The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-01-03
An Incident Of the Late War.

A correspondent of the Toledo Blade,
writing from Brooktield, Mo-, relates the
following incident, which will be of IN
terest to many of our readers. He says
From an incoming engine a long -ago
familiar voice hailed me, and the engineer
soon had me by the hand. Notwith-
standing his smoked and oiled condition,
| at once recognized Lieut.. j. S. Fuller,
who, when last met him, was chief of
Gen. Thomas Independent Scouts in the
Army of the Cumberland. We spent the
evening together, and lived over again
some of the exciting events of the times
of the rebellion. Mentioning to him the
recent election of General j. B. Steedman
to the Senate, he expressed his delight,
and remarked that once upon time the
coming of General Steedman was the
happiest event of his life. Col. Sibolt, of
the 2nd Missouri Infantry, was conduct
ing 200 of his regiment north, and while
encamped at Dalton, Ga, for the night,
Sept. 18th, 1864, they were surrounded
by Wheeler with 700 cavalry. Lieut..
Fuller, not knowing how many troops
were with Sibolt, disguised himself and
25 of his scouts, and they made through
the investing lines and joined Sibolt. A
flag of truce had just come in demanding
immediate surrender, and the Colonel
had answered, go back, tell General
Wheeler l am here to hold the place, not
to surrender it." Lieut.. Fuller sent one
of his men, Private Stacy, of the 92nd
Illinois, through the lines of the beseigers,
and away TO General Steedman, at Chat
tanooga, for aid. In the meantime, 225
shovels and axes were busy barricading
and intrenching an old brick house,
around which the brave men intended to
make their defence. All night their little
fortress was assailed first by one regi-
ment and then by another of Wheeler's
Veterans, but at each attack the defend
ers waited until the enemy were at quar-
ter range, aud then the rifles of the 200
infantry, and the repeating guns of the
% scouts made such havoc among them
that the rebels were compelled to retire.
Fortunately the position had been so well
chosen that it could not be closely APP
preached except ON one side, and there
but by one regiment at time. At day
light Wheeler commenced bringing up
and placing his artillery with which to
demolish the rude fortress, brick house,
defenders and all, and at o'clock, all
being ready, the ball opened. Not five
minutes later" said Lieut.. Fnller,
and as he said it to me he looked no
longer the engineer, but was again the
brave, daring, scouting chieftain, ''shells
began falling among the rebels, and
boom, boom, sounded in their rear, and
almost at the same instant General Steed-
man, Leading 200 colored infantry, came
among them on charge so furious and
determined, that hundreds of the enemy
were slaughtered, while the living took
to immediate flight. Yes" said the
scout, as the fire faded out of his eyes
and the scout was again the quiet engin-
eer, 81 was glad to see General Steedman,
and am glad the brave, whole-souled
old soldier is now a Senator-elect."
Lieut.. Fuller's parents reside in Wood
county, Ohio, and his many friends there
will be pleased to learn that he is one of
the most efficient and highly priced men
in the employ Of the Hannibal and st.
Joe r. r. Company.
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