was immediately taken -down and firing was reopened; there was a slight reply from the enemy, -the troops moved back, the bugles on the other side sounded "cease -firing," and the truce was resumed. Colonel Minnis, on being fully -informed of the condition of things in the fort, and especially of the -insufficient supply of ammunition, yielded to the opinion of the -majority. Major Lilly then returned to the post of the rebel flag of -truce, accepted the terms offered, and the surrender was made complete. -The remnants of companies were ordered into line, then stacked arms, -and, after preparing for the burial of the dead comrades, and the care -of those who were wounded, marched sadly away. - -About twenty-four hours after the surrender the captured troops crossed -the Tennessee River at Mussel Shoals, some four miles above Florence, -Ala. The first rations issued to them were issued on the night of -September 27th, and consisted of old corn on the cob. This was burnt or -roasted over fire and eaten by those whose appetites were sufficiently -keen. - -On the 28th of September the C. S. A. issued rations to the prisoners -the second time--this was at Okolona, Mississippi, and consisted of a -small quantity of flour and an abundance of good water. On the evening -of that day Capt. Buchanan, of the 15th Tennessee Cavalry, C. S. A., -furnished Lieut. Harrod, of Company B, with stationery and kindly -offered to send a letter through the lines for him. Acting upon the -generous offer, the Lieutenant wrote to his wife. Written under such -circumstances, and while the disaster to our regiment was so fresh, the -letter is certain to be interesting to the 9th. It reached its -destination after some delay, is still preserved by the wife of the -general as a precious memento of the war, and is as follows: - - OKOLONA, Miss., Sept. 28, 1864. - - _Dear Wife_--I address you this note as a prisoner of war. One - hundred and eighty-seven men of the 9th Indiana Cavalry and three - hundred mostly 3d Tennessee Cavalry, were sent to Sulphur Branch - September 24th. Gen. Forrest attacked the place the 25th with about - 12,000 men. We were about 500. The engagement lasted about four - hours after we were surrounded. Our loss was heavy. I had with me - twenty-seven of Company B. I am wounded in right leg. I will get - over it in a few weeks. The killed are: Wm. Harvey and Joseph - Hutton; mortally wounded: Corporal Kirkhoff; severe: Sergeant M. B. - Walker and Private James Hook; slightly: J. J. Winn and G. S. - Bailey. Prisoners and well are: Orderly J. V. Hinchman, Sergeant Wm. - Foster, Sergeant A. E. Anderson, Corporal Blessinger, Privates C. H. - Sears, W. V. Robinson, John Stewart, J. Craining (blacksmith), W. C. - Warner, R. Scott, J. Holloway, W. Parman, Joseph Grey, B. F. Waller, - G. B. Wilson, W. P. Read, M. Chauncy and J. Mooney Church; and no - man of Company B failed to do first-class work. In our capitulation - it was agreed that we should all be paroled soon. I have no money - with me and have on my old uniform. It is reported in camp to-night - that General Forrest has taken Pulaski with 2,000 or 3,000 - prisoners. If true, all the 9th has gone up. We have eighteen miles - to go yet to the railroad--Cherokee Station. Then it is said we go - to Meridian, Miss. You will probably not hear from me again until - paroled. It may be some weeks, and it may be months. - - I send this by the kindness of Capt. Buchanan, 15th Tennessee - Confederate Cavalry. - - J. B. HARROD, - Lt. Company B. - -Although by the terms of the capitulation, the officers were allowed to -retain their horses and side-arms, the real advantage of this -arrangement was practically not very great. Every night some horses were -missing, and when Cherokee Station (on the railroad) was reached, there -were few, if any, officers who knew where their horses were. - -The day after leaving Okolona it rained heavily, and the troops encamped -for the afternoon and night in the open field. Here was issued a little -fresh beef without salt. - -The boys, from the three issues--first of corn, then of flour, then of -beef,--by this time realized that the commissary of the C. S. A. was not -liberally supplied, or that those who controlled it were illiberal in -distribution. - -They reached Cherokee Station the next day (29th of September), -remaining there about thirty hours. At this point all officers and -soldiers captured at Sulphur Branch Trestle and at Athens, Alabama, on -the day before, were placed on board two trains of box cars, to be taken -to Meridian, Lauderdale County, Mississippi. The 9th Indiana and 3d -Tennessee were loaded on the last train, which was some hours behind the -first. To each train a guard of about 150 men were detailed. When not -far from Iuka, the track being wet and the grade heavy, the locomotive -not of sufficient power to pull the train up, a stop was made to allow -the track to dry. The officers in charge put out guards and had fires -made on both sides of the track. The guards were tired and soon became -sleepy, and there was but one at each fire. Major Lilly conceived the -idea of capturing the guard, taking possession of and running the train -to Corinth, and then marching the guards to Memphis under a flag of -truce as prisoners. - -The officers of the 9th Indiana and 3d Tennessee entered cordially into -the plan and were willing to take the boys' places at the guns. The -major then going to the officers of the colored troops, awakened up -their officers and explained his plan to them. They were afraid to -engage in the enterprise, for lack of confidence in their colored -troops. Without their co-operation the result seemed too doubtful to -justify the attempt, and it was not made. - -The next day raw "sow-belly" was issued to the boys on the train. At the -stations sometimes small purchases were made of something to eat. Lieut. -Harrod remembers buying a piece (3 × 4 inches) of wheat bread of a -variety he had not seen before, heavy and solid, for which he paid $5 -Confederate money. Arriving at Meridian, they were placed in a small -stockade, where they remained for a week, from which place the officers -were moved to Enterprise, Clark County, Miss., and the enlisted men and -non-commissioned officers to Cahaba, Dallas County, Ala. - -The rations at Enterprise consisted of one pint of coarse corn meal to -each man daily, without salt, and a small piece of "sow-belly." Each -mess of eight was furnished a skillet and lid to bake bread in. As a -rule each mess baked twice a day, those of the mess who were well taking -their turn for a day as cook. It was a part of the duties of the cook to -divide the bread, taking the last piece for himself. The preparation of -this bread did not require any special skill nor long experience. The -art was soon acquired. It was only necessary to mix the water and corn -meal thoroughly and to grease the skillet with small bits of meat, that -the bread might be got out without being broken too much. - -In October permission was given to buy such eatables as were wanted, but -not many of the officers could avail themselves of the liberty for want -of money. Salt was bought for $3 a pound; coffee, $24 a pound; molasses, -$10 a quart--Confederate money. In the stores, calico sold for $12 and -$15 a yard; muslin, $15; good boots, $500 a pair; paper of pins, $6. -These goods had been brought into Mobile through the blockade. - -During the latter part of their imprisonment, after the guards had been -taken off, an invalid Confederate soldier came into the camp with a jug -of what he called "pine top whisky," and a tin cup. He offered the -whisky at 50 cents a pint. There was only one colonel in the camp. He -was an Ohio man. He bought a pint and drank it. He soon passed into an -unconscious state, in which he remained for forty hours. The "pine top" -could be depended upon. Some of the boys bought a sample pint, but -finding it to be so much inferior to the apple jack of Tennessee, -promptly discarded it. - -The prisoners received some courtesies from Major Ward, Commander of the -Post, and his Adjutant. Upon one occasion, in the absence of the Major, -his Adjutant felt called upon to show some of the officers of the -regiment special attention. He invited them to headquarters, extended to -them the freedom of the establishment, which they accepted with such -good will that the fun soon become fast and furious. The Adjutant set -the pace, after a number of healths had been pledged on the absent -Major's whisky, by breaking a camp stool. This example was followed by -the invited guests, who joined in demolishing every article of furniture -in sight. The Adjutant was not in a condition to escort his guests back -to their camp, but they found their way without difficulty and knew the -reason for the issuing of an order, which was read to them next morning, -to the effect that no prisoner should visit headquarters without -permission of the Major in command. - -The monotony and weariness of confinement was sometimes relieved by the -drollery of those whose love of fun could not easily be suppressed. The -prisoners were often indebted for a good laugh to Captain Nation, of -Company G, and Lieut. J. M. Jones, of Company M. A small boy rode into -the camp the smallest mule our men had ever seen under saddle. Captain -N.. who was about six feet tall, expressed a desire to ride the -"critter." The boy dismounted, and the captain, letting out the stirrups -to their full length, got into the saddle, his feet almost touching the -ground. After putting the mule through the various paces he announced -his intention of recruiting a "critter gang" for the Confederacy. Those -who heard the captain's speech on the occasion will not soon forget its -general tenor and the impression it made upon them. The speech was made -from the back of the mule to the Union prisoners, Confederate guards and -soldiers, citizens and negroes, who were attracted to the place by the -captain's voice. It is greatly to be regretted that no phonographer was -present to have taken it down literally as it came from the lips of the -Hoosier orator, that it might be incorporated in this true history. He -called for volunteers to uphold the flag of the Confederacy. He said he -was going to raise a "critter gang company." No one would be required to -walk and only to ride when it suited him; that the pay would not be any -object; that each private would be furnished with a "critter" in size -and color like the one he then rode, and should have a nigger to feed -and care for him; that this variety was superior to all others and had -been bred especially for the Confederate service, easy to mount and not -dangerous to fall from; that only a limited number of volunteers would -be received, and that now was the time to subscribe. The captain held -the undivided attention of his audience, surprising and entertaining -them with his wit and humor for a half hour, and dismounted and retired -amid great applause. - -While at Enterprise our men were almost entirely shut out from the -world. The Mobile Register, costing 50 cents a copy, was occasionally to -be had, and, unrelished and unsatisfactory as it was, yet was sought and -read with great eagerness. - -The privates and non-commissioned officers were marched from Meridian, -Miss., to Cahaba, Ala. This was a violation of the spirit if not the -letter of the terms of the surrender. On the march some ten days were -consumed. They were placed in a pen or stockade and were subjected to -the usual process of searching, and anything of any value found on their -persons appropriated by their captors. They were not the first occupants -of the pen. It already contained Union prisoners, literally -half-clothed, some having only a shirt, some pantaloons without shirt, -and some only a part of pantaloons, and all alive with grey-backs. The -rations issued were substantially the same as those issued to the -officers, consisting of one pint of corn meal a day and a piece of fresh -pork, one inch square every other day, although some times the -authorities forgot or failed to issue the rations for a day or two, very -much to the disgust of the boys. If the prisoners had been fastidious or -over-particular they might have complained of the custom to the prison -authorities, which cut up the meats for distribution on the same log on -which the dead soldiers were placed before burial. A Dutch skillet was -allowed to each mess of ten men, as the only cooking utensil. During the -time of their imprisonment the rains were frequent and heavy, and the -cooking being done out of doors, our men were obliged often to partially -shelter the fire with their bent bodies while cooking, to prevent the -fires from being put out. The wood used for fuel was green white pine. -The Alabama River overflowed its banks and for two weeks the pen was -flooded, the water standing from two to four feet in depth. Cord-wood -was floated in, out of which scaffolding was constructed by the -prisoners to keep themselves out of the water. During this time the -rations were eaten raw. It is needless to say that under such -conditions, without shelter, exposed to the rain, but poorly fed, men -died every day from exposure and want, and that those who survived were -weak as children. Their imprisonment which seemed so long to them, at -last was ended. The officers were sent North on parole December 10, -1864, but the enlisted men not until April, 1865, at which date they -were started North, and in their enfeebled condition, although buoyed up -by the hope of meeting friends and seeing home, it took them five days -to march from Jackson to Black River bridge, a distance of forty miles, -and when they came into the camp of their old regiment these brave -fellows looked so gaunt, famished and woe-begone that they were but -counterfeits of their former selves. - -The terms of the surrender may be said to have been fairly observed, -except that the colored soldiers were sent to Mobile to labor at the -salt-works. Their officers shared the fortunes of the officers of the -white troops. Most of the prisoners of this expedition took passage soon -after their arrival at Vicksburg on the steamer Sultana, an account of -the wreck of which is given hereafter. - -During their imprisonment, the officers were treated fairly well. They -were kept in prison at Meridian, Miss., about a week. The prison was a -stockade made of poles with the ends in the ground and a scaffolding -around the outside, near the top, on which the vigilant Johnny sentinel -paced his beat. There was a dead line within the stockade, to which our -boys paid marked respect. There were two log cabins in the centre of the -stockade, entirely destitute of furniture, paved with sand and the -steady companion of the boys--the gray-back. There were probably more -gray-backs than grains of sand. They kept the boys employed when -otherwise time would have lagged most slowly. The boys were not without -money (I speak of the officers). They had dead loads of Confederate New -Issue. They sold their horses for $600 to $1,000 a piece. It was a poor -scrub that would not bring $600 in the market of Meridian. Watches -brought from $500 to $1,500; knives and cork-screws from $50 to $100, -and other articles in proportion. The people had the money and wanted to -get rid of it. They were permitted to buy what the town afforded--not -furnished in their rations, which were liberal in bacon, corn meal, and -salt. After a week at Meridian, they were sent to Enterprise, a village -fifteen miles below Meridian. When unguarded, they were put on their -parole of honor not to leave the limits of the town. They took -possession of a big tobacco warehouse, converting it into a dormitory -and headquarters, but took their meals at the houses of the citizens in -town, they being glad to take the rations of the boys, with what else -they could buy, and a consideration in New Issue, in exchange for table -board. Early in December they marched from Enterprise to Memphis. There -they were ordered to report at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, where they -were exchanged and reported to the regiment at Gravelly Springs, Ala., -late in January, 1865. - -The following officers of the regiment were in the action of Sulphur -Branch Trestle: - - Major Eli Lilly. - Captain Nation. - Lieutenant Harrod. - Lieutenant J. W. Watts. - Lieutenant Dunlevy. - Lieutenant Canfield. - Lieutenant Leisure. - Lieutenant Riley. - Lieutenant Jones. - Acting Adjutant Geo. Armstrong. - Assistant Surgeon E. W. Magann. - - Lieutenant Leisure, wounded, but not taken prisoner. - -Surgeon Magann was left to care for the wounded. They were not made -prisoners, the enemy leaving them behind in their march. Lieut. Jones -was slightly wounded by concussion of a shell, being insensible for a -portion of the battle, but recovered before it ended. - -The following is a list of those who were either killed or mortally -wounded: - - Chauncey Kimball, Co. A. - William Harvey, Co. B. - Joseph Hutton, Co. B. - Charles A. Kirkhoff, Co. B. - Andrew J. McGahey, Co. B. - Charles Beckly, Co. H. - Cassander T. Houston, Co. B. - Stephen A. Woodruff, Co. B. - Henry Dorman, Co. K. - Abram S. Foreman, Co. K. - Curtis W. Hancock, Co. K. - George Myers, Co. K. - Josiah Saucer, Co. K. - William Torney, Co. L. - William S. Peckham, Co. L. - John J. Maple, Co. M. - Levi Maple, Co. M. - George H. McGee, Co. M. - Lewis Pickering, Co. M. - Sergeant Peckham, Co. M, killed. - Henry G. Hiatt, Co. G, killed. - -The following are the names of those who were made prisoners and died in -rebel prisons: - - Henry A. Rariden, Co. A, starvation. - John Robert, Co. A, starvation. - Clay Trahune, Co. A, exposure and starvation. - W. J. Foster, Co. B, exposure and starvation. - George O. Houston, Co. D. - Kelita Mendenhall, Co. E, exposure and starvation. - Lewis Jones, Co. G, exposure and starvation. - George W. Bowers, Co. G, exposure and starvation. - John R. Williams, Co. H, exposure and starvation. - Henry Brown, Co. M, exposure and starvation. - Columbus Jessup, Co. M, exposure and starvation. - -The following were made prisoners at Sulphur Branch Trestle and lost by -the explosion and burning of the steamer Sultana, on the Mississippi -River, a few miles above Memphis, on the morning of April 27th, 1865: - - Daniel Curtis, Co. A. - Patrick Day, Co. A. - Frederick Blessinger, Co. B. - Charles E. Church, Co. B. - Ephraim Parman, Co. B. - John Stenarl, Co. B. - John M. Englehart, Co. C. - Warren A. Huckens, Co. C. - Wm. H. H. Wood, Co. D. - John Bonner, Co. F. - Charles W. Clevenger, Co. G. - Jonathan R. Downing, Co. G. - George Downing, Co. G. - William H. Graves, Co. G. - William C. Hooper, Co. G. - Charles W. M. King, Co. G. - John M. Maynard, Co. G. - Enoch T. Nation, Co. G. - James C. Olon, Co. G. - Martin V. Rodeporch, Co. G. - John R. Reasoner, Co. G. - Nathan Thornburg, Co. G. - Franklin Ballenger, Co. H. - James Bell, Co. H. - Alonzo Dunham, Co. H. - George W. Delano, Co. H. - Josiah Pratt, Co. H. - John W. Shull, Co. H. - Hiram Bailey, Co. K. - John W. Emmons, Co. K. - George S. Fisher, Co. K. - Jacob Hurald, Co. K. - Henry Newton, Co. K. - William F. Rea, Co. K. - Joseph Survaul, Co. K. - George H. Shockley, Co. K. - Darius Stevens, Co. K. - Matthew Zix, Co. K. - James N. Christian, Co. L. - Robert A. Morehouse, Co. L. - Leander McCartney, Co. L. - John M. Armstrong, Co. M. - Joseph D. Alexander, Co. M. - William Brigg, Co. M. - George W. Blake, Co. M. - Nathan E. Gruell, Co. M. - Enos Halloway, Co. M. - William H. Huffman, Co. M. - James M. Isentrager, Co. M. - Samuel King, Co. M. - Franklin Ridley, Co. M. - - Total killed at Sulphur Branch Trestle, 21 - Died in prison, 11 - Lost on the Sultana, 51 - -- - 83 - - NOTE.--The last dispatch sent out of the fort the day of the - surrender was carried by John McCorkle, of Company B, and a member - of the 3d Tennessee Cavalry. They left the fort about 7 o'clock A. - M., and accomplished the feat by their coolness and "bold riding." - - - - - SULPHUR BRANCH TRESTLE. - BY CORPORAL J. A. BROWN, CO. L. - - -On Sunday, the 25th day of September, 1864, the mounted portion of the -9th Indiana Cavalry, about two hundred in number, were called to do -battle at Sulphur Branch Trestle, Alabama. Firing began on the skirmish -lines at 5 o'clock in the morning, and was kept up at a lively rate -until about 8 o'clock, when the battle began in earnest. There were with -us about one hundred of the Third Tennessee Cavalry, and there were also -about three hundred colored troops that were stationed in the fort. We -were ordered to dismount and corral our horses and climb the hill and -enter the fort, except myself and ten men, who were ordered to guard the -horses, until the battle became so hot that it was considered unsafe to -remain outside of the fort. We remained with the horses until a -cannon-ball or slug or something of the kind--anyhow, it was something -from a rebel gun--landed in about fifteen feet of us. It tore a hole in -the ground large enough to bury a small-sized cow, and threw dirt all -over us. We then thought it was time to desert the horses and let them -take care of themselves, and climb the hill and get into the fort as -soon as we could conveniently without hurting ourselves, and up the hill -we went, and when we arrived at the entrance to the fort we asked where -the 9th Indiana Cavalry was stationed. We were told that they were on -the opposite side of the fort. So we had to go through the center of the -fort to get to where our boys were stationed. That was the most -dangerous trip I ever experienced in my life. There were a lot of -barracks in the fort and the rebel cannon were playing on them and -knocking them all to pieces, and throwing the loose boards in every -direction. It made the hair raise on our heads as we went dodging -through the barracks among the flying boards and shell and cannon ball, -but we finally got to our men in safety. - -The colonel commanding the fort was killed in the beginning of the -battle, and Major Lilly, of our regiment, took command, and, by the way, -Major Lilly was a hustler. He was one of the bravest officers that ever -went to the front. During the hottest of the battle one of our men got -scared so badly that he wanted to surrender. So he pulled off his shirt -and placed it upon the end of his bayonet and held it up as a flag of -truce. That got the enemy excited and they went for us hotter than ever. -They made charge after charge, but some of our boys pulled that old -dirty shirt down and made the fellow put it on again. We kept the rebs -at bay as long as we had ammunition, but at 1 o'clock we were out of -ammunition, and there we were about 800 strong, with no ammunition and -surrounded by ten thousand rebels. So we surrendered. We were then -conducted out of the fort and taken to the woods and a rebel guard -placed around us until they got ready to start to Dixie with us. While -we were waiting there a rebel captain that some of our boys had shot in -the heel in the fight rode around among us and cussed us for an hour. He -swore that if he knew which one of us damned Yanks it was that shot him -in the heel he would shoot his heart out. But we did not tell who it -was, and I don't think he has found out to this day. - -Well, along towards night the rebs got ready to start with us for Dixie. -Then fun began; we marched nearly all night through the mud and under -rebel guard. Sometime after midnight we were halted and allowed to lie -down in the woods on the ground without undressing, but before daylight -we were rousted out and on the go again. This kind of business was kept -up for three long days, until we had marched something over one hundred -miles, with about enough to eat to make one good square meal. With the -Alabama red mud enough sticking to each foot to make about three brick -we finally arrived at Tuscumbia, Ala., where the rebs were operating a -kind of a one-horse railroad. There they piled us into a couple of -freight trains and we were hauled around over half of the State of -Mississippi and back again into Alabama, and were finally landed at -Cahaba, Ala., at the end of ten days from the time we were made -prisoners. We were then stripped and examined, and robbed of everything -that we possessed that was of any value. We were then marched into the -prison pen. The prison pen was a large cotton warehouse, surrounded by a -stockade with an elevated walk around the outside of the building. On -this walk the rebel guards were stationed about every forty feet with -loaded guns ready and anxious to kill any poor Yankee who might see fit -to set a foot across the dead line. There was also a walk on the inside -of the building around next to the wall, and a rebel guard was stationed -there about forty feet apart. The dead line was a mark they made about -eight feet from the inside wall, all around the inside of the building, -and no prisoner was allowed to step across that line. If he did the -orders were to shoot him on the spot, and the order was obeyed to the -letter, but we were generally careful to keep off of that dead line. - -I shall never forget the morning that we were first marched inside of -that prison. The old prisoners that were there before us on seeing us -march in all seemed glad to see us, and yelled at the top of their -voices, "Fresh fish! fresh fish! Hands on your pocket-books," just as if -we had not already been robbed of everything we had by the rebs. But we -soon got used to that for we had not been there long until we yelled -"fresh fish" to other new prisoners that kept coming in every few days. -There were on an average about three thousand of us there during the six -months that we were there. Sometimes there were as many as thirty-five -hundred of us. When there was that many we could not all lie down at one -time inside of the prison. There was a cook yard in front of the prison -about seventy-five feet square, enclosed with a stockade. We were -allowed to pass out into the cook yard during the day so that we could -cook the little grub that was allowed us. Our rations consisted of one -pint of corn meal per day and a piece of fresh pork, about one inch -square, every other day, but that was not issued to us very regular. -Sometimes they would forget to issue rations to us for a day or so at a -time. It did not seem to disturb the rebels in the least to forget to -issue rations to us. We were divided into messes consisting of ten men -to the mess, and every ten men were allowed one old-fashioned Dutch -skillet and lid. In this we did the entire cooking for the ten men or -mess. So we were engaged in cooking all day, if we happened to have -enough to cook to keep the skillet going. It rained nearly the entire -time we were there. It seemed to us that it rained at least forty days -in each month, consequently we had to do the most of our cooking in the -rain. I have stood in a stooping position over the skillet for hours at -a time to keep the rain from drowning out the fire while cooking. Our -wood that we used for cooking with was generally green white pine, -nearly as hard to burn as green buckeye. We were allowed to go outside -of the prison to carry the wood in. They would let five of us out to the -wood-pile at a time; we would rush out and chop a load of wood and then -carry it in. We would form what we called the wood line, and go out as -our turns would come. I have stood in the wood line many times for a -half day at a time in the rain, and then perhaps I would not get to go -out after wood. We would do this work by turns and when we were not busy -in this way were busy fighting "gray-backs." That part of the business -we had to attend to whether we got dinner or not, for if we had -neglected to kill off the "gray-backs" once a day at least we were in -danger of being eaten up alive. - -We had a regular police force of our own men. It consisted of about -thirty men. It was their duty to keep order in the prison and to punish -any one who did not conduct himself in a proper manner. If any two got -into a fight the police would at once form a ring and let them fight it -out. They would make it their business to see fair play. There were -three or four fights in the prison every day. That was a natural -consequence where there were so many men huddled in together that it was -almost impossible for them all to lie down at one time, and -half-starved, it was natural for some of them to get cross and be ready -to get up and fight at a moment's notice; but they were so weak and in -such a famished condition that they seldom ever hurt one another in a -fight. We also had a few dishonest men in the prison; they would steal -anything they could get their hands upon. The police would sometimes -punish them very severely for their misdemeanors--such as stealing, but -there was no punishment for a fair fist fight. - -We undertook to break out of the prison one morning about 4 o'clock, and -captured all the rebel guards inside the prison. We took their guns from -them and put them in the privy and placed a guard over them and kept -them there nearly an hour, but the rebels on the outside got wind of it -a little too soon for us, and there happened to be more rebel soldiers -there at that time than they usually kept at that point; they rolled a -big cannon up to the door of the prison and scared us out of the notion -of breaking out at that time. The rebs called that a mutiny and issued -an order that we should have nothing to eat until we delivered up the -leaders of the mutiny. Then we thought that starvation stared us in the -face sure, for we had no idea that there was one among our number that -would give away the leaders; but alas! the leaders were sadly -disappointed, for after three days of starvation, some one--I never -could find out who he was--got so hungry that he gave the plot away and -informed on about twenty of the leaders. The rebs took the informer out -of the prison at once and gave him his freedom for his information. If -they had not taken him out of the prison he would have fared badly among -the prisoners for being a traitor. - -They took the leaders of the mutiny out and punished them in various -ways. Some they put in dungeons, some in chains, and one fellow was -sentenced to be put in a four-foot square box for one hundred days. Some -of them were never heard of by us after they were taken out. We supposed -that they were killed. We were always scheming for some place to get -out. So the next thing we were up to was tunneling out. We had a tunnel -dug about fifty feet, and in a few more days our tunnel would have let -us out on the bank of the river, when the river raised and filled our -tunnel full of water, so that was all work for nothing. I had two -special friends as fellow prisoners--George W. Addington and William -Collins. We three stuck together like brothers. One day the rebs took -Addington out. Myself and Collins did not know what had become of him. -We thought that, perhaps, they had killed him for some imaginary -offence. Well, things went on as usual for about a week when a reb came -in and took Collins out, and no explanation was given, so we thought -that he was gone up also, but in another week the same reb came in and -called for me. That scared me nearly out of my boots, for I thought my -time had come sure, but to my surprise he took me to the hospital where -I found my friends Addington and Collins busily engaged in washing -clothes for the hospital. I will say now before I go further that the -hospital was for Federal prisoners only, and they required prisoners to -do all the work about the hospital. Addington had managed in some way to -get the job of washing for the hospital, and as soon as he could make an -excuse for calling in help he sent for Collins and myself. We got that -washing business down to a regular system. We would wash sheets and -pillow-slips on Monday, shirts and drawers on Tuesday, colored clothes -on Wednesday, odds and ends on Thursday, and on Friday we would boil -"gray-backs," that is, we would wash the clothes of prisoners that came -out to the hospital sick. When a prisoner was brought out of the prison -sick they would take him to an out house, strip him of his prison -clothes, and take him to another room and put hospital clothes on him, -and every Friday we had to boil and wash all clothes that accumulated in -that way. Sometimes it would be a sickening job, but it was far better -than lying in prison. We three had to work about four hours each day. -This gave us about half work and we received about half enough to eat at -the hospital, except occasionally we got something extra. We got it in -this way: The managers of the hospital were all rebs and aristocrats, -and they had negro women to carry their meals to their private rooms. Of -course they got plenty to eat and sometimes there was something left. -This the waiters always saved for us, and about two or three times a -week, after dark, our door would be pushed open and we would see a tin -pan slip in and it always had something in it good to eat, such as cold -biscuits and cold beef-steak, and it was always good, and we felt very -thankful to the colored people that run such risk in furnishing it to -us, for if they had been caught at it they would have been punished -severely for it. We were not allowed to speak to any of the colored -attendants about the hospital, but we often talked to them when there -were no rebs in sight. I once saw a prisoner that was sick but -convalescing so that he was able to walk about some, come out of the -ward in search of a fresh drink of water. He asked a colored woman for a -tin cup to drink out of, and the rebel doctor happened to hear him, and -he was sent to the prison for the offence. The next morning the poor -fellow was brought back on a stretcher dead. About the first of March, -1865, the Alabama river raised and overflowed and spread itself all over -the town and was from two to four feet deep inside of the prison. Our -boys had a terrible time of it then for about two weeks. The rebs -floated wood inside the prison for the prisoners to roost on. Our boys -had to eat what little grub they got raw, and sleep while sitting on a -pile of wood. This happened while I was at the hospital, consequently I -missed the fun of having to sit on a wood pile for two weeks and eat raw -grub. While at the hospital we always had hash for dinner. I remember -one day the hash had soured, and we liked it better, because it made a -change. About the time the river went down to its proper level we were -all paroled; then we started for Vicksburg by rail until we got to -Jackson, Miss., about fifty miles south of Vicksburg; there we had to -take it afoot. It took me just eight days to walk from Jackson, Miss., -to Black River, forty miles. When I got there, there was just one man -with me, about twenty behind us, the others being ahead of us. At Black -River there was a pontoon bridge--a rebel guard on the south side and a -Yankee guard on the north side. We arrived there about sundown and had -to stay on the rebel side all night. Our boys on the north side were -allowed to bring us over some coffee and hard-tack, which we enjoyed -very much, as it was the first coffee that we had tasted for six long -months. The next morning we were transferred to the north side and -amongst friends. We staid at the hospital in Vicksburg a few days and -then took a hospital boat for St. Louis, and from there home. - - - - - LYNNVILLE. - - -While stationed at Pulaski, Tenn., details from the regiment were -frequently ordered out upon reconnoitering parties, and upon these -occasions generally met Roddy, Duke, Wheeler, or other cavalry -commanders in that department, in skirmishes, which, as a rule, were -bloodless. They were all exciting, however, and accustomed the boys to -the use of their carbines. Of these affairs, what was termed in the -regiment as "The Lynnville Fight," was the most sensational, and -resulted in more racket than was ever raised by the same number of men -in so short a time. - -On Sunday, September 2, 1864, at 8 o'clock A. M., pursuant to orders, -the regiment marched out on the Nashville Pike, Companies B and L in the -advance. The movement was occasioned by reports to the effect that -Wheeler with a considerable body was in the neighborhood with the -purpose of destroying the railroad. After advancing about six miles a -message was received by courier from Capt. Owings, of Co. F, occupying -with his company the block house near Lynnville, for the purpose of -protecting the railroad, to the effect that the rebels were in town in -heavy force, and that he would not be able to hold his position long. - -Major Lilly was ordered to go to his relief with seventy men of -Companies B and L. Advancing at a gallop, Lieut. Harrod, with sixteen -men of Company B, leading the column, within one-half or three-quarters -of a mile of the town, from a slight elevation, a full view was obtained -of the rebels. Halting for a moment, Major Lilly ordered a charge to be -made with the sabre. Harrod, with his sixteen men in advance, supported -by the fifty-five B and L men, under command of the Major, forming -quickly, were soon observed by the rebels. The advance was formed in -double, the support in single rank. The orders "forward," "trot," -"gallop," "charge," were given in quick succession, and in a moment all -were hidden in a cloud of dust. The rebels in the town proved to be the -3d and 4th Georgia Cavalry. The attack was a surprise to them. Lieut. -Harrod, being at the front and right of his platoon, had a fair view of -the town and the enemy, and as the charge was made, says the Georgia -boys began to run when our advance was fully a quarter of a mile away, -and when they reached the south side of the town the Johnnies were going -out of the north side in great haste and apparent confusion. For the -next five minutes the race was lively. Our boys returned their sabres to -their scabbards and drawing their carbines and revolvers began firing. -The rebels threw away in their haste guns, blankets, haversacks, muster -rolls, and whatever encumbered them; and between the discharge of -fire-arms, the shouts of our men and the clatter of the horses' hoofs, -the natives were thoroughly aroused. The pursuit was kept up for about -five miles, the fleeing Johnnies making a stand upon coming up to the -main force of Wheeler's rear guard. Two of the enemy were killed and -eight captured. The wounded, if any there were, made their escape. - -Corporal George R. Parsons, Co. B, mounted on a fast horse, was said to -have got nearer the body of the enemy's forces than any other man. Capt. -Nation, who was with the regiment without his company, by special -permission, with a blow of his sabre delivered upon the side of the -head, after a command to halt, unseated a Confederate, mounted upon a -large mule. The mule got away. William Johnson was slightly cut by a -ball, and the horse of Sergt. Foster was badly shot. Capts. Wall, Nation -and Moorehouse took part in the charge. The boys, in the presence of -Wheeler's rear guard, and so near his main body of perhaps 8,000 men, -did not care to push matters further, and so quietly withdrew to -Lynnville for refreshments, and to rest their horses. - -General Rousseau was near Wheeler's rear and left flank. Wheeler was -between us with only one way open to the South. During the after part of -the night Wheeler moved in the direction of Lawrenceburg, and the 9th -was ordered back to Pulaski. On Monday evening, September 3d, the 9th -was ordered to Lawrenceburg to head off Wheeler if possible. Rousseau -was pressing him with between 2,000 and 4,000 infantry and artillery. -Wheeler's forces were estimated at 8,000--nearly all mounted, with a -battery of light artillery. His artillery was used very little. The 9th -reached Lawrenceburg about 7 o'clock on the morning of the 4th, just in -time to see the 9th Ohio Cavalry assist Wheeler's rear guard out of -town. About 8 o'clock A. M. the 10th Indiana Cavalry was ordered to the -front and became engaged with a strong rear guard of the enemy in a -thick wood. They drove them back two or three miles, when the 10th was -in turn pressed back. Major Lilly, who was with Gen. Granger when it was -reported to him that the 10th Indiana had been driven back, requested of -the general that he be permitted to take his battalion to the front. The -general, who had heard of the efficient manner in which the Lynnville -affair had been conducted, granted the request. Col. Jackson received -permission to lead the remainder of the regiment. - -By order the troops on the road for a mile withdrew to the right and -left, and the 9th was given free passage. The position occupied by the -10th Cavalry was soon reached. They were in a narrow valley; the rebels -on the ridge above them--the 9th on the opposite hill. It was fortunate -for the 9th that the rebels made the mistake so often made in -engagements--shot too high--the balls rattling in the tree-tops above -their heads. A rapid fire at will was ordered and the lines were closed. -The 9th advanced steadily, firing over the 10th Indiana, which soon -moved out of the way by the flank, giving the 9th an open field. The -Confederates did not long await the coming of the 9th, but, after a few -volleys, fell back. Again making a stand and forming, the 9th hurries -without a halt or hesitation, steadily presses them hard, beating them -back from occasional stands for a distance of four miles, when Wheeler -corraled his train, threw down the fences and brought his artillery into -position. The boys were hot and tired, and concluded they did not want -to take his artillery and rested. The offer of battle thus made by -Wheeler to Granger was not accepted for reasons not known to the world. -The opportunity was a good one and those generals had been ostensibly -looking for Wheeler. Wheeler had the advantage, to be sure, in numbers, -of perhaps 2,000 men, and these generals did not know at that time the -superior material they had under their command. Wheeler began to move, -and the 10th and 12th Tennessee Cavalry relieved the 9th. After some -desultory firing, Wheeler was permitted without further serious -annoyance to cross the Tennessee River. There is where the Federal -generals desired to drive him, and so the object of the expedition was -successful and Wheeler's attempt to destroy the railroad a failure. - -The loss to the enemy was 25 killed and 150 wounded. The 9th lost none -killed and none seriously wounded. - -September 5th the regiment reached Athens, Ala. September 6th returned -by Elk River to Mussel Shoals and Shoal Creek, going into camp at night -on the bank of the stream, with the other bank held by a Confederate -force under command of a Col. Anderson. The bridge spanning the stream -being unsafe for horses, on the 7th the regiment crossed by a dangerous -ford, Companies B and L in advance, and soon engaged with Anderson, who -was driven to Florence, Ala., a distance of seven miles, in about four -hours, near which place he succeeded in crossing the Tennessee River. - - - - - THE REPUBLIC OF JONES. - - -While held at Enterprise, our men learned of the existence of a -government within the State of Mississippi, of which most readers of -history are to this day ignorant. They were informed that early in the -days of secession Jones County, which touches Clarke County on the -southwest, by its leading citizens, withdrew from the Confederacy, -declaring themselves a free and independent people, organized a special -and distinct government, under the name of the "Republic of Jones," -adopted a constitution modeled after that of the United States, elected -a President and officers of State, and refused to contribute men or -money to the cause of the Rebellion. The census of 1860 gives the -population of Jones County at 3,323. So that the standing army of Jones -could not, if made up of the able-bodied males, have been very -formidable. - -The cause which compelled the brave people of Jones to sever their -connection with the most of mankind, seems to have been plunder. In the -absence of C. S. A. troops, marauding parties sallied forth, capturing -mules, horses, cotton, grain, and whatever else could be easily -transferred, and when pursued or upon the approach of troops, hastily -retreated and disbanded, seeking safety in swamps or other places -difficult of access, remaining in hiding until the apparent danger had -passed. It is stated that the Republic did not in any manner contribute -to the cause of the C. S. A. - -While the prisoners never became thoroughly posted in the principles of -that Republic it looked at one time as if they would get, in an -unpleasant manner, a knowledge of its practical workings. Enterprise was -about forty miles from the seat of government of Jones. Held at -Enterprise were about 100 officers of various regiments, (some of -colored troops,) besides the officers of the 9th Cavalry and 3d -Tennessee Cavalry captured at Sulphur Branch Trestle. The commander of -the post was a Major Edward Ward, a resident of Indiana before the war, -who had gone South in 1858, engaged in business, became identified with -the people and interests of that section, and united his fortunes with -those of the Confederacy at the breaking out of the war. He had not been -so long away from the North as to have grown indifferent to his old -home--he still had a soft place in his heart for Indiana. He invited the -officers of the 9th to his headquarters and treated them as hospitably -as his position and condition would allow. At roll-call at 10 o'clock, -October 15, 1864, Major Ward informed the prisoners that he had just -received information through his scouts that the Republic of Jones was -threatening to capture the prison camp and massacre the prisoners, for -the alleged reason that the imprisoned officers had commanded negro -troops. He said he would not be able to protect them against the -superior force and did not know what to do. The proposition of Major -Lilly, following the announcement of the commander of the post, must -have been in the nature of a surprise: "If you can not protect us allow -us to protect ourselves." Major Ward asked what he meant by that. Major -Lilly explained that he meant that the commander should place arms and -ammunition in the hands of the prisoners, and then if they were murdered -no blame could attach to him. Major Ward said that the arming of -prisoners was without precedent, and would certainly be dangerous when -they were numerically stronger than their guard. Major Lilly admitted -that the proceeding was unusual, but the circumstances justified the -innovation, and proposed that all the prisoners pledge their honor as -officers and men to use the arms only in defence of themselves against -the anticipated attack, and to surrender them when the danger was ended. -The pledge was taken, and in the afternoon two wagon loads of muskets -and one of ammunition were delivered to the prisoners, the guards were -taken off, and each officer selected his gun and put it in condition for -immediate use. Lieut. Harrod, who had not sufficiently recovered the use -of his leg--wounded at Sulphur Branch Trestle--to be able to walk, was -confined to the camp. Thus armed and equipped, the unwonted spectacle -was presented of the Yank and Johnny marching side by side against the -common enemy--Major Lilly, in the full uniform of the United States -Army, with his gun at a right shoulder, by the side of a rebel, marching -in the picket squad to the front. It was perhaps the earliest instance -of the fraternizing of the Blue and the Gray. - -The prisoners remained on duty three days and nights without being -attacked. The enemy had learned that their plans were discovered and -preparations made to meet them. A fight upon fair terms was not what -they wanted, and they had withdrawn. - -True to their pledged word the prisoners surrendered and stacked their -arms--no gun nor man missing. They had shown that they were as honorable -as brave, and from that time until they were sent North they were -allowed greater freedom of movement--the guards simply patroled the -camp. Citizens were allowed free access to camp, but the prisoners were -not permitted to talk to them or the negroes on politics or the war. - - - - - THE HOOD CAMPAIGN. - - -Atlanta had fallen. Sherman, before starting on his "march to the sea," -detached the Fourth and Twenty-fourth Corps, under command of Schofield, -and sent them by forced march to Pulaski to watch Hood, who was at -Florence, and to retard his advance into Tennessee until Thomas, who was -at Nashville, could concentrate enough troops to--as Sherman pithily -said--"take care of him." The main body of the 9th Cavalry had shortly -before this been sent to Nashville to secure horses for mounting the -regiment; a small number of each company only remained to guard the camp -and stores. - -About the 15th of November the forces from "the front" arrived, and soon -our peaceful camp was the scene of warlike preparation. The beautiful -slope which we had so long occupied was cut into rifle-pits, and just -north of regimental headquarters a breast-work was raised, commanding -the approaches from south and east. - -Receiving information that indicated an advance of the enemy on Columbia -by the way of Winchester, the works were abandoned. The infantry took up -their line of march for Columbia, and the remnant of the 9th hastily -loaded the camp equipments and stores and boarded the train for -Nashville on the 23d of November, arrived on the morning of the 24th, -and rejoined the main body who were encamped across the river in -Edgefield. The remounting being completed, the cavalry forces at -Nashville were rapidly organized as the seventh division of the cavalry -corps--Gen. Knipe commanding. The first brigade, Gen. J. H. Hammond -commanding, was composed of the 9th and 10th Indiana, the 2d and 4th -Tennessee and 19th Pennsylvania. - -On the 27th the first brigade moved through the city and down the -Franklin Pike a few miles and went into camp; on the 28th, passed -through Franklin to Spring Hill and went into camp, awaiting orders from -the front. On the 29th moved to the left of the Columbia Pike and were -all day in the saddle marching and counter-marching, slowly falling -back, almost constantly within hearing of the fighting at the front. - -On the night of the 29th marched across to the Triune Pike to repel an -alleged flanking movement of the enemy, who failed to appear at that -point. At day-light we went into camp, and after a hasty breakfast, -snatched an hour of needed sleep. Soon the unwelcome "boots and saddles" -sounded, and we resumed our weary waiting and watching, nearly always -within sound of musketry, but not seeing the rebels nor hearing the -"zip" of the unfriendly bullet. We marched and counter-marched, always -halting nearer Nashville. - -To those of us who had not yet seen a rebel under arms the suspense, the -constant expectation of battle, was more trying than actual fighting -afterwards proved. On this day when the sound of musketry drew nearer -and nearer, we were drawn up in line, and with drawn sabres awaited the -appearance of the enemy and an order to "charge." Expectation sat in a -thousand pale faces as - - "Each looked to sun and stream and plain - As what they ne'er might see again." - -Suddenly the rattle of musketry seemed to roll away and all was still. -Another time when the sound of battle approached our position, we -dismounted and in line awaited the onset. - -In the evening the distant boom of cannon announced that a battle was on -somewhere, and while we sat on our horses, weary but alert, the bloody -battle of Franklin was being fought miles away. At last night fell, and -exhausted men and horses sank gratefully to sleep. - -Our camp was at the base of a wooded hill, in a field adjoining the -Nolansville Pike. Next morning, December 1st, the horses, that had not -been unsaddled, were put in line and held while breakfast was prepared -and eaten. Before this was completed out-post firing was heard--a -cavalryman came galloping, saying the enemy was upon us. The command -hastily mounted and moved out on the pike, just before reaching which -Companies D and G were halted, and, under command of Major Lyon, went -into line, facing the rear. The regiment moving at a rapid walk, moved -up the pike and disappeared. In a few minutes the rebels opened an -irregular but furious fire from the brow of the hill under which we had -camped. At the first discharge a horse went down; directly a man was -shot; another horse fell. Thicker and thicker came the bullets; fiercer -and fiercer grew the rebel yell. Major Lyon rode up and down the line -shouting, "Give 'em hell, boys." It was the "baptism of fire" for the -boys, but no one faltered. When ordered to wheel to the right, by fours, -to march to the rear, behind a stone wall on the other side of the pike, -they executed the movement as deliberately as on dress parade. -Dismounted and sheltered by the stone wall the men were comparatively -safe, but the horses suffered severely. Before they could be led to the -rear, out of range, fifteen had fallen. - -The rebels did not advance from the brow of the hill, but blazed away -with constantly increasing vigor. A "jackass battery" opened on us. The -boys did not flinch from this new experience, but kept steadily to their -work with the coolness of veterans. Our Maynard carbines were weak -weapons, useless at long range--our fire must have been ineffectual as -to casualty, but being breech-loaders the boys were enabled to fire with -such rapidity that the enemy over-estimated our numbers and hesitated to -advance, but began creeping round our flanks on either side. And still -the Major said "give 'em hell, boys," and held us to the work until our -ammunition was exhausted. About this time Adjutant Payne, who was on the -staff of Gen. Hammond, came back with orders to retreat. Everybody was -willing, but it was easier said than done. - -Almost surrounded, no ammunition, many more men than horses, the pike in -possession of the foe, it was not a comfortable prospect. Hurrying to -the rear we mounted--some without horses, mounted behind a comrade; -again another would hold to a stirrup or a horses' tail to keep up with -the rapid trot. No one thought of dashing to safety at the expense of a -dismounted comrade. A horse was killed throwing its rider against a tree -breaking his collar bone. Instantly he was placed behind a comrade and -away again. On and on through wood and field, rushing through rail -fences, tearing down stone walls with bleeding hands and still behind, -and from either side, the rebel yell and hissing bullet.[1] - -At last, most welcome sight, the guidons of a cavalry regiment drawn up -in line to receive us and check the enemy. Feeling sure of safety for -all, we dashed forward, leaving the dismounted men two hundred yards -behind. To our surprise and indignation this regiment wheeled into -column and trotted away before we reached them leaving us to follow. The -abandoned, dismounted men took to a cornfield and many of them escaped. -Two privates of Co. D, Lieut. Swayne and some enlisted men of Co. G, -were taken prisoners. Later on we reached the regiment standing in line -on the pike. From this place we moved slowly toward Nashville until -night came on. Going into camp near the road we enjoyed what we had -fairly earned--a night's repose without alarm. - -As we passed through Nashville to our old camp at Edgefield next -morning, every hatless trooper of the previous day's fight will -gratefully remember how the merchants in the city came out with arm -loads of hats to supply our needs. Late in the evening the brigade was -again in the saddle, marching to Gallatin, Tenn., where we remained some -days patrolling the river from that place to Carthage to keep the enemy -from crossing. While here encamped a detachment of the 9th, under -command of Major Wall, was sent up into Kentucky "pressing in" horses -and mules. This expedition was through a rich country, comparatively -unravaged by the war, and was a pleasure trip to its participants. Not -so to the hapless citizens who had horses and mules. Desolation to -poultry yards marked the path of the party. A fine lot of animals were -secured, among them a number of blooded horses. It is possible that all -these did not receive Uncle Sam's trade mark. There was a legend current -in the regiment that one of the mules obtained at this time, that by -_accident_ was not branded, did excellent service at New Orleans in -supplying one company with the needful.[2] - -On December the 8th the command returned to Nashville. The morning was -lowery and by noon began to rain. A strong northwest wind froze the -water as it fell and soon the road was a glare of ice. The horses unshod -or smooth shod had but precarious footing. Fortunately no serious -accident occurred. The men were chilled and shivering. When the column -halted for any purpose the red cedar rails on either side were soon -ablaze; but before the cheerful flame could infuse warmth in the chilled -fingers the bugle sounded "forward" and the grateful heat was left to -waste its comfort on the frosty air. We left a fiery as well as a frozen -track that day. Before nightfall we went into camp within two miles of -the city. Soon, amid the lurid flame of burning rails, the smoking hot -coffee, crisp sow-belly and luscious hard-tack, we forgot the discomfort -of our cheerless ride--the song and laugh went round until one by one -each voice was hushed and the camp was wrapped in silence. - -On the morning of the 9th we moved across the river and went into camp -on the west side of Nashville, where we remained until December 15th. -While passing through the city Gen. Hatch and staff met the -regiment--Col. Jackson joined him and with him held an informal review -of the regiment as the column moved along. Our horses--fresh from their -"old Kentucky homes"--were in such contrast to the jaded steeds from the -front, with which Hatch's command was mounted, that, turning to Jackson, -he said: "Colonel, you have a magnificent mount, but my boys will steal -half of them before the battle." - -"No, General," replied the Colonel, "the boys got these horses for their -own use; you can't have one of them; but we don't want to seem small and -will undertake to trade a limited number of our Maynards for your -Spencers." - -On reaching camp, an order was issued doubling the stable guard, and -relieving from camp duty for a week any soldier who would secure a -Spencer carbine. No horse was lost, a dozen or two Spencers were -reported. These were organized for special service, and the zeal and -enterprise developed in securing them had ample play during the stormy -days which followed. It is possible that some members of this squad -would have willingly resigned their prospects for distinction with the -Spencer, for the more modest and less hazardous companionship of the -Maynard. - -The camp was in an open field with no tree, shrub or grass, or other -covering than the sleet which fell and formed from day to day. It was a -sloppy, slippery time. The discomfort of the situation was somewhat -alleviated by remembering that the Johnnies were more unhappy than we. -They had not wherewith to cover their nakedness and depended for food on -such limited supplies as could be secured from the country. We were well -fed and clothed. - -On the morning of the 15th, the ice being melted, the regiment was in -the saddle soon after daylight. Moving a short distance to the right we -halted, waiting for McArthur's division to clear the way for our passage -to the position assigned our division on the right of Smith's Corps. - -About 8 o'clock A. M. the booming of the cannon on the left announced -the opening of the battle. For an hour the fight seemed to remain in one -place, but gradually the forces became engaged along the front, reaching -a point to the right of our position. The cannons roared and thundered, -and the rattle of small arms could be distinctly heard, while a dense -smoke rolled up from the field which was obscured from our view by an -intervening ridge. To get out of the ranks and climb this ridge to see -how a great battle looked was a common impulse--an impulse too strong -for those whose curiosity was stronger than their sense of duty. Two -privates of one company, thus straying away, were discovered by one of -Hammond's aids, who promptly placed them and their company commander -under arrest. This officer[3] later in the day approached the General -and obtained permission to lead his company in the coming fight, which -he did so gallantly that he never heard any more about the arrest. - -Two officers of another company likewise climbed the ridge and saw the -belching of the cannon, the bursting of the shells, the great lanes torn -through the ranks of blue, which, closing up, moved steadily toward the -foe. It was a grand though awful sight. As one, sickening, turned away, -he discovered that the regiment had moved away. Informing his companion, -they descended the hill and quickly following were, fortunately for -their credit, not discovered, and regained their place in the column. - -The division now reached its place on the extreme right--the first -brigade in reserve within the bend of the river. In line facing the -front we sat on our horses awaiting results. The remainder of the -division advanced toward the enemy and were soon hid from our view by -the fog and smoke of battle. Here it was that the battery on the hill -above and beyond the rebel advance opened on us with shell--all will -remember this--and none forget the peculiar shrinking sensation with -which we heard the first shell that came shrieking over our heads and -bursting in our rear. Here it was, too, that, as the smoke lifted, we -saw our troops swarm up the distant hill, and, after a short struggle in -the fort, raise the stars and stripes above the works from whose guns -had so recently come to us such unwelcome greeting. This redoubt was -carried by Coons' Cavalry (dismounted), and two brigades of Smith's -Corps. The same troop rushed gallantly on and soon carried another fort. -The mounted men rushed forward and swept Chalmer's Cavalry back, -capturing his headquarters, books and papers. The Confederate left was -completely broken and driven back by the cavalry corps. Night stopped -the pursuit. - -The first brigade being in reserve, took no part in this day's fight, -but followed closely the advance of our victorious fellow-cavalrymen, -seeing on every side the evidences of the battle we had not helped to -win. We reached the six-mile post on the Charlotte Pike; thence marching -up Richland Creek three miles, bivouacked on Granny White Pike. Two -companies, (L and another), going on picket, captured a number of -prisoners during the night. - -On the morning of the 16th, the first brigade returned to the Hillsboro' -Pike. The 9th was detailed to support the 14th Ohio Battery in an attack -on the rebel left and rear. Dismounted--a detail for skirmishers was -made, including the "Spencer Squad." As they disappeared in the wood we -followed. Soon a rattling volley, followed by the articulate venom of -single shots, warned us that we were approaching the enemy. Reaching a -position on a ridge thinly covered with trees, the guns were unlimbered, -placed in position, and for two hours a furious duel raged between this -and an opposing battery on the ridge a half mile away. The wooded valley -intervening was alive with skirmishers, and the continuous dropping -shots showed that they were hotly disputing possession. The occasional -bringing in of the dead and wounded from the line attested the character -of the struggle. The boys were evidently not in fun. The regiment lay in -front of the guns which fired over us. This of itself was sufficiently -exhilarating to a nervous man, but when the shells of the opposing -battery came hustling through the air, bursting in front, above and -behind us, cutting the branches above us or throwing the dirt over us, -every man became a stoic and waited with calmness the missile which -should square his account. - -Strangely enough no casualty occurred in the line. Some annoyance was -felt from a house on the left front occupied by sharp-shooters. A small -squad, by permission, stole down upon them unobserved. Making a rush for -the house the gray-backs went out of the back door as the boys went in -at the front. The family were at breakfast. One of the boys sat down and -had a hearty lunch, while the others searched the house from cellar to -garret. Notifying the owner that another shot from the house would meet -with response from the cannon, the boys returned and took their place in -line. - -And still the cannonade kept up. Shells passing overhead reached the -horses in the rear, carrying consternation to the boys who were holding -them. One came up to the line to get permission to trade places with one -of the boys, saying if he had to be killed he preferred to die as a -soldier, and not as a hostler. - -Col. Jackson rode a white horse and, with his orderlies, remained -mounted during this action. Wherever this horse was the shells were -thickest. Upon being asked why he rode this horse he said that in battle -no one hit what he shot at. So he rode this horse for safety. The -Colonel held a fairly good place in the affections of his men, but none -cared to cultivate any closer relations with him on this occasion. It -was two sad-eyed orderlies who followed him up and down the line these -two solemn hours. - -The rebel battery ceasing to return our fire, we returned to our horses -and about noon moved to the Cranny White Pike. Crossing it, we -dismounted and climbed a hill--the remainder of the brigade going into -line on our left. As we went into position the brass band of a regiment -on our immediate left was playing a melancholy piece--doubtless -expressing the feelings of the musicians, but certainly not inciting an -appetite for battle in the hearers. - -For some hours we lay upon this hill exchanging shots, occasionally, -with an unseen foe, without loss. The 10th Indiana on our left lost some -killed and wounded. About 4 P. M. Knipe ordered an advance of the whole -division. The 9th did not wait, but, springing to their feet, dashed -eagerly down the hill and away after the enemy, who did not stand upon -the order of their going, but went at once. - -Strict orders had been given to reserve fire until we should get in -short range, but some nervous comrade, with patriotism at his finger -ends, discharged his gun and at once a line of fire ran down the ranks. -An effort to stop the shooting was made without avail. Company K had a -man killed; a number were slightly wounded. Two Confederates were -seriously wounded in or near a house at the base of the hill, where we -discontinued the pursuit. - -This could scarcely be dignified by the name of "a charge," as the enemy -practically made no resistance. With fear to lend them speed they were -further from us at the end of the race than upon the start. The day was -damp and cold; many had on overcoats and poncho blankets. The haste with -which we obeyed the order to advance did not give them time to divest -themselves of extra clothing. The charge was along through a corn-field -a foot deep in mud, intersected by several ditches and washouts, four to -six feet deep, and from three to ten feet wide. Cavalry boots and other -impediments made this a decidedly warm trip. - -The rebels were now evidently badly whipped, and if the cavalry corps -had now been mounted we could certainly have cut off the retreat by the -Franklin road and practically bagged the entire game. By the time the -horses could be brought up night had come and we went into camp at the -base of the hill, from which the enemy had given us a parting shot at 5 -o'clock. - -The rebel army at the close of the fight on the 16th were completely -whipped; the infantry with which the cavalry corps had contended were a -demoralized and panic-stricken mob. Forrest, with his main body of -cavalry, had not been present during the battle. Two brigades had -reached the field on the evening of the 16th, and, holding the passes -through the Brentwood hills, from the Granny White Pike, enabled the -panic-stricken horde to reach the Franklin Pike and cross Little -Harpeth. Night and Forrest's cavalry alone saved Hood's army from total -capture. A strong rear guard of cavalry was formed to cover the retreat -of the broken rebel columns, and, although the battle was won our work -was but fairly begun. About midnight a heavy rain set in which continued -at intervals for some days following. - -By the early dawn the First Brigade was in the saddle en route for the -Franklin Pike, the 19th Pennsylvania in advance, supported by the 10th -Indiana. On reaching the pike the whole command started down toward -Franklin at a swinging trot. Soon striking the enemy they gave way -before the impetuosity of the advance and were rapidly driven back, -losing many prisoners. At Hollow Tree Gap a considerable body of -infantry were strongly posted, who repulsed the two regiments in front -with the loss of 22 killed and wounded and 63 prisoners, principally -from the 10th Indiana. To offset this, the 10th had captured and brought -off the field two Colonels, two Lieutenant-Colonels, one Major and more -than one hundred enlisted men. The 9th, being in the rear, had all the -morning seen the evidences of the demoralization of the enemy. The guns -and other equipments strewn along the road, the apparent abandonment of -everything that impeded their flight, every door-yard filled with -illy-clad shivering prisoners, had lead us to the conclusion that we had -"a walk over." Hollow Tree Gap undeceived us. - -After repulsing our advance the enemy fell back. The 9th Indiana was -ordered up and took the advance. As we moved through the Gap we saw the -saddest sight of the campaign. A trooper lay beside the road gasping his -life away, and near him with a ghastly wound in his breast, lay dead the -little curly-headed, blue-eyed boy, Duane A. Lewis, Co. B., sixteen -years old, the General's orderly, whose bright and joyous face and -fearless innocence had endeared him to the heart of every soldier in the -brigade. The pitiless rain fell upon his upturned childish face; his -eyes were open, but their light had gone out forever. - -Gen. Knipe said to Hammond: "Take your command and go to Franklin; don't -skirmish with the enemy three minutes, but attack him where found and -drive him through the town." - -The rain was gently falling, the heavy fog of early morning was somewhat -dissipated, yet so dense that objects could not be distinctly seen at a -distance. With a long trot we swept down the pike against a shadowy -foe--ourselves but shadows. The depressing weather and the sad scene -just passed made the lightest heart grow heavier as we swept along. -Suddenly from the woods on the left a body of Confederate horse sprang -into the road in front of us, and in a ghostly gallop lead the way to -their lines. - -Debouching into the open near Franklin, the cannon from the fort opened -on us with shell. The head of the column turned to the right a short -distance and wheeled into line--the centre and left coming on "front -into line." Hammond being at the head of the column gave the command to -charge before the line was barely formed. The right sprang forward at -the command and was rapidly followed by the center. The left, under -Capt. Hobson, was not yet in line and did not hear the command. Hammond -again shouted "charge!" Hobson was looking after the alignment and did -not hear the command. Hammond galloped to him and said: "You cowardly -s-- of a b--ch! why don't you charge?" Hobson raised himself in the -stirrups and said: "Boys, we will show who are cowards! Forward! March! -Trot! Charge!!" and lead the boys right up to the fort, where he was -shot through the heart.[4] A stone wall on the left caused them to crowd -on the centre and against the fort. The right also was forced to press -in on the centre, by reason of a nursery, which, for horses, was -practically impenetrable. The centre charged right down the open grounds -on the left of the pike. - -Lieut. Watts, of Company I, fell dead on the pike at the head of Company -G. Lieut. Duvall, who lead Company H, was shot in the breast--a wound -which hastened his death, occurring in 1880. - -The Confederates had torn down the telegraph wire and, driving posts at -intervals, had encircled the fort with it. This was unseen by the -assaulting party until their horses tumbled over it. Encumbered by the -horses who were useless in attacking a fort, impeded by a stone wall and -wire-fence, under an awful fire of grape and canister and musketry at -short range, the regiment fell back in disorder, but not without -bringing off two stands of colors and over two hundred prisoners. These -captures were made by individual prowess, and were not the result of -concerted action. - -Falling back perhaps two hundred yards from the fort and partially -sheltered from the shells and musket balls by a slight depression in the -plain, Acting Adjutant Comstock, under orders from the Colonel, planted -the regimental colors, and the line was soon formed again. This was done -quickly and well under fire. The shells were passing overhead and -bursting threw the fragments among the men in a distressingly familiar -way. - -Lieut. Burroughs, of Company C, had been disabled in the charge, and, as -the men from the left were crossing the pike to form on the colors, he -asked for assistance to remount his horse, which was standing near. Two -men dismounted to assist him, but just then a fragment from a bursting -shell tore away part of his skull. He was carried to the rear in a dying -condition. - -As the same party were hastening to the right, as before mentioned, a -shell passed through two horses, taking off the leg of one of the -riders. Another horse had his head taken off as with a broad-axe. In the -charge a horse was struck full in the breast with a cannon ball, passing -through and disemboweling him. The rider went headlong in the mud, where -he lay stunned until the fight was over. The charge was unwisely -ordered, but bravely and brilliantly executed. To ride down in the face -of a withering fire on a fort inaccessible to cavalry, defended by -artillery and infantry, greatly outnumbering the attacking force, was -apparently a ride to death. That it was not so we must thank Him without -whose notice no sparrow falls to the ground. No one faltered; none -turned back until all that could be done was accomplished. Bravely as -this was done, it did not show forth that true courage, born of moral -worth and a high sense of duty, as did the prompt rallying of the broken -companies, and the speedy reforming of the line, under fire, and the -patient waiting for orders among the bursting shells. This was the true -touchstone of our greatness as a regiment, and nobly did the boys stand -the test. - -In his report, dated December 27th, 1864, Gen. Hammond, of this action, -says: - -"The enemy, having retreated, we followed rapidly, the 9th Indiana in -advance, to near Franklin, and drove the enemy across the river into -town, capturing, it is reported, two stands of colors and near two -hundred prisoners. In this charge we lost three fine officers, among -whom was Capt. Hobson--9th Indiana Cavalry,--a man remarkable for the -prompt discharge of his duties, and his bravery. The 9th Indiana was -supported by the 10th Indiana and the 4th Tennessee. But the first -regiment deserved the principal credit of the charge and success." - -For the regiment, whose heroism converted his blunder into a glorious -achievement, this praise is scant enough. For the man, at whom he had -but a few minutes before his death, hurled the most opprobrious epithet -that can be applied to the brave man who loves his mother, or reveres -her memory, this recognition comes too late. - -The 4th Tennessee took the advance and pushed over the river, through -the town and out on the Lewisburg Pike, followed by the brigade. -Flanking the enemy out of a position between this and the Columbia Pike, -we moved across to this latter road, and leisurely moved down toward -Columbia. On either side of us great columns of cavalry were moving -through the fields in parallel lines. The entire cavalry corps was in -sight. The whole face of the country seemed covered with the mighty -host. - - "'T were worth ten years of peaceful life, - One glance at their array." - -A mile to the front, a range of heavily wooded hills at right angles to -the pike, rose abruptly from the plain. On the brow of this hill a -battery in the road opened on us with shell. The first shell, passing -over, bursted beyond our rear; another and another followed. The -stragglers felt an impulse of valor unfelt before, and made vigorous -efforts to get to the front. The pace of the command visibly -quickened--broke into a trot, and soon were galloping, while still above -us shrieked the shells. Alas! not all! Those in the rear could see the -column, opening and closing at frequent intervals, as the horsemen -passed on either side of the dead and wounded men and horses who had -fallen. - -Reaching a break in the wall which fenced in the right side of the road, -the head of the column, turning, dashed into the field on the right. -Dismounting at the edge of the woods, which was also the base of the -hill, we advanced upon the enemy, and drove him from his position. It -was said that in this action the 4th Regulars, lead by Knipe in person, -went into line, without dismounting, charged the enemy, and, after a -sharp hand to hand fight, drove him in confusion from the field. - -The whole corps was engaged in this action, and, in thirty minutes from -the discharge of the first gun, the entire rebel force, who were not -killed or prisoners, were in full retreat. It was now nearly dark. -Remounting, we moved to the right, the 10th Indiana in advance. Passing -the enemy's flank, and reaching the pike in his rear, we moved forward -to the attack. The 10th Indiana passed the enemy, who were ambushed -behind a stone fence on the left, and who permitted us to likewise get -well in the trot before springing it. - -Suddenly, from out the darkness, "Halt! Who comes there?" sharply -questioned a voice. "Federal cavalry," replied Jackson. "_Fire!_" rang -out the command, and immediately from a thousand muskets in our very -faces, gushed a sheet of flame. Down went man and horse. Another volley, -and the frightened horses reared and plunged, many falling in a ditch -alongside the road, crippling the riders. - -Company L was in the advance. Moorehouse went down with a ghastly wound; -Bristow fell dead; Jackson's horse went into the ditch, falling upon -him, and inflicting permanent injuries to his breast. Acting Adjutant -Comstock and another, whose name I cannot give, saved the Colonel from -capture, by mounting him upon another horse and holding him in the -saddle until a place of safety could be reached. - -Color-Sergeant Ricks, of Company E, a noble boy, was killed, and, in the -darkness, the colors were lost. The rebels, protected by the wall, were -safe from sabre or bullet. The plunging of the horses, the cries of the -wounded, the shouting of the officers, the lurid flashing of guns, -fitfully lighting the scene, made a situation inadequately described by -the modified term of the "new version." - -The surprise, the darkness and disorder, the impossibility of returning -the fire, left but one thing to do. A united rush was made to the right. -The rail fence, bounding the road, went down with a crash--officer and -man, with equal zeal, seeking safety in flight. The enemy pursued with -shout and yell and hissing bullet. It was not a panic. It was good, hard -sense. To get out of that hopeless hell was strictly business. - -The enemy did not pursue very far. Halting in the woods, Hammond made an -effort to get the brigade in line. He was so hoarse he could not speak -above a whisper. It was found that all the officers were likewise too -hoarse to make themselves heard, and the attempt was abandoned. Each -officer and man sought sleep and rest where best it suited him. Sleep -did not at once fall upon the camp. Silence there was, but not sleep. -The chagrin of failure, the separation from comrades who might be dead -or wounded, and in the hands of the enemy, added tenfold to the horror -of the night, itself wet, cold, comfortless. At last tired nature -succumbed to the drowsy god, and all too soon the morning bugle awoke us -from slumber to the duties and dangers of another day. - -On the 18th the command, encountering no enemy, marched to near Spring -Hill, and went into camp. Resuming the march on the 19th, reached -Rutherford's Creek. This stream was out of its banks, its current a -torrent, making a more effective rear guard for the defeated army than -even Forrest's brave and determined troops. The almost impassable -condition of the roads delayed the arrival of the pontoons until the -20th. Meantime the infantry had overtaken us, and gone into camp near -us. - -When the infantry came from the front and began work on the defenses at -Pulaski, they did not have a very high opinion of the cavalry arm of the -service. This feeling was fairly illustrated in the remark of a bronzed -veteran visiting our camp. He said: "The artillery makes the noise, the -cavalry makes the show, and _we do the work_!" A General was heard to -express his contempt for this arm of the service by offering to pay $10 -per head for each cavalryman killed in battle. These boys had now -followed our line of march and constant battle for some days. They had -seen the character of the work done, and from them now was heard only -words of warmest commendation. These were the heroes of Atlanta, and to -have thus earned their enthusiastic approval, conquering their prejudice -and compelling respect, was doubling our laurels and glory enough. Their -unstinted praise was not more grateful to our hearts than was the -generous sharing of their scant store of hard-tack to our now, for a day -or two, "strictly corn-fed" stomachs. - -The bridge across Rutherford's Creek being completed, on the 21st we -crossed and moved down to Columbia. Duck River, swollen by the rains, -that for a week had almost constantly fallen, was now a wide, deep and -turbulant stream. The rain had ceased to fall, and it was snowing -instead. The wind was blowing a gale from the northwest. This greatly -increased the difficulty of bridging the stream, and it was December 23d -before we were enabled to cross the river and resume the pursuit. We had -been called up the midnight preceding, struck our tents, and, mounting, -moved down near the river, where we sat upon our horses in the wind and -flying snow--a dismal, dark, dreadful two hours--and then back to camp -again. - -About 10 o'clock A. M. on the 23d, we crossed the bridge and moved some -miles down the Pulaski Pike, not encountering the enemy. - -On the 24th, we moved through the fields on the right of Gen. Croxton's -brigade. We were not in advance this day, and, while always in hearing -of the guns, were not directly engaged. All this day, as we followed in -the wake of the fight, our eyes were constantly greeted with -unmistakable evidences of the struggle in front. No one will forget the -little knot of dead and dying artillerymen and horses by the road-side, -maimed and mangled by a bursting shell, a gory, ghastly sight. - -Forrest, with the main body of his cavalry, had reached the line of -Hood's retreat at Columbia, and from that point interposed a force not -inferior in numbers, or discipline, to the cavalry corps pursuing. In -addition to this force, we were hourly confronted by five brigades of -infantry, under Gen. Walthall. So great a force, aided by bad roads and -swollen streams, made it impossible for us to break through their -defence. It is true that at every stand made by the enemy, we drove him -from his position, but when he fell back it was usually in good order, -and more as one who had accomplished a purpose than as a beaten and -demoralized foe. - -On the 25th, we pushed on, following the advance, which drove the enemy -through Pulaski so closely, that he did not have time to destroy the -bridge over Richland Creek. The men detailed to fire the bridge were -killed or captured and the fire extinguished. Another stand was made at -Reynolds' or Anthony's Hill, south of Pulaski. Our brigade was ordered -to support the first brigade, sixth division, in an attack on this -position. The enemy made strong resistance, and for some time the battle -raged without advantage on either side. Hammond's brigade was ordered -up. The 9th Indiana, with Companies I and D as skirmishers, advanced on -the enemy's left. His skirmishers were soon met and driven back on the -main line, lying along the top of the hill. A heavy fire was opened on -these two companies, and they were compelled to fall back on the -supporting column--which, going into line, advanced upon the enemy. -Meantime the brigade in advance had been repulsed, and fell back in -confusion,--the 7th Ohio cavalry breaking through the advancing column -between the 4th Tennessee and the remainder of the brigade. The 4th -charged gallantly and drove the pursuing enemy back into his works, but -the support being delayed by the demoralized 7th Ohio, failed to come -up, and the 4th was compelled to withdraw. Now it was that our regiment -advanced with the 2d Tennessee on our left. Coming within sight of the -defences, the whole line, with a yell and mighty rush, swept up the hill -over the works and across the opening after the flying foe, who -disappeared in the woods beyond. Company I had a place in this charge. -Company D, being on the right of the skirmish line, had, in falling -back, after helping develop the enemy's position, missed the supporting -column--having to go around a precipitous hill to rejoin the regiment, -only reached the scene in time to observe, but take no part in, the -charge, which closed the day's work. - -Going into camp the weary soldier found time to remember that this was -Christmas day, and fill himself with the recollection of the Christmas -feasts of former years--precious "little else" he had to fill himself -with. Mud and snow below, clouds and rain above, all night long, was not -conducive to rest, but caused the boys the more readily to resume the -march next morning--the saddle being more comfortable than the camp. - -The 26th opened with a heavy fog and gently falling rain. The 2d -Tennessee in advance, supported by the 9th Indiana, struck the enemy -about five miles from camp and drove him swiftly back on the main body, -which was strongly posted on the south bank of Sugar Creek, a deep and -rapid stream, with high and steep banks. The 2d Tennessee going into -line, was soon hotly engaged. The 9th debouched from the road and went -into line in reserve, but so near the first line that we were as fully -under fire as those in front. - -To remain under fire from an unseen enemy, without the stimulus of -action, is a serious tax upon the courage of the average soldier. The 2d -Tennessee, after a few minutes' exchange of courtesies with the enemy, -were moved by the right flank to make room for us. Glad to move, the -regiment took its place in the position lately occupied by the 2d -Tennessee, while the 14th Ohio battery went into position near the line -just abandoned by us. All this time the enemy's fire was unceasing. On -reaching our new position we could see under the lifting fog, the creek -with its steep banks, and beyond it the log barricades, from behind -which constantly leaped forth the flame and smoke, accentuating the -"zip" of the spiteful bullets, which constantly cut the air around us. - -From here we could also see the slender thread of road leading to the -ford, across which but two horses might pass abreast. As against mounted -men the position was impregnable. The situation was not encouraging, -contemplating which, an officer of the line got somewhat excited, and, -riding to and fro in front of the regiment, constantly shouting: "Don't -run, boys; for God's sake, don't run!" - -This was an unnecessary appeal. Aside from the disorder arising from -falling horses, the line stood unwavering. A sharp reprimand from -Hammond, and this officer subsided. The fire of the enemy continued with -increasing vigor. It was returned by "the boys" with interest. Protected -by log works the enemy probably suffered no loss. - -Two companies, under command of Capt. Cofer, were now sent to the left -to a hill commanding the rebel right and protecting our left flank. The -regiment, at the same time, moved to the right, making place for the -balance of the brigade in line. The two companies moving to the left -reached an angle in the hill--one arm running back parallel to our line -of advance, the other, and shorter arm, projecting toward the field of -battle. Dismounting behind the shorter arm, which thoroughly protected -the horses, the two companies scaled the hill and formed in line on its -top, overlooking the rebel works in the plain below. Company D took the -position nearest the field, the other company (Company I, probably), -going to the left, were in the act of deploying to guard against -surprise from the extreme left, when the enemy left his works, crossed -the creek, and wildly yelling, charged the centre of the main line, -driving them back probably three hundred yards, leaving the led horses -in a triangle, the base and perpendicular of which was too -"perpendicular" to climb, and the high position in the hands of the -enemy. Company D hurriedly scrambled down the hill, and, remounting, -dashed out through the astonished Confederates to a place of safety, -where, reforming, they rejoined the regiment. In their ride to the rear -Company D lost four enlisted men by capture. The horses of the other -company were also successfully brought off. - -Cofer, with his company, hearing the battle surging back in the centre, -also tried to get back, but by the time the deployed line could be -rallied to return, they were met by a body of the enemy, who, seeing so -many led horses going to the rear, suspected the truth, and went up the -hill to see about it. Resistance was hopeless, flight seemed impossible, -but, with a rebel prison on the one hand, and a chance for safety in a -race with death on the other, was but a moment's hesitation. Running -back up the hill and making a wide detour, Indiana put in her "best -licks," and, although the rebels had the inner and by far the shorter -line, they escaped, amidst a storm of bullets, without a scratch, and -rejoined the regiment, much to their own satisfaction and greatly to the -relief of the remainder of the regiment, who had given them up for lost. - -The brigade again advanced and drove the enemy back into his works. The -14th Ohio battery was now placed in position, and soon shelled them out, -and pursuit was continued some distance by a portion of the command, the -remainder soon going into camp. - -These were the last rebels in arms seen by us in this campaign. -Subsistence for men and horses was becoming a serious question. We had -received no rations since leaving Nashville, twelve days before. There -had been little time for foraging. The resources of the country were -nearly exhausted by the rebel army--men and horses were worn out and -hungry. A few days were consumed in recruiting the horses and securing -supplies. The march was resumed and continued without incident of -special interest, except a very pleasant encampment at Taylor Springs -and a very unpleasant, not to say dangerous, crossing of Elk River, -ending at Gravelly Springs, where we went into winter quarters. - -It was but a remnant of the 9th Cavalry that went into camp at the close -of this long march. By death, wounds, disease and capture we had lost -heavily. Those stopping by the way, from death or exhausting of horses, -added to the other losses--not more than two hundred effectives reached -this, our final, camp in Alabama. In considering the service of the 9th -Cavalry in this campaign, we will concede that other commands may have -done more fighting, but in promptly and effectually performing the -duties assigned, no regiment could have excelled the 9th Indiana. - -Hammond, in his report, says: "During this campaign I have had continual -occasion to admire the bravery of both officers and men, and to lament -want of discipline." The discipline of our regiment was fairly good; the -officers, as a rule, had the respect and confidence of their men, who -yielded prompt obedience to all orders. Gen. Hammond never issued an -order, either in battle, on the march or in camp, that we did not try to -obey, whatever we may have thought of the wisdom of it. - -It is the deliberate opinion of the writer, after twenty years' -experience with all sorts of people, that no finer body of men ever -lived than served together in the 9th Indiana Cavalry, and certain it is -no braver soldiers ever marched to battle. - -[Illustration: Map of battle, December 1, 1861.] - -Footnote 1: - - NOTE A.--Of the affair at Wilson's Pike, December 1, 1864, Sergt. - Holt, of Co. E, writes as follows: - - D. W. C. - - "At the fight on Wilson's Pike, December 1, 1861, Company E was - detailed to check the advancing columns on that road. The company was - stationed in a small yard behind a house. A line of skirmishers was - thrown out consisting of the dismounted fourth man, placed in charge - of a sergeant, with orders to fire once or twice and fall back to - their horses. The advance was very rapid, the firing hot in the region - of the company, and the men who had charge of the horses of the - dismounted men were ordered to the rear. When our men came back from - the skirmish line they were disappointed in not finding their horses, - and were all captured, consisting of nearly twenty-six men of Company - E, who were taken to Cahaba, Alabama, prison. Only about half of them - lived through the five months they were kept there. Capt. Hobson was - left in charge of the rear. He was ordered off the field twice by - orderlies from Gen. Hammond, but failing to obey the order Gen. - Hammond came himself and took the command off. The rebels were so - close to us that I think I would almost know the color-bearer if I - were to see him to-day. Before we left the yard, or just as we were - leaving, Sergt. Helvie, who was sitting at the roots of a sugar tree, - called to me to take his gun, a Henry rifle. I did so, and was so much - excited that I only got two loads off out of the fifteen it contained. - I believe Sergt. Helvie was the only man wounded in the engagement, - although we stayed upon the field until the right and left wings of - the rebel advance were considerably ahead of us, and I pointed the - fact out to Capt. Hobson, but it didn't seem to affect him." - -Footnote 2: - - It was said that Company F sold this mule in New Orleans several - times. The plan was--as the story was told--to have one of the boys, - in citizen's clothes, sell the animal, and before it could be got away - a squad would come up and arrest the party for having United States - property in possession, compromising for a greater or less amount, - take the mule and release the purchaser. This was said to have been - repeated a number of times. At last the mule was hid and could not be - found, but not before a sum had been raised sufficient to put Company - F in funds. - -Footnote 3: - - Lieut. Thomas J. Cofer, Co. I. - -Footnote 4: - - Accounts of the deaths of Capt. Hobson and Lieut. Watts are - conflicting. Capt. Hayden states that Capt. Hobson was killed right at - the fort. The account of Sergt. Holt, Co. E, of the same incident, is - subjoined. Sergt. Holt's candor in relating his experiences is - refreshing and worthy of all praise. Most of us, in relating army - experiences, are apt to forget or omit our fears and remember only - what was heroic. There was in the regiment but one opinion concerning - Capt. Hobson, and that was that he was a brave and capable officer. - Martin Gregg, Co. I, states that he was with Lieut. Watts when shot; - that he was killed by the captain of the battery, who also fired at - him. - - D. W. C. - - "Company E was the left wing, Capt. Hobson commanding the main column. - Advancing on the pike, our company went to the left or rear of a small - works on the pike. After we had climbed a little hill, our company had - scattered considerably, the firing being close above us with grape. We - formed under cover of the ravine, and then advanced down the railroad. - Capt. Hobson was leading the company; and Sergeant Grose and myself - were (I probably ought not to say so) in the rear. I thought I took in - the situation and asked him how he liked the place we were going into. - He said he didn't like it much, but he guessed we would have to go. We - charged down the railroad until we got to the wagon road, then went - under the railroad, the grade being so high as to permit us to go - under. Capt. Hobson didn't seem to realize the situation until he was - confronted on the other side by the retreating rebel column. He halted - and turned round immediately on the retreat, and was shot just as he - came under the railroad, falling almost against the stone abutment. - His riderless horse came galloping past me as I turned to retreat.... - - "An incident in connection with Capt. Hobson's death has always - impressed me. During the morning Capt. Hobson and Lieut. Burroughs - were riding together, and in their conversation Lieut. Burroughs said: - 'I would rather lose my right arm than go into a fight.' Capt. Hobson - replied, 'The rebel bullet is not molded that will kill me.' With - these remarks hardly cold from their lips they went into the fight and - were both killed within at least a few minutes of each other. - - "While Capt. Hobson many times seemed rough in his remarks, his - actions would show that he was tender in feelings. With a confidence - that no harm can come to him, a man can go forth and fight with - dashing courage, although danger surrounds him; but with the thought - that as certain as he goes into battle, he will be the first to fall, - requires a stout heart, and is offering his life upon the altar of his - country. I never felt that I would be injured in battle, but I have - several times wished that some one else would run, so that I might - have some excuse to run myself. It took a braver man to make the break - and run when every one was standing in line of battle than it did to - stand and fight." - - - - - THE NINTH AT FRANKLIN. - - - Those who were present will admit that Capt. Hayden's account of the - 9th at Franklin is but a conservative statement of the facts. On the - day after the fight, while we were all feeling very well satisfied - with ourselves and the part the regiment had taken in the affair, I - wrote a letter to the Cincinnati Commercial, which was published in - its issue of December 29, 1864. I think it sufficiently pertinent to - justify the insertion of the greater part of it. - - D. W. C. - - CAMP OF THE 9TH INDIANA CAVALRY, -NEAR FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE, DECEMBER 18, 1864. - -It is a lamentable fact, that, for some reason as yet ungiven, the -cavalry arm of our service has not, until quite recently, been -distinguished for any special efficiency. Its connection, however, with -the late brilliant victories in the Shenandoah Valley, have won for it -at least the respect of the country, and caused the withdrawal of Major -General Hooker's standing offer of twenty dollars for a dead cavalryman -of the Potomac Army. In the West this branch of the army, as your -readers are aware, has been organized into the corps of the Military -Division of the Mississippi, under command of Brevet Major General -Wilson, whose dash and splendid abilities, while eminently fitting him -for the responsible position he holds, have fully warranted his -promotion from Lieutenant Colonel to his present rank. The late complete -successes of his command are evinced in those sure and substantial -evidences of victory--prisoners, battle-flags and guns; and in this -department no corps can show more of them than the cavalry. - -While all the troops in this command have behaved with credit to -themselves and honor to the cause in which they fight, for pluck, -coolness and promptness in the hour that tests men's courage, among all -the regiments taking part in the late move in front of Nashville, the -9th Indiana Cavalry of brigadier General Hammond's brigade, is worthy of -special and honorable mention, and, particularly, its splendid charge -upon the works and forces of the enemy at Franklin yesterday--an exploit -unsurpassed by anything written of the war, and compared to which in -point of success, Major Zagonyi's celebrated charge at Springfield, -which created such a sensation at the beginning of the war, and -interested the principal artists of the country in the face of a homely -but ordinary man, becomes tame and unimportant. Some five hundred yards, -over undulating grounds, made miry by recent rains, from the advance, -(9th Indiana Cavalry, Colonel George W. Jackson commanding), of -Hammond's brigade, and upon the north side of Big Harpeth river was a -section of a battery, supported by two regiments of infantry, strongly -entrenched behind abatis and rifle-pits; in front of them a regiment of -cavalry drawn up to receive a charge. On the south side of the river -four guns were so planted as to enfilade the road. Filing and forming to -the right and left of the road, with a coolness, which seemed utterly -regardless of the terrible accuracy with which the rebel guns were -aimed, while their shells were mangling horses and their riders, the men -seated themselves more firmly in their saddles, tightened the reins, and -"looked on sky and tree and plain" as sights they might never see again. -Led in person by Colonel Jackson, in a line which would have awakened -the admiration of Old Hardee himself, the 9th, at a walk, advanced to -victory--many of them, alas, to death. From a walk to a trot, from a -trot to a gallop, the short distance of five hundred yards was soon -traversed, and the Hoosier boys measured arms with the chivalry from -Georgia, Alabama and Texas. Overwhelmed by the celerity and boldness of -the movement, many of the enemy were sabered and captured before they -had fairly entered into the spirit of the fight. Before the impetuous -Jackson three men in gray fell in less time than it takes now to tell -it. A little Sergeant from Company K, George Leslie, with no weapon but -his sabre, took from their gun a Lieutenant and artilleryman. - -To describe a real cavalry charge, however, where sabres are crossed and -skulls are cleaved, as was the case at Franklin on the 17th inst., and -do it justice, is impossible. One may tell how hundreds of well-drilled, -well-mounted men, with clean blades, seen through the clear morning air, -moving like machinery, is a sight not often seen, and a splendid -embodiment or representation of power, and in the rush of a charge may -liken it to the tornado, that must sweep the earth unless averted. This -may be said, but a hundred instances of individual prowess must -necessarily be overlooked. In fifteen minutes the field was won. Two -stands of colors, two guns and 250 prisoners were the spoils of victory. -The remainder of the enemy, in confusion, fled through Franklin, leaving -it to be taken with near 2,000 of their wounded, without further -fighting. This, with 400 men, for the other regiments, comprising the -brigade, were not formed until the enemy had been driven across the -river. Prisoners said the cavalry had never acted so before--that they -were not even given time to fight, before they were whipped, and, even -after surrendering, had difficulty in escaping the hoofs of the horses. - -Rebel officers accounted for the desperate and determined fighting of -our men, by saying they had been given whisky and gun-powder. The latter -part of the statement was strictly true. A successful cavalry -charge--the capture of stands of colors, guns and prisoners, is a new -episode in the great rebellion. But the faithful historian in the annals -of the heroes and heroic deeds of the war, and glowing tributes to the -devotion of patriot soldiers, will find no theme more worthy the -beauties of our Saxon tongue, than the charge of the 9th Indiana Cavalry -at Franklin. - - - - - COL. JACKSON. - - -It has not been our purpose in these papers to make special mention of -any officer. As an exception to the general plan, I have thought that a -brief mention of Col. Jackson's name would give no offense and could not -be regarded as an unfair discrimination. Holding, by virtue of his rank, -the most conspicuous place, he is in the eyes of his old comrades the -foremost mark for blame or praise. He went west soon after the -conclusion of the war--since then but little has been known of him by -members of the regiment. The latest information concerning him, in -possession of the writer, dates back some years, at which time he was -reported as living with his family upon a farm near New Salem, Kansas, -in feeble health. If living now he would be accounted an elderly man. -His military history, briefly stated in the army records, is as follows: - -Mustered as Second Lieutenant, Company C, 34th Regiment, Indiana -Volunteer Infantry, September 21, 1861. - -Mustered as First Lieutenant, same Company, April 14, 1862. - -Mustered Captain May 12, 1862. - -Resigned October 7, 1863; promoted Colonel 118th Regiment. - -Mustered Colonel 121st Regiment (9th Cavalry), 1864. - -Honorably discharged June 3, 1865. - -The career disclosed by this brief recital, although but the skeleton of -his gallant service in behalf of his country, is one of which his -friends may well be proud, but to stop with it would not satisfy those -who followed his leadership with confidence and recall his memory with -affectionate regard. - -Having been much in personal contact with him in camp, on the march, and -in action, the writer may take a partial view of his character--but -to-day, after the lapse of many years, recollecting his strong and weak -points, and he had them both, I deem it only a just tribute to the "old -Colonel," as the boys used to call him, to say that he was a brave -soldier, an able and skillful officer, a faithful and generous friend. - -He was unfortunate in a nervous organization, which sometimes affected -his temper, compelling him to do and say things which he had occasion to -regret and which unfitted him for camp life. In its monotony he grew -restive and irritable, sometimes by too violent manifestations of his -feelings, giving offense to brother officers without just cause--but -mounted and at the head of the 9th, and fronting the enemy or leading -the charge, he was always the alert, gallant and splendid leader. - -The education he was possessed of, was of a solid character and was -derived more from contact with men than from books. He did not affect -learning, though he was intelligent and well informed on current -affairs. Had he begun his career in the army with higher rank than a -Lieutenancy, or with influential friends to have secured the prompter -recognition of his merits, or earlier obtained opportunities for the -display of his soldierly qualities, he would have won distinction in a -war so fruitful of able Generals. As it is, his friends must be content -with the knowledge that in the various posts assigned him he was -faithful, capable and brave, and that those esteemed him most who knew -him best. - - - - - WRECK OF THE SULTANA. - - -No single event during the war so startled and shocked the North as that -which has since been known as the "Sultana Disaster." - -On the 23d day of April, 1865, the steamer Sultana left Vicksburg with a -total of passengers and crew of 2,141 persons. Of this number -thirty-five were Federal officers and 1,996 Federal soldiers, recently -having been released from Catawba, Enterprise and Andersonville prisons. -The remaining 110 were made up of the crew and passengers taken on board -at points between New Orleans and Vicksburg. - -The physical condition of these officers and soldiers is well known to -those familiar with the treatment received by Federals in Southern -prisons,--long confinement in stockades, without protection from heat or -cold, or rain, without adequate food or clothing, deprived in sickness -of medical aid and the commonest comforts. All were weak and many were -absolutely helpless in the presence of danger. - -The estimated capacity of the boat was 376 persons, besides the crew. -The overloading of the boat made it necessary to make any disposition of -the men practicable. They occupied all available room. They were stowed -away wherever space was found to place them. The trip up the river to -the place of the tragedy was made without the occurrence of any unusual -incident. The last stop was at Memphis, at which place the boat took on -coal. At about 3 o'clock on the morning of the 27th of April, 1865, when -opposite Fogleman's Landing, some eight miles above Memphis, the -steamer's boiler exploded. The vessel took fire immediately and was soon -burned to the water's edge. - -It were idle to attempt a description of the scene that followed that -explosion. It was 3 o'clock in the morning. The water was very cold. -Many passed from the sleep of life to the sleep of death without -awakening. Others without warning found themselves rudely awakened by -contact with the icy water of the Mississippi. They saw the fierce river -lit up by the burning steamer; saw their comrades struggling with the -waves, heard their appeals for help, without the power to respond. They -fought bravely with the darkness and cold and flood for life, sometimes -even to death for the possession of a log, or boat, or other float, that -could bear but one, often cruelly, but naturally asserting Nature's -first law, when its assertion meant death to a weaker brother. Yet such -sad pictures were relieved by others of devotion and gallantry and -sacrifice not surpassed in earthly trials. Some who were able to swim, -notwithstanding the shock and chill of the waters, kept afloat for a -time, and were successful in getting hold of floating planks and rails, -and thus maintaining themselves until rescued. Many floated thus as far -as Memphis before they were picked up, and though rescued from the -water, died soon after from the scalding and burns received on the -vessel, and from long exposure to the cold and from exhaustion. An -instance is related of a mother, who clasping her babe in her arms, -floated from the wreck to Memphis, where she was taken from the water. -She lived, but the little one was dead. - -The light from the burning vessel was seen, and the explosion heard for -many miles. At a later hour these evidences of disaster would have -brought greater numbers to the rescue. The time of the accident was -unfavorable to prompt assistance. As it was, vessels of all -descriptions, chiefly skiffs, put out promptly and rendered much -assistance. - -A soldier passenger on the boat relates that while in the water he saw a -horse swim by him with a dozen men clinging to him; he says he saw a -soldier attempting, with the aid of a plank, to save two little girls. A -rope was thrown him, and in attempting to catch it, the children escaped -from his exhausted arms. He seemed to lose all thought of the rope; he -beat about wildly to regain his helpless charge, which were borne from -him in darkness, but he was finally rescued nearly dead from exhaustion. - -Of those who were rescued, 200 died in the hospital of Memphis alone. -Near fourteen hundred were killed by the explosion or drowned. Those -able to be removed were sent North to Cincinnati, Ohio, but those -belonging to the Indiana regiments were stopped at Indianapolis, where -they received such attention as thoughtful consideration could bestow. - - * * * * * - -We give the following extracts from Memphis papers appearing within a -day or two of the disaster: - - - STATEMENT OF SERGEANT L. B. HINCKLEY. - - -I belong to the 9th Indiana Cavalry. I had just gone to bed and fallen -asleep, when all of a sudden I was awakened by some horrible noise. I -sprang out of bed and found the cabin full of flame and the passengers -all jumping overboard. The water for a while around was covered with -people struggling for life. I never heard such terrible and mournful -wailings. The glare of light showed a scene such as never before had -been witnessed. I happened to find a log after swimming some distance. -There was eight of us started on this log; before we reached the wood, -however, four of them gave out and sank to rise no more. I had at first -got hold of a shutter, but finding some one else who needed it worse -than I did, I gave it up. I reached the wood on the log and got on to a -tree. I was rescued from my uncomfortable position about daylight from -the little island opposite Mr. Fogleman's house. We found one who had -reached the wood, his name being Wm. Curtiss, of Company F, 1st Virginia -Cavalry. He was almost in the agonies of death, and had clutched the -limb to which he had caught, and could not be taken from his position -until the limb was cut. Mr. Fogleman's house was opened to us, and we -had every attention shown us that could be under the circumstances. - - - WORK OF THE CREW OF THE GUN-BOAT ESSEX. - - -The officers and crew of the iron clad Essex deserve unstinted credit -and praise for the part they took in picking up the passengers of the -ill-fated steamer Sultana. Lieutenant James Perry, Ensign of the Essex, -was awakened yesterday morning about 4 o'clock, and informed that the -steamer Sultana had blown up, and was now burning; that the passengers -were floating down the river and crying for help. The Lieutenant jumped -up immediately, and was startled and horrified by the agonizing cries of -the people in the river. He said, that never in all his life, did he -hear anything so dreadful, and hopes it may never be his lot to hear -such screams again. He immediately ordered the boats to be manned, which -was done in very quick time. The morning was very dark. It was -impossible to see twenty feet ahead, and they had nothing to guide them -whatever but the shrieks and groans of the wounded and scalded men. The -first man picked up was chilled through and through, being perfectly -benumbed and unable to help himself. Lieutenant Berry, seeing the -condition the man was in, very generously divested himself of his own -coat and put it on him. The second man they took up died in a few -moments after being taken aboard. The men who had Captain Parker's gig -picked a woman up out of some drift. She was at that time just making -her last struggle for life. About the time this woman was picked up a -steamboat yawl came there and helped pick up some more who were clinging -to the drift. Lieutenant Berry said it was impossible for him to give -any description of the scene; he said it beggared all description; that -there were no words adequate to convey to the mind the horror of that -night. He continually heard the persons in the water cry out, "Oh, for -God's sake save us, we cannot hold out any longer." The boats of the -United States steamers Groesbeck and Tyler were on hand, and displayed -great vigilance and zeal in picking up the drowning men. Lieutenant -Berry, with the help of the crew, picked up over sixty men. Among those -of the crew who deserve special notice, are John Tompson, the Captain's -coxswain, who with gig, picked up twenty-six men; also John Hill and -William Quinn displayed a heroism which deserves to be rewarded by -promotion. In fact the whole crew acted in such a noble manner that too -much cannot be credited to them for their noble endeavors to save the -perishing multitude that was floating down the river, and while we -compliment the men we would not be unmindful of the part Lieutenant -Berry performed. He seemed to forget his rank, he - - "Doffed his sparkling cloak, - And went to work with might and main," - -mingling as one of the crew in the magnanimous work of saving human -life. With commendable forethought, Captain Parker sent ten boats out to -explore the shore from Memphis to the place of the disaster. Up to half -past three o'clock yesterday only five boats have returned. They had -found a few dead bodies, but could not find any survivors along the -shore. We think by this time that all except those who sank to rise no -more, have been picked up; for all classes, both high and low, searched -hard and diligently all day yesterday in hunting up the survivors of -this calamitous disaster. Had the disaster occurred an hour or two -later, Captain Parker feels assured that the naval force here could have -saved several hundred lives instead of the sixty alluded to. -Unfortunately the night was dark, and the boats were obliged to steer in -the direction of the cries, being unable to see more than a few of those -struggling in the water. William Young, gunner's mate on the United -States iron clad Essex, distinguished himself by his courageous acts. -Mr. Young rendered invaluable aid in rescuing from watery graves many of -the sufferers by the Sultana's explosion. He is an old sailor, having -been for thirty years an active seaman, twenty-three years of that time -in the navy. - -When the steamer Rose Hamilton was nearing the head of the little island -opposite Mr. Fogleman's residence, she was hailed by a skiff belonging -to some fishermen who came aboard, having discovered among the willows -the body of a young lady, apparently about twenty years of age. She was -of medium height, say about five feet five inches, with a fine head of -long brown hair, blue eyes, and had a slight scar across the chin. She -was dressed in the night attire of a respectable lady. She wore on her -bosom a neat breast pin of plain jet set in gold. She was a very -handsome lady, and had not been recognized at last accounts. Her body -was taken on board the Rose Hamilton and as decently laid out as -circumstances would permit. Unknown to those by whom she was thus cared -for, when the sorrows and cares of life were all over, who she was, what -home may be filled with mourning because she comes no more, are -questions which cannot be answered, yet, whoever she may be, her friends -could wish for no more tender care than strangers have bestowed, for -many a manly eye grew moist as they gazed on the pale form in death. - - - A VISIT TO THE WRECK. - - -After the explosion of her boilers, and the rapid spread of the flames, -the burning mass of what had been the fine steamer Sultana, floated -slowly down with the current until within a few hundred yards of Mr. -Fogleman's residence, when it grounded on the Arkansas shore. We visited -the wreck about 10 o'clock. It had sunk in twenty feet of water, and the -jackstaff was standing up before the black mass, as though mutely -mourning over the terrible scene, a silent witness of which it had been. -The boat was almost entirely consumed. The charred remains of several -human bodies were found, crisped and blackened by the fiery element. The -scene was sad to contemplate, and those who witnessed it can never -forget it. The Rose Hamilton, Pocahontas, Jenny Lind and Bostona were -cruising around the place ever and anon picking up the breathless body -of some unfortunate one, who "slept the sleep of death;" or some more -fortunate, who had escaped a watery grave, though exhausted by a fearful -night of agony and struggle for life. - - - STATEMENT OF PRIVATE FRED ALBACK, SECOND MICHIGAN CAVALRY. - - -I was awakened when the explosion took place, lying on the top of the -wheel house. As soon as I discovered that the boat had exploded, I -caught hold of the fender and slid down to the water and let myself in, -having nothing on me at the time. I judge I must have swam about ten -miles. The river was alive with people crying and calling for help in -the greatest of agony. Just as I was coming down off the boat I saw two -ladies who had thrown themselves into the water, they having nothing to -keep them up, and sank, when I saw them no more. When the explosion took -place it threw the cabin into the air, and it fell back upon the shell -of the boat in one mass of ruins, crushing many of the passengers, who -were thus caught and were undoubtedly burned to death. Very many caught -hold of horses by their manes and tails, but whether they escaped or not -I cannot tell, as I never heard of them afterwards. - - - STATEMENT OF PRIVATE R. H. SIMPSON, COMPANY I, NINETEENTH INDIANA. - - -I went to sleep about 2 o'clock and was awakened in about half an hour -by hot water falling on my face and hands. I was not struck by anything -nor scalded, but remained on the boat until the flames compelled me to -leave. I then ran up on the cabin floor, snatched off a door and then -made my way down to the lower deck and jumped into the river. By the -light of the burning steamer I could see hundreds of the passengers in -the water, all crying and wailing for help. I swam for about one mile -and a half, and when I got to the island, just opposite Mr. Fogleman's, -there I caught hold of the bushes. I saw three men drown while I was in -the water. One of them had gained the trees and was holding to the -limbs; a skiff was fast coming to his help, but being utterly exhausted -he lost his hold and sank, when the skiff was about ten steps off. The -other two had almost gained the bushes, but sank before they could reach -the trees. - - * * * * * - -An event so appalling as this could not occur even at a time when the -country was accustomed to hear of the deaths of great numbers of men, -without action upon the part of the government looking to the -investigation of its cause. A military committee and a committee upon -the part of Congress were appointed for that purpose. Both committees, -no doubt, discharged with fairness and ability the duty assigned them. -There were many theories and rumors as to the cause. Rumor charged that -the Post Quartermaster at Vicksburg, by a contract with the owners of -the vessel, received a commission of $2.00 for each soldier passenger -furnished, and for that consideration he had recklessly crowded the -vessel beyond her capacity. It was also charged that the machinery was -out of repair, and the vessel generally unseaworthy. - -The investigation, however, disclosed the fact that before leaving -Vicksburg her boilers had been repaired by competent mechanics; that the -charge against the Quartermaster was untrue; that the disaster was not -due to the fact that the vessel was carrying more than her estimated -capacity. The writer has not been able to obtain the report made by -either of the committees as to the true cause of the explosion. - -Among the lost were men from every company of the 9th Cavalry. The -following list may not be complete, but is believed to be correct so far -as it goes: - - Daniel Curtis, Co. A - Patrick Day, Co. A. - Frederick Blessinger, Corp., Co. B. - Charles E. Church, Co. B. - Ephraim B. Parman, Co. B. - John Steward, Co. B. - Warren A. Huckins, Co. C. - John M. Englehart, Co. C. - Edward Wood, Co. D. - Thomas Laboyteaux, Co. E. - John Bonner, Co. F. - Charles W. Clevenger, Co. G. - Jonathan R. Downing, Co. G. - George Downing, Co. G. - William H. Graves, Co. G. - William C. Hoover, Co. G. - Charles W. M. King, Co. G. - John N. Maynard, Co. G. - Enoch T. Nation, Co. G. - James C. Olom, Co. G. - Martin V. Rodepouch, Co. G. - John R. Reasoner, Co. G. - Nathan Thornburg, Co. G. - Franklin Ballenger, Co. H. - James Bell, Co. H. - Alonzo Dunham, Co. H. - George Delano, Co. H. - Josiah Pratt, Co. H. - John W. Shull, Co. H. - Hiram Bailey, Co. K. - John W. Emmons, Co. K. - George S. Fisher, Co. K. - Jacob Harold, Co. K. - Henry Newton, Co. K. - William F. Rea, Co. K. - Joseph Survant, Co. K. - George W. Shockley, Co. K. - Darius Stevens, Co. K. - Matthew Zix, Co. K. - James N. Christian, Co. L. - Robert A. Moorehouse, Co. L. - Leander McCarty, Co. L. - [5]Archibald Reed, Co. L. - John M. Armstrong, Corp., Co. M. - John D. Alexander, Co. M. - William Brigg, Co. M. - George W. Blake, Co. M. - Nathan E. Gruell, Co. M. - Enis Haloway, Co. M. - William H. Huffman, Co. M. - James M. Isentrager, Co. M. - Samuel King, Co. M. - Franklin Ridley, Co. M. - John M. Bragg, Co. M. - -Footnote 5: - - Lost by the explosion of the steamer George Fierce, below Vicksburg. - - - - -Transcriber's Notes: - -Archaic and uneducated spelling and grammar has been retained. - -This version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects. -Italics are delimited with the underscore character as _italic_. - -Footnotes have been moved to follow the chapters in which they are -referenced. - -Missing or obscured punctuation was corrected. - -Typographical errors were silently corrected. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Ninth Cavalry, by Daniel Webster Comstock - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NINTH CAVALRY *** - -***** This file should be named 60363-8.txt or 60363-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/3/6/60363/ - -Produced by David King and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll -have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using -this ebook. - - - -Title: Ninth Cavalry - One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteers - -Author: Daniel Webster Comstock - -Release Date: September 26, 2019 [EBook #60363] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NINTH CAVALRY *** - - - - -Produced by David King and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div> - <h1 class='c001'>Ninth Cavalry</h1> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='xxlarge'><b>NINTH CAVALRY</b></span></div> - <div class='c000'><span class='xlarge'><b>One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment</b></span></div> - <div class='c000'><span class='xlarge'><b>Indiana Volunteers.</b></span></div> - <div class='c000'><span class='xlarge'><b>Daniel Webster Comstock</b></span></div> - <div class='c000'>RICHMOND, IND.:</div> - <div>PUBLISHED BY J. M. COE.</div> - <div>1890.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c003'>PREFACE.</h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>The papers here collected were read by the Regimental Historian, from time -to time, at Annual Re-unions of the 9th Indiana Cavalry. They are printed at the -request of the boys of the regiment, and are for their benefit.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Combined, they give, as seen from the standpoint of the individual who narrates, -the principal events in which the regiment took part, but do not even refer to many -skirmishes in which it participated with the forces of Wheeler, Forrest, Rhoddy, -and other Confederate Cavalry leaders, in the Department of the Cumberland, and -"brushes" with guerrillas in the Military Division of the Mississippi,—"affairs" -unimportant from the insignificance of the numbers engaged, but in which the -most soldierly qualities were often displayed.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The papers were not all prepared by the Historian: with those he did not -write he has, with the full consent of the respective authors, made such changes as -he thought proper.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The paper by J. A. Brown, corporal Co. L, on "Sulphur Branch Trestle," -appears as written by him, without a verbal change.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The other paper upon the same subject is made up of accounts furnished by -Col. Lilly and Capt. J. B. Harrod, Co. B.</p> - -<p class='c005'>While the writer assisted in making up the detail sent upon that unfortunate -expedition, it was not his fortune to go with it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The very able and graphic chapter upon the Hood Campaign is from the pen -of Capt. O. B. Hayden, Co. D.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The account of the Lynnville fight appears substantially as given by Capt. -Harrod.</p> - -<p class='c005'>If in these sketches it appears that too much stress is put on minor matters, -and things of importance but lightly stated, it should be remembered that the -statements are made from individual observations, and the shading must be looked -at from the observer's angle of observation.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Hereafter, if the boys desire, the story of the regiment may be further told.</p> - -<p class='c005'>It will be noticed that but brief mention is made of the officers, especially in -the chapter upon the Hood Campaign. There is no intentional slight in this—a -fair share of the officers were on hand and did their duty, as is attested by the fact -that four of them were killed in action and others wounded during that campaign—but -the fact is that the privates fought the war and the officers got the pay and -the glory. It was a peculiarity found in the volunteer service—found in the -army of no other Nation—that however brave and capable the officers of the line, -a dozen privates in each company were found equally brave and capable. The -accident of rank should not affect the distribution of credit. It is enough to participate -in the glory of the boys—too much to claim the lion's share.</p> - -<p class='c005'>D. W. COMSTOCK.</p> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c003'>SULPHUR BRANCH TRESTLE.</h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>On the afternoon of the 22d of September, 1864, the 9th was ordered -to furnish a force of mounted men to march to Elk River Bridge, on the -Nashville & Decatur Railroad.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The detail was promptly made from the mounted men of each company, -and, under command of Major Lilly, senior major of the regiment, -started the same night. The force leaving Pulaski, consisting of portions -of the 9th and 10th Indiana Cavalry, being under the command of -Colonel Pace, of the latter regiment. The command arrived at Elk River -Bridge about noon of the next day. Intelligence having been received -that a rebel force was threatening Sulphur Branch Trestle, some miles -further south on the same railroad, Major Lilly was ordered to report with -his command to the commander of that post.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Late that afternoon he arrived there and reported to Col. Lathrop, -commanding the garrison occupying the earth-work constructed with a -view of protecting the trestle at that point. The garrison consisted of two -companies of colored troops. After a brief consultation between the -officers a reconnaissance was determined upon and moved out on the -Athens road about sunset. About two miles from Sulphur Branch the -advance guard was fired upon by the pickets of the enemy. Light skirmishing -ensued, and, night coming on, by the light of the enemy's campfires, -their camp was reconnoitered, and they were discovered to be in -heavy force. The enemy thus discovered proved to be the command of -Gen. N. B. Forrest, estimated at twelve thousand men, with three batteries -of artillery. On coming from Pulaski a courier line had been established, -thus keeping open communication between Major Lilly's command -and headquarters at the latter place. The courier line was under the -command of Sergeant Anderson, of Company "B." By means of this -line the situation was reported to Rousseau at Pulaski, and, in response -thereto, came the order to "hold the fort at all hazards and to the last -extremity." Major Lilly withdrew his command to the fort and established -his picket lines. It was then 9 o'clock <span class='fss'>P. M.</span> This fort was a small, -four-bastioned earth-work, mounting two twelve-pounder Napoleon guns. -It was located upon a knoll by the railway trestle, and was commanded -by higher points within 500 to 800 yards, while on the east side within a -few hundred feet, rose a higher hill covered with timber. The remainder -of the night was spent by the men in throwing up traverses and otherwise -strengthening the fort. Firing commenced on the picket line at midnight. -It increased as the night advanced until daylight, when it was evident the -fort was being surrounded, and before sunrise the battle was on. The -parapets were manned so far as they could be with so small a force. The -members of the 9th were in position on the south and east parapets, and -on the southeastern bastion, on their left along the east parapet, were about -sixty men of the 3d Tennessee Cavalry, under command of Col. Minnis, -who had been driven into the fort the evening before; the remainder of the -work was covered by the two companies of Col. Lathrop, who also manned -the two guns, situated on the northeast and northwest bastions. The entire -strength of the force called upon to defend the fort may thus be fairly -estimated at 450 men. The 9th was armed with Gallagher carbines, a very -ineffective weapon, and on leaving Pulaski had but forty rounds of ammunition, -and probably not more than thirty when the real fighting began.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The attack upon the fort began before sunrise, and at the first onset -of the enemy, Col. Lathrop was killed. During the brief period in which -they knew him, Col. Lathrop impressed himself upon the officers and men -of the 9th as an intelligent and gallant officer; the manner of his death -was worthy of a soldier.</p> - -<p class='c005'>About 9 o'clock Col. Minnis, who succeeded Col. Lathrop in command, -was wounded by a piece of shell and carried unconscious into the -magazine. The command then devolved upon Major Lilly. He was -with his men near the southeast bastion; they were meeting each successive -charge of the enemy with well-delivered volleys, waiting for the command -to fire; husbanding their failing ammunition, the enemy were permitted -to come within close range, showing a good front, before the order -to fire was given. Meanwhile the enemy had gained possession of the -wooded hill to the east of the fort, and their sharp-shooters from the tree-tops -had the range of every part of the fort, except immediately under the -east parapet. The artillerymen suffered severely and the brave men of -the 9th were falling along the lines. The enemy's artillery raked the -works from every direction with great destruction. From every point except -the north, where the ground rose gently across the creek into an open -plain, the rebels were in heavy force and poured into and against the fort -an incessant fire. Eleven o'clock came, and then, in the lulls of the artillery, -the gallant defenders of the old flag were gladdened by the sounds -that told them that reinforcements were engaging the enemy to the north -toward Elk River bridge, but the sounds grew fainter and died in the distance -and they knew that from that quarter no help would come. Still -they hoped for relief and still held the fort. Suddenly across the open -ground to the north appeared a heavy line of the enemy. Major Lilly -sent two messengers, one after another, across the fort to warn the officer in -command of the colored troops and to inspire his men with coolness and -firmness to meet the impending assault. Both messengers, in making the -perilous journey, were killed. Lieut. Jones, of Company M, then volunteered -to go, and in making the attempt was wounded. Placing Captain -Nation, of Company G, in command of the battalion, Major Lilly went -himself across the bloody space in safety.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The rebel line halted out of range; within the fort the ground was -strewn with the dead and wounded. The men of the 9th Cavalry were -out of ammunition; for two hours they had been whitling Springfield musket -balls to fit their carbines. The Tennesseeans were out of ammunition; -thus two-thirds of the line was left without defense. Twelve o'clock came, -and along the rebel line the bugle sounded "cease firing," and from the -north across the open plain was borne a flag of truce. It is likely that -not a member of the 9th had ever seen one before; it is more than probable -that it was now looked upon with satisfaction. Every man had done -his whole duty; they had fought like heroes; they had held a brave army -under a skillful and fighting general in check for a day, thus giving Gen. -Rosseau time to concentrate at Pulaski, and had literally at a great cost, -"held the fort at all hazards, and to the last extremity."</p> - -<p class='c005'>Major Lilly answered the flag of truce, taking with him the Adjutant -of the 3d Tennessee, and, meeting Major Strange, Adjutant General of -Forrest's staff, after the formal salutations, Major Strange handed Major -Lilly a paper, which read:</p> - -<p class='c005'>"General Forrest demands the immediate and unconditional surrender -of the United States forces, with all materials and munitions of war, at -Sulphur Branch Trestle. In case this demand is not instantly complied -with, General Forrest can not be held responsible for the conduct of his -men."</p> - -<p class='c005'>After reading this paper Major Lilly said to Major Strange, that Sulphur -Branch Trestle would never surrender under a threat; that it was a -humiliation his command would not bear and one that should never be -asked by a soldier; that it was true his forces had suffered heavily, but -they had undoubtedly inflicted greater damage upon the enemy; that they -were still capable of inflicting greater damage; that notwithstanding this -he felt that they had done their whole duty, and on honorable terms he -would counsel a surrender. Major Lilly then rode back toward the fort, -but had not reached it when he was halted by Major Strange, who galloped -after him, saying that General Forrest wanted an interview. He returned -and met Generals Forrest and Buford. He then repeated to General -Forrest what he had said to Major Strange, and added, that he did not believe -that General Forrest could not control his men, and if he did not -he would be held responsible. In reply to this General Forrest handed -him a paper, which read in substance:</p> - -<p class='c005'>"General Forrest demands the immediate surrender of the United -States forces and materials of war at Sulphur Branch Trestle. All United -States officers and soldiers will be treated as prisoners of war.</p> - -<p class='c005'>"All officers and soldiers shall retain and be protected in the possession -of personal property.</p> - -<p class='c005'>"Officers to retain their horses, if personal property, and also to retain -their side-arms.</p> - -<p class='c005'>"All officers and soldiers to be taken to some point in the States of -Mississippi or Alabama, and there held for exchange and parole so soon as -communication can be had with General Washburne at Memphis."</p> - -<p class='c005'>Major Lilly then demanded one hour before giving an answer, meanwhile -the troops on both sides to remain status quo. The hour was given, -and he returned to the fort. Colonel Minnis had by this time recovered -sufficiently to resume command, and a counsel of war was held. The -counsel was a unit, with the exception of Colonel Minnis, in favor of surrender. -While the subject was being considered it was reported that -the enemy were moving troops, and our white flag was immediately taken -down and firing was reopened; there was a slight reply from the enemy, -the troops moved back, the bugles on the other side sounded "cease firing," -and the truce was resumed. Colonel Minnis, on being fully informed of -the condition of things in the fort, and especially of the insufficient supply -of ammunition, yielded to the opinion of the majority. Major Lilly then -returned to the post of the rebel flag of truce, accepted the terms offered, -and the surrender was made complete. The remnants of companies were -ordered into line, then stacked arms, and, after preparing for the burial of -the dead comrades, and the care of those who were wounded, marched -sadly away.</p> - -<p class='c005'>About twenty-four hours after the surrender the captured troops -crossed the Tennessee River at Mussel Shoals, some four miles above -Florence, Ala. The first rations issued to them were issued on the night -of September 27th, and consisted of old corn on the cob. This was -burnt or roasted over fire and eaten by those whose appetites were sufficiently -keen.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the 28th of September the C. S. A. issued rations to the -prisoners the second time—this was at Okolona, Mississippi, and -consisted of a small quantity of flour and an abundance of good water. -On the evening of that day Capt. Buchanan, of the 15th Tennessee -Cavalry, C. S. A., furnished Lieut. Harrod, of Company B, with stationery -and kindly offered to send a letter through the lines for him. Acting -upon the generous offer, the Lieutenant wrote to his wife. Written under -such circumstances, and while the disaster to our regiment was so fresh, -the letter is certain to be interesting to the 9th. It reached its destination -after some delay, is still preserved by the wife of the general as a -precious memento of the war, and is as follows:</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Okolona</span>, Miss., Sept. 28, 1864.</p> - -<p class='c007'><i>Dear Wife</i>—I address you this note as a prisoner of war. One -hundred and eighty-seven men of the 9th Indiana Cavalry and three -hundred mostly 3d Tennessee Cavalry, were sent to Sulphur Branch -September 24th. Gen. Forrest attacked the place the 25th with about -12,000 men. We were about 500. The engagement lasted about four -hours after we were surrounded. Our loss was heavy. I had with me -twenty-seven of Company B. I am wounded in right leg. I will get -over it in a few weeks. The killed are: Wm. Harvey and Joseph -Hutton; mortally wounded: Corporal Kirkhoff; severe: Sergeant M. B. -Walker and Private James Hook; slightly: J. J. Winn and G. S. Bailey. -Prisoners and well are: Orderly J. V. Hinchman, Sergeant Wm. Foster, -Sergeant A. E. Anderson, Corporal Blessinger, Privates C. H. Sears, -W. V. Robinson, John Stewart, J. Craining (blacksmith), W. C. Warner, -R. Scott, J. Holloway, W. Parman, Joseph Grey, B. F. Waller, G. B. -Wilson, W. P. Read, M. Chauncy and J. Mooney Church; and no man -of Company B failed to do first-class work. In our capitulation it was -agreed that we should all be paroled soon. I have no money with me -and have on my old uniform. It is reported in camp to-night that General -Forrest has taken Pulaski with 2,000 or 3,000 prisoners. If true, all the -9th has gone up. We have eighteen miles to go yet to the railroad—Cherokee -Station. Then it is said we go to Meridian, Miss. You will -probably not hear from me again until paroled. It may be some weeks, -and it may be months.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I send this by the kindness of Capt. Buchanan, 15th Tennessee -Confederate Cavalry.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='sc'>J. B. Harrod</span>,<br /> -Lt. Company B.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Although by the terms of the capitulation, the officers were allowed -to retain their horses and side-arms, the real advantage of this arrangement -was practically not very great. Every night some horses were missing, -and when Cherokee Station (on the railroad) was reached, there were -few, if any, officers who knew where their horses were.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The day after leaving Okolona it rained heavily, and the troops -encamped for the afternoon and night in the open field. Here was issued -a little fresh beef without salt.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The boys, from the three issues—first of corn, then of flour, then of -beef,—by this time realized that the commissary of the C. S. A. was not -liberally supplied, or that those who controlled it were illiberal in distribution.</p> - -<p class='c005'>They reached Cherokee Station the next day (29th of September), -remaining there about thirty hours. At this point all officers and soldiers -captured at Sulphur Branch Trestle and at Athens, Alabama, on the day -before, were placed on board two trains of box cars, to be taken to Meridian, -Lauderdale County, Mississippi. The 9th Indiana and 3d Tennessee -were loaded on the last train, which was some hours behind the -first. To each train a guard of about 150 men were detailed. When not -far from Iuka, the track being wet and the grade heavy, the locomotive -not of sufficient power to pull the train up, a stop was made to allow -the track to dry. The officers in charge put out guards and had fires -made on both sides of the track. The guards were tired and soon became -sleepy, and there was but one at each fire. Major Lilly conceived the -idea of capturing the guard, taking possession of and running the train to -Corinth, and then marching the guards to Memphis under a flag of truce -as prisoners.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The officers of the 9th Indiana and 3d Tennessee entered cordially -into the plan and were willing to take the boys' places at the guns. The -major then going to the officers of the colored troops, awakened up their -officers and explained his plan to them. They were afraid to engage in the -enterprise, for lack of confidence in their colored troops. Without their -co-operation the result seemed too doubtful to justify the attempt, and it -was not made.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The next day raw "sow-belly" was issued to the boys on the train. -At the stations sometimes small purchases were made of something to eat. -Lieut. Harrod remembers buying a piece (3 × 4 inches) of wheat bread of -a variety he had not seen before, heavy and solid, for which he paid $5 -Confederate money. Arriving at Meridian, they were placed in a small -stockade, where they remained for a week, from which place the officers -were moved to Enterprise, Clark County, Miss., and the enlisted men and -non-commissioned officers to Cahaba, Dallas County, Ala.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The rations at Enterprise consisted of one pint of coarse corn meal -to each man daily, without salt, and a small piece of "sow-belly." Each -mess of eight was furnished a skillet and lid to bake bread in. As a rule -each mess baked twice a day, those of the mess who were well taking -their turn for a day as cook. It was a part of the duties of the cook to -divide the bread, taking the last piece for himself. The preparation of -this bread did not require any special skill nor long experience. The art -was soon acquired. It was only necessary to mix the water and corn -meal thoroughly and to grease the skillet with small bits of meat, that the -bread might be got out without being broken too much.</p> - -<p class='c005'>In October permission was given to buy such eatables as were -wanted, but not many of the officers could avail themselves of the liberty -for want of money. Salt was bought for $3 a pound; coffee, $24 a -pound; molasses, $10 a quart—Confederate money. In the stores, calico -sold for $12 and $15 a yard; muslin, $15; good boots, $500 a pair; -paper of pins, $6. These goods had been brought into Mobile through -the blockade.</p> - -<p class='c005'>During the latter part of their imprisonment, after the guards had -been taken off, an invalid Confederate soldier came into the camp with a -jug of what he called "pine top whisky," and a tin cup. He offered the -whisky at 50 cents a pint. There was only one colonel in the camp. -He was an Ohio man. He bought a pint and drank it. He soon passed -into an unconscious state, in which he remained for forty hours. The -"pine top" could be depended upon. Some of the boys bought a -sample pint, but finding it to be so much inferior to the apple jack of -Tennessee, promptly discarded it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The prisoners received some courtesies from Major Ward, Commander -of the Post, and his Adjutant. Upon one occasion, in the absence -of the Major, his Adjutant felt called upon to show some of the officers of -the regiment special attention. He invited them to headquarters, extended -to them the freedom of the establishment, which they accepted with such -good will that the fun soon become fast and furious. The Adjutant set -the pace, after a number of healths had been pledged on the absent Major's -whisky, by breaking a camp stool. This example was followed by the -invited guests, who joined in demolishing every article of furniture in -sight. The Adjutant was not in a condition to escort his guests back to -their camp, but they found their way without difficulty and knew the -reason for the issuing of an order, which was read to them next morning, -to the effect that no prisoner should visit headquarters without permission -of the Major in command.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The monotony and weariness of confinement was sometimes relieved -by the drollery of those whose love of fun could not easily be suppressed. -The prisoners were often indebted for a good laugh to Captain Nation, of -Company G, and Lieut. J. M. Jones, of Company M. A small boy rode -into the camp the smallest mule our men had ever seen under saddle. -Captain N.. who was about six feet tall, expressed a desire to ride the -"critter." The boy dismounted, and the captain, letting out the stirrups -to their full length, got into the saddle, his feet almost touching the ground. -After putting the mule through the various paces he announced his intention -of recruiting a "critter gang" for the Confederacy. Those who -heard the captain's speech on the occasion will not soon forget its general -tenor and the impression it made upon them. The speech was made from -the back of the mule to the Union prisoners, Confederate guards and soldiers, -citizens and negroes, who were attracted to the place by the captain's -voice. It is greatly to be regretted that no phonographer was present to -have taken it down literally as it came from the lips of the Hoosier orator, -that it might be incorporated in this true history. He called for volunteers -to uphold the flag of the Confederacy. He said he was going to raise a -"critter gang company." No one would be required to walk and only to -ride when it suited him; that the pay would not be any object; that each -private would be furnished with a "critter" in size and color like the one -he then rode, and should have a nigger to feed and care for him; that -this variety was superior to all others and had been bred especially for the -Confederate service, easy to mount and not dangerous to fall from; that -only a limited number of volunteers would be received, and that now was -the time to subscribe. The captain held the undivided attention of his -audience, surprising and entertaining them with his wit and humor for a -half hour, and dismounted and retired amid great applause.</p> - -<p class='c005'>While at Enterprise our men were almost entirely shut out from the -world. The Mobile Register, costing 50 cents a copy, was occasionally to -be had, and, unrelished and unsatisfactory as it was, yet was sought and -read with great eagerness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The privates and non-commissioned officers were marched from -Meridian, Miss., to Cahaba, Ala. This was a violation of the spirit if not -the letter of the terms of the surrender. On the march some ten days -were consumed. They were placed in a pen or stockade and were subjected -to the usual process of searching, and anything of any value found -on their persons appropriated by their captors. They were not the first -occupants of the pen. It already contained Union prisoners, literally -half-clothed, some having only a shirt, some pantaloons without shirt, and -some only a part of pantaloons, and all alive with grey-backs. The rations -issued were substantially the same as those issued to the officers, consisting -of one pint of corn meal a day and a piece of fresh pork, one inch -square every other day, although some times the authorities forgot or -failed to issue the rations for a day or two, very much to the disgust of the -boys. If the prisoners had been fastidious or over-particular they might -have complained of the custom to the prison authorities, which cut up the -meats for distribution on the same log on which the dead soldiers were -placed before burial. A Dutch skillet was allowed to each mess of ten -men, as the only cooking utensil. During the time of their imprisonment -the rains were frequent and heavy, and the cooking being done out of -doors, our men were obliged often to partially shelter the fire with their -bent bodies while cooking, to prevent the fires from being put out. The -wood used for fuel was green white pine. The Alabama River overflowed -its banks and for two weeks the pen was flooded, the water standing -from two to four feet in depth. Cord-wood was floated in, out of which -scaffolding was constructed by the prisoners to keep themselves out of the -water. During this time the rations were eaten raw. It is needless to say -that under such conditions, without shelter, exposed to the rain, but poorly -fed, men died every day from exposure and want, and that those who survived -were weak as children. Their imprisonment which seemed so long -to them, at last was ended. The officers were sent North on parole December -10, 1864, but the enlisted men not until April, 1865, at which date -they were started North, and in their enfeebled condition, although buoyed -up by the hope of meeting friends and seeing home, it took them five days -to march from Jackson to Black River bridge, a distance of forty miles, and -when they came into the camp of their old regiment these brave fellows -looked so gaunt, famished and woe-begone that they were but counterfeits -of their former selves.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The terms of the surrender may be said to have been fairly observed, -except that the colored soldiers were sent to Mobile to labor at the salt-works. -Their officers shared the fortunes of the officers of the white -troops. Most of the prisoners of this expedition took passage soon after -their arrival at Vicksburg on the steamer Sultana, an account of the wreck -of which is given hereafter.</p> - -<p class='c005'>During their imprisonment, the officers were treated fairly well. They -were kept in prison at Meridian, Miss., about a week. The prison was a -stockade made of poles with the ends in the ground and a scaffolding -around the outside, near the top, on which the vigilant Johnny sentinel -paced his beat. There was a dead line within the stockade, to which our -boys paid marked respect. There were two log cabins in the centre of -the stockade, entirely destitute of furniture, paved with sand and the -steady companion of the boys—the gray-back. There were probably -more gray-backs than grains of sand. They kept the boys employed -when otherwise time would have lagged most slowly. The boys were not -without money (I speak of the officers). They had dead loads of Confederate -New Issue. They sold their horses for $600 to $1,000 a piece. -It was a poor scrub that would not bring $600 in the market of Meridian. -Watches brought from $500 to $1,500; knives and cork-screws from $50 -to $100, and other articles in proportion. The people had the money and -wanted to get rid of it. They were permitted to buy what the town -afforded—not furnished in their rations, which were liberal in bacon, -corn meal, and salt. After a week at Meridian, they were sent to Enterprise, -a village fifteen miles below Meridian. When unguarded, they -were put on their parole of honor not to leave the limits of the town. -They took possession of a big tobacco warehouse, converting it into a -dormitory and headquarters, but took their meals at the houses of the -citizens in town, they being glad to take the rations of the boys, with what -else they could buy, and a consideration in New Issue, in exchange for -table board. Early in December they marched from Enterprise to -Memphis. There they were ordered to report at Camp Chase, Columbus, -Ohio, where they were exchanged and reported to the regiment at -Gravelly Springs, Ala., late in January, 1865.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The following officers of the regiment were in the action of Sulphur -Branch Trestle:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l c009'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Major Eli Lilly.</div> - <div class='line'>Captain Nation.</div> - <div class='line'>Lieutenant Harrod.</div> - <div class='line'>Lieutenant J. W. Watts.</div> - <div class='line'>Lieutenant Dunlevy.</div> - <div class='line'>Lieutenant Canfield.</div> - <div class='line'>Lieutenant Leisure.</div> - <div class='line'>Lieutenant Riley.</div> - <div class='line'>Lieutenant Jones.</div> - <div class='line'>Acting Adjutant Geo. Armstrong.</div> - <div class='line'>Assistant Surgeon E. W. Magann.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Lieutenant Leisure, wounded, but not taken prisoner.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>Surgeon Magann was left to care for the wounded. They were not -made prisoners, the enemy leaving them behind in their march. Lieut. -Jones was slightly wounded by concussion of a shell, being insensible for -a portion of the battle, but recovered before it ended.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The following is a list of those who were either killed or mortally -wounded:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l c009'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Chauncey Kimball, Co. A.</div> - <div class='line'>William Harvey, Co. B.</div> - <div class='line'>Joseph Hutton, Co. B.</div> - <div class='line'>Charles A. Kirkhoff, Co. B.</div> - <div class='line'>Andrew J. McGahey, Co. B.</div> - <div class='line'>Charles Beckly, Co. H.</div> - <div class='line'>Cassander T. Houston, Co. B.</div> - <div class='line'>Stephen A. Woodruff, Co. B.</div> - <div class='line'>Henry Dorman, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>Abram S. Foreman, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>Curtis W. Hancock, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>George Myers, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>Josiah Saucer, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>William Torney, Co. L.</div> - <div class='line'>William S. Peckham, Co. L.</div> - <div class='line'>John J. Maple, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>Levi Maple, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>George H. McGee, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>Lewis Pickering, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>Sergeant Peckham, Co. M, killed.</div> - <div class='line'>Henry G. Hiatt, Co. G, killed.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>The following are the names of those who were made prisoners and -died in rebel prisons:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l c009'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Henry A. Rariden, Co. A, starvation.</div> - <div class='line'>John Robert, Co. A, starvation.</div> - <div class='line'>Clay Trahune, Co. A, exposure and starvation.</div> - <div class='line'>W. J. Foster, Co. B, exposure and starvation.</div> - <div class='line'>George O. Houston, Co. D.</div> - <div class='line'>Kelita Mendenhall, Co. E, exposure and starvation.</div> - <div class='line'>Lewis Jones, Co. G, exposure and starvation.</div> - <div class='line'>George W. Bowers, Co. G, exposure and starvation.</div> - <div class='line'>John R. Williams, Co. H, exposure and starvation.</div> - <div class='line'>Henry Brown, Co. M, exposure and starvation.</div> - <div class='line'>Columbus Jessup, Co. M, exposure and starvation.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>The following were made prisoners at Sulphur Branch Trestle and -lost by the explosion and burning of the steamer Sultana, on the Mississippi -River, a few miles above Memphis, on the morning of April 27th, -1865:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l c009'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Daniel Curtis, Co. A.</div> - <div class='line'>Patrick Day, Co. A.</div> - <div class='line'>Frederick Blessinger, Co. B.</div> - <div class='line'>Charles E. Church, Co. B.</div> - <div class='line'>Ephraim Parman, Co. B.</div> - <div class='line'>John Stenarl, Co. B.</div> - <div class='line'>John M. Englehart, Co. C.</div> - <div class='line'>Warren A. Huckens, Co. C.</div> - <div class='line'>Wm. H. H. Wood, Co. D.</div> - <div class='line'>John Bonner, Co. F.</div> - <div class='line'>Charles W. Clevenger, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>Jonathan R. Downing, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>George Downing, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>William H. Graves, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>William C. Hooper, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>Charles W. M. King, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>John M. Maynard, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>Enoch T. Nation, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>James C. Olon, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>Martin V. Rodeporch, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>John R. Reasoner, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>Nathan Thornburg, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>Franklin Ballenger, Co. H.</div> - <div class='line'>James Bell, Co. H.</div> - <div class='line'>Alonzo Dunham, Co. H.</div> - <div class='line'>George W. Delano, Co. H.</div> - <div class='line'>Josiah Pratt, Co. H.</div> - <div class='line'>John W. Shull, Co. H.</div> - <div class='line'>Hiram Bailey, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>John W. Emmons, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>George S. Fisher, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>Jacob Hurald, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>Henry Newton, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>William F. Rea, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>Joseph Survaul, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>George H. Shockley, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>Darius Stevens, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>Matthew Zix, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>James N. Christian, Co. L.</div> - <div class='line'>Robert A. Morehouse, Co. L.</div> - <div class='line'>Leander McCartney, Co. L.</div> - <div class='line'>John M. Armstrong, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>Joseph D. Alexander, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>William Brigg, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>George W. Blake, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>Nathan E. Gruell, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>Enos Halloway, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>William H. Huffman, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>James M. Isentrager, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>Samuel King, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>Franklin Ridley, Co. M.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<table class='table0' summary=''> -<colgroup> -<col width='95%' /> -<col width='4%' /> -</colgroup> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>Total killed at Sulphur Branch Trestle,</td> - <td class='c011'>21</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>Died in prison,</td> - <td class='c011'>11</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>Lost on the Sultana,</td> - <td class='c011'>51</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'> </td> - <td class='c011'>—</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'> </td> - <td class='c011'>83</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Note.</span>—The last dispatch sent out of the fort the day of the surrender was -carried by John McCorkle, of Company B, and a member of the 3d Tennessee -Cavalry. They left the fort about 7 o'clock <span class='fss'>A. M.</span>, and accomplished the feat by -their coolness and "bold riding."</p> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c003'>SULPHUR BRANCH TRESTLE. <br /> BY CORPORAL J. A. BROWN, CO. L.</h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>On Sunday, the 25th day of September, 1864, the mounted portion -of the 9th Indiana Cavalry, about two hundred in number, were called to -do battle at Sulphur Branch Trestle, Alabama. Firing began on the -skirmish lines at 5 o'clock in the morning, and was kept up at a lively -rate until about 8 o'clock, when the battle began in earnest. There were -with us about one hundred of the Third Tennessee Cavalry, and there -were also about three hundred colored troops that were stationed in the -fort. We were ordered to dismount and corral our horses and climb the -hill and enter the fort, except myself and ten men, who were ordered to -guard the horses, until the battle became so hot that it was considered -unsafe to remain outside of the fort. We remained with the horses until -a cannon-ball or slug or something of the kind—anyhow, it was something -from a rebel gun—landed in about fifteen feet of us. It tore a hole -in the ground large enough to bury a small-sized cow, and threw dirt all -over us. We then thought it was time to desert the horses and let them -take care of themselves, and climb the hill and get into the fort as soon as -we could conveniently without hurting ourselves, and up the hill we went, -and when we arrived at the entrance to the fort we asked where the 9th -Indiana Cavalry was stationed. We were told that they were on the opposite -side of the fort. So we had to go through the center of the fort to -get to where our boys were stationed. That was the most dangerous trip -I ever experienced in my life. There were a lot of barracks in the fort -and the rebel cannon were playing on them and knocking them all to -pieces, and throwing the loose boards in every direction. It made the -hair raise on our heads as we went dodging through the barracks among -the flying boards and shell and cannon ball, but we finally got to our men -in safety.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The colonel commanding the fort was killed in the beginning of the -battle, and Major Lilly, of our regiment, took command, and, by the way, -Major Lilly was a hustler. He was one of the bravest officers that ever -went to the front. During the hottest of the battle one of our men got -scared so badly that he wanted to surrender. So he pulled off his shirt -and placed it upon the end of his bayonet and held it up as a flag of truce. -That got the enemy excited and they went for us hotter than ever. They -made charge after charge, but some of our boys pulled that old dirty shirt -down and made the fellow put it on again. We kept the rebs at bay as -long as we had ammunition, but at 1 o'clock we were out of ammunition, -and there we were about 800 strong, with no ammunition and surrounded -by ten thousand rebels. So we surrendered. We were then conducted -out of the fort and taken to the woods and a rebel guard placed around -us until they got ready to start to Dixie with us. While we were waiting -there a rebel captain that some of our boys had shot in the heel in the -fight rode around among us and cussed us for an hour. He swore that if -he knew which one of us damned Yanks it was that shot him in the heel -he would shoot his heart out. But we did not tell who it was, and I don't -think he has found out to this day.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Well, along towards night the rebs got ready to start with us for Dixie. -Then fun began; we marched nearly all night through the mud and under -rebel guard. Sometime after midnight we were halted and allowed to lie -down in the woods on the ground without undressing, but before daylight -we were rousted out and on the go again. This kind of business was kept -up for three long days, until we had marched something over one hundred -miles, with about enough to eat to make one good square meal. With the -Alabama red mud enough sticking to each foot to make about three brick -we finally arrived at Tuscumbia, Ala., where the rebs were operating a -kind of a one-horse railroad. There they piled us into a couple of freight -trains and we were hauled around over half of the State of Mississippi and -back again into Alabama, and were finally landed at Cahaba, Ala., at the -end of ten days from the time we were made prisoners. We were then -stripped and examined, and robbed of everything that we possessed that was -of any value. We were then marched into the prison pen. The prison pen -was a large cotton warehouse, surrounded by a stockade with an elevated -walk around the outside of the building. On this walk the rebel guards -were stationed about every forty feet with loaded guns ready and anxious -to kill any poor Yankee who might see fit to set a foot across the dead line. -There was also a walk on the inside of the building around next to the -wall, and a rebel guard was stationed there about forty feet apart. The -dead line was a mark they made about eight feet from the inside wall, -all around the inside of the building, and no prisoner was allowed to step -across that line. If he did the orders were to shoot him on the spot, and -the order was obeyed to the letter, but we were generally careful to keep -off of that dead line.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I shall never forget the morning that we were first marched inside of -that prison. The old prisoners that were there before us on seeing us -march in all seemed glad to see us, and yelled at the top of their voices, -"Fresh fish! fresh fish! Hands on your pocket-books," just as if we had -not already been robbed of everything we had by the rebs. But we soon -got used to that for we had not been there long until we yelled "fresh -fish" to other new prisoners that kept coming in every few days. There -were on an average about three thousand of us there during the six months -that we were there. Sometimes there were as many as thirty-five hundred -of us. When there was that many we could not all lie down at one time -inside of the prison. There was a cook yard in front of the prison about -seventy-five feet square, enclosed with a stockade. We were allowed to -pass out into the cook yard during the day so that we could cook the -little grub that was allowed us. Our rations consisted of one pint of corn -meal per day and a piece of fresh pork, about one inch square, every -other day, but that was not issued to us very regular. Sometimes they -would forget to issue rations to us for a day or so at a time. It did not -seem to disturb the rebels in the least to forget to issue rations to us. We -were divided into messes consisting of ten men to the mess, and every -ten men were allowed one old-fashioned Dutch skillet and lid. In this -we did the entire cooking for the ten men or mess. So we were engaged -in cooking all day, if we happened to have enough to cook to keep the -skillet going. It rained nearly the entire time we were there. It seemed -to us that it rained at least forty days in each month, consequently we had -to do the most of our cooking in the rain. I have stood in a stooping -position over the skillet for hours at a time to keep the rain from drowning -out the fire while cooking. Our wood that we used for cooking with -was generally green white pine, nearly as hard to burn as green buckeye. -We were allowed to go outside of the prison to carry the wood in. They -would let five of us out to the wood-pile at a time; we would rush out and -chop a load of wood and then carry it in. We would form what we called -the wood line, and go out as our turns would come. I have stood in the -wood line many times for a half day at a time in the rain, and then perhaps -I would not get to go out after wood. We would do this work by -turns and when we were not busy in this way were busy fighting "gray-backs." -That part of the business we had to attend to whether we got -dinner or not, for if we had neglected to kill off the "gray-backs" once a -day at least we were in danger of being eaten up alive.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We had a regular police force of our own men. It consisted of about -thirty men. It was their duty to keep order in the prison and to punish -any one who did not conduct himself in a proper manner. If any two -got into a fight the police would at once form a ring and let them fight it -out. They would make it their business to see fair play. There were -three or four fights in the prison every day. That was a natural consequence -where there were so many men huddled in together that it was -almost impossible for them all to lie down at one time, and half-starved, -it was natural for some of them to get cross and be ready to get up and -fight at a moment's notice; but they were so weak and in such a famished -condition that they seldom ever hurt one another in a fight. We also had -a few dishonest men in the prison; they would steal anything they could -get their hands upon. The police would sometimes punish them very -severely for their misdemeanors—such as stealing, but there was no punishment -for a fair fist fight.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We undertook to break out of the prison one morning about 4 o'clock, -and captured all the rebel guards inside the prison. We took their guns -from them and put them in the privy and placed a guard over them and -kept them there nearly an hour, but the rebels on the outside got wind of -it a little too soon for us, and there happened to be more rebel soldiers -there at that time than they usually kept at that point; they rolled a big -cannon up to the door of the prison and scared us out of the notion of -breaking out at that time. The rebs called that a mutiny and issued an -order that we should have nothing to eat until we delivered up the leaders -of the mutiny. Then we thought that starvation stared us in the face sure, -for we had no idea that there was one among our number that would give -away the leaders; but alas! the leaders were sadly disappointed, for after -three days of starvation, some one—I never could find out who he was—got -so hungry that he gave the plot away and informed on about twenty of -the leaders. The rebs took the informer out of the prison at once and -gave him his freedom for his information. If they had not taken him out -of the prison he would have fared badly among the prisoners for being a -traitor.</p> - -<p class='c005'>They took the leaders of the mutiny out and punished them in various -ways. Some they put in dungeons, some in chains, and one fellow -was sentenced to be put in a four-foot square box for one hundred days. -Some of them were never heard of by us after they were taken out. We -supposed that they were killed. We were always scheming for some place -to get out. So the next thing we were up to was tunneling out. We had -a tunnel dug about fifty feet, and in a few more days our tunnel would have -let us out on the bank of the river, when the river raised and filled our -tunnel full of water, so that was all work for nothing. I had two special -friends as fellow prisoners—George W. Addington and William Collins. -We three stuck together like brothers. One day the rebs took Addington -out. Myself and Collins did not know what had become of him. We -thought that, perhaps, they had killed him for some imaginary offence. -Well, things went on as usual for about a week when a reb came in and -took Collins out, and no explanation was given, so we thought that he was -gone up also, but in another week the same reb came in and called for -me. That scared me nearly out of my boots, for I thought my time had -come sure, but to my surprise he took me to the hospital where I found -my friends Addington and Collins busily engaged in washing clothes for -the hospital. I will say now before I go further that the hospital was for -Federal prisoners only, and they required prisoners to do all the work -about the hospital. Addington had managed in some way to get the job -of washing for the hospital, and as soon as he could make an excuse for -calling in help he sent for Collins and myself. We got that washing business -down to a regular system. We would wash sheets and pillow-slips -on Monday, shirts and drawers on Tuesday, colored clothes -on Wednesday, odds and ends on Thursday, and on Friday we -would boil "gray-backs," that is, we would wash the clothes of -prisoners that came out to the hospital sick. When a prisoner was -brought out of the prison sick they would take him to an out house, strip -him of his prison clothes, and take him to another room and put hospital -clothes on him, and every Friday we had to boil and wash all clothes that -accumulated in that way. Sometimes it would be a sickening job, but it -was far better than lying in prison. We three had to work about four -hours each day. This gave us about half work and we received about half -enough to eat at the hospital, except occasionally we got something extra. -We got it in this way: The managers of the hospital were all rebs and -aristocrats, and they had negro women to carry their meals to their private -rooms. Of course they got plenty to eat and sometimes there was something -left. This the waiters always saved for us, and about two or three -times a week, after dark, our door would be pushed open and we would -see a tin pan slip in and it always had something in it good to eat, such as -cold biscuits and cold beef-steak, and it was always good, and we felt very -thankful to the colored people that run such risk in furnishing it to us, for -if they had been caught at it they would have been punished severely for -it. We were not allowed to speak to any of the colored attendants about -the hospital, but we often talked to them when there were no rebs in sight. -I once saw a prisoner that was sick but convalescing so that he was able to -walk about some, come out of the ward in search of a fresh drink of water. -He asked a colored woman for a tin cup to drink out of, and the rebel -doctor happened to hear him, and he was sent to the prison for the offence. -The next morning the poor fellow was brought back on a stretcher dead. -About the first of March, 1865, the Alabama river raised and overflowed -and spread itself all over the town and was from two to four feet deep inside -of the prison. Our boys had a terrible time of it then for about two -weeks. The rebs floated wood inside the prison for the prisoners to roost -on. Our boys had to eat what little grub they got raw, and sleep while -sitting on a pile of wood. This happened while I was at the hospital, -consequently I missed the fun of having to sit on a wood pile for two -weeks and eat raw grub. While at the hospital we always had hash for -dinner. I remember one day the hash had soured, and we liked it better, -because it made a change. About the time the river went down to its -proper level we were all paroled; then we started for Vicksburg by rail -until we got to Jackson, Miss., about fifty miles south of Vicksburg; there -we had to take it afoot. It took me just eight days to walk from Jackson, -Miss., to Black River, forty miles. When I got there, there was just one -man with me, about twenty behind us, the others being ahead of us. At -Black River there was a pontoon bridge—a rebel guard on the south side -and a Yankee guard on the north side. We arrived there about sundown -and had to stay on the rebel side all night. Our boys on the north side -were allowed to bring us over some coffee and hard-tack, which we enjoyed -very much, as it was the first coffee that we had tasted for six long -months. The next morning we were transferred to the north side and -amongst friends. We staid at the hospital in Vicksburg a few days and -then took a hospital boat for St. Louis, and from there home.</p> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c003'>LYNNVILLE.</h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>While stationed at Pulaski, Tenn., details from the regiment were -frequently ordered out upon reconnoitering parties, and upon these occasions -generally met Roddy, Duke, Wheeler, or other cavalry commanders -in that department, in skirmishes, which, as a rule, were bloodless. -They were all exciting, however, and accustomed the boys to the use of -their carbines. Of these affairs, what was termed in the regiment as -"The Lynnville Fight," was the most sensational, and resulted in more -racket than was ever raised by the same number of men in so short a -time.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On Sunday, September 2, 1864, at 8 o'clock <span class='fss'>A. M.</span>, pursuant to orders, -the regiment marched out on the Nashville Pike, Companies B and L in the -advance. The movement was occasioned by reports to the effect that -Wheeler with a considerable body was in the neighborhood with the purpose -of destroying the railroad. After advancing about six miles a message -was received by courier from Capt. Owings, of Co. F, occupying -with his company the block house near Lynnville, for the purpose of protecting -the railroad, to the effect that the rebels were in town in heavy -force, and that he would not be able to hold his position long.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Major Lilly was ordered to go to his relief with seventy men of Companies -B and L. Advancing at a gallop, Lieut. Harrod, with sixteen men -of Company B, leading the column, within one-half or three-quarters of a -mile of the town, from a slight elevation, a full view was obtained of the -rebels. Halting for a moment, Major Lilly ordered a charge to be made -with the sabre. Harrod, with his sixteen men in advance, supported by -the fifty-five B and L men, under command of the Major, forming quickly, -were soon observed by the rebels. The advance was formed in double, -the support in single rank. The orders "forward," "trot," "gallop," -"charge," were given in quick succession, and in a moment all were -hidden in a cloud of dust. The rebels in the town proved to be the 3d -and 4th Georgia Cavalry. The attack was a surprise to them. Lieut. -Harrod, being at the front and right of his platoon, had a fair view of the -town and the enemy, and as the charge was made, says the Georgia boys began -to run when our advance was fully a quarter of a mile away, and when -they reached the south side of the town the Johnnies were going out of -the north side in great haste and apparent confusion. For the next five -minutes the race was lively. Our boys returned their sabres to their -scabbards and drawing their carbines and revolvers began firing. The -rebels threw away in their haste guns, blankets, haversacks, muster rolls, -and whatever encumbered them; and between the discharge of fire-arms, -the shouts of our men and the clatter of the horses' hoofs, the natives were -thoroughly aroused. The pursuit was kept up for about five miles, the -fleeing Johnnies making a stand upon coming up to the main force of -Wheeler's rear guard. Two of the enemy were killed and eight captured. -The wounded, if any there were, made their escape.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Corporal George R. Parsons, Co. B, mounted on a fast horse, was said -to have got nearer the body of the enemy's forces than any other man. -Capt. Nation, who was with the regiment without his company, by special -permission, with a blow of his sabre delivered upon the side of the head, -after a command to halt, unseated a Confederate, mounted upon a large -mule. The mule got away. William Johnson was slightly cut by a ball, and -the horse of Sergt. Foster was badly shot. Capts. Wall, Nation and -Moorehouse took part in the charge. The boys, in the presence of -Wheeler's rear guard, and so near his main body of perhaps 8,000 men, -did not care to push matters further, and so quietly withdrew to Lynnville -for refreshments, and to rest their horses.</p> - -<p class='c005'>General Rousseau was near Wheeler's rear and left flank. -Wheeler was between us with only one way open to the South. During -the after part of the night Wheeler moved in the direction of Lawrenceburg, -and the 9th was ordered back to Pulaski. On Monday evening, September -3d, the 9th was ordered to Lawrenceburg to head off Wheeler if possible. -Rousseau was pressing him with between 2,000 and 4,000 infantry and -artillery. Wheeler's forces were estimated at 8,000—nearly all mounted, -with a battery of light artillery. His artillery was used very little. The 9th -reached Lawrenceburg about 7 o'clock on the morning of the 4th, just in -time to see the 9th Ohio Cavalry assist Wheeler's rear guard out of town. -About 8 o'clock <span class='fss'>A. M.</span> the 10th Indiana Cavalry was ordered to the front -and became engaged with a strong rear guard of the enemy in a thick -wood. They drove them back two or three miles, when the 10th was in -turn pressed back. Major Lilly, who was with Gen. Granger when it was -reported to him that the 10th Indiana had been driven back, requested of -the general that he be permitted to take his battalion to the front. The -general, who had heard of the efficient manner in which the Lynnville affair -had been conducted, granted the request. Col. Jackson received permission -to lead the remainder of the regiment.</p> - -<p class='c005'>By order the troops on the road for a mile withdrew to the right and -left, and the 9th was given free passage. The position occupied by the -10th Cavalry was soon reached. They were in a narrow valley; the rebels -on the ridge above them—the 9th on the opposite hill. It was fortunate -for the 9th that the rebels made the mistake so often made in engagements—shot -too high—the balls rattling in the tree-tops above their heads. A -rapid fire at will was ordered and the lines were closed. The 9th advanced -steadily, firing over the 10th Indiana, which soon moved out of the -way by the flank, giving the 9th an open field. The Confederates did not -long await the coming of the 9th, but, after a few volleys, fell back. Again -making a stand and forming, the 9th hurries without a halt or hesitation, -steadily presses them hard, beating them back from occasional stands for -a distance of four miles, when Wheeler corraled his train, threw down -the fences and brought his artillery into position. The boys were hot and -tired, and concluded they did not want to take his artillery and rested. The -offer of battle thus made by Wheeler to Granger was not accepted for -reasons not known to the world. The opportunity was a good one and -those generals had been ostensibly looking for Wheeler. Wheeler had -the advantage, to be sure, in numbers, of perhaps 2,000 men, and these -generals did not know at that time the superior material they had under -their command. Wheeler began to move, and the 10th and 12th Tennessee -Cavalry relieved the 9th. After some desultory firing, Wheeler was -permitted without further serious annoyance to cross the Tennessee River. -There is where the Federal generals desired to drive him, and so the -object of the expedition was successful and Wheeler's attempt to destroy -the railroad a failure.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The loss to the enemy was 25 killed and 150 wounded. The 9th -lost none killed and none seriously wounded.</p> - -<p class='c005'>September 5th the regiment reached Athens, Ala. September 6th -returned by Elk River to Mussel Shoals and Shoal Creek, going into camp -at night on the bank of the stream, with the other bank held by a Confederate -force under command of a Col. Anderson. The bridge spanning -the stream being unsafe for horses, on the 7th the regiment crossed by a -dangerous ford, Companies B and L in advance, and soon engaged with -Anderson, who was driven to Florence, Ala., a distance of seven miles, -in about four hours, near which place he succeeded in crossing the Tennessee -River.</p> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c003'>THE REPUBLIC OF JONES.</h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>While held at Enterprise, our men learned of the existence of a government -within the State of Mississippi, of which most readers of history -are to this day ignorant. They were informed that early in the days of -secession Jones County, which touches Clarke County on the southwest, -by its leading citizens, withdrew from the Confederacy, declaring themselves -a free and independent people, organized a special and distinct government, -under the name of the "Republic of Jones," adopted a constitution -modeled after that of the United States, elected a President and officers -of State, and refused to contribute men or money to the cause of the -Rebellion. The census of 1860 gives the population of Jones County at -3,323. So that the standing army of Jones could not, if made up of the -able-bodied males, have been very formidable.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The cause which compelled the brave people of Jones to sever -their connection with the most of mankind, seems to have been plunder. -In the absence of C. S. A. troops, marauding parties sallied forth, capturing -mules, horses, cotton, grain, and whatever else could be easily transferred, -and when pursued or upon the approach of troops, hastily retreated -and disbanded, seeking safety in swamps or other places difficult of access, -remaining in hiding until the apparent danger had passed. It is stated -that the Republic did not in any manner contribute to the cause of the -C. S. A.</p> - -<p class='c005'>While the prisoners never became thoroughly posted in the principles -of that Republic it looked at one time as if they would get, in an unpleasant -manner, a knowledge of its practical workings. Enterprise was about -forty miles from the seat of government of Jones. Held at Enterprise -were about 100 officers of various regiments, (some of colored troops,) -besides the officers of the 9th Cavalry and 3d Tennessee Cavalry captured -at Sulphur Branch Trestle. The commander of the post was a Major -Edward Ward, a resident of Indiana before the war, who had gone South -in 1858, engaged in business, became identified with the people and interests -of that section, and united his fortunes with those of the Confederacy at -the breaking out of the war. He had not been so long away from the -North as to have grown indifferent to his old home—he still had a soft -place in his heart for Indiana. He invited the officers of the 9th to his -headquarters and treated them as hospitably as his position and condition -would allow. At roll-call at 10 o'clock, October 15, 1864, Major Ward -informed the prisoners that he had just received information through his -scouts that the Republic of Jones was threatening to capture the prison -camp and massacre the prisoners, for the alleged reason that the imprisoned -officers had commanded negro troops. He said he would not be able to -protect them against the superior force and did not know what to do. The -proposition of Major Lilly, following the announcement of the commander -of the post, must have been in the nature of a surprise: "If you can -not protect us allow us to protect ourselves." Major Ward asked what he -meant by that. Major Lilly explained that he meant that the commander -should place arms and ammunition in the hands of the prisoners, and then -if they were murdered no blame could attach to him. Major Ward said -that the arming of prisoners was without precedent, and would certainly -be dangerous when they were numerically stronger than their guard. -Major Lilly admitted that the proceeding was unusual, but the circumstances -justified the innovation, and proposed that all the prisoners pledge -their honor as officers and men to use the arms only in defence of themselves -against the anticipated attack, and to surrender them when the -danger was ended. The pledge was taken, and in the afternoon two wagon -loads of muskets and one of ammunition were delivered to the prisoners, -the guards were taken off, and each officer selected his gun and put it in -condition for immediate use. Lieut. Harrod, who had not sufficiently recovered -the use of his leg—wounded at Sulphur Branch Trestle—to be -able to walk, was confined to the camp. Thus armed and equipped, the -unwonted spectacle was presented of the Yank and Johnny marching side -by side against the common enemy—Major Lilly, in the full uniform of -the United States Army, with his gun at a right shoulder, by the side of a -rebel, marching in the picket squad to the front. It was perhaps the earliest -instance of the fraternizing of the Blue and the Gray.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The prisoners remained on duty three days and nights without being -attacked. The enemy had learned that their plans were discovered and -preparations made to meet them. A fight upon fair terms was not what -they wanted, and they had withdrawn.</p> - -<p class='c005'>True to their pledged word the prisoners surrendered and stacked -their arms—no gun nor man missing. They had shown that they were -as honorable as brave, and from that time until they were sent North they -were allowed greater freedom of movement—the guards simply patroled -the camp. Citizens were allowed free access to camp, but the prisoners -were not permitted to talk to them or the negroes on politics or the war.</p> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c003'>THE HOOD CAMPAIGN.</h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>Atlanta had fallen. Sherman, before starting on his "march to the -sea," detached the Fourth and Twenty-fourth Corps, under command of -Schofield, and sent them by forced march to Pulaski to watch Hood, who -was at Florence, and to retard his advance into Tennessee until Thomas, -who was at Nashville, could concentrate enough troops to—as Sherman -pithily said—"take care of him." The main body of the 9th Cavalry -had shortly before this been sent to Nashville to secure horses for mounting -the regiment; a small number of each company only remained to -guard the camp and stores.</p> - -<p class='c005'>About the 15th of November the forces from "the front" arrived, -and soon our peaceful camp was the scene of warlike preparation. The -beautiful slope which we had so long occupied was cut into rifle-pits, -and just north of regimental headquarters a breast-work was raised, commanding -the approaches from south and east.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Receiving information that indicated an advance of the enemy on -Columbia by the way of Winchester, the works were abandoned. The -infantry took up their line of march for Columbia, and the remnant of the -9th hastily loaded the camp equipments and stores and boarded the train -for Nashville on the 23d of November, arrived on the morning of the -24th, and rejoined the main body who were encamped across the river in -Edgefield. The remounting being completed, the cavalry forces at Nashville -were rapidly organized as the seventh division of the cavalry corps—Gen. -Knipe commanding. The first brigade, Gen. J. H. Hammond commanding, -was composed of the 9th and 10th Indiana, the 2d and 4th -Tennessee and 19th Pennsylvania.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the 27th the first brigade moved through the city and down the -Franklin Pike a few miles and went into camp; on the 28th, passed -through Franklin to Spring Hill and went into camp, awaiting orders from -the front. On the 29th moved to the left of the Columbia Pike and were -all day in the saddle marching and counter-marching, slowly falling back, -almost constantly within hearing of the fighting at the front.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the night of the 29th marched across to the Triune Pike to repel an -alleged flanking movement of the enemy, who failed to appear at that -point. At day-light we went into camp, and after a hasty breakfast, -snatched an hour of needed sleep. Soon the unwelcome "boots and saddles" -sounded, and we resumed our weary waiting and watching, nearly -always within sound of musketry, but not seeing the rebels nor hearing the -"zip" of the unfriendly bullet. We marched and counter-marched, always -halting nearer Nashville.</p> - -<p class='c005'>To those of us who had not yet seen a rebel under arms the suspense, -the constant expectation of battle, was more trying than actual fighting -afterwards proved. On this day when the sound of musketry drew nearer -and nearer, we were drawn up in line, and with drawn sabres awaited the -appearance of the enemy and an order to "charge." Expectation sat in -a thousand pale faces as</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l c009'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>"Each looked to sun and stream and plain</div> - <div class='line'>As what they ne'er might see again."</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>Suddenly the rattle of musketry seemed to roll away and all was still. -Another time when the sound of battle approached our position, we dismounted -and in line awaited the onset.</p> - -<p class='c005'>In the evening the distant boom of cannon announced that a battle -was on somewhere, and while we sat on our horses, weary but alert, the -bloody battle of Franklin was being fought miles away. At last night fell, -and exhausted men and horses sank gratefully to sleep.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Our camp was at the base of a wooded hill, in a field adjoining the -Nolansville Pike. Next morning, December 1st, the horses, that had not -been unsaddled, were put in line and held while breakfast was prepared -and eaten. Before this was completed out-post firing was heard—a cavalryman -came galloping, saying the enemy was upon us. The command -hastily mounted and moved out on the pike, just before reaching which -Companies D and G were halted, and, under command of Major Lyon, -went into line, facing the rear. The regiment moving at a rapid walk, -moved up the pike and disappeared. In a few minutes the rebels opened -an irregular but furious fire from the brow of the hill under which we had -camped. At the first discharge a horse went down; directly a man was -shot; another horse fell. Thicker and thicker came the bullets; fiercer -and fiercer grew the rebel yell. Major Lyon rode up and down the line -shouting, "Give 'em hell, boys." It was the "baptism of fire" for the -boys, but no one faltered. When ordered to wheel to the right, by fours, -to march to the rear, behind a stone wall on the other side of the pike, -they executed the movement as deliberately as on dress parade. Dismounted -and sheltered by the stone wall the men were comparatively safe, -but the horses suffered severely. Before they could be led to the rear, out -of range, fifteen had fallen.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The rebels did not advance from the brow of the hill, but blazed -away with constantly increasing vigor. A "jackass battery" opened on -us. The boys did not flinch from this new experience, but kept steadily -to their work with the coolness of veterans. Our Maynard carbines were -weak weapons, useless at long range—our fire must have been ineffectual -as to casualty, but being breech-loaders the boys were enabled to fire with -such rapidity that the enemy over-estimated our numbers and hesitated to -advance, but began creeping round our flanks on either side. And still -the Major said "give 'em hell, boys," and held us to the work until our -ammunition was exhausted. About this time Adjutant Payne, who was -on the staff of Gen. Hammond, came back with orders to retreat. Everybody -was willing, but it was easier said than done.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Almost surrounded, no ammunition, many more men than horses, the -pike in possession of the foe, it was not a comfortable prospect. Hurrying -to the rear we mounted—some without horses, mounted behind a -comrade; again another would hold to a stirrup or a horses' tail to keep -up with the rapid trot. No one thought of dashing to safety at the expense -of a dismounted comrade. A horse was killed throwing its rider against -a tree breaking his collar bone. Instantly he was placed behind a comrade -and away again. On and on through wood and field, rushing through -rail fences, tearing down stone walls with bleeding hands and still behind, -and from either side, the rebel yell and hissing bullet.<a id='r1' /><a href='#f1' class='c012'><sup>[1]</sup></a></p> - -<p class='c005'>At last, most welcome sight, the guidons of a cavalry regiment drawn -up in line to receive us and check the enemy. Feeling sure of safety for -all, we dashed forward, leaving the dismounted men two hundred yards -behind. To our surprise and indignation this regiment wheeled into column -and trotted away before we reached them leaving us to follow. The -abandoned, dismounted men took to a cornfield and many of them escaped. -Two privates of Co. D, Lieut. Swayne and some enlisted men of Co. G, -were taken prisoners. Later on we reached the regiment standing in line -on the pike. From this place we moved slowly toward Nashville until -night came on. Going into camp near the road we enjoyed what we had -fairly earned—a night's repose without alarm.</p> - -<p class='c005'>As we passed through Nashville to our old camp at Edgefield next -morning, every hatless trooper of the previous day's fight will gratefully -remember how the merchants in the city came out with arm loads of hats -to supply our needs. Late in the evening the brigade was again in the -saddle, marching to Gallatin, Tenn., where we remained some days -patrolling the river from that place to Carthage to keep the enemy from -crossing. While here encamped a detachment of the 9th, under command -of Major Wall, was sent up into Kentucky "pressing in" horses and -mules. This expedition was through a rich country, comparatively unravaged -by the war, and was a pleasure trip to its participants. Not so to -the hapless citizens who had horses and mules. Desolation to poultry -yards marked the path of the party. A fine lot of animals were secured, -among them a number of blooded horses. It is possible that all these did -not receive Uncle Sam's trade mark. There was a legend current in the -regiment that one of the mules obtained at this time, that by <i>accident</i> was -not branded, did excellent service at New Orleans in supplying one company -with the needful.<a id='r2' /><a href='#f2' class='c012'><sup>[2]</sup></a></p> - -<p class='c005'>On December the 8th the command returned to Nashville. The -morning was lowery and by noon began to rain. A strong northwest -wind froze the water as it fell and soon the road was a glare of ice. The -horses unshod or smooth shod had but precarious footing. Fortunately no -serious accident occurred. The men were chilled and shivering. When -the column halted for any purpose the red cedar rails on either side were -soon ablaze; but before the cheerful flame could infuse warmth in the -chilled fingers the bugle sounded "forward" and the grateful heat was -left to waste its comfort on the frosty air. We left a fiery as well as a -frozen track that day. Before nightfall we went into camp within two -miles of the city. Soon, amid the lurid flame of burning rails, the smoking -hot coffee, crisp sow-belly and luscious hard-tack, we forgot the discomfort -of our cheerless ride—the song and laugh went round until one by -one each voice was hushed and the camp was wrapped in silence.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the morning of the 9th we moved across the river and went into -camp on the west side of Nashville, where we remained until December -15th. While passing through the city Gen. Hatch and staff met the regiment—Col. -Jackson joined him and with him held an informal review of -the regiment as the column moved along. Our horses—fresh from their -"old Kentucky homes"—were in such contrast to the jaded steeds from -the front, with which Hatch's command was mounted, that, turning to -Jackson, he said: "Colonel, you have a magnificent mount, but my boys -will steal half of them before the battle."</p> - -<p class='c005'>"No, General," replied the Colonel, "the boys got these horses for -their own use; you can't have one of them; but we don't want to seem -small and will undertake to trade a limited number of our Maynards for -your Spencers."</p> - -<p class='c005'>On reaching camp, an order was issued doubling the stable guard, -and relieving from camp duty for a week any soldier who would secure a -Spencer carbine. No horse was lost, a dozen or two Spencers were reported. -These were organized for special service, and the zeal and enterprise -developed in securing them had ample play during the stormy days -which followed. It is possible that some members of this squad would -have willingly resigned their prospects for distinction with the Spencer, -for the more modest and less hazardous companionship of the Maynard.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The camp was in an open field with no tree, shrub or grass, or other -covering than the sleet which fell and formed from day to day. It was a -sloppy, slippery time. The discomfort of the situation was somewhat -alleviated by remembering that the Johnnies were more unhappy than we. -They had not wherewith to cover their nakedness and depended for food -on such limited supplies as could be secured from the country. We were -well fed and clothed.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the morning of the 15th, the ice being melted, the regiment was -in the saddle soon after daylight. Moving a short distance to the right -we halted, waiting for McArthur's division to clear the way for our passage -to the position assigned our division on the right of Smith's Corps.</p> - -<p class='c005'>About 8 o'clock <span class='fss'>A. M.</span> the booming of the cannon on the left announced -the opening of the battle. For an hour the fight seemed to remain -in one place, but gradually the forces became engaged along the -front, reaching a point to the right of our position. The cannons roared -and thundered, and the rattle of small arms could be distinctly heard, -while a dense smoke rolled up from the field which was obscured from our -view by an intervening ridge. To get out of the ranks and climb this -ridge to see how a great battle looked was a common impulse—an impulse -too strong for those whose curiosity was stronger than their sense of -duty. Two privates of one company, thus straying away, were discovered -by one of Hammond's aids, who promptly placed them and their company -commander under arrest. This officer<a id='r3' /><a href='#f3' class='c012'><sup>[3]</sup></a> later in the day approached the General -and obtained permission to lead his company in the coming fight, -which he did so gallantly that he never heard any more about the arrest.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Two officers of another company likewise climbed the ridge and saw -the belching of the cannon, the bursting of the shells, the great lanes -torn through the ranks of blue, which, closing up, moved steadily toward -the foe. It was a grand though awful sight. As one, sickening, turned -away, he discovered that the regiment had moved away. Informing his -companion, they descended the hill and quickly following were, fortunately -for their credit, not discovered, and regained their place in the column.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The division now reached its place on the extreme right—the first -brigade in reserve within the bend of the river. In line facing the front -we sat on our horses awaiting results. The remainder of the division advanced -toward the enemy and were soon hid from our view by the fog -and smoke of battle. Here it was that the battery on the hill above and -beyond the rebel advance opened on us with shell—all will remember -this—and none forget the peculiar shrinking sensation with which we -heard the first shell that came shrieking over our heads and bursting in our -rear. Here it was, too, that, as the smoke lifted, we saw our troops swarm -up the distant hill, and, after a short struggle in the fort, raise the stars and -stripes above the works from whose guns had so recently come to us such -unwelcome greeting. This redoubt was carried by Coons' Cavalry (dismounted), -and two brigades of Smith's Corps. The same troop rushed gallantly -on and soon carried another fort. The mounted men rushed forward -and swept Chalmer's Cavalry back, capturing his headquarters, books and -papers. The Confederate left was completely broken and driven back by -the cavalry corps. Night stopped the pursuit.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The first brigade being in reserve, took no part in this day's fight, but -followed closely the advance of our victorious fellow-cavalrymen, seeing -on every side the evidences of the battle we had not helped to win. We -reached the six-mile post on the Charlotte Pike; thence marching up -Richland Creek three miles, bivouacked on Granny White Pike. Two -companies, (L and another), going on picket, captured a number of prisoners -during the night.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the morning of the 16th, the first brigade returned to the Hillsboro' -Pike. The 9th was detailed to support the 14th Ohio Battery in an -attack on the rebel left and rear. Dismounted—a detail for skirmishers -was made, including the "Spencer Squad." As they disappeared in the -wood we followed. Soon a rattling volley, followed by the articulate -venom of single shots, warned us that we were approaching the enemy. -Reaching a position on a ridge thinly covered with trees, the guns were -unlimbered, placed in position, and for two hours a furious duel raged -between this and an opposing battery on the ridge a half mile away. The -wooded valley intervening was alive with skirmishers, and the continuous -dropping shots showed that they were hotly disputing possession. The -occasional bringing in of the dead and wounded from the line attested the -character of the struggle. The boys were evidently not in fun. The -regiment lay in front of the guns which fired over us. This of itself was -sufficiently exhilarating to a nervous man, but when the shells of the opposing -battery came hustling through the air, bursting in front, above and -behind us, cutting the branches above us or throwing the dirt over us, every -man became a stoic and waited with calmness the missile which should -square his account.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Strangely enough no casualty occurred in the line. Some annoyance -was felt from a house on the left front occupied by sharp-shooters. A -small squad, by permission, stole down upon them unobserved. Making -a rush for the house the gray-backs went out of the back door as the -boys went in at the front. The family were at breakfast. One of the -boys sat down and had a hearty lunch, while the others searched the house -from cellar to garret. Notifying the owner that another shot from the -house would meet with response from the cannon, the boys returned and -took their place in line.</p> - -<p class='c005'>And still the cannonade kept up. Shells passing overhead reached -the horses in the rear, carrying consternation to the boys who were -holding them. One came up to the line to get permission to trade -places with one of the boys, saying if he had to be killed he preferred to -die as a soldier, and not as a hostler.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Col. Jackson rode a white horse and, with his orderlies, remained -mounted during this action. Wherever this horse was the shells were -thickest. Upon being asked why he rode this horse he said that in battle -no one hit what he shot at. So he rode this horse for safety. The Colonel -held a fairly good place in the affections of his men, but none cared to -cultivate any closer relations with him on this occasion. It was two sad-eyed -orderlies who followed him up and down the line these two solemn -hours.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The rebel battery ceasing to return our fire, we returned to our horses -and about noon moved to the Cranny White Pike. Crossing it, we dismounted -and climbed a hill—the remainder of the brigade going into line -on our left. As we went into position the brass band of a regiment on -our immediate left was playing a melancholy piece—doubtless expressing -the feelings of the musicians, but certainly not inciting an appetite for -battle in the hearers.</p> - -<p class='c005'>For some hours we lay upon this hill exchanging shots, occasionally, -with an unseen foe, without loss. The 10th Indiana on our left lost some -killed and wounded. About 4 <span class='fss'>P. M.</span> Knipe ordered an advance of the -whole division. The 9th did not wait, but, springing to their feet, dashed -eagerly down the hill and away after the enemy, who did not stand upon -the order of their going, but went at once.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Strict orders had been given to reserve fire until we should get in -short range, but some nervous comrade, with patriotism at his finger ends, -discharged his gun and at once a line of fire ran down the ranks. An -effort to stop the shooting was made without avail. Company K had a -man killed; a number were slightly wounded. Two Confederates were seriously -wounded in or near a house at the base of the hill, where we discontinued -the pursuit.</p> - -<p class='c005'>This could scarcely be dignified by the name of "a charge," as the -enemy practically made no resistance. With fear to lend them speed they -were further from us at the end of the race than upon the start. The day -was damp and cold; many had on overcoats and poncho blankets. The -haste with which we obeyed the order to advance did not give them time -to divest themselves of extra clothing. The charge was along through a -corn-field a foot deep in mud, intersected by several ditches and washouts, -four to six feet deep, and from three to ten feet wide. Cavalry boots and -other impediments made this a decidedly warm trip.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The rebels were now evidently badly whipped, and if the cavalry -corps had now been mounted we could certainly have cut off the retreat -by the Franklin road and practically bagged the entire game. By the time -the horses could be brought up night had come and we went into camp at -the base of the hill, from which the enemy had given us a parting shot at -5 o'clock.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The rebel army at the close of the fight on the 16th were completely -whipped; the infantry with which the cavalry corps had contended were a -demoralized and panic-stricken mob. Forrest, with his main body of cavalry, -had not been present during the battle. Two brigades had reached -the field on the evening of the 16th, and, holding the passes through the -Brentwood hills, from the Granny White Pike, enabled the panic-stricken -horde to reach the Franklin Pike and cross Little Harpeth. Night and -Forrest's cavalry alone saved Hood's army from total capture. A strong -rear guard of cavalry was formed to cover the retreat of the broken rebel -columns, and, although the battle was won our work was but fairly begun. -About midnight a heavy rain set in which continued at intervals for some -days following.</p> - -<p class='c005'>By the early dawn the First Brigade was in the saddle en route for the -Franklin Pike, the 19th Pennsylvania in advance, supported by the 10th -Indiana. On reaching the pike the whole command started down toward -Franklin at a swinging trot. Soon striking the enemy they gave way before -the impetuosity of the advance and were rapidly driven back, losing -many prisoners. At Hollow Tree Gap a considerable body of infantry -were strongly posted, who repulsed the two regiments in front with the -loss of 22 killed and wounded and 63 prisoners, principally from the 10th -Indiana. To offset this, the 10th had captured and brought off the field -two Colonels, two Lieutenant-Colonels, one Major and more than one hundred -enlisted men. The 9th, being in the rear, had all the morning seen -the evidences of the demoralization of the enemy. The guns and other -equipments strewn along the road, the apparent abandonment of everything -that impeded their flight, every door-yard filled with illy-clad shivering -prisoners, had lead us to the conclusion that we had "a walk over." -Hollow Tree Gap undeceived us.</p> - -<p class='c005'>After repulsing our advance the enemy fell back. The 9th Indiana -was ordered up and took the advance. As we moved through the Gap -we saw the saddest sight of the campaign. A trooper lay beside the road -gasping his life away, and near him with a ghastly wound in his breast, lay -dead the little curly-headed, blue-eyed boy, Duane A. Lewis, Co. B., sixteen -years old, the General's orderly, whose bright and joyous face and -fearless innocence had endeared him to the heart of every soldier in -the brigade. The pitiless rain fell upon his upturned childish face; his -eyes were open, but their light had gone out forever.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Gen. Knipe said to Hammond: "Take your command and go to -Franklin; don't skirmish with the enemy three minutes, but attack him -where found and drive him through the town."</p> - -<p class='c005'>The rain was gently falling, the heavy fog of early morning was somewhat -dissipated, yet so dense that objects could not be distinctly seen at a -distance. With a long trot we swept down the pike against a shadowy -foe—ourselves but shadows. The depressing weather and the sad scene -just passed made the lightest heart grow heavier as we swept along. Suddenly -from the woods on the left a body of Confederate horse sprang into -the road in front of us, and in a ghostly gallop lead the way to their lines.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Debouching into the open near Franklin, the cannon from the fort -opened on us with shell. The head of the column turned to the right a -short distance and wheeled into line—the centre and left coming on "front -into line." Hammond being at the head of the column gave the command -to charge before the line was barely formed. The right sprang forward -at the command and was rapidly followed by the center. The left, under -Capt. Hobson, was not yet in line and did not hear the command. Hammond -again shouted "charge!" Hobson was looking after the alignment -and did not hear the command. Hammond galloped to him and said: -"You cowardly s— of a b—ch! why don't you charge?" Hobson raised -himself in the stirrups and said: "Boys, we will show who are cowards! -Forward! March! Trot! Charge!!" and lead the boys right up to the fort, -where he was shot through the heart.<a id='r4' /><a href='#f4' class='c012'><sup>[4]</sup></a> A stone wall on the left caused -them to crowd on the centre and against the fort. The right also was -forced to press in on the centre, by reason of a nursery, which, for horses, -was practically impenetrable. The centre charged right down the open -grounds on the left of the pike.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Lieut. Watts, of Company I, fell dead on the pike at the head of -Company G. Lieut. Duvall, who lead Company H, was shot in the breast—a -wound which hastened his death, occurring in 1880.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The Confederates had torn down the telegraph wire and, driving posts -at intervals, had encircled the fort with it. This was unseen by the assaulting -party until their horses tumbled over it. Encumbered by the horses -who were useless in attacking a fort, impeded by a stone wall and wire-fence, -under an awful fire of grape and canister and musketry at short -range, the regiment fell back in disorder, but not without bringing off two -stands of colors and over two hundred prisoners. These captures were -made by individual prowess, and were not the result of concerted action.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Falling back perhaps two hundred yards from the fort and partially -sheltered from the shells and musket balls by a slight depression in the -plain, Acting Adjutant Comstock, under orders from the Colonel, planted -the regimental colors, and the line was soon formed again. This was done -quickly and well under fire. The shells were passing overhead and bursting -threw the fragments among the men in a distressingly familiar way.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Lieut. Burroughs, of Company C, had been disabled in the charge, -and, as the men from the left were crossing the pike to form on the colors, -he asked for assistance to remount his horse, which was standing near. -Two men dismounted to assist him, but just then a fragment from a bursting -shell tore away part of his skull. He was carried to the rear in a dying -condition.</p> - -<p class='c005'>As the same party were hastening to the right, as before mentioned, -a shell passed through two horses, taking off the leg of one of the riders. -Another horse had his head taken off as with a broad-axe. In the charge -a horse was struck full in the breast with a cannon ball, passing through -and disemboweling him. The rider went headlong in the mud, where he -lay stunned until the fight was over. The charge was unwisely ordered, -but bravely and brilliantly executed. To ride down in the face of a withering -fire on a fort inaccessible to cavalry, defended by artillery and infantry, -greatly outnumbering the attacking force, was apparently a ride to -death. That it was not so we must thank Him without whose notice no -sparrow falls to the ground. No one faltered; none turned back until all -that could be done was accomplished. Bravely as this was done, it did -not show forth that true courage, born of moral worth and a high sense of -duty, as did the prompt rallying of the broken companies, and the speedy -reforming of the line, under fire, and the patient waiting for orders among -the bursting shells. This was the true touchstone of our greatness as a -regiment, and nobly did the boys stand the test.</p> - -<p class='c005'>In his report, dated December 27th, 1864, Gen. Hammond, of this -action, says:</p> - -<p class='c005'>"The enemy, having retreated, we followed rapidly, the 9th Indiana -in advance, to near Franklin, and drove the enemy across the river into -town, capturing, it is reported, two stands of colors and near two hundred -prisoners. In this charge we lost three fine officers, among whom was -Capt. Hobson—9th Indiana Cavalry,—a man remarkable for the prompt -discharge of his duties, and his bravery. The 9th Indiana was supported -by the 10th Indiana and the 4th Tennessee. But the first regiment deserved -the principal credit of the charge and success."</p> - -<p class='c005'>For the regiment, whose heroism converted his blunder into a glorious -achievement, this praise is scant enough. For the man, at whom he -had but a few minutes before his death, hurled the most opprobrious epithet -that can be applied to the brave man who loves his mother, or reveres her -memory, this recognition comes too late.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The 4th Tennessee took the advance and pushed over the -river, through the town and out on the Lewisburg Pike, followed by the -brigade. Flanking the enemy out of a position between this and the Columbia -Pike, we moved across to this latter road, and leisurely moved down -toward Columbia. On either side of us great columns of cavalry were -moving through the fields in parallel lines. The entire cavalry corps was -in sight. The whole face of the country seemed covered with the mighty -host.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l c009'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>"'T were worth ten years of peaceful life,</div> - <div class='line'>One glance at their array."</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>A mile to the front, a range of heavily wooded hills at right angles -to the pike, rose abruptly from the plain. On the brow of this hill a battery -in the road opened on us with shell. The first shell, passing over, -bursted beyond our rear; another and another followed. The stragglers -felt an impulse of valor unfelt before, and made vigorous efforts to get to -the front. The pace of the command visibly quickened—broke into a -trot, and soon were galloping, while still above us shrieked the shells. -Alas! not all! Those in the rear could see the column, opening and -closing at frequent intervals, as the horsemen passed on either side of the -dead and wounded men and horses who had fallen.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Reaching a break in the wall which fenced in the right side of the -road, the head of the column, turning, dashed into the field on the right. -Dismounting at the edge of the woods, which was also the base of the hill, -we advanced upon the enemy, and drove him from his position. It was -said that in this action the 4th Regulars, lead by Knipe in person, went -into line, without dismounting, charged the enemy, and, after a sharp hand -to hand fight, drove him in confusion from the field.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The whole corps was engaged in this action, and, in thirty minutes -from the discharge of the first gun, the entire rebel force, who were not -killed or prisoners, were in full retreat. It was now nearly dark. Remounting, -we moved to the right, the 10th Indiana in advance. Passing -the enemy's flank, and reaching the pike in his rear, we moved forward to -the attack. The 10th Indiana passed the enemy, who were ambushed behind -a stone fence on the left, and who permitted us to likewise get well -in the trot before springing it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Suddenly, from out the darkness, "Halt! Who comes there?" -sharply questioned a voice. "Federal cavalry," replied Jackson. "<i>Fire!</i>" -rang out the command, and immediately from a thousand muskets in our -very faces, gushed a sheet of flame. Down went man and horse. Another -volley, and the frightened horses reared and plunged, many falling -in a ditch alongside the road, crippling the riders.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Company L was in the advance. Moorehouse went down with a -ghastly wound; Bristow fell dead; Jackson's horse went into the ditch, -falling upon him, and inflicting permanent injuries to his breast. Acting -Adjutant Comstock and another, whose name I cannot give, saved the -Colonel from capture, by mounting him upon another horse and holding -him in the saddle until a place of safety could be reached.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Color-Sergeant Ricks, of Company E, a noble boy, was killed, and, in -the darkness, the colors were lost. The rebels, protected by the wall, were -safe from sabre or bullet. The plunging of the horses, the cries of the -wounded, the shouting of the officers, the lurid flashing of guns, fitfully -lighting the scene, made a situation inadequately described by the modified -term of the "new version."</p> - -<p class='c005'>The surprise, the darkness and disorder, the impossibility of returning -the fire, left but one thing to do. A united rush was made to the right. -The rail fence, bounding the road, went down with a crash—officer and -man, with equal zeal, seeking safety in flight. The enemy pursued with -shout and yell and hissing bullet. It was not a panic. It was good, hard -sense. To get out of that hopeless hell was strictly business.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The enemy did not pursue very far. Halting in the woods, Hammond -made an effort to get the brigade in line. He was so hoarse he -could not speak above a whisper. It was found that all the officers were -likewise too hoarse to make themselves heard, and the attempt was abandoned. -Each officer and man sought sleep and rest where best it suited -him. Sleep did not at once fall upon the camp. Silence there was, but -not sleep. The chagrin of failure, the separation from comrades who -might be dead or wounded, and in the hands of the enemy, added tenfold -to the horror of the night, itself wet, cold, comfortless. At last tired nature -succumbed to the drowsy god, and all too soon the morning bugle -awoke us from slumber to the duties and dangers of another day.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the 18th the command, encountering no enemy, marched to near -Spring Hill, and went into camp. Resuming the march on the 19th, -reached Rutherford's Creek. This stream was out of its banks, its current -a torrent, making a more effective rear guard for the defeated army -than even Forrest's brave and determined troops. The almost impassable -condition of the roads delayed the arrival of the pontoons until the 20th. -Meantime the infantry had overtaken us, and gone into camp near us.</p> - -<p class='c005'>When the infantry came from the front and began work on the defenses -at Pulaski, they did not have a very high opinion of the cavalry arm -of the service. This feeling was fairly illustrated in the remark of a -bronzed veteran visiting our camp. He said: "The artillery makes the -noise, the cavalry makes the show, and <i>we do the work</i>!" A General was -heard to express his contempt for this arm of the service by offering to pay -$10 per head for each cavalryman killed in battle. These boys had now -followed our line of march and constant battle for some days. They had -seen the character of the work done, and from them now was heard only -words of warmest commendation. These were the heroes of Atlanta, and -to have thus earned their enthusiastic approval, conquering their prejudice -and compelling respect, was doubling our laurels and glory enough. Their -unstinted praise was not more grateful to our hearts than was the generous -sharing of their scant store of hard-tack to our now, for a day or two, -"strictly corn-fed" stomachs.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The bridge across Rutherford's Creek being completed, on the 21st -we crossed and moved down to Columbia. Duck River, swollen by the -rains, that for a week had almost constantly fallen, was now a wide, deep -and turbulant stream. The rain had ceased to fall, and it was snowing -instead. The wind was blowing a gale from the northwest. This greatly -increased the difficulty of bridging the stream, and it was December 23d -before we were enabled to cross the river and resume the pursuit. We -had been called up the midnight preceding, struck our tents, and, mounting, -moved down near the river, where we sat upon our horses in the wind -and flying snow—a dismal, dark, dreadful two hours—and then back to -camp again.</p> - -<p class='c005'>About 10 o'clock <span class='fss'>A. M.</span> on the 23d, we crossed the bridge and moved -some miles down the Pulaski Pike, not encountering the enemy.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the 24th, we moved through the fields on the right of Gen. Croxton's -brigade. We were not in advance this day, and, while always in -hearing of the guns, were not directly engaged. All this day, as we followed -in the wake of the fight, our eyes were constantly greeted with unmistakable -evidences of the struggle in front. No one will forget the little -knot of dead and dying artillerymen and horses by the road-side, maimed -and mangled by a bursting shell, a gory, ghastly sight.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Forrest, with the main body of his cavalry, had reached the line of -Hood's retreat at Columbia, and from that point interposed a force not inferior -in numbers, or discipline, to the cavalry corps pursuing. In addition -to this force, we were hourly confronted by five brigades of infantry, under -Gen. Walthall. So great a force, aided by bad roads and swollen streams, -made it impossible for us to break through their defence. It is true that -at every stand made by the enemy, we drove him from his position, but -when he fell back it was usually in good order, and more as one who had -accomplished a purpose than as a beaten and demoralized foe.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the 25th, we pushed on, following the advance, which drove the -enemy through Pulaski so closely, that he did not have time to destroy the -bridge over Richland Creek. The men detailed to fire the bridge were -killed or captured and the fire extinguished. Another stand was made at -Reynolds' or Anthony's Hill, south of Pulaski. Our brigade was ordered -to support the first brigade, sixth division, in an attack on this position. -The enemy made strong resistance, and for some time the battle raged -without advantage on either side. Hammond's brigade was ordered up. -The 9th Indiana, with Companies I and D as skirmishers, advanced on -the enemy's left. His skirmishers were soon met and driven back on the -main line, lying along the top of the hill. A heavy fire was opened on -these two companies, and they were compelled to fall back on the supporting -column—which, going into line, advanced upon the enemy. Meantime -the brigade in advance had been repulsed, and fell back in confusion,—the -7th Ohio cavalry breaking through the advancing column between -the 4th Tennessee and the remainder of the brigade. The 4th charged -gallantly and drove the pursuing enemy back into his works, but the support -being delayed by the demoralized 7th Ohio, failed to come up, and -the 4th was compelled to withdraw. Now it was that our regiment advanced -with the 2d Tennessee on our left. Coming within sight of the -defences, the whole line, with a yell and mighty rush, swept up the hill -over the works and across the opening after the flying foe, who disappeared -in the woods beyond. Company I had a place in this charge. Company -D, being on the right of the skirmish line, had, in falling back, after helping -develop the enemy's position, missed the supporting column—having -to go around a precipitous hill to rejoin the regiment, only reached the -scene in time to observe, but take no part in, the charge, which closed the -day's work.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Going into camp the weary soldier found time to remember that this -was Christmas day, and fill himself with the recollection of the Christmas -feasts of former years—precious "little else" he had to fill himself with. -Mud and snow below, clouds and rain above, all night long, was not conducive -to rest, but caused the boys the more readily to resume the march -next morning—the saddle being more comfortable than the camp.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The 26th opened with a heavy fog and gently falling rain. The 2d -Tennessee in advance, supported by the 9th Indiana, struck the enemy -about five miles from camp and drove him swiftly back on the main body, -which was strongly posted on the south bank of Sugar Creek, a deep and -rapid stream, with high and steep banks. The 2d Tennessee going into -line, was soon hotly engaged. The 9th debouched from the road and went -into line in reserve, but so near the first line that we were as fully under -fire as those in front.</p> - -<p class='c005'>To remain under fire from an unseen enemy, without the stimulus of -action, is a serious tax upon the courage of the average soldier. The 2d -Tennessee, after a few minutes' exchange of courtesies with the enemy, -were moved by the right flank to make room for us. Glad to move, the -regiment took its place in the position lately occupied by the 2d Tennessee, -while the 14th Ohio battery went into position near the line just abandoned -by us. All this time the enemy's fire was unceasing. On reaching our -new position we could see under the lifting fog, the creek with its steep -banks, and beyond it the log barricades, from behind which constantly -leaped forth the flame and smoke, accentuating the "zip" of the spiteful -bullets, which constantly cut the air around us.</p> - -<p class='c005'>From here we could also see the slender thread of road leading to the -ford, across which but two horses might pass abreast. As against mounted -men the position was impregnable. The situation was not encouraging, -contemplating which, an officer of the line got somewhat excited, and, -riding to and fro in front of the regiment, constantly shouting: "Don't -run, boys; for God's sake, don't run!"</p> - -<p class='c005'>This was an unnecessary appeal. Aside from the disorder arising -from falling horses, the line stood unwavering. A sharp reprimand from -Hammond, and this officer subsided. The fire of the enemy continued -with increasing vigor. It was returned by "the boys" with interest. -Protected by log works the enemy probably suffered no loss.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Two companies, under command of Capt. Cofer, were now sent to -the left to a hill commanding the rebel right and protecting our left -flank. The regiment, at the same time, moved to the right, making place -for the balance of the brigade in line. The two companies moving to the -left reached an angle in the hill—one arm running back parallel to our -line of advance, the other, and shorter arm, projecting toward the field of -battle. Dismounting behind the shorter arm, which thoroughly protected -the horses, the two companies scaled the hill and formed in line on its top, -overlooking the rebel works in the plain below. Company D took the -position nearest the field, the other company (Company I, probably), -going to the left, were in the act of deploying to guard against surprise -from the extreme left, when the enemy left his works, crossed the creek, -and wildly yelling, charged the centre of the main line, driving them back -probably three hundred yards, leaving the led horses in a triangle, the base -and perpendicular of which was too "perpendicular" to climb, and the -high position in the hands of the enemy. Company D hurriedly scrambled -down the hill, and, remounting, dashed out through the astonished Confederates -to a place of safety, where, reforming, they rejoined the regiment. -In their ride to the rear Company D lost four enlisted men by capture. -The horses of the other company were also successfully brought off.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Cofer, with his company, hearing the battle surging back in the centre, -also tried to get back, but by the time the deployed line could be rallied -to return, they were met by a body of the enemy, who, seeing so many -led horses going to the rear, suspected the truth, and went up the hill to -see about it. Resistance was hopeless, flight seemed impossible, but, with -a rebel prison on the one hand, and a chance for safety in a race with -death on the other, was but a moment's hesitation. Running back up the -hill and making a wide detour, Indiana put in her "best licks," and, although -the rebels had the inner and by far the shorter line, they escaped, -amidst a storm of bullets, without a scratch, and rejoined the regiment, -much to their own satisfaction and greatly to the relief of the remainder -of the regiment, who had given them up for lost.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The brigade again advanced and drove the enemy back into his -works. The 14th Ohio battery was now placed in position, and soon -shelled them out, and pursuit was continued some distance by a portion of -the command, the remainder soon going into camp.</p> - -<p class='c005'>These were the last rebels in arms seen by us in this campaign. -Subsistence for men and horses was becoming a serious question. We had -received no rations since leaving Nashville, twelve days before. There had -been little time for foraging. The resources of the country were nearly -exhausted by the rebel army—men and horses were worn out and hungry. -A few days were consumed in recruiting the horses and securing -supplies. The march was resumed and continued without incident of -special interest, except a very pleasant encampment at Taylor Springs and -a very unpleasant, not to say dangerous, crossing of Elk River, ending at -Gravelly Springs, where we went into winter quarters.</p> - -<p class='c005'>It was but a remnant of the 9th Cavalry that went into camp at the -close of this long march. By death, wounds, disease and capture we had -lost heavily. Those stopping by the way, from death or exhausting of -horses, added to the other losses—not more than two hundred effectives -reached this, our final, camp in Alabama. In considering the service of -the 9th Cavalry in this campaign, we will concede that other commands -may have done more fighting, but in promptly and effectually performing -the duties assigned, no regiment could have excelled the 9th Indiana.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Hammond, in his report, says: "During this campaign I have had -continual occasion to admire the bravery of both officers and men, and to -lament want of discipline." The discipline of our regiment was fairly -good; the officers, as a rule, had the respect and confidence of their men, -who yielded prompt obedience to all orders. Gen. Hammond never -issued an order, either in battle, on the march or in camp, that we did not -try to obey, whatever we may have thought of the wisdom of it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>It is the deliberate opinion of the writer, after twenty years' experience -with all sorts of people, that no finer body of men ever lived than served -together in the 9th Indiana Cavalry, and certain it is no braver soldiers -ever marched to battle.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/fig001.jpg' alt='Map of battle, December 1, 1861.' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>Map of battle, December 1, 1861.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c003'>THE NINTH AT FRANKLIN.</h2> -</div> -<p class='c013'>Those who were present will admit that Capt. Hayden's account of the 9th at -Franklin is but a conservative statement of the facts. On the day after the fight, -while we were all feeling very well satisfied with ourselves and the part the regiment -had taken in the affair, I wrote a letter to the Cincinnati Commercial, which was -published in its issue of December 29, 1864. I think it sufficiently pertinent to -justify the insertion of the greater part of it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>D. W. C.</p> - -<p class='c008'> <span class='sc'>Camp of the 9th Indiana Cavalry,</span><br /> -<span class='sc'>Near Franklin, Tennessee, December 18, 1864.</span></p> - -<p class='c005'>It is a lamentable fact, that, for some reason as yet ungiven, the -cavalry arm of our service has not, until quite recently, been distinguished -for any special efficiency. Its connection, however, with the late brilliant -victories in the Shenandoah Valley, have won for it at least the respect of -the country, and caused the withdrawal of Major General Hooker's -standing offer of twenty dollars for a dead cavalryman of the Potomac -Army. In the West this branch of the army, as your readers are aware, -has been organized into the corps of the Military Division of the Mississippi, -under command of Brevet Major General Wilson, whose dash and splendid -abilities, while eminently fitting him for the responsible position he holds, -have fully warranted his promotion from Lieutenant Colonel to his present -rank. The late complete successes of his command are evinced in those -sure and substantial evidences of victory—prisoners, battle-flags and guns; -and in this department no corps can show more of them than the cavalry.</p> - -<p class='c005'>While all the troops in this command have behaved with credit to -themselves and honor to the cause in which they fight, for pluck, coolness -and promptness in the hour that tests men's courage, among all the -regiments taking part in the late move in front of Nashville, the 9th -Indiana Cavalry of brigadier General Hammond's brigade, is worthy of -special and honorable mention, and, particularly, its splendid charge upon -the works and forces of the enemy at Franklin yesterday—an exploit -unsurpassed by anything written of the war, and compared to which in -point of success, Major Zagonyi's celebrated charge at Springfield, which -created such a sensation at the beginning of the war, and interested the -principal artists of the country in the face of a homely but ordinary man, -becomes tame and unimportant. Some five hundred yards, over undulating -grounds, made miry by recent rains, from the advance, (9th Indiana -Cavalry, Colonel George W. Jackson commanding), of Hammond's -brigade, and upon the north side of Big Harpeth river was a section of a -battery, supported by two regiments of infantry, strongly entrenched behind -abatis and rifle-pits; in front of them a regiment of cavalry drawn up to -receive a charge. On the south side of the river four guns were so planted -as to enfilade the road. Filing and forming to the right and left of the -road, with a coolness, which seemed utterly regardless of the terrible -accuracy with which the rebel guns were aimed, while their shells were -mangling horses and their riders, the men seated themselves more firmly in -their saddles, tightened the reins, and "looked on sky and tree and plain" -as sights they might never see again. Led in person by Colonel Jackson, -in a line which would have awakened the admiration of Old Hardee -himself, the 9th, at a walk, advanced to victory—many of them, alas, to -death. From a walk to a trot, from a trot to a gallop, the short distance -of five hundred yards was soon traversed, and the Hoosier boys measured -arms with the chivalry from Georgia, Alabama and Texas. Overwhelmed -by the celerity and boldness of the movement, many of the enemy were -sabered and captured before they had fairly entered into the spirit of the -fight. Before the impetuous Jackson three men in gray fell in less time -than it takes now to tell it. A little Sergeant from Company K, George -Leslie, with no weapon but his sabre, took from their gun a Lieutenant -and artilleryman.</p> - -<p class='c005'>To describe a real cavalry charge, however, where sabres are crossed -and skulls are cleaved, as was the case at Franklin on the 17th inst., and -do it justice, is impossible. One may tell how hundreds of well-drilled, -well-mounted men, with clean blades, seen through the clear morning air, -moving like machinery, is a sight not often seen, and a splendid embodiment -or representation of power, and in the rush of a charge may liken it to the -tornado, that must sweep the earth unless averted. This may be said, but -a hundred instances of individual prowess must necessarily be overlooked. -In fifteen minutes the field was won. Two stands of colors, two guns and -250 prisoners were the spoils of victory. The remainder of the enemy, -in confusion, fled through Franklin, leaving it to be taken with near 2,000 -of their wounded, without further fighting. This, with 400 men, for the -other regiments, comprising the brigade, were not formed until the enemy -had been driven across the river. Prisoners said the cavalry had never -acted so before—that they were not even given time to fight, before they -were whipped, and, even after surrendering, had difficulty in escaping the -hoofs of the horses.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Rebel officers accounted for the desperate and determined fighting of -our men, by saying they had been given whisky and gun-powder. The -latter part of the statement was strictly true. A successful cavalry charge—the -capture of stands of colors, guns and prisoners, is a new episode in -the great rebellion. But the faithful historian in the annals of the heroes -and heroic deeds of the war, and glowing tributes to the devotion of -patriot soldiers, will find no theme more worthy the beauties of our Saxon -tongue, than the charge of the 9th Indiana Cavalry at Franklin.</p> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c003'>COL. JACKSON.</h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>It has not been our purpose in these papers to make special mention -of any officer. As an exception to the general plan, I have thought that -a brief mention of Col. Jackson's name would give no offense and could -not be regarded as an unfair discrimination. Holding, by virtue of his -rank, the most conspicuous place, he is in the eyes of his old comrades the -foremost mark for blame or praise. He went west soon after the -conclusion of the war—since then but little has been known of him by -members of the regiment. The latest information concerning him, in -possession of the writer, dates back some years, at which time he was -reported as living with his family upon a farm near New Salem, Kansas, -in feeble health. If living now he would be accounted an elderly man. -His military history, briefly stated in the army records, is as follows:</p> - -<p class='c005'>Mustered as Second Lieutenant, Company C, 34th Regiment, Indiana -Volunteer Infantry, September 21, 1861.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Mustered as First Lieutenant, same Company, April 14, 1862.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Mustered Captain May 12, 1862.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Resigned October 7, 1863; promoted Colonel 118th Regiment.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Mustered Colonel 121st Regiment (9th Cavalry), 1864.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Honorably discharged June 3, 1865.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The career disclosed by this brief recital, although but the skeleton -of his gallant service in behalf of his country, is one of which his friends -may well be proud, but to stop with it would not satisfy those who -followed his leadership with confidence and recall his memory with -affectionate regard.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Having been much in personal contact with him in camp, on the -march, and in action, the writer may take a partial view of his character—but -to-day, after the lapse of many years, recollecting his strong and -weak points, and he had them both, I deem it only a just tribute to the -"old Colonel," as the boys used to call him, to say that he was a brave -soldier, an able and skillful officer, a faithful and generous friend.</p> - -<p class='c005'>He was unfortunate in a nervous organization, which sometimes -affected his temper, compelling him to do and say things which he had -occasion to regret and which unfitted him for camp life. In its monotony -he grew restive and irritable, sometimes by too violent manifestations of -his feelings, giving offense to brother officers without just cause—but -mounted and at the head of the 9th, and fronting the enemy or leading -the charge, he was always the alert, gallant and splendid leader.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The education he was possessed of, was of a solid character and was -derived more from contact with men than from books. He did not affect -learning, though he was intelligent and well informed on current affairs. -Had he begun his career in the army with higher rank than a Lieutenancy, -or with influential friends to have secured the prompter recognition of -his merits, or earlier obtained opportunities for the display of his soldierly -qualities, he would have won distinction in a war so fruitful of able -Generals. As it is, his friends must be content with the knowledge that -in the various posts assigned him he was faithful, capable and brave, and -that those esteemed him most who knew him best.</p> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c003'>WRECK OF THE SULTANA.</h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>No single event during the war so startled and shocked the North as -that which has since been known as the "Sultana Disaster."</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the 23d day of April, 1865, the steamer Sultana left Vicksburg -with a total of passengers and crew of 2,141 persons. Of this number -thirty-five were Federal officers and 1,996 Federal soldiers, recently having -been released from Catawba, Enterprise and Andersonville prisons. The -remaining 110 were made up of the crew and passengers taken on -board at points between New Orleans and Vicksburg.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The physical condition of these officers and soldiers is well known to -those familiar with the treatment received by Federals in Southern prisons,—long -confinement in stockades, without protection from heat or cold, or -rain, without adequate food or clothing, deprived in sickness of medical -aid and the commonest comforts. All were weak and many were -absolutely helpless in the presence of danger.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The estimated capacity of the boat was 376 persons, besides the crew. -The overloading of the boat made it necessary to make any disposition of -the men practicable. They occupied all available room. They were -stowed away wherever space was found to place them. The trip up the -river to the place of the tragedy was made without the occurrence of any -unusual incident. The last stop was at Memphis, at which place the boat -took on coal. At about 3 o'clock on the morning of the 27th of April, -1865, when opposite Fogleman's Landing, some eight miles above -Memphis, the steamer's boiler exploded. The vessel took fire immediately -and was soon burned to the water's edge.</p> - -<p class='c005'>It were idle to attempt a description of the scene that followed that -explosion. It was 3 o'clock in the morning. The water was very cold. -Many passed from the sleep of life to the sleep of death without awakening. -Others without warning found themselves rudely awakened by contact -with the icy water of the Mississippi. They saw the fierce river lit up by -the burning steamer; saw their comrades struggling with the waves, -heard their appeals for help, without the power to respond. They fought -bravely with the darkness and cold and flood for life, sometimes even to -death for the possession of a log, or boat, or other float, that could bear -but one, often cruelly, but naturally asserting Nature's first law, when its -assertion meant death to a weaker brother. Yet such sad pictures were -relieved by others of devotion and gallantry and sacrifice not surpassed in -earthly trials. Some who were able to swim, notwithstanding the shock -and chill of the waters, kept afloat for a time, and were successful in -getting hold of floating planks and rails, and thus maintaining themselves -until rescued. Many floated thus as far as Memphis before they were -picked up, and though rescued from the water, died soon after from the -scalding and burns received on the vessel, and from long exposure to the cold -and from exhaustion. An instance is related of a mother, who clasping -her babe in her arms, floated from the wreck to Memphis, where she was -taken from the water. She lived, but the little one was dead.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The light from the burning vessel was seen, and the explosion heard -for many miles. At a later hour these evidences of disaster would have -brought greater numbers to the rescue. The time of the accident was -unfavorable to prompt assistance. As it was, vessels of all descriptions, -chiefly skiffs, put out promptly and rendered much assistance.</p> - -<p class='c005'>A soldier passenger on the boat relates that while in the water he saw -a horse swim by him with a dozen men clinging to him; he says he saw a -soldier attempting, with the aid of a plank, to save two little girls. A rope -was thrown him, and in attempting to catch it, the children escaped from -his exhausted arms. He seemed to lose all thought of the rope; he beat -about wildly to regain his helpless charge, which were borne from him in -darkness, but he was finally rescued nearly dead from exhaustion.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Of those who were rescued, 200 died in the hospital of Memphis -alone. Near fourteen hundred were killed by the explosion or drowned. -Those able to be removed were sent North to Cincinnati, Ohio, but those -belonging to the Indiana regiments were stopped at Indianapolis, where -they received such attention as thoughtful consideration could bestow.</p> - -<hr class='c014' /> - -<p class='c005'>We give the following extracts from Memphis papers appearing within -a day or two of the disaster:</p> -<h3 class='c015'>STATEMENT OF SERGEANT L. B. HINCKLEY.</h3> -<p class='c004'>I belong to the 9th Indiana Cavalry. I had just gone to bed and -fallen asleep, when all of a sudden I was awakened by some horrible -noise. I sprang out of bed and found the cabin full of flame and the -passengers all jumping overboard. The water for a while around was -covered with people struggling for life. I never heard such terrible and -mournful wailings. The glare of light showed a scene such as never before -had been witnessed. I happened to find a log after swimming some distance. -There was eight of us started on this log; before we reached the wood, -however, four of them gave out and sank to rise no more. I had at first -got hold of a shutter, but finding some one else who needed it worse than -I did, I gave it up. I reached the wood on the log and got on to a tree. -I was rescued from my uncomfortable position about daylight from the -little island opposite Mr. Fogleman's house. We found one who had -reached the wood, his name being Wm. Curtiss, of Company F, 1st -Virginia Cavalry. He was almost in the agonies of death, and had -clutched the limb to which he had caught, and could not be taken from -his position until the limb was cut. Mr. Fogleman's house was opened to -us, and we had every attention shown us that could be under the -circumstances.</p> -<h3 class='c015'>WORK OF THE CREW OF THE GUN-BOAT ESSEX.</h3> -<p class='c004'>The officers and crew of the iron clad Essex deserve unstinted credit -and praise for the part they took in picking up the passengers of the -ill-fated steamer Sultana. Lieutenant James Perry, Ensign of the Essex, -was awakened yesterday morning about 4 o'clock, and informed that the -steamer Sultana had blown up, and was now burning; that the passengers -were floating down the river and crying for help. The Lieutenant jumped -up immediately, and was startled and horrified by the agonizing cries of -the people in the river. He said, that never in all his life, did he hear -anything so dreadful, and hopes it may never be his lot to hear such -screams again. He immediately ordered the boats to be manned, which -was done in very quick time. The morning was very dark. It was -impossible to see twenty feet ahead, and they had nothing to guide -them whatever but the shrieks and groans of the wounded and scalded -men. The first man picked up was chilled through and through, being -perfectly benumbed and unable to help himself. Lieutenant Berry, seeing -the condition the man was in, very generously divested himself of his -own coat and put it on him. The second man they took up died in a -few moments after being taken aboard. The men who had Captain -Parker's gig picked a woman up out of some drift. She was at that time -just making her last struggle for life. About the time this woman was -picked up a steamboat yawl came there and helped pick up some more -who were clinging to the drift. Lieutenant Berry said it was impossible -for him to give any description of the scene; he said it beggared all -description; that there were no words adequate to convey to the mind the -horror of that night. He continually heard the persons in the water cry out, -"Oh, for God's sake save us, we cannot hold out any longer." The boats -of the United States steamers Groesbeck and Tyler were on hand, and -displayed great vigilance and zeal in picking up the drowning men. -Lieutenant Berry, with the help of the crew, picked up over sixty men. -Among those of the crew who deserve special notice, are John Tompson, -the Captain's coxswain, who with gig, picked up twenty-six men; also John -Hill and William Quinn displayed a heroism which deserves to be rewarded -by promotion. In fact the whole crew acted in such a noble manner that -too much cannot be credited to them for their noble endeavors to save the -perishing multitude that was floating down the river, and while we -compliment the men we would not be unmindful of the part Lieutenant -Berry performed. He seemed to forget his rank, he</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l c009'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>"Doffed his sparkling cloak,</div> - <div class='line'>And went to work with might and main,"</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>mingling as one of the crew in the magnanimous work of saving human -life. With commendable forethought, Captain Parker sent ten boats out -to explore the shore from Memphis to the place of the disaster. Up to -half past three o'clock yesterday only five boats have returned. They -had found a few dead bodies, but could not find any survivors along the -shore. We think by this time that all except those who sank to rise no -more, have been picked up; for all classes, both high and low, searched -hard and diligently all day yesterday in hunting up the survivors of this -calamitous disaster. Had the disaster occurred an hour or two later, -Captain Parker feels assured that the naval force here could have saved -several hundred lives instead of the sixty alluded to. Unfortunately the -night was dark, and the boats were obliged to steer in the direction of the -cries, being unable to see more than a few of those struggling in the -water. William Young, gunner's mate on the United States iron clad -Essex, distinguished himself by his courageous acts. Mr. Young rendered -invaluable aid in rescuing from watery graves many of the sufferers by the -Sultana's explosion. He is an old sailor, having been for thirty years -an active seaman, twenty-three years of that time in the navy.</p> - -<p class='c005'>When the steamer Rose Hamilton was nearing the head of the little -island opposite Mr. Fogleman's residence, she was hailed by a skiff -belonging to some fishermen who came aboard, having discovered among -the willows the body of a young lady, apparently about twenty years of -age. She was of medium height, say about five feet five inches, with a -fine head of long brown hair, blue eyes, and had a slight scar across the -chin. She was dressed in the night attire of a respectable lady. She wore -on her bosom a neat breast pin of plain jet set in gold. She was a very -handsome lady, and had not been recognized at last accounts. Her body -was taken on board the Rose Hamilton and as decently laid out as -circumstances would permit. Unknown to those by whom she was thus -cared for, when the sorrows and cares of life were all over, who she was, -what home may be filled with mourning because she comes no more, are -questions which cannot be answered, yet, whoever she may be, her friends -could wish for no more tender care than strangers have bestowed, for many -a manly eye grew moist as they gazed on the pale form in death.</p> -<h3 class='c015'>A VISIT TO THE WRECK.</h3> -<p class='c004'>After the explosion of her boilers, and the rapid spread of the flames, -the burning mass of what had been the fine steamer Sultana, floated slowly -down with the current until within a few hundred yards of Mr. Fogleman's -residence, when it grounded on the Arkansas shore. We visited the -wreck about 10 o'clock. It had sunk in twenty feet of water, and the -jackstaff was standing up before the black mass, as though mutely mourning -over the terrible scene, a silent witness of which it had been. The boat -was almost entirely consumed. The charred remains of several human -bodies were found, crisped and blackened by the fiery element. The scene -was sad to contemplate, and those who witnessed it can never forget it. -The Rose Hamilton, Pocahontas, Jenny Lind and Bostona were cruising -around the place ever and anon picking up the breathless body of some -unfortunate one, who "slept the sleep of death;" or some more fortunate, -who had escaped a watery grave, though exhausted by a fearful night of -agony and struggle for life.</p> -<h3 class='c015'>STATEMENT OF PRIVATE FRED ALBACK, SECOND MICHIGAN CAVALRY.</h3> -<p class='c004'>I was awakened when the explosion took place, lying on the top of -the wheel house. As soon as I discovered that the boat had exploded, I -caught hold of the fender and slid down to the water and let myself in, -having nothing on me at the time. I judge I must have swam about ten -miles. The river was alive with people crying and calling for help in the -greatest of agony. Just as I was coming down off the boat I saw two -ladies who had thrown themselves into the water, they having nothing to -keep them up, and sank, when I saw them no more. When the explosion -took place it threw the cabin into the air, and it fell back upon the shell of -the boat in one mass of ruins, crushing many of the passengers, who were -thus caught and were undoubtedly burned to death. Very many caught -hold of horses by their manes and tails, but whether they escaped or not -I cannot tell, as I never heard of them afterwards.</p> -<h3 class='c015'>STATEMENT OF PRIVATE R. H. SIMPSON, COMPANY I, NINETEENTH INDIANA.</h3> -<p class='c004'>I went to sleep about 2 o'clock and was awakened in about half an -hour by hot water falling on my face and hands. I was not struck by -anything nor scalded, but remained on the boat until the flames compelled -me to leave. I then ran up on the cabin floor, snatched off a door and -then made my way down to the lower deck and jumped into the river. -By the light of the burning steamer I could see hundreds of the passengers -in the water, all crying and wailing for help. I swam for about one mile -and a half, and when I got to the island, just opposite Mr. Fogleman's, -there I caught hold of the bushes. I saw three men drown while I was in -the water. One of them had gained the trees and was holding to the -limbs; a skiff was fast coming to his help, but being utterly exhausted he -lost his hold and sank, when the skiff was about ten steps off. The other -two had almost gained the bushes, but sank before they could reach the -trees.</p> - -<hr class='c014' /> - -<p class='c005'>An event so appalling as this could not occur even at a time when the -country was accustomed to hear of the deaths of great numbers of men, -without action upon the part of the government looking to the investigation -of its cause. A military committee and a committee upon the part of -Congress were appointed for that purpose. Both committees, no doubt, -discharged with fairness and ability the duty assigned them. There were -many theories and rumors as to the cause. Rumor charged that the Post -Quartermaster at Vicksburg, by a contract with the owners of the vessel, -received a commission of $2.00 for each soldier passenger furnished, and -for that consideration he had recklessly crowded the vessel beyond her -capacity. It was also charged that the machinery was out of repair, and -the vessel generally unseaworthy.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The investigation, however, disclosed the fact that before leaving -Vicksburg her boilers had been repaired by competent mechanics; that the -charge against the Quartermaster was untrue; that the disaster was not due -to the fact that the vessel was carrying more than her estimated -capacity. The writer has not been able to obtain the report made by either -of the committees as to the true cause of the explosion.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Among the lost were men from every company of the 9th Cavalry. -The following list may not be complete, but is believed to be correct so far -as it goes:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l c009'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Daniel Curtis, Co. A</div> - <div class='line'>Patrick Day, Co. A.</div> - <div class='line'>Frederick Blessinger, Corp., Co. B.</div> - <div class='line'>Charles E. Church, Co. B.</div> - <div class='line'>Ephraim B. Parman, Co. B.</div> - <div class='line'>John Steward, Co. B.</div> - <div class='line'>Warren A. Huckins, Co. C.</div> - <div class='line'>John M. Englehart, Co. C.</div> - <div class='line'>Edward Wood, Co. D.</div> - <div class='line'>Thomas Laboyteaux, Co. E.</div> - <div class='line'>John Bonner, Co. F.</div> - <div class='line'>Charles W. Clevenger, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>Jonathan R. Downing, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>George Downing, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>William H. Graves, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>William C. Hoover, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>Charles W. M. King, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>John N. Maynard, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>Enoch T. Nation, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>James C. Olom, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>Martin V. Rodepouch, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>John R. Reasoner, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>Nathan Thornburg, Co. G.</div> - <div class='line'>Franklin Ballenger, Co. H.</div> - <div class='line'>James Bell, Co. H.</div> - <div class='line'>Alonzo Dunham, Co. H.</div> - <div class='line'>George Delano, Co. H.</div> - <div class='line'>Josiah Pratt, Co. H.</div> - <div class='line'>John W. Shull, Co. H.</div> - <div class='line'>Hiram Bailey, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>John W. Emmons, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>George S. Fisher, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>Jacob Harold, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>Henry Newton, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>William F. Rea, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>Joseph Survant, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>George W. Shockley, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>Darius Stevens, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>Matthew Zix, Co. K.</div> - <div class='line'>James N. Christian, Co. L.</div> - <div class='line'>Robert A. Moorehouse, Co. L.</div> - <div class='line'>Leander McCarty, Co. L.</div> - <div class='line'><a id='r5' /><a href='#f5' class='c012'><sup>[5]</sup></a>Archibald Reed, Co. L.</div> - <div class='line'>John M. Armstrong, Corp., Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>John D. Alexander, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>William Brigg, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>George W. Blake, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>Nathan E. Gruell, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>Enis Haloway, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>William H. Huffman, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>James M. Isentrager, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>Samuel King, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>Franklin Ridley, Co. M.</div> - <div class='line'>John M. Bragg, Co. M.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='large'>Footnotes</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f1'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r1'>1</a>. </span><span class='sc'>Note A.</span>—Of the affair at Wilson's Pike, December 1, 1864, Sergt. Holt, -of Co. E, writes as follows:</p> - -<p class='c005'>D. W. C.</p> - -<p class='c005'>"At the fight on Wilson's Pike, December 1, 1861, Company E was detailed -to check the advancing columns on that road. The company was stationed in a -small yard behind a house. A line of skirmishers was thrown out consisting of the -dismounted fourth man, placed in charge of a sergeant, with orders to fire once or -twice and fall back to their horses. The advance was very rapid, the firing hot in -the region of the company, and the men who had charge of the horses of the dismounted -men were ordered to the rear. When our men came back from the skirmish -line they were disappointed in not finding their horses, and were all captured, -consisting of nearly twenty-six men of Company E, who were taken to Cahaba, -Alabama, prison. Only about half of them lived through the five months they -were kept there. Capt. Hobson was left in charge of the rear. He was ordered -off the field twice by orderlies from Gen. Hammond, but failing to obey the -order Gen. Hammond came himself and took the command off. The rebels were -so close to us that I think I would almost know the color-bearer if I were to see him -to-day. Before we left the yard, or just as we were leaving, Sergt. Helvie, who was -sitting at the roots of a sugar tree, called to me to take his gun, a Henry rifle. I -did so, and was so much excited that I only got two loads off out of the fifteen it -contained. I believe Sergt. Helvie was the only man wounded in the engagement, -although we stayed upon the field until the right and left wings of the rebel advance -were considerably ahead of us, and I pointed the fact out to Capt. Hobson, -but it didn't seem to affect him."</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f2'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r2'>2</a>. </span>It was said that Company F sold this mule in New Orleans -several times. The plan was—as the story was told—to have one of the boys, in -citizen's clothes, sell the animal, and before it could be got away a squad would -come up and arrest the party for having United States property in possession, compromising -for a greater or less amount, take the mule and release the purchaser. -This was said to have been repeated a number of times. At last the mule was hid -and could not be found, but not before a sum had been raised sufficient to put -Company F in funds.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f3'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r3'>3</a>. </span>Lieut. Thomas J. Cofer, Co. I.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f4'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r4'>4</a>. </span>Accounts of the deaths of Capt. Hobson and Lieut. Watts are -conflicting. Capt. Hayden states that Capt. Hobson was killed right at the fort. -The account of Sergt. Holt, Co. E, of the same incident, is subjoined. Sergt. -Holt's candor in relating his experiences is refreshing and worthy of all praise. -Most of us, in relating army experiences, are apt to forget or omit our fears and -remember only what was heroic. There was in the regiment but one opinion -concerning Capt. Hobson, and that was that he was a brave and capable officer. -Martin Gregg, Co. I, states that he was with Lieut. Watts when shot; that he was -killed by the captain of the battery, who also fired at him.</p> - -<p class='c005'>D. W. C.</p> - -<p class='c005'>"Company E was the left wing, Capt. Hobson commanding the main column. -Advancing on the pike, our company went to the left or rear of a small works on -the pike. After we had climbed a little hill, our company had scattered considerably, -the firing being close above us with grape. We formed under cover -of the ravine, and then advanced down the railroad. Capt. Hobson -was leading the company; and Sergeant Grose and myself were (I probably -ought not to say so) in the rear. I thought I took in the situation -and asked him how he liked the place we were going into. He said he didn't -like it much, but he guessed we would have to go. We charged down the railroad -until we got to the wagon road, then went under the railroad, the grade being so -high as to permit us to go under. Capt. Hobson didn't seem to realize the situation -until he was confronted on the other side by the retreating rebel column. He -halted and turned round immediately on the retreat, and was shot just as he came -under the railroad, falling almost against the stone abutment. His riderless horse -came galloping past me as I turned to retreat....</p> - -<p class='c005'>"An incident in connection with Capt. Hobson's death has always impressed -me. During the morning Capt. Hobson and Lieut. Burroughs were riding together, -and in their conversation Lieut. Burroughs said: 'I would rather lose my right arm -than go into a fight.' Capt. Hobson replied, 'The rebel bullet is not molded that -will kill me.' With these remarks hardly cold from their lips they went into the -fight and were both killed within at least a few minutes of each other.</p> - -<p class='c005'>"While Capt. Hobson many times seemed rough in his remarks, his actions -would show that he was tender in feelings. With a confidence that no harm can -come to him, a man can go forth and fight with dashing courage, although -danger surrounds him; but with the thought that as certain as he goes into battle, -he will be the first to fall, requires a stout heart, and is offering his life -upon the altar of his country. I never felt that I would be injured in battle, but -I have several times wished that some one else would run, so that I might have -some excuse to run myself. It took a braver man to make the break and run when -every one was standing in line of battle than it did to stand and fight."</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f5'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r5'>5</a>. </span>Lost by the explosion of the steamer George Fierce, below Vicksburg.</p> -</div> -<div class='tnotes'> - -<p class='c016'>Transcriber's Notes:</p> - -<p class='c005'>Archaic and uneducated spelling and grammar has been retained.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Footnotes have been collected at the end of the text, and are -linked for ease of reference.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Missing or obscured punctuation was corrected.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Typographical errors were silently corrected.</p> - -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Ninth Cavalry, by Daniel Webster Comstock - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NINTH CAVALRY *** - -***** This file should be named 60363-h.htm or 60363-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/3/6/60363/ - -Produced by David King and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll -have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using -this ebook. - - - -Title: Ninth Cavalry - One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteers - -Author: Daniel Webster Comstock - -Release Date: September 26, 2019 [EBook #60363] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NINTH CAVALRY *** - - - - -Produced by David King and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive.) - - - - - - - Ninth Cavalry - - - - - NINTH CAVALRY - - One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment - - Indiana Volunteers. - - Daniel Webster Comstock - - RICHMOND, IND.: - PUBLISHED BY J. M. COE. - 1890. - - - - - PREFACE. - - -The papers here collected were read by the Regimental Historian, from -time to time, at Annual Re-unions of the 9th Indiana Cavalry. They are -printed at the request of the boys of the regiment, and are for their -benefit. - -Combined, they give, as seen from the standpoint of the individual who -narrates, the principal events in which the regiment took part, but do -not even refer to many skirmishes in which it participated with the -forces of Wheeler, Forrest, Rhoddy, and other Confederate Cavalry -leaders, in the Department of the Cumberland, and "brushes" with -guerrillas in the Military Division of the Mississippi,--"affairs" -unimportant from the insignificance of the numbers engaged, but in which -the most soldierly qualities were often displayed. - -The papers were not all prepared by the Historian: with those he did not -write he has, with the full consent of the respective authors, made such -changes as he thought proper. - -The paper by J. A. Brown, corporal Co. L, on "Sulphur Branch Trestle," -appears as written by him, without a verbal change. - -The other paper upon the same subject is made up of accounts furnished -by Col. Lilly and Capt. J. B. Harrod, Co. B. - -While the writer assisted in making up the detail sent upon that -unfortunate expedition, it was not his fortune to go with it. - -The very able and graphic chapter upon the Hood Campaign is from the pen -of Capt. O. B. Hayden, Co. D. - -The account of the Lynnville fight appears substantially as given by -Capt. Harrod. - -If in these sketches it appears that too much stress is put on minor -matters, and things of importance but lightly stated, it should be -remembered that the statements are made from individual observations, -and the shading must be looked at from the observer's angle of -observation. - -Hereafter, if the boys desire, the story of the regiment may be further -told. - -It will be noticed that but brief mention is made of the officers, -especially in the chapter upon the Hood Campaign. There is no -intentional slight in this--a fair share of the officers were on hand -and did their duty, as is attested by the fact that four of them were -killed in action and others wounded during that campaign--but the fact -is that the privates fought the war and the officers got the pay and the -glory. It was a peculiarity found in the volunteer service--found in the -army of no other Nation--that however brave and capable the officers of -the line, a dozen privates in each company were found equally brave and -capable. The accident of rank should not affect the distribution of -credit. It is enough to participate in the glory of the boys--too much -to claim the lion's share. - -D. W. COMSTOCK. - - - - - SULPHUR BRANCH TRESTLE. - - -On the afternoon of the 22d of September, 1864, the 9th was ordered to -furnish a force of mounted men to march to Elk River Bridge, on the -Nashville & Decatur Railroad. - -The detail was promptly made from the mounted men of each company, and, -under command of Major Lilly, senior major of the regiment, started the -same night. The force leaving Pulaski, consisting of portions of the 9th -and 10th Indiana Cavalry, being under the command of Colonel Pace, of -the latter regiment. The command arrived at Elk River Bridge about noon -of the next day. Intelligence having been received that a rebel force -was threatening Sulphur Branch Trestle, some miles further south on the -same railroad, Major Lilly was ordered to report with his command to the -commander of that post. - -Late that afternoon he arrived there and reported to Col. Lathrop, -commanding the garrison occupying the earth-work constructed with a view -of protecting the trestle at that point. The garrison consisted of two -companies of colored troops. After a brief consultation between the -officers a reconnaissance was determined upon and moved out on the -Athens road about sunset. About two miles from Sulphur Branch the -advance guard was fired upon by the pickets of the enemy. Light -skirmishing ensued, and, night coming on, by the light of the enemy's -campfires, their camp was reconnoitered, and they were discovered to be -in heavy force. The enemy thus discovered proved to be the command of -Gen. N. B. Forrest, estimated at twelve thousand men, with three -batteries of artillery. On coming from Pulaski a courier line had been -established, thus keeping open communication between Major Lilly's -command and headquarters at the latter place. The courier line was under -the command of Sergeant Anderson, of Company "B." By means of this line -the situation was reported to Rousseau at Pulaski, and, in response -thereto, came the order to "hold the fort at all hazards and to the last -extremity." Major Lilly withdrew his command to the fort and established -his picket lines. It was then 9 o'clock P. M. This fort was a small, -four-bastioned earth-work, mounting two twelve-pounder Napoleon guns. It -was located upon a knoll by the railway trestle, and was commanded by -higher points within 500 to 800 yards, while on the east side within a -few hundred feet, rose a higher hill covered with timber. The remainder -of the night was spent by the men in throwing up traverses and otherwise -strengthening the fort. Firing commenced on the picket line at midnight. -It increased as the night advanced until daylight, when it was evident -the fort was being surrounded, and before sunrise the battle was on. The -parapets were manned so far as they could be with so small a force. The -members of the 9th were in position on the south and east parapets, and -on the southeastern bastion, on their left along the east parapet, were -about sixty men of the 3d Tennessee Cavalry, under command of Col. -Minnis, who had been driven into the fort the evening before; the -remainder of the work was covered by the two companies of Col. Lathrop, -who also manned the two guns, situated on the northeast and northwest -bastions. The entire strength of the force called upon to defend the -fort may thus be fairly estimated at 450 men. The 9th was armed with -Gallagher carbines, a very ineffective weapon, and on leaving Pulaski -had but forty rounds of ammunition, and probably not more than thirty -when the real fighting began. - -The attack upon the fort began before sunrise, and at the first onset of -the enemy, Col. Lathrop was killed. During the brief period in which -they knew him, Col. Lathrop impressed himself upon the officers and men -of the 9th as an intelligent and gallant officer; the manner of his -death was worthy of a soldier. - -About 9 o'clock Col. Minnis, who succeeded Col. Lathrop in command, was -wounded by a piece of shell and carried unconscious into the magazine. -The command then devolved upon Major Lilly. He was with his men near the -southeast bastion; they were meeting each successive charge of the enemy -with well-delivered volleys, waiting for the command to fire; husbanding -their failing ammunition, the enemy were permitted to come within close -range, showing a good front, before the order to fire was given. -Meanwhile the enemy had gained possession of the wooded hill to the east -of the fort, and their sharp-shooters from the tree-tops had the range -of every part of the fort, except immediately under the east parapet. -The artillerymen suffered severely and the brave men of the 9th were -falling along the lines. The enemy's artillery raked the works from -every direction with great destruction. From every point except the -north, where the ground rose gently across the creek into an open plain, -the rebels were in heavy force and poured into and against the fort an -incessant fire. Eleven o'clock came, and then, in the lulls of the -artillery, the gallant defenders of the old flag were gladdened by the -sounds that told them that reinforcements were engaging the enemy to the -north toward Elk River bridge, but the sounds grew fainter and died in -the distance and they knew that from that quarter no help would come. -Still they hoped for relief and still held the fort. Suddenly across the -open ground to the north appeared a heavy line of the enemy. Major Lilly -sent two messengers, one after another, across the fort to warn the -officer in command of the colored troops and to inspire his men with -coolness and firmness to meet the impending assault. Both messengers, in -making the perilous journey, were killed. Lieut. Jones, of Company M, -then volunteered to go, and in making the attempt was wounded. Placing -Captain Nation, of Company G, in command of the battalion, Major Lilly -went himself across the bloody space in safety. - -The rebel line halted out of range; within the fort the ground was -strewn with the dead and wounded. The men of the 9th Cavalry were out of -ammunition; for two hours they had been whitling Springfield musket -balls to fit their carbines. The Tennesseeans were out of ammunition; -thus two-thirds of the line was left without defense. Twelve o'clock -came, and along the rebel line the bugle sounded "cease firing," and -from the north across the open plain was borne a flag of truce. It is -likely that not a member of the 9th had ever seen one before; it is more -than probable that it was now looked upon with satisfaction. Every man -had done his whole duty; they had fought like heroes; they had held a -brave army under a skillful and fighting general in check for a day, -thus giving Gen. Rosseau time to concentrate at Pulaski, and had -literally at a great cost, "held the fort at all hazards, and to the -last extremity." - -Major Lilly answered the flag of truce, taking with him the Adjutant of -the 3d Tennessee, and, meeting Major Strange, Adjutant General of -Forrest's staff, after the formal salutations, Major Strange handed -Major Lilly a paper, which read: - -"General Forrest demands the immediate and unconditional surrender of -the United States forces, with all materials and munitions of war, at -Sulphur Branch Trestle. In case this demand is not instantly complied -with, General Forrest can not be held responsible for the conduct of his -men." - -After reading this paper Major Lilly said to Major Strange, that Sulphur -Branch Trestle would never surrender under a threat; that it was a -humiliation his command would not bear and one that should never be -asked by a soldier; that it was true his forces had suffered heavily, -but they had undoubtedly inflicted greater damage upon the enemy; that -they were still capable of inflicting greater damage; that -notwithstanding this he felt that they had done their whole duty, and on -honorable terms he would counsel a surrender. Major Lilly then rode back -toward the fort, but had not reached it when he was halted by Major -Strange, who galloped after him, saying that General Forrest wanted an -interview. He returned and met Generals Forrest and Buford. He then -repeated to General Forrest what he had said to Major Strange, and -added, that he did not believe that General Forrest could not control -his men, and if he did not he would be held responsible. In reply to -this General Forrest handed him a paper, which read in substance: - -"General Forrest demands the immediate surrender of the United States -forces and materials of war at Sulphur Branch Trestle. All United States -officers and soldiers will be treated as prisoners of war. - -"All officers and soldiers shall retain and be protected in the -possession of personal property. - -"Officers to retain their horses, if personal property, and also to -retain their side-arms. - -"All officers and soldiers to be taken to some point in the States of -Mississippi or Alabama, and there held for exchange and parole so soon -as communication can be had with General Washburne at Memphis." - -Major Lilly then demanded one hour before giving an answer, meanwhile -the troops on both sides to remain status quo. The hour was given, and -he returned to the fort. Colonel Minnis had by this time recovered -sufficiently to resume command, and a counsel of war was held. The -counsel was a unit, with the exception of Colonel Minnis, in favor of -surrender. While the subject was being considered it was reported that -the enemy were moving troops, and our white flag was immediately taken -down and firing was reopened; there was a slight reply from the enemy, -the troops moved back, the bugles on the other side sounded "cease -firing," and the truce was resumed. Colonel Minnis, on being fully -informed of the condition of things in the fort, and especially of the -insufficient supply of ammunition, yielded to the opinion of the -majority. Major Lilly then returned to the post of the rebel flag of -truce, accepted the terms offered, and the surrender was made complete. -The remnants of companies were ordered into line, then stacked arms, -and, after preparing for the burial of the dead comrades, and the care -of those who were wounded, marched sadly away. - -About twenty-four hours after the surrender the captured troops crossed -the Tennessee River at Mussel Shoals, some four miles above Florence, -Ala. The first rations issued to them were issued on the night of -September 27th, and consisted of old corn on the cob. This was burnt or -roasted over fire and eaten by those whose appetites were sufficiently -keen. - -On the 28th of September the C. S. A. issued rations to the prisoners -the second time--this was at Okolona, Mississippi, and consisted of a -small quantity of flour and an abundance of good water. On the evening -of that day Capt. Buchanan, of the 15th Tennessee Cavalry, C. S. A., -furnished Lieut. Harrod, of Company B, with stationery and kindly -offered to send a letter through the lines for him. Acting upon the -generous offer, the Lieutenant wrote to his wife. Written under such -circumstances, and while the disaster to our regiment was so fresh, the -letter is certain to be interesting to the 9th. It reached its -destination after some delay, is still preserved by the wife of the -general as a precious memento of the war, and is as follows: - - OKOLONA, Miss., Sept. 28, 1864. - - _Dear Wife_--I address you this note as a prisoner of war. One - hundred and eighty-seven men of the 9th Indiana Cavalry and three - hundred mostly 3d Tennessee Cavalry, were sent to Sulphur Branch - September 24th. Gen. Forrest attacked the place the 25th with about - 12,000 men. We were about 500. The engagement lasted about four - hours after we were surrounded. Our loss was heavy. I had with me - twenty-seven of Company B. I am wounded in right leg. I will get - over it in a few weeks. The killed are: Wm. Harvey and Joseph - Hutton; mortally wounded: Corporal Kirkhoff; severe: Sergeant M. B. - Walker and Private James Hook; slightly: J. J. Winn and G. S. - Bailey. Prisoners and well are: Orderly J. V. Hinchman, Sergeant Wm. - Foster, Sergeant A. E. Anderson, Corporal Blessinger, Privates C. H. - Sears, W. V. Robinson, John Stewart, J. Craining (blacksmith), W. C. - Warner, R. Scott, J. Holloway, W. Parman, Joseph Grey, B. F. Waller, - G. B. Wilson, W. P. Read, M. Chauncy and J. Mooney Church; and no - man of Company B failed to do first-class work. In our capitulation - it was agreed that we should all be paroled soon. I have no money - with me and have on my old uniform. It is reported in camp to-night - that General Forrest has taken Pulaski with 2,000 or 3,000 - prisoners. If true, all the 9th has gone up. We have eighteen miles - to go yet to the railroad--Cherokee Station. Then it is said we go - to Meridian, Miss. You will probably not hear from me again until - paroled. It may be some weeks, and it may be months. - - I send this by the kindness of Capt. Buchanan, 15th Tennessee - Confederate Cavalry. - - J. B. HARROD, - Lt. Company B. - -Although by the terms of the capitulation, the officers were allowed to -retain their horses and side-arms, the real advantage of this -arrangement was practically not very great. Every night some horses were -missing, and when Cherokee Station (on the railroad) was reached, there -were few, if any, officers who knew where their horses were. - -The day after leaving Okolona it rained heavily, and the troops encamped -for the afternoon and night in the open field. Here was issued a little -fresh beef without salt. - -The boys, from the three issues--first of corn, then of flour, then of -beef,--by this time realized that the commissary of the C. S. A. was not -liberally supplied, or that those who controlled it were illiberal in -distribution. - -They reached Cherokee Station the next day (29th of September), -remaining there about thirty hours. At this point all officers and -soldiers captured at Sulphur Branch Trestle and at Athens, Alabama, on -the day before, were placed on board two trains of box cars, to be taken -to Meridian, Lauderdale County, Mississippi. The 9th Indiana and 3d -Tennessee were loaded on the last train, which was some hours behind the -first. To each train a guard of about 150 men were detailed. When not -far from Iuka, the track being wet and the grade heavy, the locomotive -not of sufficient power to pull the train up, a stop was made to allow -the track to dry. The officers in charge put out guards and had fires -made on both sides of the track. The guards were tired and soon became -sleepy, and there was but one at each fire. Major Lilly conceived the -idea of capturing the guard, taking possession of and running the train -to Corinth, and then marching the guards to Memphis under a flag of -truce as prisoners. - -The officers of the 9th Indiana and 3d Tennessee entered cordially into -the plan and were willing to take the boys' places at the guns. The -major then going to the officers of the colored troops, awakened up -their officers and explained his plan to them. They were afraid to -engage in the enterprise, for lack of confidence in their colored -troops. Without their co-operation the result seemed too doubtful to -justify the attempt, and it was not made. - -The next day raw "sow-belly" was issued to the boys on the train. At the -stations sometimes small purchases were made of something to eat. Lieut. -Harrod remembers buying a piece (3 x 4 inches) of wheat bread of a -variety he had not seen before, heavy and solid, for which he paid $5 -Confederate money. Arriving at Meridian, they were placed in a small -stockade, where they remained for a week, from which place the officers -were moved to Enterprise, Clark County, Miss., and the enlisted men and -non-commissioned officers to Cahaba, Dallas County, Ala. - -The rations at Enterprise consisted of one pint of coarse corn meal to -each man daily, without salt, and a small piece of "sow-belly." Each -mess of eight was furnished a skillet and lid to bake bread in. As a -rule each mess baked twice a day, those of the mess who were well taking -their turn for a day as cook. It was a part of the duties of the cook to -divide the bread, taking the last piece for himself. The preparation of -this bread did not require any special skill nor long experience. The -art was soon acquired. It was only necessary to mix the water and corn -meal thoroughly and to grease the skillet with small bits of meat, that -the bread might be got out without being broken too much. - -In October permission was given to buy such eatables as were wanted, but -not many of the officers could avail themselves of the liberty for want -of money. Salt was bought for $3 a pound; coffee, $24 a pound; molasses, -$10 a quart--Confederate money. In the stores, calico sold for $12 and -$15 a yard; muslin, $15; good boots, $500 a pair; paper of pins, $6. -These goods had been brought into Mobile through the blockade. - -During the latter part of their imprisonment, after the guards had been -taken off, an invalid Confederate soldier came into the camp with a jug -of what he called "pine top whisky," and a tin cup. He offered the -whisky at 50 cents a pint. There was only one colonel in the camp. He -was an Ohio man. He bought a pint and drank it. He soon passed into an -unconscious state, in which he remained for forty hours. The "pine top" -could be depended upon. Some of the boys bought a sample pint, but -finding it to be so much inferior to the apple jack of Tennessee, -promptly discarded it. - -The prisoners received some courtesies from Major Ward, Commander of the -Post, and his Adjutant. Upon one occasion, in the absence of the Major, -his Adjutant felt called upon to show some of the officers of the -regiment special attention. He invited them to headquarters, extended to -them the freedom of the establishment, which they accepted with such -good will that the fun soon become fast and furious. The Adjutant set -the pace, after a number of healths had been pledged on the absent -Major's whisky, by breaking a camp stool. This example was followed by -the invited guests, who joined in demolishing every article of furniture -in sight. The Adjutant was not in a condition to escort his guests back -to their camp, but they found their way without difficulty and knew the -reason for the issuing of an order, which was read to them next morning, -to the effect that no prisoner should visit headquarters without -permission of the Major in command. - -The monotony and weariness of confinement was sometimes relieved by the -drollery of those whose love of fun could not easily be suppressed. The -prisoners were often indebted for a good laugh to Captain Nation, of -Company G, and Lieut. J. M. Jones, of Company M. A small boy rode into -the camp the smallest mule our men had ever seen under saddle. Captain -N.. who was about six feet tall, expressed a desire to ride the -"critter." The boy dismounted, and the captain, letting out the stirrups -to their full length, got into the saddle, his feet almost touching the -ground. After putting the mule through the various paces he announced -his intention of recruiting a "critter gang" for the Confederacy. Those -who heard the captain's speech on the occasion will not soon forget its -general tenor and the impression it made upon them. The speech was made -from the back of the mule to the Union prisoners, Confederate guards and -soldiers, citizens and negroes, who were attracted to the place by the -captain's voice. It is greatly to be regretted that no phonographer was -present to have taken it down literally as it came from the lips of the -Hoosier orator, that it might be incorporated in this true history. He -called for volunteers to uphold the flag of the Confederacy. He said he -was going to raise a "critter gang company." No one would be required to -walk and only to ride when it suited him; that the pay would not be any -object; that each private would be furnished with a "critter" in size -and color like the one he then rode, and should have a nigger to feed -and care for him; that this variety was superior to all others and had -been bred especially for the Confederate service, easy to mount and not -dangerous to fall from; that only a limited number of volunteers would -be received, and that now was the time to subscribe. The captain held -the undivided attention of his audience, surprising and entertaining -them with his wit and humor for a half hour, and dismounted and retired -amid great applause. - -While at Enterprise our men were almost entirely shut out from the -world. The Mobile Register, costing 50 cents a copy, was occasionally to -be had, and, unrelished and unsatisfactory as it was, yet was sought and -read with great eagerness. - -The privates and non-commissioned officers were marched from Meridian, -Miss., to Cahaba, Ala. This was a violation of the spirit if not the -letter of the terms of the surrender. On the march some ten days were -consumed. They were placed in a pen or stockade and were subjected to -the usual process of searching, and anything of any value found on their -persons appropriated by their captors. They were not the first occupants -of the pen. It already contained Union prisoners, literally -half-clothed, some having only a shirt, some pantaloons without shirt, -and some only a part of pantaloons, and all alive with grey-backs. The -rations issued were substantially the same as those issued to the -officers, consisting of one pint of corn meal a day and a piece of fresh -pork, one inch square every other day, although some times the -authorities forgot or failed to issue the rations for a day or two, very -much to the disgust of the boys. If the prisoners had been fastidious or -over-particular they might have complained of the custom to the prison -authorities, which cut up the meats for distribution on the same log on -which the dead soldiers were placed before burial. A Dutch skillet was -allowed to each mess of ten men, as the only cooking utensil. During the -time of their imprisonment the rains were frequent and heavy, and the -cooking being done out of doors, our men were obliged often to partially -shelter the fire with their bent bodies while cooking, to prevent the -fires from being put out. The wood used for fuel was green white pine. -The Alabama River overflowed its banks and for two weeks the pen was -flooded, the water standing from two to four feet in depth. Cord-wood -was floated in, out of which scaffolding was constructed by the -prisoners to keep themselves out of the water. During this time the -rations were eaten raw. It is needless to say that under such -conditions, without shelter, exposed to the rain, but poorly fed, men -died every day from exposure and want, and that those who survived were -weak as children. Their imprisonment which seemed so long to them, at -last was ended. The officers were sent North on parole December 10, -1864, but the enlisted men not until April, 1865, at which date they -were started North, and in their enfeebled condition, although buoyed up -by the hope of meeting friends and seeing home, it took them five days -to march from Jackson to Black River bridge, a distance of forty miles, -and when they came into the camp of their old regiment these brave -fellows looked so gaunt, famished and woe-begone that they were but -counterfeits of their former selves. - -The terms of the surrender may be said to have been fairly observed, -except that the colored soldiers were sent to Mobile to labor at the -salt-works. Their officers shared the fortunes of the officers of the -white troops. Most of the prisoners of this expedition took passage soon -after their arrival at Vicksburg on the steamer Sultana, an account of -the wreck of which is given hereafter. - -During their imprisonment, the officers were treated fairly well. They -were kept in prison at Meridian, Miss., about a week. The prison was a -stockade made of poles with the ends in the ground and a scaffolding -around the outside, near the top, on which the vigilant Johnny sentinel -paced his beat. There was a dead line within the stockade, to which our -boys paid marked respect. There were two log cabins in the centre of the -stockade, entirely destitute of furniture, paved with sand and the -steady companion of the boys--the gray-back. There were probably more -gray-backs than grains of sand. They kept the boys employed when -otherwise time would have lagged most slowly. The boys were not without -money (I speak of the officers). They had dead loads of Confederate New -Issue. They sold their horses for $600 to $1,000 a piece. It was a poor -scrub that would not bring $600 in the market of Meridian. Watches -brought from $500 to $1,500; knives and cork-screws from $50 to $100, -and other articles in proportion. The people had the money and wanted to -get rid of it. They were permitted to buy what the town afforded--not -furnished in their rations, which were liberal in bacon, corn meal, and -salt. After a week at Meridian, they were sent to Enterprise, a village -fifteen miles below Meridian. When unguarded, they were put on their -parole of honor not to leave the limits of the town. They took -possession of a big tobacco warehouse, converting it into a dormitory -and headquarters, but took their meals at the houses of the citizens in -town, they being glad to take the rations of the boys, with what else -they could buy, and a consideration in New Issue, in exchange for table -board. Early in December they marched from Enterprise to Memphis. There -they were ordered to report at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, where they -were exchanged and reported to the regiment at Gravelly Springs, Ala., -late in January, 1865. - -The following officers of the regiment were in the action of Sulphur -Branch Trestle: - - Major Eli Lilly. - Captain Nation. - Lieutenant Harrod. - Lieutenant J. W. Watts. - Lieutenant Dunlevy. - Lieutenant Canfield. - Lieutenant Leisure. - Lieutenant Riley. - Lieutenant Jones. - Acting Adjutant Geo. Armstrong. - Assistant Surgeon E. W. Magann. - - Lieutenant Leisure, wounded, but not taken prisoner. - -Surgeon Magann was left to care for the wounded. They were not made -prisoners, the enemy leaving them behind in their march. Lieut. Jones -was slightly wounded by concussion of a shell, being insensible for a -portion of the battle, but recovered before it ended. - -The following is a list of those who were either killed or mortally -wounded: - - Chauncey Kimball, Co. A. - William Harvey, Co. B. - Joseph Hutton, Co. B. - Charles A. Kirkhoff, Co. B. - Andrew J. McGahey, Co. B. - Charles Beckly, Co. H. - Cassander T. Houston, Co. B. - Stephen A. Woodruff, Co. B. - Henry Dorman, Co. K. - Abram S. Foreman, Co. K. - Curtis W. Hancock, Co. K. - George Myers, Co. K. - Josiah Saucer, Co. K. - William Torney, Co. L. - William S. Peckham, Co. L. - John J. Maple, Co. M. - Levi Maple, Co. M. - George H. McGee, Co. M. - Lewis Pickering, Co. M. - Sergeant Peckham, Co. M, killed. - Henry G. Hiatt, Co. G, killed. - -The following are the names of those who were made prisoners and died in -rebel prisons: - - Henry A. Rariden, Co. A, starvation. - John Robert, Co. A, starvation. - Clay Trahune, Co. A, exposure and starvation. - W. J. Foster, Co. B, exposure and starvation. - George O. Houston, Co. D. - Kelita Mendenhall, Co. E, exposure and starvation. - Lewis Jones, Co. G, exposure and starvation. - George W. Bowers, Co. G, exposure and starvation. - John R. Williams, Co. H, exposure and starvation. - Henry Brown, Co. M, exposure and starvation. - Columbus Jessup, Co. M, exposure and starvation. - -The following were made prisoners at Sulphur Branch Trestle and lost by -the explosion and burning of the steamer Sultana, on the Mississippi -River, a few miles above Memphis, on the morning of April 27th, 1865: - - Daniel Curtis, Co. A. - Patrick Day, Co. A. - Frederick Blessinger, Co. B. - Charles E. Church, Co. B. - Ephraim Parman, Co. B. - John Stenarl, Co. B. - John M. Englehart, Co. C. - Warren A. Huckens, Co. C. - Wm. H. H. Wood, Co. D. - John Bonner, Co. F. - Charles W. Clevenger, Co. G. - Jonathan R. Downing, Co. G. - George Downing, Co. G. - William H. Graves, Co. G. - William C. Hooper, Co. G. - Charles W. M. King, Co. G. - John M. Maynard, Co. G. - Enoch T. Nation, Co. G. - James C. Olon, Co. G. - Martin V. Rodeporch, Co. G. - John R. Reasoner, Co. G. - Nathan Thornburg, Co. G. - Franklin Ballenger, Co. H. - James Bell, Co. H. - Alonzo Dunham, Co. H. - George W. Delano, Co. H. - Josiah Pratt, Co. H. - John W. Shull, Co. H. - Hiram Bailey, Co. K. - John W. Emmons, Co. K. - George S. Fisher, Co. K. - Jacob Hurald, Co. K. - Henry Newton, Co. K. - William F. Rea, Co. K. - Joseph Survaul, Co. K. - George H. Shockley, Co. K. - Darius Stevens, Co. K. - Matthew Zix, Co. K. - James N. Christian, Co. L. - Robert A. Morehouse, Co. L. - Leander McCartney, Co. L. - John M. Armstrong, Co. M. - Joseph D. Alexander, Co. M. - William Brigg, Co. M. - George W. Blake, Co. M. - Nathan E. Gruell, Co. M. - Enos Halloway, Co. M. - William H. Huffman, Co. M. - James M. Isentrager, Co. M. - Samuel King, Co. M. - Franklin Ridley, Co. M. - - Total killed at Sulphur Branch Trestle, 21 - Died in prison, 11 - Lost on the Sultana, 51 - -- - 83 - - NOTE.--The last dispatch sent out of the fort the day of the - surrender was carried by John McCorkle, of Company B, and a member - of the 3d Tennessee Cavalry. They left the fort about 7 o'clock A. - M., and accomplished the feat by their coolness and "bold riding." - - - - - SULPHUR BRANCH TRESTLE. - BY CORPORAL J. A. BROWN, CO. L. - - -On Sunday, the 25th day of September, 1864, the mounted portion of the -9th Indiana Cavalry, about two hundred in number, were called to do -battle at Sulphur Branch Trestle, Alabama. Firing began on the skirmish -lines at 5 o'clock in the morning, and was kept up at a lively rate -until about 8 o'clock, when the battle began in earnest. There were with -us about one hundred of the Third Tennessee Cavalry, and there were also -about three hundred colored troops that were stationed in the fort. We -were ordered to dismount and corral our horses and climb the hill and -enter the fort, except myself and ten men, who were ordered to guard the -horses, until the battle became so hot that it was considered unsafe to -remain outside of the fort. We remained with the horses until a -cannon-ball or slug or something of the kind--anyhow, it was something -from a rebel gun--landed in about fifteen feet of us. It tore a hole in -the ground large enough to bury a small-sized cow, and threw dirt all -over us. We then thought it was time to desert the horses and let them -take care of themselves, and climb the hill and get into the fort as -soon as we could conveniently without hurting ourselves, and up the hill -we went, and when we arrived at the entrance to the fort we asked where -the 9th Indiana Cavalry was stationed. We were told that they were on -the opposite side of the fort. So we had to go through the center of the -fort to get to where our boys were stationed. That was the most -dangerous trip I ever experienced in my life. There were a lot of -barracks in the fort and the rebel cannon were playing on them and -knocking them all to pieces, and throwing the loose boards in every -direction. It made the hair raise on our heads as we went dodging -through the barracks among the flying boards and shell and cannon ball, -but we finally got to our men in safety. - -The colonel commanding the fort was killed in the beginning of the -battle, and Major Lilly, of our regiment, took command, and, by the way, -Major Lilly was a hustler. He was one of the bravest officers that ever -went to the front. During the hottest of the battle one of our men got -scared so badly that he wanted to surrender. So he pulled off his shirt -and placed it upon the end of his bayonet and held it up as a flag of -truce. That got the enemy excited and they went for us hotter than ever. -They made charge after charge, but some of our boys pulled that old -dirty shirt down and made the fellow put it on again. We kept the rebs -at bay as long as we had ammunition, but at 1 o'clock we were out of -ammunition, and there we were about 800 strong, with no ammunition and -surrounded by ten thousand rebels. So we surrendered. We were then -conducted out of the fort and taken to the woods and a rebel guard -placed around us until they got ready to start to Dixie with us. While -we were waiting there a rebel captain that some of our boys had shot in -the heel in the fight rode around among us and cussed us for an hour. He -swore that if he knew which one of us damned Yanks it was that shot him -in the heel he would shoot his heart out. But we did not tell who it -was, and I don't think he has found out to this day. - -Well, along towards night the rebs got ready to start with us for Dixie. -Then fun began; we marched nearly all night through the mud and under -rebel guard. Sometime after midnight we were halted and allowed to lie -down in the woods on the ground without undressing, but before daylight -we were rousted out and on the go again. This kind of business was kept -up for three long days, until we had marched something over one hundred -miles, with about enough to eat to make one good square meal. With the -Alabama red mud enough sticking to each foot to make about three brick -we finally arrived at Tuscumbia, Ala., where the rebs were operating a -kind of a one-horse railroad. There they piled us into a couple of -freight trains and we were hauled around over half of the State of -Mississippi and back again into Alabama, and were finally landed at -Cahaba, Ala., at the end of ten days from the time we were made -prisoners. We were then stripped and examined, and robbed of everything -that we possessed that was of any value. We were then marched into the -prison pen. The prison pen was a large cotton warehouse, surrounded by a -stockade with an elevated walk around the outside of the building. On -this walk the rebel guards were stationed about every forty feet with -loaded guns ready and anxious to kill any poor Yankee who might see fit -to set a foot across the dead line. There was also a walk on the inside -of the building around next to the wall, and a rebel guard was stationed -there about forty feet apart. The dead line was a mark they made about -eight feet from the inside wall, all around the inside of the building, -and no prisoner was allowed to step across that line. If he did the -orders were to shoot him on the spot, and the order was obeyed to the -letter, but we were generally careful to keep off of that dead line. - -I shall never forget the morning that we were first marched inside of -that prison. The old prisoners that were there before us on seeing us -march in all seemed glad to see us, and yelled at the top of their -voices, "Fresh fish! fresh fish! Hands on your pocket-books," just as if -we had not already been robbed of everything we had by the rebs. But we -soon got used to that for we had not been there long until we yelled -"fresh fish" to other new prisoners that kept coming in every few days. -There were on an average about three thousand of us there during the six -months that we were there. Sometimes there were as many as thirty-five -hundred of us. When there was that many we could not all lie down at one -time inside of the prison. There was a cook yard in front of the prison -about seventy-five feet square, enclosed with a stockade. We were -allowed to pass out into the cook yard during the day so that we could -cook the little grub that was allowed us. Our rations consisted of one -pint of corn meal per day and a piece of fresh pork, about one inch -square, every other day, but that was not issued to us very regular. -Sometimes they would forget to issue rations to us for a day or so at a -time. It did not seem to disturb the rebels in the least to forget to -issue rations to us. We were divided into messes consisting of ten men -to the mess, and every ten men were allowed one old-fashioned Dutch -skillet and lid. In this we did the entire cooking for the ten men or -mess. So we were engaged in cooking all day, if we happened to have -enough to cook to keep the skillet going. It rained nearly the entire -time we were there. It seemed to us that it rained at least forty days -in each month, consequently we had to do the most of our cooking in the -rain. I have stood in a stooping position over the skillet for hours at -a time to keep the rain from drowning out the fire while cooking. Our -wood that we used for cooking with was generally green white pine, -nearly as hard to burn as green buckeye. We were allowed to go outside -of the prison to carry the wood in. They would let five of us out to the -wood-pile at a time; we would rush out and chop a load of wood and then -carry it in. We would form what we called the wood line, and go out as -our turns would come. I have stood in the wood line many times for a -half day at a time in the rain, and then perhaps I would not get to go -out after wood. We would do this work by turns and when we were not busy -in this way were busy fighting "gray-backs." That part of the business -we had to attend to whether we got dinner or not, for if we had -neglected to kill off the "gray-backs" once a day at least we were in -danger of being eaten up alive. - -We had a regular police force of our own men. It consisted of about -thirty men. It was their duty to keep order in the prison and to punish -any one who did not conduct himself in a proper manner. If any two got -into a fight the police would at once form a ring and let them fight it -out. They would make it their business to see fair play. There were -three or four fights in the prison every day. That was a natural -consequence where there were so many men huddled in together that it was -almost impossible for them all to lie down at one time, and -half-starved, it was natural for some of them to get cross and be ready -to get up and fight at a moment's notice; but they were so weak and in -such a famished condition that they seldom ever hurt one another in a -fight. We also had a few dishonest men in the prison; they would steal -anything they could get their hands upon. The police would sometimes -punish them very severely for their misdemeanors--such as stealing, but -there was no punishment for a fair fist fight. - -We undertook to break out of the prison one morning about 4 o'clock, and -captured all the rebel guards inside the prison. We took their guns from -them and put them in the privy and placed a guard over them and kept -them there nearly an hour, but the rebels on the outside got wind of it -a little too soon for us, and there happened to be more rebel soldiers -there at that time than they usually kept at that point; they rolled a -big cannon up to the door of the prison and scared us out of the notion -of breaking out at that time. The rebs called that a mutiny and issued -an order that we should have nothing to eat until we delivered up the -leaders of the mutiny. Then we thought that starvation stared us in the -face sure, for we had no idea that there was one among our number that -would give away the leaders; but alas! the leaders were sadly -disappointed, for after three days of starvation, some one--I never -could find out who he was--got so hungry that he gave the plot away and -informed on about twenty of the leaders. The rebs took the informer out -of the prison at once and gave him his freedom for his information. If -they had not taken him out of the prison he would have fared badly among -the prisoners for being a traitor. - -They took the leaders of the mutiny out and punished them in various -ways. Some they put in dungeons, some in chains, and one fellow was -sentenced to be put in a four-foot square box for one hundred days. Some -of them were never heard of by us after they were taken out. We supposed -that they were killed. We were always scheming for some place to get -out. So the next thing we were up to was tunneling out. We had a tunnel -dug about fifty feet, and in a few more days our tunnel would have let -us out on the bank of the river, when the river raised and filled our -tunnel full of water, so that was all work for nothing. I had two -special friends as fellow prisoners--George W. Addington and William -Collins. We three stuck together like brothers. One day the rebs took -Addington out. Myself and Collins did not know what had become of him. -We thought that, perhaps, they had killed him for some imaginary -offence. Well, things went on as usual for about a week when a reb came -in and took Collins out, and no explanation was given, so we thought -that he was gone up also, but in another week the same reb came in and -called for me. That scared me nearly out of my boots, for I thought my -time had come sure, but to my surprise he took me to the hospital where -I found my friends Addington and Collins busily engaged in washing -clothes for the hospital. I will say now before I go further that the -hospital was for Federal prisoners only, and they required prisoners to -do all the work about the hospital. Addington had managed in some way to -get the job of washing for the hospital, and as soon as he could make an -excuse for calling in help he sent for Collins and myself. We got that -washing business down to a regular system. We would wash sheets and -pillow-slips on Monday, shirts and drawers on Tuesday, colored clothes -on Wednesday, odds and ends on Thursday, and on Friday we would boil -"gray-backs," that is, we would wash the clothes of prisoners that came -out to the hospital sick. When a prisoner was brought out of the prison -sick they would take him to an out house, strip him of his prison -clothes, and take him to another room and put hospital clothes on him, -and every Friday we had to boil and wash all clothes that accumulated in -that way. Sometimes it would be a sickening job, but it was far better -than lying in prison. We three had to work about four hours each day. -This gave us about half work and we received about half enough to eat at -the hospital, except occasionally we got something extra. We got it in -this way: The managers of the hospital were all rebs and aristocrats, -and they had negro women to carry their meals to their private rooms. Of -course they got plenty to eat and sometimes there was something left. -This the waiters always saved for us, and about two or three times a -week, after dark, our door would be pushed open and we would see a tin -pan slip in and it always had something in it good to eat, such as cold -biscuits and cold beef-steak, and it was always good, and we felt very -thankful to the colored people that run such risk in furnishing it to -us, for if they had been caught at it they would have been punished -severely for it. We were not allowed to speak to any of the colored -attendants about the hospital, but we often talked to them when there -were no rebs in sight. I once saw a prisoner that was sick but -convalescing so that he was able to walk about some, come out of the -ward in search of a fresh drink of water. He asked a colored woman for a -tin cup to drink out of, and the rebel doctor happened to hear him, and -he was sent to the prison for the offence. The next morning the poor -fellow was brought back on a stretcher dead. About the first of March, -1865, the Alabama river raised and overflowed and spread itself all over -the town and was from two to four feet deep inside of the prison. Our -boys had a terrible time of it then for about two weeks. The rebs -floated wood inside the prison for the prisoners to roost on. Our boys -had to eat what little grub they got raw, and sleep while sitting on a -pile of wood. This happened while I was at the hospital, consequently I -missed the fun of having to sit on a wood pile for two weeks and eat raw -grub. While at the hospital we always had hash for dinner. I remember -one day the hash had soured, and we liked it better, because it made a -change. About the time the river went down to its proper level we were -all paroled; then we started for Vicksburg by rail until we got to -Jackson, Miss., about fifty miles south of Vicksburg; there we had to -take it afoot. It took me just eight days to walk from Jackson, Miss., -to Black River, forty miles. When I got there, there was just one man -with me, about twenty behind us, the others being ahead of us. At Black -River there was a pontoon bridge--a rebel guard on the south side and a -Yankee guard on the north side. We arrived there about sundown and had -to stay on the rebel side all night. Our boys on the north side were -allowed to bring us over some coffee and hard-tack, which we enjoyed -very much, as it was the first coffee that we had tasted for six long -months. The next morning we were transferred to the north side and -amongst friends. We staid at the hospital in Vicksburg a few days and -then took a hospital boat for St. Louis, and from there home. - - - - - LYNNVILLE. - - -While stationed at Pulaski, Tenn., details from the regiment were -frequently ordered out upon reconnoitering parties, and upon these -occasions generally met Roddy, Duke, Wheeler, or other cavalry -commanders in that department, in skirmishes, which, as a rule, were -bloodless. They were all exciting, however, and accustomed the boys to -the use of their carbines. Of these affairs, what was termed in the -regiment as "The Lynnville Fight," was the most sensational, and -resulted in more racket than was ever raised by the same number of men -in so short a time. - -On Sunday, September 2, 1864, at 8 o'clock A. M., pursuant to orders, -the regiment marched out on the Nashville Pike, Companies B and L in the -advance. The movement was occasioned by reports to the effect that -Wheeler with a considerable body was in the neighborhood with the -purpose of destroying the railroad. After advancing about six miles a -message was received by courier from Capt. Owings, of Co. F, occupying -with his company the block house near Lynnville, for the purpose of -protecting the railroad, to the effect that the rebels were in town in -heavy force, and that he would not be able to hold his position long. - -Major Lilly was ordered to go to his relief with seventy men of -Companies B and L. Advancing at a gallop, Lieut. Harrod, with sixteen -men of Company B, leading the column, within one-half or three-quarters -of a mile of the town, from a slight elevation, a full view was obtained -of the rebels. Halting for a moment, Major Lilly ordered a charge to be -made with the sabre. Harrod, with his sixteen men in advance, supported -by the fifty-five B and L men, under command of the Major, forming -quickly, were soon observed by the rebels. The advance was formed in -double, the support in single rank. The orders "forward," "trot," -"gallop," "charge," were given in quick succession, and in a moment all -were hidden in a cloud of dust. The rebels in the town proved to be the -3d and 4th Georgia Cavalry. The attack was a surprise to them. Lieut. -Harrod, being at the front and right of his platoon, had a fair view of -the town and the enemy, and as the charge was made, says the Georgia -boys began to run when our advance was fully a quarter of a mile away, -and when they reached the south side of the town the Johnnies were going -out of the north side in great haste and apparent confusion. For the -next five minutes the race was lively. Our boys returned their sabres to -their scabbards and drawing their carbines and revolvers began firing. -The rebels threw away in their haste guns, blankets, haversacks, muster -rolls, and whatever encumbered them; and between the discharge of -fire-arms, the shouts of our men and the clatter of the horses' hoofs, -the natives were thoroughly aroused. The pursuit was kept up for about -five miles, the fleeing Johnnies making a stand upon coming up to the -main force of Wheeler's rear guard. Two of the enemy were killed and -eight captured. The wounded, if any there were, made their escape. - -Corporal George R. Parsons, Co. B, mounted on a fast horse, was said to -have got nearer the body of the enemy's forces than any other man. Capt. -Nation, who was with the regiment without his company, by special -permission, with a blow of his sabre delivered upon the side of the -head, after a command to halt, unseated a Confederate, mounted upon a -large mule. The mule got away. William Johnson was slightly cut by a -ball, and the horse of Sergt. Foster was badly shot. Capts. Wall, Nation -and Moorehouse took part in the charge. The boys, in the presence of -Wheeler's rear guard, and so near his main body of perhaps 8,000 men, -did not care to push matters further, and so quietly withdrew to -Lynnville for refreshments, and to rest their horses. - -General Rousseau was near Wheeler's rear and left flank. Wheeler was -between us with only one way open to the South. During the after part of -the night Wheeler moved in the direction of Lawrenceburg, and the 9th -was ordered back to Pulaski. On Monday evening, September 3d, the 9th -was ordered to Lawrenceburg to head off Wheeler if possible. Rousseau -was pressing him with between 2,000 and 4,000 infantry and artillery. -Wheeler's forces were estimated at 8,000--nearly all mounted, with a -battery of light artillery. His artillery was used very little. The 9th -reached Lawrenceburg about 7 o'clock on the morning of the 4th, just in -time to see the 9th Ohio Cavalry assist Wheeler's rear guard out of -town. About 8 o'clock A. M. the 10th Indiana Cavalry was ordered to the -front and became engaged with a strong rear guard of the enemy in a -thick wood. They drove them back two or three miles, when the 10th was -in turn pressed back. Major Lilly, who was with Gen. Granger when it was -reported to him that the 10th Indiana had been driven back, requested of -the general that he be permitted to take his battalion to the front. The -general, who had heard of the efficient manner in which the Lynnville -affair had been conducted, granted the request. Col. Jackson received -permission to lead the remainder of the regiment. - -By order the troops on the road for a mile withdrew to the right and -left, and the 9th was given free passage. The position occupied by the -10th Cavalry was soon reached. They were in a narrow valley; the rebels -on the ridge above them--the 9th on the opposite hill. It was fortunate -for the 9th that the rebels made the mistake so often made in -engagements--shot too high--the balls rattling in the tree-tops above -their heads. A rapid fire at will was ordered and the lines were closed. -The 9th advanced steadily, firing over the 10th Indiana, which soon -moved out of the way by the flank, giving the 9th an open field. The -Confederates did not long await the coming of the 9th, but, after a few -volleys, fell back. Again making a stand and forming, the 9th hurries -without a halt or hesitation, steadily presses them hard, beating them -back from occasional stands for a distance of four miles, when Wheeler -corraled his train, threw down the fences and brought his artillery into -position. The boys were hot and tired, and concluded they did not want -to take his artillery and rested. The offer of battle thus made by -Wheeler to Granger was not accepted for reasons not known to the world. -The opportunity was a good one and those generals had been ostensibly -looking for Wheeler. Wheeler had the advantage, to be sure, in numbers, -of perhaps 2,000 men, and these generals did not know at that time the -superior material they had under their command. Wheeler began to move, -and the 10th and 12th Tennessee Cavalry relieved the 9th. After some -desultory firing, Wheeler was permitted without further serious -annoyance to cross the Tennessee River. There is where the Federal -generals desired to drive him, and so the object of the expedition was -successful and Wheeler's attempt to destroy the railroad a failure. - -The loss to the enemy was 25 killed and 150 wounded. The 9th lost none -killed and none seriously wounded. - -September 5th the regiment reached Athens, Ala. September 6th returned -by Elk River to Mussel Shoals and Shoal Creek, going into camp at night -on the bank of the stream, with the other bank held by a Confederate -force under command of a Col. Anderson. The bridge spanning the stream -being unsafe for horses, on the 7th the regiment crossed by a dangerous -ford, Companies B and L in advance, and soon engaged with Anderson, who -was driven to Florence, Ala., a distance of seven miles, in about four -hours, near which place he succeeded in crossing the Tennessee River. - - - - - THE REPUBLIC OF JONES. - - -While held at Enterprise, our men learned of the existence of a -government within the State of Mississippi, of which most readers of -history are to this day ignorant. They were informed that early in the -days of secession Jones County, which touches Clarke County on the -southwest, by its leading citizens, withdrew from the Confederacy, -declaring themselves a free and independent people, organized a special -and distinct government, under the name of the "Republic of Jones," -adopted a constitution modeled after that of the United States, elected -a President and officers of State, and refused to contribute men or -money to the cause of the Rebellion. The census of 1860 gives the -population of Jones County at 3,323. So that the standing army of Jones -could not, if made up of the able-bodied males, have been very -formidable. - -The cause which compelled the brave people of Jones to sever their -connection with the most of mankind, seems to have been plunder. In the -absence of C. S. A. troops, marauding parties sallied forth, capturing -mules, horses, cotton, grain, and whatever else could be easily -transferred, and when pursued or upon the approach of troops, hastily -retreated and disbanded, seeking safety in swamps or other places -difficult of access, remaining in hiding until the apparent danger had -passed. It is stated that the Republic did not in any manner contribute -to the cause of the C. S. A. - -While the prisoners never became thoroughly posted in the principles of -that Republic it looked at one time as if they would get, in an -unpleasant manner, a knowledge of its practical workings. Enterprise was -about forty miles from the seat of government of Jones. Held at -Enterprise were about 100 officers of various regiments, (some of -colored troops,) besides the officers of the 9th Cavalry and 3d -Tennessee Cavalry captured at Sulphur Branch Trestle. The commander of -the post was a Major Edward Ward, a resident of Indiana before the war, -who had gone South in 1858, engaged in business, became identified with -the people and interests of that section, and united his fortunes with -those of the Confederacy at the breaking out of the war. He had not been -so long away from the North as to have grown indifferent to his old -home--he still had a soft place in his heart for Indiana. He invited the -officers of the 9th to his headquarters and treated them as hospitably -as his position and condition would allow. At roll-call at 10 o'clock, -October 15, 1864, Major Ward informed the prisoners that he had just -received information through his scouts that the Republic of Jones was -threatening to capture the prison camp and massacre the prisoners, for -the alleged reason that the imprisoned officers had commanded negro -troops. He said he would not be able to protect them against the -superior force and did not know what to do. The proposition of Major -Lilly, following the announcement of the commander of the post, must -have been in the nature of a surprise: "If you can not protect us allow -us to protect ourselves." Major Ward asked what he meant by that. Major -Lilly explained that he meant that the commander should place arms and -ammunition in the hands of the prisoners, and then if they were murdered -no blame could attach to him. Major Ward said that the arming of -prisoners was without precedent, and would certainly be dangerous when -they were numerically stronger than their guard. Major Lilly admitted -that the proceeding was unusual, but the circumstances justified the -innovation, and proposed that all the prisoners pledge their honor as -officers and men to use the arms only in defence of themselves against -the anticipated attack, and to surrender them when the danger was ended. -The pledge was taken, and in the afternoon two wagon loads of muskets -and one of ammunition were delivered to the prisoners, the guards were -taken off, and each officer selected his gun and put it in condition for -immediate use. Lieut. Harrod, who had not sufficiently recovered the use -of his leg--wounded at Sulphur Branch Trestle--to be able to walk, was -confined to the camp. Thus armed and equipped, the unwonted spectacle -was presented of the Yank and Johnny marching side by side against the -common enemy--Major Lilly, in the full uniform of the United States -Army, with his gun at a right shoulder, by the side of a rebel, marching -in the picket squad to the front. It was perhaps the earliest instance -of the fraternizing of the Blue and the Gray. - -The prisoners remained on duty three days and nights without being -attacked. The enemy had learned that their plans were discovered and -preparations made to meet them. A fight upon fair terms was not what -they wanted, and they had withdrawn. - -True to their pledged word the prisoners surrendered and stacked their -arms--no gun nor man missing. They had shown that they were as honorable -as brave, and from that time until they were sent North they were -allowed greater freedom of movement--the guards simply patroled the -camp. Citizens were allowed free access to camp, but the prisoners were -not permitted to talk to them or the negroes on politics or the war. - - - - - THE HOOD CAMPAIGN. - - -Atlanta had fallen. Sherman, before starting on his "march to the sea," -detached the Fourth and Twenty-fourth Corps, under command of Schofield, -and sent them by forced march to Pulaski to watch Hood, who was at -Florence, and to retard his advance into Tennessee until Thomas, who was -at Nashville, could concentrate enough troops to--as Sherman pithily -said--"take care of him." The main body of the 9th Cavalry had shortly -before this been sent to Nashville to secure horses for mounting the -regiment; a small number of each company only remained to guard the camp -and stores. - -About the 15th of November the forces from "the front" arrived, and soon -our peaceful camp was the scene of warlike preparation. The beautiful -slope which we had so long occupied was cut into rifle-pits, and just -north of regimental headquarters a breast-work was raised, commanding -the approaches from south and east. - -Receiving information that indicated an advance of the enemy on Columbia -by the way of Winchester, the works were abandoned. The infantry took up -their line of march for Columbia, and the remnant of the 9th hastily -loaded the camp equipments and stores and boarded the train for -Nashville on the 23d of November, arrived on the morning of the 24th, -and rejoined the main body who were encamped across the river in -Edgefield. The remounting being completed, the cavalry forces at -Nashville were rapidly organized as the seventh division of the cavalry -corps--Gen. Knipe commanding. The first brigade, Gen. J. H. Hammond -commanding, was composed of the 9th and 10th Indiana, the 2d and 4th -Tennessee and 19th Pennsylvania. - -On the 27th the first brigade moved through the city and down the -Franklin Pike a few miles and went into camp; on the 28th, passed -through Franklin to Spring Hill and went into camp, awaiting orders from -the front. On the 29th moved to the left of the Columbia Pike and were -all day in the saddle marching and counter-marching, slowly falling -back, almost constantly within hearing of the fighting at the front. - -On the night of the 29th marched across to the Triune Pike to repel an -alleged flanking movement of the enemy, who failed to appear at that -point. At day-light we went into camp, and after a hasty breakfast, -snatched an hour of needed sleep. Soon the unwelcome "boots and saddles" -sounded, and we resumed our weary waiting and watching, nearly always -within sound of musketry, but not seeing the rebels nor hearing the -"zip" of the unfriendly bullet. We marched and counter-marched, always -halting nearer Nashville. - -To those of us who had not yet seen a rebel under arms the suspense, the -constant expectation of battle, was more trying than actual fighting -afterwards proved. On this day when the sound of musketry drew nearer -and nearer, we were drawn up in line, and with drawn sabres awaited the -appearance of the enemy and an order to "charge." Expectation sat in a -thousand pale faces as - - "Each looked to sun and stream and plain - As what they ne'er might see again." - -Suddenly the rattle of musketry seemed to roll away and all was still. -Another time when the sound of battle approached our position, we -dismounted and in line awaited the onset. - -In the evening the distant boom of cannon announced that a battle was on -somewhere, and while we sat on our horses, weary but alert, the bloody -battle of Franklin was being fought miles away. At last night fell, and -exhausted men and horses sank gratefully to sleep. - -Our camp was at the base of a wooded hill, in a field adjoining the -Nolansville Pike. Next morning, December 1st, the horses, that had not -been unsaddled, were put in line and held while breakfast was prepared -and eaten. Before this was completed out-post firing was heard--a -cavalryman came galloping, saying the enemy was upon us. The command -hastily mounted and moved out on the pike, just before reaching which -Companies D and G were halted, and, under command of Major Lyon, went -into line, facing the rear. The regiment moving at a rapid walk, moved -up the pike and disappeared. In a few minutes the rebels opened an -irregular but furious fire from the brow of the hill under which we had -camped. At the first discharge a horse went down; directly a man was -shot; another horse fell. Thicker and thicker came the bullets; fiercer -and fiercer grew the rebel yell. Major Lyon rode up and down the line -shouting, "Give 'em hell, boys." It was the "baptism of fire" for the -boys, but no one faltered. When ordered to wheel to the right, by fours, -to march to the rear, behind a stone wall on the other side of the pike, -they executed the movement as deliberately as on dress parade. -Dismounted and sheltered by the stone wall the men were comparatively -safe, but the horses suffered severely. Before they could be led to the -rear, out of range, fifteen had fallen. - -The rebels did not advance from the brow of the hill, but blazed away -with constantly increasing vigor. A "jackass battery" opened on us. The -boys did not flinch from this new experience, but kept steadily to their -work with the coolness of veterans. Our Maynard carbines were weak -weapons, useless at long range--our fire must have been ineffectual as -to casualty, but being breech-loaders the boys were enabled to fire with -such rapidity that the enemy over-estimated our numbers and hesitated to -advance, but began creeping round our flanks on either side. And still -the Major said "give 'em hell, boys," and held us to the work until our -ammunition was exhausted. About this time Adjutant Payne, who was on the -staff of Gen. Hammond, came back with orders to retreat. Everybody was -willing, but it was easier said than done. - -Almost surrounded, no ammunition, many more men than horses, the pike in -possession of the foe, it was not a comfortable prospect. Hurrying to -the rear we mounted--some without horses, mounted behind a comrade; -again another would hold to a stirrup or a horses' tail to keep up with -the rapid trot. No one thought of dashing to safety at the expense of a -dismounted comrade. A horse was killed throwing its rider against a tree -breaking his collar bone. Instantly he was placed behind a comrade and -away again. On and on through wood and field, rushing through rail -fences, tearing down stone walls with bleeding hands and still behind, -and from either side, the rebel yell and hissing bullet.[1] - -At last, most welcome sight, the guidons of a cavalry regiment drawn up -in line to receive us and check the enemy. Feeling sure of safety for -all, we dashed forward, leaving the dismounted men two hundred yards -behind. To our surprise and indignation this regiment wheeled into -column and trotted away before we reached them leaving us to follow. The -abandoned, dismounted men took to a cornfield and many of them escaped. -Two privates of Co. D, Lieut. Swayne and some enlisted men of Co. G, -were taken prisoners. Later on we reached the regiment standing in line -on the pike. From this place we moved slowly toward Nashville until -night came on. Going into camp near the road we enjoyed what we had -fairly earned--a night's repose without alarm. - -As we passed through Nashville to our old camp at Edgefield next -morning, every hatless trooper of the previous day's fight will -gratefully remember how the merchants in the city came out with arm -loads of hats to supply our needs. Late in the evening the brigade was -again in the saddle, marching to Gallatin, Tenn., where we remained some -days patrolling the river from that place to Carthage to keep the enemy -from crossing. While here encamped a detachment of the 9th, under -command of Major Wall, was sent up into Kentucky "pressing in" horses -and mules. This expedition was through a rich country, comparatively -unravaged by the war, and was a pleasure trip to its participants. Not -so to the hapless citizens who had horses and mules. Desolation to -poultry yards marked the path of the party. A fine lot of animals were -secured, among them a number of blooded horses. It is possible that all -these did not receive Uncle Sam's trade mark. There was a legend current -in the regiment that one of the mules obtained at this time, that by -_accident_ was not branded, did excellent service at New Orleans in -supplying one company with the needful.[2] - -On December the 8th the command returned to Nashville. The morning was -lowery and by noon began to rain. A strong northwest wind froze the -water as it fell and soon the road was a glare of ice. The horses unshod -or smooth shod had but precarious footing. Fortunately no serious -accident occurred. The men were chilled and shivering. When the column -halted for any purpose the red cedar rails on either side were soon -ablaze; but before the cheerful flame could infuse warmth in the chilled -fingers the bugle sounded "forward" and the grateful heat was left to -waste its comfort on the frosty air. We left a fiery as well as a frozen -track that day. Before nightfall we went into camp within two miles of -the city. Soon, amid the lurid flame of burning rails, the smoking hot -coffee, crisp sow-belly and luscious hard-tack, we forgot the discomfort -of our cheerless ride--the song and laugh went round until one by one -each voice was hushed and the camp was wrapped in silence. - -On the morning of the 9th we moved across the river and went into camp -on the west side of Nashville, where we remained until December 15th. -While passing through the city Gen. Hatch and staff met the -regiment--Col. Jackson joined him and with him held an informal review -of the regiment as the column moved along. Our horses--fresh from their -"old Kentucky homes"--were in such contrast to the jaded steeds from the -front, with which Hatch's command was mounted, that, turning to Jackson, -he said: "Colonel, you have a magnificent mount, but my boys will steal -half of them before the battle." - -"No, General," replied the Colonel, "the boys got these horses for their -own use; you can't have one of them; but we don't want to seem small and -will undertake to trade a limited number of our Maynards for your -Spencers." - -On reaching camp, an order was issued doubling the stable guard, and -relieving from camp duty for a week any soldier who would secure a -Spencer carbine. No horse was lost, a dozen or two Spencers were -reported. These were organized for special service, and the zeal and -enterprise developed in securing them had ample play during the stormy -days which followed. It is possible that some members of this squad -would have willingly resigned their prospects for distinction with the -Spencer, for the more modest and less hazardous companionship of the -Maynard. - -The camp was in an open field with no tree, shrub or grass, or other -covering than the sleet which fell and formed from day to day. It was a -sloppy, slippery time. The discomfort of the situation was somewhat -alleviated by remembering that the Johnnies were more unhappy than we. -They had not wherewith to cover their nakedness and depended for food on -such limited supplies as could be secured from the country. We were well -fed and clothed. - -On the morning of the 15th, the ice being melted, the regiment was in -the saddle soon after daylight. Moving a short distance to the right we -halted, waiting for McArthur's division to clear the way for our passage -to the position assigned our division on the right of Smith's Corps. - -About 8 o'clock A. M. the booming of the cannon on the left announced -the opening of the battle. For an hour the fight seemed to remain in one -place, but gradually the forces became engaged along the front, reaching -a point to the right of our position. The cannons roared and thundered, -and the rattle of small arms could be distinctly heard, while a dense -smoke rolled up from the field which was obscured from our view by an -intervening ridge. To get out of the ranks and climb this ridge to see -how a great battle looked was a common impulse--an impulse too strong -for those whose curiosity was stronger than their sense of duty. Two -privates of one company, thus straying away, were discovered by one of -Hammond's aids, who promptly placed them and their company commander -under arrest. This officer[3] later in the day approached the General -and obtained permission to lead his company in the coming fight, which -he did so gallantly that he never heard any more about the arrest. - -Two officers of another company likewise climbed the ridge and saw the -belching of the cannon, the bursting of the shells, the great lanes torn -through the ranks of blue, which, closing up, moved steadily toward the -foe. It was a grand though awful sight. As one, sickening, turned away, -he discovered that the regiment had moved away. Informing his companion, -they descended the hill and quickly following were, fortunately for -their credit, not discovered, and regained their place in the column. - -The division now reached its place on the extreme right--the first -brigade in reserve within the bend of the river. In line facing the -front we sat on our horses awaiting results. The remainder of the -division advanced toward the enemy and were soon hid from our view by -the fog and smoke of battle. Here it was that the battery on the hill -above and beyond the rebel advance opened on us with shell--all will -remember this--and none forget the peculiar shrinking sensation with -which we heard the first shell that came shrieking over our heads and -bursting in our rear. Here it was, too, that, as the smoke lifted, we -saw our troops swarm up the distant hill, and, after a short struggle in -the fort, raise the stars and stripes above the works from whose guns -had so recently come to us such unwelcome greeting. This redoubt was -carried by Coons' Cavalry (dismounted), and two brigades of Smith's -Corps. The same troop rushed gallantly on and soon carried another fort. -The mounted men rushed forward and swept Chalmer's Cavalry back, -capturing his headquarters, books and papers. The Confederate left was -completely broken and driven back by the cavalry corps. Night stopped -the pursuit. - -The first brigade being in reserve, took no part in this day's fight, -but followed closely the advance of our victorious fellow-cavalrymen, -seeing on every side the evidences of the battle we had not helped to -win. We reached the six-mile post on the Charlotte Pike; thence marching -up Richland Creek three miles, bivouacked on Granny White Pike. Two -companies, (L and another), going on picket, captured a number of -prisoners during the night. - -On the morning of the 16th, the first brigade returned to the Hillsboro' -Pike. The 9th was detailed to support the 14th Ohio Battery in an attack -on the rebel left and rear. Dismounted--a detail for skirmishers was -made, including the "Spencer Squad." As they disappeared in the wood we -followed. Soon a rattling volley, followed by the articulate venom of -single shots, warned us that we were approaching the enemy. Reaching a -position on a ridge thinly covered with trees, the guns were unlimbered, -placed in position, and for two hours a furious duel raged between this -and an opposing battery on the ridge a half mile away. The wooded valley -intervening was alive with skirmishers, and the continuous dropping -shots showed that they were hotly disputing possession. The occasional -bringing in of the dead and wounded from the line attested the character -of the struggle. The boys were evidently not in fun. The regiment lay in -front of the guns which fired over us. This of itself was sufficiently -exhilarating to a nervous man, but when the shells of the opposing -battery came hustling through the air, bursting in front, above and -behind us, cutting the branches above us or throwing the dirt over us, -every man became a stoic and waited with calmness the missile which -should square his account. - -Strangely enough no casualty occurred in the line. Some annoyance was -felt from a house on the left front occupied by sharp-shooters. A small -squad, by permission, stole down upon them unobserved. Making a rush for -the house the gray-backs went out of the back door as the boys went in -at the front. The family were at breakfast. One of the boys sat down and -had a hearty lunch, while the others searched the house from cellar to -garret. Notifying the owner that another shot from the house would meet -with response from the cannon, the boys returned and took their place in -line. - -And still the cannonade kept up. Shells passing overhead reached the -horses in the rear, carrying consternation to the boys who were holding -them. One came up to the line to get permission to trade places with one -of the boys, saying if he had to be killed he preferred to die as a -soldier, and not as a hostler. - -Col. Jackson rode a white horse and, with his orderlies, remained -mounted during this action. Wherever this horse was the shells were -thickest. Upon being asked why he rode this horse he said that in battle -no one hit what he shot at. So he rode this horse for safety. The -Colonel held a fairly good place in the affections of his men, but none -cared to cultivate any closer relations with him on this occasion. It -was two sad-eyed orderlies who followed him up and down the line these -two solemn hours. - -The rebel battery ceasing to return our fire, we returned to our horses -and about noon moved to the Cranny White Pike. Crossing it, we -dismounted and climbed a hill--the remainder of the brigade going into -line on our left. As we went into position the brass band of a regiment -on our immediate left was playing a melancholy piece--doubtless -expressing the feelings of the musicians, but certainly not inciting an -appetite for battle in the hearers. - -For some hours we lay upon this hill exchanging shots, occasionally, -with an unseen foe, without loss. The 10th Indiana on our left lost some -killed and wounded. About 4 P. M. Knipe ordered an advance of the whole -division. The 9th did not wait, but, springing to their feet, dashed -eagerly down the hill and away after the enemy, who did not stand upon -the order of their going, but went at once. - -Strict orders had been given to reserve fire until we should get in -short range, but some nervous comrade, with patriotism at his finger -ends, discharged his gun and at once a line of fire ran down the ranks. -An effort to stop the shooting was made without avail. Company K had a -man killed; a number were slightly wounded. Two Confederates were -seriously wounded in or near a house at the base of the hill, where we -discontinued the pursuit. - -This could scarcely be dignified by the name of "a charge," as the enemy -practically made no resistance. With fear to lend them speed they were -further from us at the end of the race than upon the start. The day was -damp and cold; many had on overcoats and poncho blankets. The haste with -which we obeyed the order to advance did not give them time to divest -themselves of extra clothing. The charge was along through a corn-field -a foot deep in mud, intersected by several ditches and washouts, four to -six feet deep, and from three to ten feet wide. Cavalry boots and other -impediments made this a decidedly warm trip. - -The rebels were now evidently badly whipped, and if the cavalry corps -had now been mounted we could certainly have cut off the retreat by the -Franklin road and practically bagged the entire game. By the time the -horses could be brought up night had come and we went into camp at the -base of the hill, from which the enemy had given us a parting shot at 5 -o'clock. - -The rebel army at the close of the fight on the 16th were completely -whipped; the infantry with which the cavalry corps had contended were a -demoralized and panic-stricken mob. Forrest, with his main body of -cavalry, had not been present during the battle. Two brigades had -reached the field on the evening of the 16th, and, holding the passes -through the Brentwood hills, from the Granny White Pike, enabled the -panic-stricken horde to reach the Franklin Pike and cross Little -Harpeth. Night and Forrest's cavalry alone saved Hood's army from total -capture. A strong rear guard of cavalry was formed to cover the retreat -of the broken rebel columns, and, although the battle was won our work -was but fairly begun. About midnight a heavy rain set in which continued -at intervals for some days following. - -By the early dawn the First Brigade was in the saddle en route for the -Franklin Pike, the 19th Pennsylvania in advance, supported by the 10th -Indiana. On reaching the pike the whole command started down toward -Franklin at a swinging trot. Soon striking the enemy they gave way -before the impetuosity of the advance and were rapidly driven back, -losing many prisoners. At Hollow Tree Gap a considerable body of -infantry were strongly posted, who repulsed the two regiments in front -with the loss of 22 killed and wounded and 63 prisoners, principally -from the 10th Indiana. To offset this, the 10th had captured and brought -off the field two Colonels, two Lieutenant-Colonels, one Major and more -than one hundred enlisted men. The 9th, being in the rear, had all the -morning seen the evidences of the demoralization of the enemy. The guns -and other equipments strewn along the road, the apparent abandonment of -everything that impeded their flight, every door-yard filled with -illy-clad shivering prisoners, had lead us to the conclusion that we had -"a walk over." Hollow Tree Gap undeceived us. - -After repulsing our advance the enemy fell back. The 9th Indiana was -ordered up and took the advance. As we moved through the Gap we saw the -saddest sight of the campaign. A trooper lay beside the road gasping his -life away, and near him with a ghastly wound in his breast, lay dead the -little curly-headed, blue-eyed boy, Duane A. Lewis, Co. B., sixteen -years old, the General's orderly, whose bright and joyous face and -fearless innocence had endeared him to the heart of every soldier in the -brigade. The pitiless rain fell upon his upturned childish face; his -eyes were open, but their light had gone out forever. - -Gen. Knipe said to Hammond: "Take your command and go to Franklin; don't -skirmish with the enemy three minutes, but attack him where found and -drive him through the town." - -The rain was gently falling, the heavy fog of early morning was somewhat -dissipated, yet so dense that objects could not be distinctly seen at a -distance. With a long trot we swept down the pike against a shadowy -foe--ourselves but shadows. The depressing weather and the sad scene -just passed made the lightest heart grow heavier as we swept along. -Suddenly from the woods on the left a body of Confederate horse sprang -into the road in front of us, and in a ghostly gallop lead the way to -their lines. - -Debouching into the open near Franklin, the cannon from the fort opened -on us with shell. The head of the column turned to the right a short -distance and wheeled into line--the centre and left coming on "front -into line." Hammond being at the head of the column gave the command to -charge before the line was barely formed. The right sprang forward at -the command and was rapidly followed by the center. The left, under -Capt. Hobson, was not yet in line and did not hear the command. Hammond -again shouted "charge!" Hobson was looking after the alignment and did -not hear the command. Hammond galloped to him and said: "You cowardly -s-- of a b--ch! why don't you charge?" Hobson raised himself in the -stirrups and said: "Boys, we will show who are cowards! Forward! March! -Trot! Charge!!" and lead the boys right up to the fort, where he was -shot through the heart.[4] A stone wall on the left caused them to crowd -on the centre and against the fort. The right also was forced to press -in on the centre, by reason of a nursery, which, for horses, was -practically impenetrable. The centre charged right down the open grounds -on the left of the pike. - -Lieut. Watts, of Company I, fell dead on the pike at the head of Company -G. Lieut. Duvall, who lead Company H, was shot in the breast--a wound -which hastened his death, occurring in 1880. - -The Confederates had torn down the telegraph wire and, driving posts at -intervals, had encircled the fort with it. This was unseen by the -assaulting party until their horses tumbled over it. Encumbered by the -horses who were useless in attacking a fort, impeded by a stone wall and -wire-fence, under an awful fire of grape and canister and musketry at -short range, the regiment fell back in disorder, but not without -bringing off two stands of colors and over two hundred prisoners. These -captures were made by individual prowess, and were not the result of -concerted action. - -Falling back perhaps two hundred yards from the fort and partially -sheltered from the shells and musket balls by a slight depression in the -plain, Acting Adjutant Comstock, under orders from the Colonel, planted -the regimental colors, and the line was soon formed again. This was done -quickly and well under fire. The shells were passing overhead and -bursting threw the fragments among the men in a distressingly familiar -way. - -Lieut. Burroughs, of Company C, had been disabled in the charge, and, as -the men from the left were crossing the pike to form on the colors, he -asked for assistance to remount his horse, which was standing near. Two -men dismounted to assist him, but just then a fragment from a bursting -shell tore away part of his skull. He was carried to the rear in a dying -condition. - -As the same party were hastening to the right, as before mentioned, a -shell passed through two horses, taking off the leg of one of the -riders. Another horse had his head taken off as with a broad-axe. In the -charge a horse was struck full in the breast with a cannon ball, passing -through and disemboweling him. The rider went headlong in the mud, where -he lay stunned until the fight was over. The charge was unwisely -ordered, but bravely and brilliantly executed. To ride down in the face -of a withering fire on a fort inaccessible to cavalry, defended by -artillery and infantry, greatly outnumbering the attacking force, was -apparently a ride to death. That it was not so we must thank Him without -whose notice no sparrow falls to the ground. No one faltered; none -turned back until all that could be done was accomplished. Bravely as -this was done, it did not show forth that true courage, born of moral -worth and a high sense of duty, as did the prompt rallying of the broken -companies, and the speedy reforming of the line, under fire, and the -patient waiting for orders among the bursting shells. This was the true -touchstone of our greatness as a regiment, and nobly did the boys stand -the test. - -In his report, dated December 27th, 1864, Gen. Hammond, of this action, -says: - -"The enemy, having retreated, we followed rapidly, the 9th Indiana in -advance, to near Franklin, and drove the enemy across the river into -town, capturing, it is reported, two stands of colors and near two -hundred prisoners. In this charge we lost three fine officers, among -whom was Capt. Hobson--9th Indiana Cavalry,--a man remarkable for the -prompt discharge of his duties, and his bravery. The 9th Indiana was -supported by the 10th Indiana and the 4th Tennessee. But the first -regiment deserved the principal credit of the charge and success." - -For the regiment, whose heroism converted his blunder into a glorious -achievement, this praise is scant enough. For the man, at whom he had -but a few minutes before his death, hurled the most opprobrious epithet -that can be applied to the brave man who loves his mother, or reveres -her memory, this recognition comes too late. - -The 4th Tennessee took the advance and pushed over the river, through -the town and out on the Lewisburg Pike, followed by the brigade. -Flanking the enemy out of a position between this and the Columbia Pike, -we moved across to this latter road, and leisurely moved down toward -Columbia. On either side of us great columns of cavalry were moving -through the fields in parallel lines. The entire cavalry corps was in -sight. The whole face of the country seemed covered with the mighty -host. - - "'T were worth ten years of peaceful life, - One glance at their array." - -A mile to the front, a range of heavily wooded hills at right angles to -the pike, rose abruptly from the plain. On the brow of this hill a -battery in the road opened on us with shell. The first shell, passing -over, bursted beyond our rear; another and another followed. The -stragglers felt an impulse of valor unfelt before, and made vigorous -efforts to get to the front. The pace of the command visibly -quickened--broke into a trot, and soon were galloping, while still above -us shrieked the shells. Alas! not all! Those in the rear could see the -column, opening and closing at frequent intervals, as the horsemen -passed on either side of the dead and wounded men and horses who had -fallen. - -Reaching a break in the wall which fenced in the right side of the road, -the head of the column, turning, dashed into the field on the right. -Dismounting at the edge of the woods, which was also the base of the -hill, we advanced upon the enemy, and drove him from his position. It -was said that in this action the 4th Regulars, lead by Knipe in person, -went into line, without dismounting, charged the enemy, and, after a -sharp hand to hand fight, drove him in confusion from the field. - -The whole corps was engaged in this action, and, in thirty minutes from -the discharge of the first gun, the entire rebel force, who were not -killed or prisoners, were in full retreat. It was now nearly dark. -Remounting, we moved to the right, the 10th Indiana in advance. Passing -the enemy's flank, and reaching the pike in his rear, we moved forward -to the attack. The 10th Indiana passed the enemy, who were ambushed -behind a stone fence on the left, and who permitted us to likewise get -well in the trot before springing it. - -Suddenly, from out the darkness, "Halt! Who comes there?" sharply -questioned a voice. "Federal cavalry," replied Jackson. "_Fire!_" rang -out the command, and immediately from a thousand muskets in our very -faces, gushed a sheet of flame. Down went man and horse. Another volley, -and the frightened horses reared and plunged, many falling in a ditch -alongside the road, crippling the riders. - -Company L was in the advance. Moorehouse went down with a ghastly wound; -Bristow fell dead; Jackson's horse went into the ditch, falling upon -him, and inflicting permanent injuries to his breast. Acting Adjutant -Comstock and another, whose name I cannot give, saved the Colonel from -capture, by mounting him upon another horse and holding him in the -saddle until a place of safety could be reached. - -Color-Sergeant Ricks, of Company E, a noble boy, was killed, and, in the -darkness, the colors were lost. The rebels, protected by the wall, were -safe from sabre or bullet. The plunging of the horses, the cries of the -wounded, the shouting of the officers, the lurid flashing of guns, -fitfully lighting the scene, made a situation inadequately described by -the modified term of the "new version." - -The surprise, the darkness and disorder, the impossibility of returning -the fire, left but one thing to do. A united rush was made to the right. -The rail fence, bounding the road, went down with a crash--officer and -man, with equal zeal, seeking safety in flight. The enemy pursued with -shout and yell and hissing bullet. It was not a panic. It was good, hard -sense. To get out of that hopeless hell was strictly business. - -The enemy did not pursue very far. Halting in the woods, Hammond made an -effort to get the brigade in line. He was so hoarse he could not speak -above a whisper. It was found that all the officers were likewise too -hoarse to make themselves heard, and the attempt was abandoned. Each -officer and man sought sleep and rest where best it suited him. Sleep -did not at once fall upon the camp. Silence there was, but not sleep. -The chagrin of failure, the separation from comrades who might be dead -or wounded, and in the hands of the enemy, added tenfold to the horror -of the night, itself wet, cold, comfortless. At last tired nature -succumbed to the drowsy god, and all too soon the morning bugle awoke us -from slumber to the duties and dangers of another day. - -On the 18th the command, encountering no enemy, marched to near Spring -Hill, and went into camp. Resuming the march on the 19th, reached -Rutherford's Creek. This stream was out of its banks, its current a -torrent, making a more effective rear guard for the defeated army than -even Forrest's brave and determined troops. The almost impassable -condition of the roads delayed the arrival of the pontoons until the -20th. Meantime the infantry had overtaken us, and gone into camp near -us. - -When the infantry came from the front and began work on the defenses at -Pulaski, they did not have a very high opinion of the cavalry arm of the -service. This feeling was fairly illustrated in the remark of a bronzed -veteran visiting our camp. He said: "The artillery makes the noise, the -cavalry makes the show, and _we do the work_!" A General was heard to -express his contempt for this arm of the service by offering to pay $10 -per head for each cavalryman killed in battle. These boys had now -followed our line of march and constant battle for some days. They had -seen the character of the work done, and from them now was heard only -words of warmest commendation. These were the heroes of Atlanta, and to -have thus earned their enthusiastic approval, conquering their prejudice -and compelling respect, was doubling our laurels and glory enough. Their -unstinted praise was not more grateful to our hearts than was the -generous sharing of their scant store of hard-tack to our now, for a day -or two, "strictly corn-fed" stomachs. - -The bridge across Rutherford's Creek being completed, on the 21st we -crossed and moved down to Columbia. Duck River, swollen by the rains, -that for a week had almost constantly fallen, was now a wide, deep and -turbulant stream. The rain had ceased to fall, and it was snowing -instead. The wind was blowing a gale from the northwest. This greatly -increased the difficulty of bridging the stream, and it was December 23d -before we were enabled to cross the river and resume the pursuit. We had -been called up the midnight preceding, struck our tents, and, mounting, -moved down near the river, where we sat upon our horses in the wind and -flying snow--a dismal, dark, dreadful two hours--and then back to camp -again. - -About 10 o'clock A. M. on the 23d, we crossed the bridge and moved some -miles down the Pulaski Pike, not encountering the enemy. - -On the 24th, we moved through the fields on the right of Gen. Croxton's -brigade. We were not in advance this day, and, while always in hearing -of the guns, were not directly engaged. All this day, as we followed in -the wake of the fight, our eyes were constantly greeted with -unmistakable evidences of the struggle in front. No one will forget the -little knot of dead and dying artillerymen and horses by the road-side, -maimed and mangled by a bursting shell, a gory, ghastly sight. - -Forrest, with the main body of his cavalry, had reached the line of -Hood's retreat at Columbia, and from that point interposed a force not -inferior in numbers, or discipline, to the cavalry corps pursuing. In -addition to this force, we were hourly confronted by five brigades of -infantry, under Gen. Walthall. So great a force, aided by bad roads and -swollen streams, made it impossible for us to break through their -defence. It is true that at every stand made by the enemy, we drove him -from his position, but when he fell back it was usually in good order, -and more as one who had accomplished a purpose than as a beaten and -demoralized foe. - -On the 25th, we pushed on, following the advance, which drove the enemy -through Pulaski so closely, that he did not have time to destroy the -bridge over Richland Creek. The men detailed to fire the bridge were -killed or captured and the fire extinguished. Another stand was made at -Reynolds' or Anthony's Hill, south of Pulaski. Our brigade was ordered -to support the first brigade, sixth division, in an attack on this -position. The enemy made strong resistance, and for some time the battle -raged without advantage on either side. Hammond's brigade was ordered -up. The 9th Indiana, with Companies I and D as skirmishers, advanced on -the enemy's left. His skirmishers were soon met and driven back on the -main line, lying along the top of the hill. A heavy fire was opened on -these two companies, and they were compelled to fall back on the -supporting column--which, going into line, advanced upon the enemy. -Meantime the brigade in advance had been repulsed, and fell back in -confusion,--the 7th Ohio cavalry breaking through the advancing column -between the 4th Tennessee and the remainder of the brigade. The 4th -charged gallantly and drove the pursuing enemy back into his works, but -the support being delayed by the demoralized 7th Ohio, failed to come -up, and the 4th was compelled to withdraw. Now it was that our regiment -advanced with the 2d Tennessee on our left. Coming within sight of the -defences, the whole line, with a yell and mighty rush, swept up the hill -over the works and across the opening after the flying foe, who -disappeared in the woods beyond. Company I had a place in this charge. -Company D, being on the right of the skirmish line, had, in falling -back, after helping develop the enemy's position, missed the supporting -column--having to go around a precipitous hill to rejoin the regiment, -only reached the scene in time to observe, but take no part in, the -charge, which closed the day's work. - -Going into camp the weary soldier found time to remember that this was -Christmas day, and fill himself with the recollection of the Christmas -feasts of former years--precious "little else" he had to fill himself -with. Mud and snow below, clouds and rain above, all night long, was not -conducive to rest, but caused the boys the more readily to resume the -march next morning--the saddle being more comfortable than the camp. - -The 26th opened with a heavy fog and gently falling rain. The 2d -Tennessee in advance, supported by the 9th Indiana, struck the enemy -about five miles from camp and drove him swiftly back on the main body, -which was strongly posted on the south bank of Sugar Creek, a deep and -rapid stream, with high and steep banks. The 2d Tennessee going into -line, was soon hotly engaged. The 9th debouched from the road and went -into line in reserve, but so near the first line that we were as fully -under fire as those in front. - -To remain under fire from an unseen enemy, without the stimulus of -action, is a serious tax upon the courage of the average soldier. The 2d -Tennessee, after a few minutes' exchange of courtesies with the enemy, -were moved by the right flank to make room for us. Glad to move, the -regiment took its place in the position lately occupied by the 2d -Tennessee, while the 14th Ohio battery went into position near the line -just abandoned by us. All this time the enemy's fire was unceasing. On -reaching our new position we could see under the lifting fog, the creek -with its steep banks, and beyond it the log barricades, from behind -which constantly leaped forth the flame and smoke, accentuating the -"zip" of the spiteful bullets, which constantly cut the air around us. - -From here we could also see the slender thread of road leading to the -ford, across which but two horses might pass abreast. As against mounted -men the position was impregnable. The situation was not encouraging, -contemplating which, an officer of the line got somewhat excited, and, -riding to and fro in front of the regiment, constantly shouting: "Don't -run, boys; for God's sake, don't run!" - -This was an unnecessary appeal. Aside from the disorder arising from -falling horses, the line stood unwavering. A sharp reprimand from -Hammond, and this officer subsided. The fire of the enemy continued with -increasing vigor. It was returned by "the boys" with interest. Protected -by log works the enemy probably suffered no loss. - -Two companies, under command of Capt. Cofer, were now sent to the left -to a hill commanding the rebel right and protecting our left flank. The -regiment, at the same time, moved to the right, making place for the -balance of the brigade in line. The two companies moving to the left -reached an angle in the hill--one arm running back parallel to our line -of advance, the other, and shorter arm, projecting toward the field of -battle. Dismounting behind the shorter arm, which thoroughly protected -the horses, the two companies scaled the hill and formed in line on its -top, overlooking the rebel works in the plain below. Company D took the -position nearest the field, the other company (Company I, probably), -going to the left, were in the act of deploying to guard against -surprise from the extreme left, when the enemy left his works, crossed -the creek, and wildly yelling, charged the centre of the main line, -driving them back probably three hundred yards, leaving the led horses -in a triangle, the base and perpendicular of which was too -"perpendicular" to climb, and the high position in the hands of the -enemy. Company D hurriedly scrambled down the hill, and, remounting, -dashed out through the astonished Confederates to a place of safety, -where, reforming, they rejoined the regiment. In their ride to the rear -Company D lost four enlisted men by capture. The horses of the other -company were also successfully brought off. - -Cofer, with his company, hearing the battle surging back in the centre, -also tried to get back, but by the time the deployed line could be -rallied to return, they were met by a body of the enemy, who, seeing so -many led horses going to the rear, suspected the truth, and went up the -hill to see about it. Resistance was hopeless, flight seemed impossible, -but, with a rebel prison on the one hand, and a chance for safety in a -race with death on the other, was but a moment's hesitation. Running -back up the hill and making a wide detour, Indiana put in her "best -licks," and, although the rebels had the inner and by far the shorter -line, they escaped, amidst a storm of bullets, without a scratch, and -rejoined the regiment, much to their own satisfaction and greatly to the -relief of the remainder of the regiment, who had given them up for lost. - -The brigade again advanced and drove the enemy back into his works. The -14th Ohio battery was now placed in position, and soon shelled them out, -and pursuit was continued some distance by a portion of the command, the -remainder soon going into camp. - -These were the last rebels in arms seen by us in this campaign. -Subsistence for men and horses was becoming a serious question. We had -received no rations since leaving Nashville, twelve days before. There -had been little time for foraging. The resources of the country were -nearly exhausted by the rebel army--men and horses were worn out and -hungry. A few days were consumed in recruiting the horses and securing -supplies. The march was resumed and continued without incident of -special interest, except a very pleasant encampment at Taylor Springs -and a very unpleasant, not to say dangerous, crossing of Elk River, -ending at Gravelly Springs, where we went into winter quarters. - -It was but a remnant of the 9th Cavalry that went into camp at the close -of this long march. By death, wounds, disease and capture we had lost -heavily. Those stopping by the way, from death or exhausting of horses, -added to the other losses--not more than two hundred effectives reached -this, our final, camp in Alabama. In considering the service of the 9th -Cavalry in this campaign, we will concede that other commands may have -done more fighting, but in promptly and effectually performing the -duties assigned, no regiment could have excelled the 9th Indiana. - -Hammond, in his report, says: "During this campaign I have had continual -occasion to admire the bravery of both officers and men, and to lament -want of discipline." The discipline of our regiment was fairly good; the -officers, as a rule, had the respect and confidence of their men, who -yielded prompt obedience to all orders. Gen. Hammond never issued an -order, either in battle, on the march or in camp, that we did not try to -obey, whatever we may have thought of the wisdom of it. - -It is the deliberate opinion of the writer, after twenty years' -experience with all sorts of people, that no finer body of men ever -lived than served together in the 9th Indiana Cavalry, and certain it is -no braver soldiers ever marched to battle. - -[Illustration: Map of battle, December 1, 1861.] - -Footnote 1: - - NOTE A.--Of the affair at Wilson's Pike, December 1, 1864, Sergt. - Holt, of Co. E, writes as follows: - - D. W. C. - - "At the fight on Wilson's Pike, December 1, 1861, Company E was - detailed to check the advancing columns on that road. The company was - stationed in a small yard behind a house. A line of skirmishers was - thrown out consisting of the dismounted fourth man, placed in charge - of a sergeant, with orders to fire once or twice and fall back to - their horses. The advance was very rapid, the firing hot in the region - of the company, and the men who had charge of the horses of the - dismounted men were ordered to the rear. When our men came back from - the skirmish line they were disappointed in not finding their horses, - and were all captured, consisting of nearly twenty-six men of Company - E, who were taken to Cahaba, Alabama, prison. Only about half of them - lived through the five months they were kept there. Capt. Hobson was - left in charge of the rear. He was ordered off the field twice by - orderlies from Gen. Hammond, but failing to obey the order Gen. - Hammond came himself and took the command off. The rebels were so - close to us that I think I would almost know the color-bearer if I - were to see him to-day. Before we left the yard, or just as we were - leaving, Sergt. Helvie, who was sitting at the roots of a sugar tree, - called to me to take his gun, a Henry rifle. I did so, and was so much - excited that I only got two loads off out of the fifteen it contained. - I believe Sergt. Helvie was the only man wounded in the engagement, - although we stayed upon the field until the right and left wings of - the rebel advance were considerably ahead of us, and I pointed the - fact out to Capt. Hobson, but it didn't seem to affect him." - -Footnote 2: - - It was said that Company F sold this mule in New Orleans several - times. The plan was--as the story was told--to have one of the boys, - in citizen's clothes, sell the animal, and before it could be got away - a squad would come up and arrest the party for having United States - property in possession, compromising for a greater or less amount, - take the mule and release the purchaser. This was said to have been - repeated a number of times. At last the mule was hid and could not be - found, but not before a sum had been raised sufficient to put Company - F in funds. - -Footnote 3: - - Lieut. Thomas J. Cofer, Co. I. - -Footnote 4: - - Accounts of the deaths of Capt. Hobson and Lieut. Watts are - conflicting. Capt. Hayden states that Capt. Hobson was killed right at - the fort. The account of Sergt. Holt, Co. E, of the same incident, is - subjoined. Sergt. Holt's candor in relating his experiences is - refreshing and worthy of all praise. Most of us, in relating army - experiences, are apt to forget or omit our fears and remember only - what was heroic. There was in the regiment but one opinion concerning - Capt. Hobson, and that was that he was a brave and capable officer. - Martin Gregg, Co. I, states that he was with Lieut. Watts when shot; - that he was killed by the captain of the battery, who also fired at - him. - - D. W. C. - - "Company E was the left wing, Capt. Hobson commanding the main column. - Advancing on the pike, our company went to the left or rear of a small - works on the pike. After we had climbed a little hill, our company had - scattered considerably, the firing being close above us with grape. We - formed under cover of the ravine, and then advanced down the railroad. - Capt. Hobson was leading the company; and Sergeant Grose and myself - were (I probably ought not to say so) in the rear. I thought I took in - the situation and asked him how he liked the place we were going into. - He said he didn't like it much, but he guessed we would have to go. We - charged down the railroad until we got to the wagon road, then went - under the railroad, the grade being so high as to permit us to go - under. Capt. Hobson didn't seem to realize the situation until he was - confronted on the other side by the retreating rebel column. He halted - and turned round immediately on the retreat, and was shot just as he - came under the railroad, falling almost against the stone abutment. - His riderless horse came galloping past me as I turned to retreat.... - - "An incident in connection with Capt. Hobson's death has always - impressed me. During the morning Capt. Hobson and Lieut. Burroughs - were riding together, and in their conversation Lieut. Burroughs said: - 'I would rather lose my right arm than go into a fight.' Capt. Hobson - replied, 'The rebel bullet is not molded that will kill me.' With - these remarks hardly cold from their lips they went into the fight and - were both killed within at least a few minutes of each other. - - "While Capt. Hobson many times seemed rough in his remarks, his - actions would show that he was tender in feelings. With a confidence - that no harm can come to him, a man can go forth and fight with - dashing courage, although danger surrounds him; but with the thought - that as certain as he goes into battle, he will be the first to fall, - requires a stout heart, and is offering his life upon the altar of his - country. I never felt that I would be injured in battle, but I have - several times wished that some one else would run, so that I might - have some excuse to run myself. It took a braver man to make the break - and run when every one was standing in line of battle than it did to - stand and fight." - - - - - THE NINTH AT FRANKLIN. - - - Those who were present will admit that Capt. Hayden's account of the - 9th at Franklin is but a conservative statement of the facts. On the - day after the fight, while we were all feeling very well satisfied - with ourselves and the part the regiment had taken in the affair, I - wrote a letter to the Cincinnati Commercial, which was published in - its issue of December 29, 1864. I think it sufficiently pertinent to - justify the insertion of the greater part of it. - - D. W. C. - - CAMP OF THE 9TH INDIANA CAVALRY, -NEAR FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE, DECEMBER 18, 1864. - -It is a lamentable fact, that, for some reason as yet ungiven, the -cavalry arm of our service has not, until quite recently, been -distinguished for any special efficiency. Its connection, however, with -the late brilliant victories in the Shenandoah Valley, have won for it -at least the respect of the country, and caused the withdrawal of Major -General Hooker's standing offer of twenty dollars for a dead cavalryman -of the Potomac Army. In the West this branch of the army, as your -readers are aware, has been organized into the corps of the Military -Division of the Mississippi, under command of Brevet Major General -Wilson, whose dash and splendid abilities, while eminently fitting him -for the responsible position he holds, have fully warranted his -promotion from Lieutenant Colonel to his present rank. The late complete -successes of his command are evinced in those sure and substantial -evidences of victory--prisoners, battle-flags and guns; and in this -department no corps can show more of them than the cavalry. - -While all the troops in this command have behaved with credit to -themselves and honor to the cause in which they fight, for pluck, -coolness and promptness in the hour that tests men's courage, among all -the regiments taking part in the late move in front of Nashville, the -9th Indiana Cavalry of brigadier General Hammond's brigade, is worthy of -special and honorable mention, and, particularly, its splendid charge -upon the works and forces of the enemy at Franklin yesterday--an exploit -unsurpassed by anything written of the war, and compared to which in -point of success, Major Zagonyi's celebrated charge at Springfield, -which created such a sensation at the beginning of the war, and -interested the principal artists of the country in the face of a homely -but ordinary man, becomes tame and unimportant. Some five hundred yards, -over undulating grounds, made miry by recent rains, from the advance, -(9th Indiana Cavalry, Colonel George W. Jackson commanding), of -Hammond's brigade, and upon the north side of Big Harpeth river was a -section of a battery, supported by two regiments of infantry, strongly -entrenched behind abatis and rifle-pits; in front of them a regiment of -cavalry drawn up to receive a charge. On the south side of the river -four guns were so planted as to enfilade the road. Filing and forming to -the right and left of the road, with a coolness, which seemed utterly -regardless of the terrible accuracy with which the rebel guns were -aimed, while their shells were mangling horses and their riders, the men -seated themselves more firmly in their saddles, tightened the reins, and -"looked on sky and tree and plain" as sights they might never see again. -Led in person by Colonel Jackson, in a line which would have awakened -the admiration of Old Hardee himself, the 9th, at a walk, advanced to -victory--many of them, alas, to death. From a walk to a trot, from a -trot to a gallop, the short distance of five hundred yards was soon -traversed, and the Hoosier boys measured arms with the chivalry from -Georgia, Alabama and Texas. Overwhelmed by the celerity and boldness of -the movement, many of the enemy were sabered and captured before they -had fairly entered into the spirit of the fight. Before the impetuous -Jackson three men in gray fell in less time than it takes now to tell -it. A little Sergeant from Company K, George Leslie, with no weapon but -his sabre, took from their gun a Lieutenant and artilleryman. - -To describe a real cavalry charge, however, where sabres are crossed and -skulls are cleaved, as was the case at Franklin on the 17th inst., and -do it justice, is impossible. One may tell how hundreds of well-drilled, -well-mounted men, with clean blades, seen through the clear morning air, -moving like machinery, is a sight not often seen, and a splendid -embodiment or representation of power, and in the rush of a charge may -liken it to the tornado, that must sweep the earth unless averted. This -may be said, but a hundred instances of individual prowess must -necessarily be overlooked. In fifteen minutes the field was won. Two -stands of colors, two guns and 250 prisoners were the spoils of victory. -The remainder of the enemy, in confusion, fled through Franklin, leaving -it to be taken with near 2,000 of their wounded, without further -fighting. This, with 400 men, for the other regiments, comprising the -brigade, were not formed until the enemy had been driven across the -river. Prisoners said the cavalry had never acted so before--that they -were not even given time to fight, before they were whipped, and, even -after surrendering, had difficulty in escaping the hoofs of the horses. - -Rebel officers accounted for the desperate and determined fighting of -our men, by saying they had been given whisky and gun-powder. The latter -part of the statement was strictly true. A successful cavalry -charge--the capture of stands of colors, guns and prisoners, is a new -episode in the great rebellion. But the faithful historian in the annals -of the heroes and heroic deeds of the war, and glowing tributes to the -devotion of patriot soldiers, will find no theme more worthy the -beauties of our Saxon tongue, than the charge of the 9th Indiana Cavalry -at Franklin. - - - - - COL. JACKSON. - - -It has not been our purpose in these papers to make special mention of -any officer. As an exception to the general plan, I have thought that a -brief mention of Col. Jackson's name would give no offense and could not -be regarded as an unfair discrimination. Holding, by virtue of his rank, -the most conspicuous place, he is in the eyes of his old comrades the -foremost mark for blame or praise. He went west soon after the -conclusion of the war--since then but little has been known of him by -members of the regiment. The latest information concerning him, in -possession of the writer, dates back some years, at which time he was -reported as living with his family upon a farm near New Salem, Kansas, -in feeble health. If living now he would be accounted an elderly man. -His military history, briefly stated in the army records, is as follows: - -Mustered as Second Lieutenant, Company C, 34th Regiment, Indiana -Volunteer Infantry, September 21, 1861. - -Mustered as First Lieutenant, same Company, April 14, 1862. - -Mustered Captain May 12, 1862. - -Resigned October 7, 1863; promoted Colonel 118th Regiment. - -Mustered Colonel 121st Regiment (9th Cavalry), 1864. - -Honorably discharged June 3, 1865. - -The career disclosed by this brief recital, although but the skeleton of -his gallant service in behalf of his country, is one of which his -friends may well be proud, but to stop with it would not satisfy those -who followed his leadership with confidence and recall his memory with -affectionate regard. - -Having been much in personal contact with him in camp, on the march, and -in action, the writer may take a partial view of his character--but -to-day, after the lapse of many years, recollecting his strong and weak -points, and he had them both, I deem it only a just tribute to the "old -Colonel," as the boys used to call him, to say that he was a brave -soldier, an able and skillful officer, a faithful and generous friend. - -He was unfortunate in a nervous organization, which sometimes affected -his temper, compelling him to do and say things which he had occasion to -regret and which unfitted him for camp life. In its monotony he grew -restive and irritable, sometimes by too violent manifestations of his -feelings, giving offense to brother officers without just cause--but -mounted and at the head of the 9th, and fronting the enemy or leading -the charge, he was always the alert, gallant and splendid leader. - -The education he was possessed of, was of a solid character and was -derived more from contact with men than from books. He did not affect -learning, though he was intelligent and well informed on current -affairs. Had he begun his career in the army with higher rank than a -Lieutenancy, or with influential friends to have secured the prompter -recognition of his merits, or earlier obtained opportunities for the -display of his soldierly qualities, he would have won distinction in a -war so fruitful of able Generals. As it is, his friends must be content -with the knowledge that in the various posts assigned him he was -faithful, capable and brave, and that those esteemed him most who knew -him best. - - - - - WRECK OF THE SULTANA. - - -No single event during the war so startled and shocked the North as that -which has since been known as the "Sultana Disaster." - -On the 23d day of April, 1865, the steamer Sultana left Vicksburg with a -total of passengers and crew of 2,141 persons. Of this number -thirty-five were Federal officers and 1,996 Federal soldiers, recently -having been released from Catawba, Enterprise and Andersonville prisons. -The remaining 110 were made up of the crew and passengers taken on board -at points between New Orleans and Vicksburg. - -The physical condition of these officers and soldiers is well known to -those familiar with the treatment received by Federals in Southern -prisons,--long confinement in stockades, without protection from heat or -cold, or rain, without adequate food or clothing, deprived in sickness -of medical aid and the commonest comforts. All were weak and many were -absolutely helpless in the presence of danger. - -The estimated capacity of the boat was 376 persons, besides the crew. -The overloading of the boat made it necessary to make any disposition of -the men practicable. They occupied all available room. They were stowed -away wherever space was found to place them. The trip up the river to -the place of the tragedy was made without the occurrence of any unusual -incident. The last stop was at Memphis, at which place the boat took on -coal. At about 3 o'clock on the morning of the 27th of April, 1865, when -opposite Fogleman's Landing, some eight miles above Memphis, the -steamer's boiler exploded. The vessel took fire immediately and was soon -burned to the water's edge. - -It were idle to attempt a description of the scene that followed that -explosion. It was 3 o'clock in the morning. The water was very cold. -Many passed from the sleep of life to the sleep of death without -awakening. Others without warning found themselves rudely awakened by -contact with the icy water of the Mississippi. They saw the fierce river -lit up by the burning steamer; saw their comrades struggling with the -waves, heard their appeals for help, without the power to respond. They -fought bravely with the darkness and cold and flood for life, sometimes -even to death for the possession of a log, or boat, or other float, that -could bear but one, often cruelly, but naturally asserting Nature's -first law, when its assertion meant death to a weaker brother. Yet such -sad pictures were relieved by others of devotion and gallantry and -sacrifice not surpassed in earthly trials. Some who were able to swim, -notwithstanding the shock and chill of the waters, kept afloat for a -time, and were successful in getting hold of floating planks and rails, -and thus maintaining themselves until rescued. Many floated thus as far -as Memphis before they were picked up, and though rescued from the -water, died soon after from the scalding and burns received on the -vessel, and from long exposure to the cold and from exhaustion. An -instance is related of a mother, who clasping her babe in her arms, -floated from the wreck to Memphis, where she was taken from the water. -She lived, but the little one was dead. - -The light from the burning vessel was seen, and the explosion heard for -many miles. At a later hour these evidences of disaster would have -brought greater numbers to the rescue. The time of the accident was -unfavorable to prompt assistance. As it was, vessels of all -descriptions, chiefly skiffs, put out promptly and rendered much -assistance. - -A soldier passenger on the boat relates that while in the water he saw a -horse swim by him with a dozen men clinging to him; he says he saw a -soldier attempting, with the aid of a plank, to save two little girls. A -rope was thrown him, and in attempting to catch it, the children escaped -from his exhausted arms. He seemed to lose all thought of the rope; he -beat about wildly to regain his helpless charge, which were borne from -him in darkness, but he was finally rescued nearly dead from exhaustion. - -Of those who were rescued, 200 died in the hospital of Memphis alone. -Near fourteen hundred were killed by the explosion or drowned. Those -able to be removed were sent North to Cincinnati, Ohio, but those -belonging to the Indiana regiments were stopped at Indianapolis, where -they received such attention as thoughtful consideration could bestow. - - * * * * * - -We give the following extracts from Memphis papers appearing within a -day or two of the disaster: - - - STATEMENT OF SERGEANT L. B. HINCKLEY. - - -I belong to the 9th Indiana Cavalry. I had just gone to bed and fallen -asleep, when all of a sudden I was awakened by some horrible noise. I -sprang out of bed and found the cabin full of flame and the passengers -all jumping overboard. The water for a while around was covered with -people struggling for life. I never heard such terrible and mournful -wailings. The glare of light showed a scene such as never before had -been witnessed. I happened to find a log after swimming some distance. -There was eight of us started on this log; before we reached the wood, -however, four of them gave out and sank to rise no more. I had at first -got hold of a shutter, but finding some one else who needed it worse -than I did, I gave it up. I reached the wood on the log and got on to a -tree. I was rescued from my uncomfortable position about daylight from -the little island opposite Mr. Fogleman's house. We found one who had -reached the wood, his name being Wm. Curtiss, of Company F, 1st Virginia -Cavalry. He was almost in the agonies of death, and had clutched the -limb to which he had caught, and could not be taken from his position -until the limb was cut. Mr. Fogleman's house was opened to us, and we -had every attention shown us that could be under the circumstances. - - - WORK OF THE CREW OF THE GUN-BOAT ESSEX. - - -The officers and crew of the iron clad Essex deserve unstinted credit -and praise for the part they took in picking up the passengers of the -ill-fated steamer Sultana. Lieutenant James Perry, Ensign of the Essex, -was awakened yesterday morning about 4 o'clock, and informed that the -steamer Sultana had blown up, and was now burning; that the passengers -were floating down the river and crying for help. The Lieutenant jumped -up immediately, and was startled and horrified by the agonizing cries of -the people in the river. He said, that never in all his life, did he -hear anything so dreadful, and hopes it may never be his lot to hear -such screams again. He immediately ordered the boats to be manned, which -was done in very quick time. The morning was very dark. It was -impossible to see twenty feet ahead, and they had nothing to guide them -whatever but the shrieks and groans of the wounded and scalded men. The -first man picked up was chilled through and through, being perfectly -benumbed and unable to help himself. Lieutenant Berry, seeing the -condition the man was in, very generously divested himself of his own -coat and put it on him. The second man they took up died in a few -moments after being taken aboard. The men who had Captain Parker's gig -picked a woman up out of some drift. She was at that time just making -her last struggle for life. About the time this woman was picked up a -steamboat yawl came there and helped pick up some more who were clinging -to the drift. Lieutenant Berry said it was impossible for him to give -any description of the scene; he said it beggared all description; that -there were no words adequate to convey to the mind the horror of that -night. He continually heard the persons in the water cry out, "Oh, for -God's sake save us, we cannot hold out any longer." The boats of the -United States steamers Groesbeck and Tyler were on hand, and displayed -great vigilance and zeal in picking up the drowning men. Lieutenant -Berry, with the help of the crew, picked up over sixty men. Among those -of the crew who deserve special notice, are John Tompson, the Captain's -coxswain, who with gig, picked up twenty-six men; also John Hill and -William Quinn displayed a heroism which deserves to be rewarded by -promotion. In fact the whole crew acted in such a noble manner that too -much cannot be credited to them for their noble endeavors to save the -perishing multitude that was floating down the river, and while we -compliment the men we would not be unmindful of the part Lieutenant -Berry performed. He seemed to forget his rank, he - - "Doffed his sparkling cloak, - And went to work with might and main," - -mingling as one of the crew in the magnanimous work of saving human -life. With commendable forethought, Captain Parker sent ten boats out to -explore the shore from Memphis to the place of the disaster. Up to half -past three o'clock yesterday only five boats have returned. They had -found a few dead bodies, but could not find any survivors along the -shore. We think by this time that all except those who sank to rise no -more, have been picked up; for all classes, both high and low, searched -hard and diligently all day yesterday in hunting up the survivors of -this calamitous disaster. Had the disaster occurred an hour or two -later, Captain Parker feels assured that the naval force here could have -saved several hundred lives instead of the sixty alluded to. -Unfortunately the night was dark, and the boats were obliged to steer in -the direction of the cries, being unable to see more than a few of those -struggling in the water. William Young, gunner's mate on the United -States iron clad Essex, distinguished himself by his courageous acts. -Mr. Young rendered invaluable aid in rescuing from watery graves many of -the sufferers by the Sultana's explosion. He is an old sailor, having -been for thirty years an active seaman, twenty-three years of that time -in the navy. - -When the steamer Rose Hamilton was nearing the head of the little island -opposite Mr. Fogleman's residence, she was hailed by a skiff belonging -to some fishermen who came aboard, having discovered among the willows -the body of a young lady, apparently about twenty years of age. She was -of medium height, say about five feet five inches, with a fine head of -long brown hair, blue eyes, and had a slight scar across the chin. She -was dressed in the night attire of a respectable lady. She wore on her -bosom a neat breast pin of plain jet set in gold. She was a very -handsome lady, and had not been recognized at last accounts. Her body -was taken on board the Rose Hamilton and as decently laid out as -circumstances would permit. Unknown to those by whom she was thus cared -for, when the sorrows and cares of life were all over, who she was, what -home may be filled with mourning because she comes no more, are -questions which cannot be answered, yet, whoever she may be, her friends -could wish for no more tender care than strangers have bestowed, for -many a manly eye grew moist as they gazed on the pale form in death. - - - A VISIT TO THE WRECK. - - -After the explosion of her boilers, and the rapid spread of the flames, -the burning mass of what had been the fine steamer Sultana, floated -slowly down with the current until within a few hundred yards of Mr. -Fogleman's residence, when it grounded on the Arkansas shore. We visited -the wreck about 10 o'clock. It had sunk in twenty feet of water, and the -jackstaff was standing up before the black mass, as though mutely -mourning over the terrible scene, a silent witness of which it had been. -The boat was almost entirely consumed. The charred remains of several -human bodies were found, crisped and blackened by the fiery element. The -scene was sad to contemplate, and those who witnessed it can never -forget it. The Rose Hamilton, Pocahontas, Jenny Lind and Bostona were -cruising around the place ever and anon picking up the breathless body -of some unfortunate one, who "slept the sleep of death;" or some more -fortunate, who had escaped a watery grave, though exhausted by a fearful -night of agony and struggle for life. - - - STATEMENT OF PRIVATE FRED ALBACK, SECOND MICHIGAN CAVALRY. - - -I was awakened when the explosion took place, lying on the top of the -wheel house. As soon as I discovered that the boat had exploded, I -caught hold of the fender and slid down to the water and let myself in, -having nothing on me at the time. I judge I must have swam about ten -miles. The river was alive with people crying and calling for help in -the greatest of agony. Just as I was coming down off the boat I saw two -ladies who had thrown themselves into the water, they having nothing to -keep them up, and sank, when I saw them no more. When the explosion took -place it threw the cabin into the air, and it fell back upon the shell -of the boat in one mass of ruins, crushing many of the passengers, who -were thus caught and were undoubtedly burned to death. Very many caught -hold of horses by their manes and tails, but whether they escaped or not -I cannot tell, as I never heard of them afterwards. - - - STATEMENT OF PRIVATE R. H. SIMPSON, COMPANY I, NINETEENTH INDIANA. - - -I went to sleep about 2 o'clock and was awakened in about half an hour -by hot water falling on my face and hands. I was not struck by anything -nor scalded, but remained on the boat until the flames compelled me to -leave. I then ran up on the cabin floor, snatched off a door and then -made my way down to the lower deck and jumped into the river. By the -light of the burning steamer I could see hundreds of the passengers in -the water, all crying and wailing for help. I swam for about one mile -and a half, and when I got to the island, just opposite Mr. Fogleman's, -there I caught hold of the bushes. I saw three men drown while I was in -the water. One of them had gained the trees and was holding to the -limbs; a skiff was fast coming to his help, but being utterly exhausted -he lost his hold and sank, when the skiff was about ten steps off. The -other two had almost gained the bushes, but sank before they could reach -the trees. - - * * * * * - -An event so appalling as this could not occur even at a time when the -country was accustomed to hear of the deaths of great numbers of men, -without action upon the part of the government looking to the -investigation of its cause. A military committee and a committee upon -the part of Congress were appointed for that purpose. Both committees, -no doubt, discharged with fairness and ability the duty assigned them. -There were many theories and rumors as to the cause. Rumor charged that -the Post Quartermaster at Vicksburg, by a contract with the owners of -the vessel, received a commission of $2.00 for each soldier passenger -furnished, and for that consideration he had recklessly crowded the -vessel beyond her capacity. It was also charged that the machinery was -out of repair, and the vessel generally unseaworthy. - -The investigation, however, disclosed the fact that before leaving -Vicksburg her boilers had been repaired by competent mechanics; that the -charge against the Quartermaster was untrue; that the disaster was not -due to the fact that the vessel was carrying more than her estimated -capacity. The writer has not been able to obtain the report made by -either of the committees as to the true cause of the explosion. - -Among the lost were men from every company of the 9th Cavalry. The -following list may not be complete, but is believed to be correct so far -as it goes: - - Daniel Curtis, Co. A - Patrick Day, Co. A. - Frederick Blessinger, Corp., Co. B. - Charles E. Church, Co. B. - Ephraim B. Parman, Co. B. - John Steward, Co. B. - Warren A. Huckins, Co. C. - John M. Englehart, Co. C. - Edward Wood, Co. D. - Thomas Laboyteaux, Co. E. - John Bonner, Co. F. - Charles W. Clevenger, Co. G. - Jonathan R. Downing, Co. G. - George Downing, Co. G. - William H. Graves, Co. G. - William C. Hoover, Co. G. - Charles W. M. King, Co. G. - John N. Maynard, Co. G. - Enoch T. Nation, Co. G. - James C. Olom, Co. G. - Martin V. Rodepouch, Co. G. - John R. Reasoner, Co. G. - Nathan Thornburg, Co. G. - Franklin Ballenger, Co. H. - James Bell, Co. H. - Alonzo Dunham, Co. H. - George Delano, Co. H. - Josiah Pratt, Co. H. - John W. Shull, Co. H. - Hiram Bailey, Co. K. - John W. Emmons, Co. K. - George S. Fisher, Co. K. - Jacob Harold, Co. K. - Henry Newton, Co. K. - William F. Rea, Co. K. - Joseph Survant, Co. K. - George W. Shockley, Co. K. - Darius Stevens, Co. K. - Matthew Zix, Co. K. - James N. Christian, Co. L. - Robert A. Moorehouse, Co. L. - Leander McCarty, Co. L. - [5]Archibald Reed, Co. L. - John M. Armstrong, Corp., Co. M. - John D. Alexander, Co. M. - William Brigg, Co. M. - George W. Blake, Co. M. - Nathan E. Gruell, Co. M. - Enis Haloway, Co. M. - William H. Huffman, Co. M. - James M. Isentrager, Co. M. - Samuel King, Co. M. - Franklin Ridley, Co. M. - John M. Bragg, Co. M. - -Footnote 5: - - Lost by the explosion of the steamer George Fierce, below Vicksburg. - - - - -Transcriber's Notes: - -Archaic and uneducated spelling and grammar has been retained. - -This version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects. -Italics are delimited with the underscore character as _italic_. - -Footnotes have been moved to follow the chapters in which they are -referenced. - -Missing or obscured punctuation was corrected. - -Typographical errors were silently corrected. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Ninth Cavalry, by Daniel Webster Comstock - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NINTH CAVALRY *** - -***** This file should be named 60363.txt or 60363.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/3/6/60363/ - -Produced by David King and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. 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