The National tribune., 1882-10-05
SOME FAMOUS FIGHTERS.
Interesting Anecdotes Concerning the
Great Generals of the War.
GRANT AND SECRANS
Military "reminiscences from
the Pen of General Price.

An exceedingly we'll written paper, con-
tributed by General S. WOOdsOn Price, formerly
colonel of the Twenty first Kentucky infantry,
to the Federal Historical Society of Kentucky,
contains, in connection with a historical sketch
of his regiment, the following references to the
distinguished army commanders under whom
he served, and by whom he was held in high
esteem on account of his personal gallantry and
the skill with which he handled his regiment,
or, in the absence of the regular commander,
the brigade.
General Price will be readily remembered by
members of the Society of the Army of the
Cumberland as the painter of the magnificent
portrait Of General George II. Thomas, a copy
of which is in possession Of the Society.
Although a man of most amiable disposition,
General Price was al ugly customer if he
thought his men were ill-treated. Early in
1862, the Twenty-fr5t Kentucky formed part
Of General Dumont's brigade at Nashville, and
were engaged in stern chase of MOrgan's cav
airy. Colonel Price, on his arrival in camp,
was informed that two wells were guarded, by
General Dumonts orders, to prevent the men
from using the water for drinking and culinary
purposes, as it was reserved for the headquar-
tiers and the cavalry horses. There was no
other water within five miles of the camp, and
the injustice of this order was keenly felt; so
that in response to the appeals of his famishcd
men, Colonel Price represented the case to
General Dumont, requesting him to have the
guards removed, but receiving an unsatisfactory
response, Colonel Price, at the risk of losing
his shoulder straps for what might be cOnsid-
cred characterization, threatened to remove the
guards from the wells himself, if General Du-
mont did not have it done This announce
ment had the desired effect, as the guards were
promptly removed.
PASSING ACQUAINTANCE WITH GEN. GRANT.
The first Introduction of Colonel Price to
the hero of Vicksburg was under peculiar cir
cumstances. The former was returning from
Chattanooga, and when about halfway up the
mountain on the road to his camp, he met a
man on crutches, carefully vending his way
down, apparently an officer, but without ir1sig
MIA of rank. This person might have been
taken for n suffer- or even an officer of low
rank. As the Colonel confronted the pedeS-
trian, the right of way became at once an open
question. The latter claimed precedence on
account of disability, the former to prevent disa-
bility, inasmuch as he was mounted on an I'M
ruly horse, and the road at this point was eX
ccedingly narrow, one side of it being q pre-
cipitOus bluff, while the opposite side was
occupied by a passing wagon train, which filled
the available space. In this situation Of some
danger, the footman finally proposed solu-
ton, which was that the rider should back out
or dismount until he passed. As the former
suggestion would have been dangerous with
his spirited brown, he accepted the latter sug-
gesti0n rather than back down. Soon after
this evolution was accomplished to the satisfac-
ton of both, Colonel Price was informed by an
orderly whom he met leading horse, that the
pedestrian was General Grant 1t seems that
the great commander had chosen to dismOunt
and walk, despite his halfdisabled condition,
rather than trust his animal at this unguarded
and PERCEPTIONS point, remembering with
certain distinctness, perhaps, that he had been
thrown & short time before from the very same
horse on less favorable ground. General Grant
was then on his way to Chattanooga to take
command of the armies.
GENERAL NELSON'S ECCENTRICITIEs.
An amusing circumstance occurred on the
march, which will illustrate the character and
indomitable will of this great soldier, General
Nelson. The division had taken up its line of
march, the Twenty-frst Kentucky bringing up
the rear of the column. As the left of the reg
iment reached tho Lebanon pike, which was at
n right angle to the road that the troops were
on. it was discovered that the division was not
moving in the right direction. 4 halt was or
dered, and Col. Price was commanded, through
Lieutenant Wicklihre Cooper, aid-de-camp, TO
about-face the regiment and bring it into the
Lebanon pike By moving left in 'front.'" and
when he reached the space of ground to the
right of the pike to bring the regiment on
right by file into line" but Colonel Price
informed the aide that, according TO army tao
tics it was an evolution impossible for him to
execute. The fence upon the opposite side be-
ing up against the pike made it impossible to
bring the regiment "by left by file into line"
(Which was the proper mOvement) without OBJ
structing the passage of the other troops, which
General Nelson wished to avoid. After the
Colonel's message was reported, General Nelson
charged on his stecd to where the regiment
was, sword in hand, drove the regiment helter-
SHELTER to the ground he wished it to occupy.
This naturally threw the regiment into such
confusion that it took no little time and trouble
to discntangle it. After it was accomplished
General Nelson loosely asked Colonel Price
how he liked his tactics, to which the Colonel
replied that they might do for tho navy, but
certainly would not do for land forces.
While the brigade was encamped at Blacks
Crossroads it was constantly occupied in drill
of the battalion and evolution of the line. The
brigade was infused with the indomitable en-
ergv of the commander of the division and was
constantly employed. To ascertain that his
requirements were executed General Nelson
would make frequent visits to the different
camps and hold reviews at short intervals, for
which reviews the soldiers would make great
preparation by putting their arms and accou-
trements in perfect order. At one of these re-
views quite an amusing circumstance occurred
in which General Nelson figured. The Thirty
fifth Indiana had the advance. In passing the
reviewing officer with its field band of music
in full play the band failed to take its position
to the right of the reviewing officer, as is pre-
scribcd in the regulations. Much to the con-
sternation of this Irish regiment Gen Nelson
suddenly charged the band on his big sorrel,
Knocking the drums with his sword III every
direction ordering the man with the bear-slIin
hat and gilded baton to ego to hell with his
damned old cooper shop"
Gen. Nelson seemed to be constantly on the
alert, and would frequently visit the picket out