The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-09
THE 9Th TENN.

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real ia tvlr iluc .-astecmua paper os Nov. ii
ga acc"ua; OF lhe services rendered by tho 81
Tenn. "a 1870 hGiiy vi NashgiiIc, Dec. -, 1854
have lvea looking over your columns for
some time past 10 hear something from the
18th Mich, and / am thankful TO Comrade
John Savage for letting himself be heard
through your columns. The Sd and 9th Tenn.
and 25th Mich. were very intimate friends
during the latter part of the war.
After the battle Of Mission Ridge the Sd and
9th Tenn. were transferred from the Army Of
the Cumberland 10 the Army Of the Ohio.
We were sent TO the relief of Gen. Burnside
at Knoxville. Ii was here we became acquaint-
ed with the 25th Mich, as we were put in the
same brigade, and there were no other
three regiments in any army that got along
any better together than those above men-
toned. They would share their rations
with one another, and when il came to
fighting we all felt that We were in company
with brave men. We marched and fought side
by side from Buzzard Roost to Jonesboro Ga,
and afterward fought at Nashville; and allow
me say that the First Brigade, Second Division,
Twenty-third Corps, never fell back without
orders. / do not wish 10 take away any glory
from the Sd Tenn. at Nashville, because i be-
lieve IL was as good a regiment as Uncle Sam
had in his army; but in justice TO the surviv-
ing members Of the 9th Tenn, wish 10 correct
Comrade Savage when he says that the Sd was
the only regiment in our brigade that charged.
i was there and in line with my regiment, and
i therefore know what happened.
Our division was commanded by Mai. Gen.
Couch. We started early in the morning, NOV
ing TO our right. After marching several miles
we came TO the front, east of the Granny White
pike; as well as i remember, il was between 2
and o'clock p. m. Our brigade was or
dered TO take a position on q hill east of the
pike, facing westward. After q little skir-
mishing the enemy opened on US with bat
terry posted on a hill in our front and west
of the pike. As the battery was throwing shells
into our ranks some one shouted,
Let's take that battery!"
The Sd and 9th Tenn, being in the front
line, raised the yell and charged from where we
were TO within about so yards of the battery.
A volley from behind stone wall on the top of
hill TO our left, but n short distance off, was
discharged into our flank. Quickly our regi-
ment the 9TH was ordered TO form line fac
ing the stone wall, which we did by getting be-
hind rail fence, and it took only a short time
TO do it. We knew we were in close quarters,
and the sooner we got out the better off we
would be.
The regiment was about 10 strong rank and
fle. Lieut.. w. w. Dunn, of Co. A, was the first
man TO jump the fence, and swinging his sword
over his head, he said in a loud voice:
"Come on, boys!"
The boys charged and we all went right over
the rock wall. The enemy stood bravely; some
OF them were knocked down with the butts of
our guns before they surrendered. j suppose
they thought they were in the last ditch"
We paid very little attention 10 the prisoners,
of which there was good number. We pushed
on, for our object was 10 help the boys Of the Sd
Tenn. After we had captured the rock wall we
had it all our own way, and in looking over to
our right We saw the flag Of the Sd Tenn. float
ing over the enemys battery. The boys had
about-faced the cannon and were firing into the
retreating enemy. 1t was now getting dark.
The balance Of our brigade soon arrived and
picks and shovels were being brought for us.
We soon had up good line of breastworks, be-
hind which we rested for the night.
Gen. J. A. Cooper, the commander OF our bril-
gade was formerly our Colonel. He is now
living in Kansas he was here last Fall at our
regimental Reunion, aud stated TO me that
when the Sd and 9th Tenn. charged at Nash
vile Gen. Couch, then commanding our diyis-
ion, sent him word to stop his men, else they
would b3cut 10 pieces Gen. Cooper sent Gen.
Couch word that all HI couldn't stop them
that they were going to take that artillery.
After we had taken the guns Gen. Couch or
dered Gen. Cooper 10 fall back. Gen. Cooper
declined, but asked for achievements. Gen.
Couch sent him word that if he stayed where
he was, he would stay there at his own risk.
Gen. Cooper knew that it was a valuable posi-
ton, so he stayed, and sent word TO Gen. Couch
10 put his last message in writing, which was
not done. "old Joe Cooper, as we used TO call
him, knew that his boys would try TO hold the
position as hard at least as they had fought TO
take il.
Now, TO show that Gen. Cooper was right in
holding on to his position, will state that very
soon Gen. Thomas and Gen. Schofeld came to
where we were, and in less than an hour we
had plenty of reinforcements A division OF
the Sixteenth Corps relieved u.s. and Gen.
Thomas had about 60 pieces of artillery planted
on the Hill we had captured. heard it said
that Pap" Thomas considered that hill the
key TO the battlefield Of Nashville, and he had
Gen. Cooper promoted TO Brevet Major-General
for gallant services on the field. So, you see
"Old Joe" was right in not falling back, al
though so ordered by his superior.
In the second days fight we supported Nc
Arthur's Brigade, of the Sixteenth Corps, and
consider that we had good time, as we were
in the second line of battle and very little ex.
! posed. suppose Gen. Thomas thought we had
done our share the day before.-IGNATz FAM,
First Sergeant, Co. q, 9th Tenn.