The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-09
A WAR "REMINISCENCES.
How Private Nash Surrounded and Captured
Eleven Rebels.

Indiana Pharmacist February.
1t was along in the afternoon on Wednesday,
Nov. % 1868 that our boys were massed in
front of Mission Ridge. The day was like most
Of the autumn days III that country, pleasant
chilly but not cold for comfort. The Fifty
seventh Indiana. of which regiment the writer
was a member. was located at the foot OF the
ridge. where the rebels had thrown up slight
earth-work something in the nature Of rifle
pit
The engagement had been raging since the
morning of the Monday previous and the rebels
has been slowly forced from their position
About > o'clock a grist OF mail was
distributed to the Fifty seventh regiment, and
as this was the first mail that had
been received for over six weeks, most every
one got some word from home. There was one
exception though; private VIM A. Nash, OF com
pany l. looked despondent when his name was
not called and he observed to fix his bayo-
net and quietly walk over toward the toot& :
the Ridge; every ono who saw him remark
that he would certainly be killed In a
minutes he was seen returning driving
him number Of Johnnes When he got
to the company we found he had ten men
lieutenant that he claimed he had surrount
He took his catch TO the provost marshal
a receipt for them, and was back with the
ment in time to assist in storming the Rid
which occupied that night.
AT the last reunion of the Fifty seyenth
was called on to tell how he "suToundedt-
prisoners and he said: well there ain
to tell you see the mail came into cam
afternoon and every man in my company
letter, some of en- two OF three. did II
any, and not having heard from home for
ly three months. felt down in the mouth
said to myself that 4 didn't care d--n
became of me- So / fixed the bayonet
musket and went over to the foot of the
where a breastwork had been thrown up by
rebels. | went up to the rise in the ground
peeped over, and saw a parcel of men and
officer, brought my gun to charrge
jumped over the rampant AMI yeW,
Get out of here, you id rebels, The Ii 8
tenant presented his sword and said, We 81
render | ordered the men to throw down thel
arms and march over the rampant, and they did
from there marched EN- back to the captain Of
my company Captain Summers who, when he
learned that had brought them all in alone
sent me to Colonel Lennerd, who sent me to tn,
provost marshal in the rear / turned the sqr"
over to the provost marshal taking his T.
for EN-, which l still hold. The lieutenant pre-
scented me with his sword When | returned TO
the regiment we went up and camped on the top
of the Ridge. The rebels had thirty-two pieces
of heavy artillery there that morning, but we
moved EN- and camped on the spot"
Here is copy of the receipt that Nash values
so highly:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT CUMBERLAND
CHATTANOOGA Nov. %, 1868
Received of William A. Nash, private Company :
of war, including Lieutenant Thomas j. Shipman,
Sixtieth North Carolina who in my presence presented
private Nash with his sword, as his eaptor.
ELIAS CASPER, Captain and A p. A.
For his gallant conduct on this occasion Nash
was offered a commission as captain, but he
firmly declined to accept it. He was made SER
geant, retaining that position till the final mus
ter out i'll the fall of 1865. He now resides on
the Bluff road. near Center Church. some three
or four miles south of indianapolis.