The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-09
As to Where Forrest Got His First Whipping.
Ell. s. LOWRY,
Fourteenth Illinois Inf.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Having noticed the article in your paper
headed Where Forrest Got His First Whip
ping" take the liberty to say that both COM
rades-Samuel Scott and J. NJ. Cook-are mis-
taken. General Forrest was defeated in an
attempted attack on wagon train in Middle
| Tennessee, on Round Mountain, near Wood
bury, August %, 1862, and propose to relate
an amusing incident connected with this skir-
| mish. The Twenty-third Kentucky infantry
detailed to take the rear of Colonel Crosses
brigade and guard q long wagon train going
from McAfinnville to Murfreesboro Tenn We
had marched twenty miles that day, and John
H. Kingston and myself were barefooted, tired
and about worn out. 1t was almost impossible
for us to proceed any further, and by request
Captain Lewis Voight, of Co. H. permitted US
to fall out of ranks, in order to pick our own
road as best we could. We sat down on log
until the entire command had passed, having
the road to ourselves, and then started on
Kingston was so worked up" about being
barefooted that he declared to me that the first
citizen we met would have to fork over his
shoes. We had gone but a short distance
when we espied tall native going across the
road just ahead of US. Kingston Immediately
halted him, and the following dialogue ensued :
How far do you live from here, old man?n
"Just beyond the timber, in that white
house."
" Have you another pair of shoes at homer"
"Yesn
well, then, off with the ones you have on"
We'll" says the old man: "but you cannot
wear Ihese-you can get both your feet in
one shoe"
But 1t was of no use; Kingston would not let
up, and the shoes had TO come OF.
The old gentleman took a seat on log and
began untying his slioestrings, when, all of a
sudden, we were Attracted by the rustling of
Branches and on looking up saw Col. Grose of
the Thirty -sixth Indiana, commanding our
brigade, coming toward us. He at once de-
manded an explanation, and when the old man
had explained, Colonel Grose turned to us,
saying: Get to your command, you scoun-
drels!" We did not wait for further orders.
We even forgot that our feet were sore We
had not marched more than few hundred
yards, however, before we found the train
halted and our regiment lying along the road,
resting their weary limbs We had been there
but fifteen minutes when our old friend of the
shoes rushed among US, saying: "Get your reg
iment in line, for Forrest has just formed a
line Of battle LOGO strong. He is going to
charge YOU We did not wait for orders but
rushed to our places in cur respective compan-
les. We had no time to fool away. Colonel
GroSe was informed of our position, and rushed
two pieces of artillery to our assistance but,
before any order could be given, the enemy's
skirmishers fred into Our line, wounding sew
eral of our men. We responded with volley,
which checked their advance. and while we were
firing the artillery was placed in position, and
about the fourth round the enemy gave way.
We charged them, and killed, wounded,
and captured twenty-three of their number.
The strange thing about this affair is, that if we
had succeeded in getting the old mans shoes,
he never would have been able to warn Us of
our danger, and without doubt Forrest would
have given US complete surprise, with very
demoralZing effect to US as this was our first en-
gagement, and Forrest was flushed will, victory
won short time before, when he captured the
Third Minnesota-all but one company,-the
Ninth Michigan, part of the Eighth Kentucky
infantry, and, think, a battery, at Murfrees-
boro', Tenn. The old gentleman Of the shoes
was repaid for his kindness by receiving six
pound solid shot, sent through his house by
our own battery. A. BRANDLEY.
CHERRYyALE KAN