The National tribune., 1882-10-05

States.
THE BATTLE OF DoBBINs's FORD.
"On the morning of the 9th of December, in
pursuance of General Van Cleve's order, the
brigade, composed ofthe Fifty-frst and Ninety
ninth Ohio, Thirty-fifth Indiana, Eighth and
Twcnty-frst Kentucky, and section of Swal-
lows Indiana battery, under command of
Colonel Stanley Matthews Of the Fifty-frst
Ohio, proceeded on a foraging expedition on
the Murfreesboro pike, After moving a short
distance it turned to the left in the direction
of Mill creek, crossing the creek at Dobbins's
Ferry, and leaving at that place ten men of the
Twenty-first Kentucky to guard the rear.
The Kentucky regiments, with skirmishers
well out, We're formed in front the other two
regiments, loading tho wagons, and protecting
the rear. Just as the wagons were loaded and
on the eve' of departure for the camp firing
was heard ih the rear. Fearing that the guard
that was left ut the ford was attacked, Colonel
Matthews immediately double-quicked the
Fifty-first Ohio and Thirty-ffth Indiana to its
aid, arriving in good time to save them from
being captured by Wheeler's command. The
enemy were already charging through the
woods. Matthew's inferior force was quickly
deployed, and opened Il sharp fire, which at
once checked thO rebels. Following up this
success promptly, the enemy was speedily
driven back out Of gun-shOt range. In the
meanwhile the train and the remainder of the
force had como up, and would have been a rich
prize, but the gallant and sagacious Matthews
had no idea of allowing its capture by the rebel
force, though doubl,T superior to his own.
Accordingly, with the Kentuckians protecting
the rear and the Ohio and Indiana regiments
in advance he began a brisk march homeward.
After proceeding a sho TT distance the enemy
were discovered in the rear, evidently contem-
plating charge. Vince Ter was heard urging
his men to the attack The Kentuckians
waited patiently until the enemy approached
within range and then gave them we'll
directed and stunning vOlley, which caused
them to recOil. They raj lied and advanced
but with less determination than before. The
fight became general and sh arp. Wheeler tried
to press Matthew's fanks, but was again re-
pulsed. Another strong Ell Ort was made to
break the line, but being roiled, the rebels
Stacked fire and in a short time disappeared,
leaving Colonel Matthews ma Fter of the field.
During the engagement, at about the close,
-
his horse.
"The brigade marched home triumphantly,
and when the brilliant achievement was made
known many plaudits were received both by
Colonel Matthews and his whole command, as
it was considered that the disgracefuI Harris
Vile surrender had been retrieved. The loss
of the brigade was Adjutant P. z. Muller, Of
the Thirty-fifth Indiana, and four enlisted
men killed, two commissioned officers, includ-
ing Lieutenant Colonel Bale, and thirty-three
enlisted men wounded, and four mi ssing. The
loss of the enemy was supposed to BE- one hun
bred killed, wounded and captured. Colonel
Matthews reported that every officer and man
in the command behaved handsomely, and
upon his official Recommendation Gene raj Rose
Grams published a field order commenting the
heroism OF the brave sergeant and ten men
who held Dobbins,s Ford so stoutly."
The sudden assault made by General IJardee
upon McCook's Corps at Stone River necessi-
tated an immediate change in the plans of Gen
eral Isosecrans General Van Cleve's division
was recalled from its advanced movement on
the left and sent to re-enforce the right, Ieav-
ing Colonel Prices brigade in position to guard
the force over Stone River, threatened by Pc
grams cavalry.
General Price here relates his brief interview
with General Rosecrans:
AN INTERVIEW WITH ROsECRANs.
Amid the strife of battle the hot blood urges
the soldier on and takes the place of all feeling,
and the man falls silently asleep on the bosom
of mother earth from his mortal wound, or if
but mangled by the shot, forgets, in the great
ness OF his injury, both friend and foe; but
here stood brave men, inactive, distant specta-
tors Of the scene, fully able to appreciate the
carnage around them by the wounded and
dead brought to hospitals in their midst. Sol
diers from the field Of blood bore their wounded
and disfgurcd comrades to this point, first one
and then another, until house and yard were
full of wounded dead, and dying Among the
dead the body OF the heroic Colonel Mckee,
Third Kentucky, we'll known to many of the
Kentuckians as a brave and gallant gentleman,
was brought. About two O'clock p. m. three or
four hundred rebel cavalry appeared on the
east and opposite side of the river, and made
dash at number of Government wagons con-
tanning camp eQuipage. Before they reached
the wagons, Lieutenant Livingston, by direc-
tion of Colonel Price, opened sharp fire of
artillery on them, killing three, and somewhat
confusing the remainder Notwithstanding
this they succeeded in starting of q number of
the wagons; but during their hasty retreat the
artillery disabled one of the wagons, thereby
blockading the road and saving those in the
rear Expecting that an attempt would be
made afterwards by the enemy to cross the river,
Colonel Price posted the Eighth Kentucky as
sharpshooters to command the ford behind
picket fence below the bank of the river in
order to prevent the success of such an effort.
While Colonel Price was performing this duty,
a messenger was dispatched to him with in
structiOns to return to where the rest Of the
brigade which he commanded was stationed, a5
General Rosecrans wished to see him, which
instructions he promptly complied with, and as
he came up the General said to him.
Colonel Price, you command here, do your"
" Yes, sir"
DWELL sir, will you hold this ford?"
81 will try, General"
"Will you hold this fOrd?"
az viii die in the attempt"
"That won't do, sir; will you hold this ford?
Look me in the eyes and tell me if you will hold
this position"
Colonel Price divining the object of this rigid
catechisng, with great emphasis, which he as
sumcd to satisfy the ubiquitous General, an
swered, 81 will"