The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-11-06
MOSCOW AGAIN.
What the Cavalry Did.

To TIE EDITOR: Quite enough has already
been said about this affair; but permit me one
word more in answer to Lieut.. Durham, of
Norton, Ill, whose article appeared in The
TRIBUNE of Sept. Is. He exhibits good deal
of bad blood, entirely uncalled for. would
advise him TO cultivate spirit of charity for
those who did not have a commission from the
President, and remember that wagon masters
were necessary, and often quite as loyal and
brave as shoulder-strap wcarers, especially OF
the u. S. c. T.
In my former article of what saw at Mos
COW i did not say anything disrespectful of
any one, nor did i intend to- but said each and
everyone there did his duty nobly, as far as l
could see. But when he says the ''niggers," as
he calls them, were quite able to take care of
themselves and defend Moscow, beg to disa-
gree with him. ] do not believe he is, or was,
aware of the numbers of the enemy engaged,
or the peril that his regiment was IN, or he
would not write so uncharitably towards those
who stood between his regiment and the fate
that befcll those at Fort Pillow. That few
guerrillas or bushwhackers were hanging
around and annoying them, / DO not deny; but
that there was any considerable number OF the
enemy there until the afternoon of the 4th
j do deny. Those troops that fought that AZ
ternoon-the cavalry-had fought early In the
morning at Salisbury, east of La Grange, as
Comrade Surby says, and again at noon few
miles south OF La Grange. Gen. Hatch dld not
order the plank of the bridge put down, for the
9th and part of the 9Th LII. Cav. had crossed
over, and the battle had been raging nearly one
hour before Gen. Hatch arrived. He refers to
Guntown and Tupelo to prove the cavalry were
worthless ! would like to ask the Lieutenant
how many infantry he supposes would have
got back to Memphis from Guntown II 1t had
not been for this worthless cavalry, who had
whipped the enemy, when, by Gen. Sturglss
foolish order, they were ordered to horse and to
the rear TO make way for the infantry, who were
exhausted and unable to do much. And after
they were defeated and routed and driven into
and through the swamp-ammunltlon gone, the
train and artillery captured-they threw away
their arms and everything that would impede
flight, then it was that this same worthless
cavalry met the victorious enemy, and for
hours on foot we met his assaults, and again in
the saddle We charged him time and again, to
give the infantry time TO make their escape;
and this same Lieutenant, if he was there, was
making 2:40 time for Memphis. Gen. Grierson
realized the worth and service of his cavalry
on that occasion, and caused to be issued to
them a complimentary letter thanking them
for their heroic conduct in saving hundreds
from death or cruel treatment from a barbarous
foe. And at Tupelo we received the warmest
praise and compliments from A. j. Smiths Six
teenth COlps-VeteTans tand no better troops
ever trod over Dixic) for our faithful service,
and am quite ready TO take their opinion of
worth rather than all the officers Of the U. S.
CT
And I would remind Lieut.. Durham that
Col. Morgans Brigade did not arrive at Moscow
until after the battle was over (Which they
know quite WE'LL, and there was no panic
among the cavalry, but we were taken at a ter
rible disadvantage by being attacked while on
this long bridge, for which his fellow-ofhcers
were to blame that they did not know the
enemy was in force so near by; and it is rather
late day now to try and claim they had been
fighting for two or three days Gen. Hurlbut
probably knew about as much about this affair
as does this Lieutenant; for, no doubt, Col.
Kendrick properly reported it, and the cavalry
was OF 10 consequence.
Furthermore, s. J. Bailey mot J. ]. Bailey
was not a wagon master, but common duty
Sergeant of CO. q, 9Th III. Cav, who was on de-
tail with the regmental Commissary and was
out with the command in charge Of the pro-
visions and ammunition of the regiment. One
caisson of our battery had become disabled,
and the ammunition had been transferred to
one of my teams. The battery of four guns
had been located at the end of the bridge, and
commanded it. As soon as possible / got my
ammunition team close Ill rear Of the battery,
and as the 9th and part of the 9th had swan
the river their ammunition was wet, and
issued six boxes of rifle ammunition there in
short time. From my position up in the wagon,
facing the bridge, / could see the whole length
of it. / saw Gen. Hatch when he arrived; saw
them take him away when wounded, and
this Lieutenant thought OF who was the rank
ing officer at that time. But one thing do
know: We whipped the Johnnies nicely and
saved the 6lst u. S. &. T.. from barbarous
j. BAILEY, Sergt of Co. G, 9th
Ill. Cav, Menomonie, Wis.