Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-02-18

Soine Alnu OF orQef, prompt ana lmmeO
ate, must be forced out of this chaos; al
1t came for the master spirit was there
arrange and compel. He mounted sever
hundred men, giving them rifles instea
OF sabers. He manned new guns, pr
curing harness and ammunition for the
from Louisville. When there were !
caissons, he supplied wagons. But h
regiments were not his sole reliance;
Is believer in rifiemen, fighting cla-
of which Kentucky was full. These h
summoned to his assistance, and W;
met by a ready and hearty respons,
they came trooping to him by hundred
Among others, Garret Davis, Unite
States Senator, led company of HON
Guards to Lexington. In this way Gen
eral Wallace composed, or rather improv
ised, little army, and all without helI
his staff being absent, mostly in Memphi,
kentucky has not been herself in thi
war;" exclaimed General Wallace: "sh
must be aroused; and | propose to do i
thoroughly"
How will you do it," asked skep
tic. -'[.-1' y
Easily enough, sir. Kentucky has
host of great names. Kentuckians be
lieVe in great names. 1t is TO this tun
that the traitors have carried them to th'
field against US. will take with me t.
the field all the men living, old anC
young, who have made those names great
Buckner took the young Crittendens anC
Clays, by Heaven, I'll take their fathers =
But they can't march"
''Pll haul them, then"
They can be of no service in thai
way"
But the magic of their names" ex
claimed Wallace. "What will the young
Kentuckians say, when they hear John
J. Crittenden, Leslie Combs, Robert
Breckinridge, Tom Clay, Garret Davis,
Judge Goodloe, and fathers Of that kind,
are going down TO battle with me ?"
The skeptics held their peace.
General Wallace now constituted vol
unteer staff. Wadsworth, N. c. from
Maysville district. was his Adjutant-Gen-
eral. Brand, Gratz, Goodloe, and young
Tom Clay were his aids. Old Tom Clay,
John ]. Crittenden, Leslie Combs, Judge
Goodloe. Garrett Davis were all going,
when General Wallace was suddenly re-
lieved of his command by General Mel
son.
Without instituting any comparison be-
tween these two Generals, it is enough to
say that the suppression of Wallace by
Nelson at that moment, was most unfor-
tunate and untimely, as the sequel prov
ed, fraught. as it were, with disastrous
consequences. The circumstances were
these.
Scott's rebel cavalry had whipped Met
calfs regiment of loyalists at Big Hill,
some twelve or fifteen miles from Rich
mond, Kentucky, and followed to within
four miles of that town, where they were
stopped by Lenck's brigade of infantry.
The affair was reported to Wallace, with
the number and situation of the enemy.
He at once took prompt measures to meet
the exigence of the situation. He could
throw Lenck's and Clay's brigades upon
the rebel front; the brigade at Nicholas
vile could take them in flank by crossing
the Kentucky river at Tait's ford; while
by Uniting Clay Smiths command with
that of Jacob, then en- route for Nicho-
llasYille, he could plant seventeen hun
1red cavalry in their rear between big
Hill and Mount Vernon.
The enemy at this time were at least
twenty miles in advance of their supports
and nights march would have readily
placed the several forces mentioned in po-
'ition to attack them by-daylight. This
was WaIlace's plan-simple, feasible, and
All his orders were given
= supply train with extra ammunition
and abundant rations, vas in line on the
;oad to Richmond. Clay's brigade was
lrawn up ready to move, and General
Wallaee's horse was saddled. He was
writing last order in reference to the
city of Lexington in his absence, and dl-
recting the officer left in charge to for
ward regiments 70 him at klchmand as
fast as they should arrive, when General
Nelson came and instantly took the com
nand. Fifteen more and General Wal
ACE would have been on the road to Rich
nond to superintend the execution OF his
plan of attack. The supposition was, of
course, bitter disappointment; yet he
never grumbled or demurred in the least,
1ut like true soldier who knows his du-
~, offered that evening to serve his sue
,essor in any capacity, a generosity which
General Nelson declined. The Well-con-
,eiyed plan which Wallace had matured
'ailed for the simple reason, that, instead
of marching to execute it that night, as
common sense would seem TO have dicta-
ed, Nelson did not leave Lexington un-
Ill the next day at one o'clock; and at
faylighE when the attack was to have
been made, the rebel leader, Scott, discoy=
ered his danger and wisely retreated, find
ng nobody in his rear. The result was,
Nelson went 10 Richmond and was defeat
ID. 1t is possible that the same result
night have followed Wallace; but by
hose competent to judge 1t IS thought
otherwise.
He had plan adapted to the troops he
vas leading, who, although very raw,
would have been invincible behind breast
works, as American troops have always
hown themselves to De. Wallace never
Intended arraying these inexperienced
non in the open field against the veteran
roops Of the rebels. Neither did he in
end they should dig. He had collected
arge quantities of intrenching tools, and
vas rapidly assembling corps of negroes
nearly five hundred of whom he had al
eady in waiting in Morgan's factory, all
prepared to follow his column, armed
With spades and picks. In Madison coun-
y he intended getting at least five hun
lred more 81 will march," he said, like
cesar in Gapl, and intrench my camp
.Yery night. If | am attacked at any
ime in too great numbers, ] can drop
Jack to my nearest works, and wait for
Such was his plan,
nd those who know him believe firmly
hat he could have been at Cumberland
rap in time not only to succor our little
rmy there, but to have prevented the
destruction and evacuation of that very
post.
Wallace, finding himself thus sudden
Y superseded, his plans ignored, and his
oluntary services bluffly refused left
lexington for Cincinnati. While there
he battle of Richmond was fought, the
disastrous results of which are still too
resh in the public mind to require re-
,eating. Nelson, who did not arrive
Ipon the field until the day was about
ost, and only in time to use his sword
gainst his own men in a fruitless en-
to rally them, received tesh
-o,,,l ood boetanad bacly the same nIOht |