Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-07-12
"reminiscences Of the Third Tennes
-H see Cavalry.
BY ADJUTANT WILL. A. M'TEER.
NO. XIX
BATTLE OF OKOLoNA.

BATTLE OF OKOLOSA.
On the morning Of February 22nd,
1884. revilLe was sounded early, 80 that
breakfast was over aud the line of
march taken up by daybreak. Little
did the father of his country dream
that Americans, born anu reared un-
der the banner OF liberty, would cele-
brate his birthday in life aud death
struggle with one another. But 80 1t
was. The morning came, and the soft
rays Of February sun was creeping
peacefully and quietly over the land.
The men were full of life, and passing
their jokes as tie column formed and
started out. Our brigade was 10 the
rear, and the Second Tennessee Cav
airy the rear regiment. The writer
was on duty at brigade headquarters,
and with Lieutenant Ruthven w,
Pike, who was Acting Assistant Adju-
tant General, remained with the Sec
ond. As that regiment formed and
began to move, their pickets were
attack ed in force and driven rapidly
forward. A company was formed, and
when the rebels came within range,
they met deadly volley which
checked and confused them. AS that
company retired another formed some
distance in front and waited for their
approach, then followed the bloody
work, unfit the Rebels had TO take d
position at more comfortable dis
Lance. This was repeated until the Sec
ond repulsed their attack some three
Or four Times. Al length the writer's
attention was directed across a field to
our left, beyond it in the woods there
was large battle flag passing along
rapidly on our TANKS. Immediately
looking in the opposite direction, III al
open tiald, Confederate column,
much longer than our brigade, Was
moving on our right hAnk. These
were dangerous movements for US un-
less VS. could place ourselves Ia an
atLI'ud to meet them, aud what was
dGDe had 10 be done quickly. So. call
ipg Ii. uttLaut Pixies attention, he
directed me to iufJrm Col. McCFlIIls
At once. This was done as quick as
horse could carry me, but even that
been. A little reference to the make
up OF our brigade and command seems
Necessary right here. 1n the morning
battery Of six pound hOWI:Zers had
been added to the brigade. The I'd,
81 and An Tennessee and 5th Ken
lucky Cavalry, and 72d Indiana
Mounted Infantry came from the
Army of the Cumberland. The 81
Illinois Cavalry, and the commander
and most of hls staff belonged to the
Army OF the Mississippi. The 4th U.
s. Cavalry WAS also from the Cumber-
tire command belonged 10 the Missis-
sippi. Between the soldiers of these
armies there was a strong Jealousy,
which sometimes cropped out into
hatred, and, to the shame of the
staff, il was 100 plainly to be seen that
IT there was any glory the
Mississippi soldiers should have it,
and if ANY shame it should
be placed upon the Cumber.
land boys. So, upon receiving infor-
nation of the Confederate movements.
the brigade was fOrned into line of
battle, and notwithstanding the Sec.
ond Tennessee had SO calamity re-
pulsed every advance of the enemy up
to this time, they were called in. and
the Fourth U. S. Cavalry, being a
Req ular regiment. sent to the rear.
The Second, too, was called in by paris
ar piece meals, so their force aud
strength was broken. The Fourth
Regulars formed ia the streets of Ok0-
Iona, and about the same time part of
our line of battle in their rear, and
which should have been to their sup
port, was brokenup. The rebels came
with heavy force upon the Regulars,
hen hard, heavy firing began, the
Regulars firmly standing their ground
III the open street, meanwhile, Col.
.hcCrillis was ordering his brigade
alOns as fast az possible. In the midst
of this heavy firing, Capt. Glore, of
the Fifth Kentucky, rode up to Col.
McCriilis aud said, Colonel, hadn't
we better reinforce our men in OkolO-
ua: they are being butchered there"
sOn! no!" McCrillis replied, "that is
only q skirmish ?" Capt. Chores
countenance fell as he slowly rode IF,
replying, II call it Id heavy Skin
misn ~ At length the Regulars
were com PEELED to retreat, having
lost heavily, while the rebels were in
such overwhelming forces pressing
upon them. The Second being in
piece meals, aud endeavoripg to form,
came in the way of the retreat, which
swept every thiug before and with It.
The Third was struck next, her col