National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-08-02
Col Innis,
Or, "We Don't Surrender Much"

Lavergne, Tenn, a mere hamlet,
but a position of great stragetic
importance, between Nashville and
MurfreesbOro, had been garrisoned
by a small Union force early in De
cember, 1862. When Gen. Rose
Grams commenced his movement
from Nashville to Murfreesboro, in
the latter part of that month, the
movement which eliminated in the
battle of Stone river, it was abso-
lutely essential that Lavergne shod
be held, yet the General could spare
but small force for it, and he
knew that the rebel cavalry Gene
raj, Wheeler, would attack it with
one greatly superior. In this emer-
gency he knew of no one in whose
bravery and unflinching resolution
to hold the position against heavy
odds he could so fully rely as Col.
VIM. u. lnnis of the first Michigan
Engineers. lnnis' regiment con-
sisted of but $50 men, and Wheeler
would attack with 5000 cavalry and
two field pieces, while Innis had no
artillery and only some rudely eX-
temporized breastw orks. edmund
kirke' (Mr. j. r. Gilmore) tells the
story Of the battle, as he heard it
from both sides, as follows:
"Cel. Innis," said Gen. Rosecrans,
"will you hold Lavergnew
"I'll try. General"
81 ask if you uiH do it," exclaim.
ed the lacOnic General.
81 wiU' quietly responded the
Colonel, and he kept his word.
just as the New Years sun was
sending its first greeting to the lit
tie band that crouched there behind
the wagons, the head of the rebel
column emerged from the woods
which skirt the southern side of the
town, and Capt. Firman, riding for
ward to the tiimsy breastwork, cried
out
"Gen. Wheeler demands an in
slant and unconditional surrender
'Siive Gen. Wheeler my compli
ments, and tell him we don't sur
render much,' came back to him
from behind the brush heaps.
Mounting then his Kentucky roam,
the heroic Colonel rode slowly
round the rude entrenchment.
Boys" he said, ''they are three
thousand-have you said your
prayers!'
ave are ready, Colonel. Let
them come on" answered the brave
Michigan men.
And they did come on!
"Siy times we swept down on
them," said Capt. Firman to me,
..and six times rode up with flag,
and summoned them to surrender;
but each time inns sent back the
message, varied now and thea with
an adjective, "We don't surrender
much" He sat his horse during
the first charges, as if on dress pa
rade, but at the third fire l saw
him go down. ! thought we haIi
winged him, but when we charged
again, there he sat as cool as if the
thermometer had been at zero. One
of our men took deliberate aim, and
again he went down but when ]
rode up the fifth time and shouted
"Well not summon you again--sur
render at oncew it was 1nnis who
yelled out: "Pray don't, for we
don't surrender much.' At the
seventh charge | was wounded, and
the General sent another officer with
,, the summons. Your people halted
,, him hundred yards from the breast
wolk, and an officer, in a cavalry
mans overcoat, came out to meet
him.
1"Thcy had killed my two horses,
said Col. Innis to me aiterward, i,
= ..and l was afraid they would singc
: nv unitorm-the fire was rather
= hot-so | covered it,"
"What is your rank, sir Y de
/, mandcd the Union officer.
"Major, SIR
$50 back and tell Gen. Wheeler
that he insults me by sending one
of your rank to treat with one OF
5 mine. Tell him, too, have not
t come here to surrender. shall firt
5 on the next flag"
/. cit was lnuis, and by that rust
d hc made us believe he had rcccive'
$ reinforcemcnts. Thinking it wa
+ so, we drew oil, and the next da.
s. lnnis sent Wheeler word by II pms
rs oner, that he had whipped us wit
n three hundred and eighty-nin
IL men :"