Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-01-11

complaining endurance, and Col Sharrs
assumed command with confidence in
the bravery Of bis men, while they were
certain Of his skill and bravery, aud felt
safe IN following bis lead Early on the
morning OF december 18th the cavalry
force left camp at Nashville, aud march.
ed from behind our entrenehmeuts 10
give the enemy battle behind his. From
Col. Stewart's order make the follow
ing extract, which indicates what was
expected of his Brigade
Whenever an opportunity is seen for
charging the enemy you win do 80, dri-
wing him from his position as quickly as
possible"
" You win prove the ability of Caval-
~ to fght, even when dismountsd, and
fight well.
The men viii be instructed to reserve
Z Aeir FIRE until it can be delivered with
effect, and then Ere losc And with delib-
Grafton"
The fact that from the first enset the
enemy commenced his stampede down
from behind his strong positions, and
never was allowed TO halt, proves that
the men understood the order, aud exc
eated It Col Stewart led his brigade
and was supported by L. Col Shsrra
ana the other regimentsl commanders,
with a skill and devotion which gave as
a victory, bloodless, when compared
With what 1t would have been had there
been any hesitation in obeying the 6rst
order given to charge The 9th division
Of cavalry need no higher praise than
that contained in Gen. Thomas's dis
patch to the President, in which be gives
the first mention to the command Of
that brave, gallant and able officer,
Brig. Gen. Ed Hatch.
But cannot 20 over these fifteen
days Of battle and chase You would
wonder that men could endure so much,
aud yonr surprise would increase when
you saw men 90 day after day, and
night after night, through mud and rain
without murmnr or complaint The
old veteran insantry have never tired Of
paying these new cavalry soldiers the
highest praise, and they declare their
readiness 10 ''tie L" the llth Indiana
cavalry, and in fact all the men of Col
StewaFt's brigade They have seen
him always in the front leading his men
where bullets we're thiekest and the
danger greatest
To attempt praise Of Col Stewart, bis
stad, or Col Sharra, would be doing
thez injustice; fos language cannot
picture the dash, the bravery, or the
ability displayed by each. If the war
should close to-day, their praise will he
written by stating that they dre.s the
enemy's left from Nashville, and to this
nothing can be added The name OF
each should be mentioned, and that exc
eution remain forever as their praise
The loss 20 Col Stewards brigade, in
killed aud wounded, has been about one
huzdred and forty. The llth indiana
cavalry lost twenty-eight wounded and
seven killed-among them Lieut. ID. B.
Rees, killed, and Captains r. K. Martin
aud r. H. Hickathorn, and Lieut.. Rry-
an, severely wounded. Considering that
the enemy had been choosing his posi-
tons, where naturally strong positions
abounded that he had had ample time
to fortify, and that from every position
he was driven after desperate resistance,
our loss is as nothing But Hood has
gone, and believe the chase is over.
We hope this is so, and If not. we will
90 after him a. long as he has men to-
getber
la haste, Dick.