The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-07-13

he grasped the thorn--but left the flower
| To deck his tomb.
| Albemarle Co, ia GARRETT
The Prettiest Little Fight of the War
| I'M Quad in Detroit Free Press.]
Only one or two Federal historians hay
ever made mention of the neat little fight a
Lavergne, which occurred at the time of tn,
battle of Stone River, and if the Confederate
historian has touched upon the matter it il
only TO dismiss it in three or four lines.
have taken considerable pains to work up botl
sides, anu the many facts and incidents which
the dignitied historian has refused to NEEDLE
with will certainly interest large constitu
ency to-day.
| LAvERGNE,
| Lavergne is bit of town between Nash
vile and Murfresboro, and, as Rosecrans LEFT
Nashville further and further behind him. hi
detailed various bodies to protect his lines d
communication with the city. In many cases
these details were gobbled up-indeed, it was
from capturing SO manyof them that Bragg
came to show up such q large list of prisoners
Wheeler, Wharton, Pegram and other Con-
federate cavalry leaders did not have hand
in the big fight at all, but worked around on
the various pixies and highways, killing, cap
turing and burning. They captured train aftel
train, and such wagons as they could not run
off were burned as they stood. Col. lines
having with him less than 400 of the Michigan
Regiment of Mechanics and Engineers-men
who did not profess to do any fighting-was
detailed to take position at Lavergne and
keep the road open. He had no artillery, but
the boys had a full supply of cartridges and
were rather proud of being called to take q
part in the grand movement
IN POSITION.
| There is Just one spot around the village
| where small body Of men could take position
to successfully fight larger body, and lines
at one seized upon it, On the range back Of
the town he posted his little command and
hastily covered it with a breastwork of logs
stones, rails and cedar trees cut down and
dragged to the spot. He had no reason to ex
pect a fight, and yet he took all precautions.
| WHEELER APPEARS.
! The sounds of the battle between McCook
and Hardee came to the men all the forenoon
and once in while a stragglcr gave them
news of how the fight was going, but it was
| not until afternoon that it was known thai
the Confederate cavalry were cutting and
slashing up and down the roads without check
| Wheeler. having about 2 900 men in his com
mand, suddenly appeared from the direction
of Murtreesboro, and he gobbled everything
on the road. Army wagons, sutler stores
ambulances and ammunition wagons blocked
the highway, and he had only to gallop along
| to seize everything. He meant to press on
but he found Innes there and dared not leave
him in his rear. eve had made big haul, ,
the boys were in the spirit for reckless fight
ing. Several different citizens of Lavergne
had counted the Michiganders to a man, anC
when they came and told us that Innes had
only about 400 muskets, we reckoned on COB
bling the whole crowd without firing a shot
Wheeler sent in flag of truce and demanded
a surrender, but what do you suppose thai
cheeky Colonel replied ?"
"He refused, l believe"
Refused! Why, he told Wheeler to go tt
hill There we were, six to one, and hi
could see it before his eyes. and he meant tt
fight! Wheeler was astonished and amazed
but we had no time to fool away, and in ter
minutes we were ready to drive those Vol
VQrInQo ont Of thor A RI IF Ol1rr o1a
dismounted, the artillery was brought up, ant
then Wheeler flung column of attack at thu
breastwork. was one of that column, and
didn't expect to hear dozen muskets pop be
fore seeing white flag run up"
"But you didn't see one"
mo, l didn't We went in with yell an(
know got within five feet of the breast
work, but we came out singing differen
song. Why, sir, they opened on us so hot ant
kept it up SO continually that we heard tn
bugles blow recall within five minutes. W
were beautifully licked in no time at all, ant
l don't believe we killed one of 'em in tina
charge. l got so near that I could look owe
the breastwork and see the men, and my hors
carried two Yankee bullets away with him.
SECOND FLAG.
The man was correct. When Innes say
| that he was to be attacked, he ordered his me
to hug down and fire slowly and coolly, an
they obeyed to the letter. The two pieces
Confederate artillery flung the brush and raj
ten feet high at every discharge, but wher
ever gap was opened men flung down the
muskets and closed it. After the repuls
Wheeler sent in second flag of truce, eta
| ing he had five to one, and wanted to preYeI
further boodshed.
"What did Innes say to that?" asked
my informant.
Il heard the report of the officer as he r
turned. He rode up to Wheeler, saluted ar
said:
seen. Wheeler, Col. Innes says he will 81
you ID before he'll surrender He So.
you must take him if you want him! !"
| "At'that Wheeler got fighting mad. II
idea THAT we were being held there by II
men made him fighting hot. The second
tack was made with over 1900 men, and o
artillery blazed away until the air was full
limbs and splinters. had procured aneth
horse, and again was with the column.
"How did the Michi ganders behave VIII
you moved out pr
"Cool as ice. AS a rule, in such cases, the
! is q sputtering of musketry long enough
fore any one can be hit, but those feiio'
waited. didn't hear a bullet until we we
within pistol-shot. We went for 'em on
|. yell, and this time hundred OF US crowd
our horses right against the breastwork.
tried twice to leap it, and when | couldn't
sat there and fired three shots at capta
without touching him. A Yank then fired
me over the brush, and while | was not hlt'
powder in his gun singed my whskers and