The National tribune., 1885-03-19
GEN. oARRARDs STATEMENT OF THE ACTION
OF THE 7TH OHIO CAV.

OF THE 7TH OHIO CAV.
] have read The NATIONAL TRIBUNE articles
on the hattie of Dutton Hin. If it were worth
while the account of this fight could be cor
rectly given. The part the 9TH Ohio Cav. had
in il was all wrongly stated.
On the night before the fight Gen. Gilmore
and Col. Sanders bivouacked with me In our
camp. They left very carly, and my regiment
moved out leisurely. We did not have the adj
vance az stated We halted some half hour OF
at Stigali's tavern. and heard the first Grtil-
lery firing when about mile from Dutton
Hill. 1t was then that the order to take off
overcoats and strap them to the saddles was
given, and it here that | noticed so particu-
larry the cheerful animation of the men ut the
prospect of Il battle.
On reaching the field the regiment was formed
in column of companies on the left of the road
and while this was being done ] went of to the
right aud front short distance, to where Gen.
Gilmore was, near our artillery. He said
pleasantly, that he was glad to see me, and told
NE 10 send some companies to our left across
the creek and battalion to our right and to
support the artillery with the rest.
Il was not long before our forces were in posi-
ton, and just as the order for general advance
along our whole line could be given, Gen. Gil
more got word that a large force of rebel cav
airy was moving around our right flank towards
our rear He ut once gave tie order for a gen.
eral advance, and told me 10 go back with the
three companies Of the 9TH Ohio and find ont
what there was. j went back about half mile
through the open fields TO place where the
fields extended at right angles to the valley we
were in and had In full view two regiments of
rebel cavalry moving towards US. While OBJ
serving them / received word from Gen. Gil
more that he had carried the hill and that the
enemy was in full retreat, and orders to return
ct once. | was making fair time on my return.
and had nearly reached the creek valley at the
font Of INT han, 80
ments tthe Tennessee regiment) came charging
at full speed In our rear. 1t was not until they
almost reached the hill and found themselves
under hostile artillery FIRE from the hill that
they found out that the main body of their
forces had been defeated. They awning off from
al parts of the valley into the timber on the
right in confusion, each man for himself.
reported at once the fact OF another regi-
ment being back of Us TO Gen. Gilmore, who,
with Coils. Wolford and Sanders, started at
once for our right rear with the battalion of
the 7th Ohio Cav, which had been in the at
tack Of the hill, and the 1st Ky. Cav, and /
followed with the three companies had in the
reconnaissance, sending orders for the com
panies on our left to follow We were not long
in coming across the rebel Tennessee and the
Louisiana regiments, and in the fight and pur-
suit the flags of both regiments were captured
by the 18th Ohio Cav. battalion which had the
advance under the immediate command of Col.
Saunders.
Idesire TO pay this tribute to the memory of
Col. Sanders, who was killed at Knoxville
while Chief ofCavslry with Gen. Burnside. that
the 7th Ohio Cav always had warm personal
regard for him and confidence In his skill In
conducting raids and managing fights. They
were with him or under him frequently.
The flag Of the Tennessee regiment, as it
came up the valley in the charge, WAS the first
sg ht the most Of us had had of tho
STARRED CROSS.
II was examined more at leisure afterwards.
The flag of the Louisiana regiment was in the
nature Of cavalry standard, Of blue silk aud
gold embroidery. These two flags were pre-
sented the next day to Gen. Gilmore, whose
headquarters were in the court house of Somer-
set by guard of honor from the regiment,
drawn up in the plaza,
From this account it will be seen that one
battalion OF the 7th charged In the attack on