New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1882-08-02
HOW WHEELER WAS WHIPPED AT
LAVERGNE.

Only one or two Federal historians
have even made mention of the neat lit
tie fight at Lavergne, which occurred
at the time of the battle of Stone River,
and if the Confederate historian has
touched upon the matter it is only to
dismiss it in three or four lines. have
taken considerable pains to work up
both sides, and the many facts and in
cidents which the dignifed historian has
refused to NEEDLE with will certainly in
terest large constituency to-day.
LAvERGNE.
Lavergne is bit of a town between
Nashville and Murfreesboro, and, as
Rosecrans left Nashville further and
further behind him, he detailed various
bodies to protect his lines Of, communi-
cation with the city. In many cases
these details were gobbled up-indeed,
it was from capturing SO many of them
that Bragg came to show up such a
large list Of prisoners. Wheeler, Whar-
ton, Pegram and other Confederate cav
airy leaders did not have hand in the
big fight at all, but worked around on
various pixies and highways, killing,
capturing and burning. They captured
train after train, and such wagons as they
could not run off were burned as they
stood. Col. Innis, having with him less
than 400 of the Michigan Regiment of
Mechanics and Engineers 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 full supply
of cartridges and were rather proud OF
being called to take part in the grand
movement.
IN POSITION.
There is just one spot around the vii
lage where a small body of men could
take position to successfully fight q
larger body. and lines at once seized
upon it. On the range back of the town
he posted his little command and hasti.
~ covered 1t with a preastwork of logs,
stones, rails and cedar trees cut down
and dragged to the spot. He had no
reason to expect a fight, and yet he took
all precautions.
WHEELER APPEARS. /,
The sounds of the battle between Nc
Cook and Hardee came to the men all
the forenoon, and once in awhile strug-
gler gave them news of how the fight
was going, but it was not until after
noon that it was known that the Con-
federate cavalry were cutting and slash
ing up and down the roads without
check. Wheeler, having about 1900
men in his command, suddenly appear
ed from the direction of Murfreesboro,
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 lines there and
dared not leave him in his rear. ''We
had made big haul" explained one of
his heutenants to me, land the boys
were in the spirit for reckless fighting.
Several different citizens Of Lavergne
had counted the Michiganders to a man,
and when they came and told us that
Innes had only about 400 muskets we
reckoned on gobbling the whole crowd
without firing a shot. Wheeler sent in
q flag of truce and demanded a surren-
der, but what do you suppose that
cheeky Colonel replied?''
kxt lC1uSEu, l. OOl1CN &c
'.Refused! Why, he told Wheeler to
90 to h-ll! There we were, six to one,
and he could see it before his eyes, and
he meant to fight! Wheeler was aston
isAed and amazed, but we had no time
to fool away, and in ten minutes we
were ready to drive those Wolverines
out of their nest. A part of our men
d;smounted, the artillery was brought
up, and then Wheeler flung a column
of attack at the breastwork. Twas one
of that column, and didn't expect to
hear dozen muskets pop before seeing
white flag run up"
..But you didn't see one.'
mo, 1 didn't! Wewent in with yell
and / know / got within five feet Of the
breastwork, but we come out singing a
different song. Why, sir, they opened
on US so hot and kept it up so con-
tinually that re heard the bugles blow
recall within fge minutes. We were
beautifully licked in no time at all, and
L don't believe we killed one Of ,em in
that charge. I got SO near that could
look over the breastwork and see the
men, and my horse carried two Yankee
bullets away with him. :
a SECOND FLAG.
The man was correct. When lines
saw that he was to be attacked he order
ed his men to hug down and fire slow
II and c00lly, and they obeyed to the
letter. Tie two pieces Of Confederate
artillery flung. the brush and rails ten
feet high at every discharge, but when
:erscsARap WINS opened men flung down