The National tribune., 1886-10-28
DISAGREEING TROOPERS.
The GOOd-Satured Contest with Pens, and No
Carhines and Sabers.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The bugle
solo of Comrade Watkins, 5th Iowa Cav, has
some false notes in it. He says, ave took
Franklin. Tenn, the last time it was taken, on
charge, mounted" etc, etc. Now the last
time this village was the scene of conflict was
Dec. IL, 1864. An official copy Of the report of
Brighten. Hammond, commanding First Bri-
gade, Seventh Division, Cavalry Corps, says Of
this action:
The enemy having retreated from Hollow Tree
Cap, we followed rapidly, the 9th Ind. in advance
to near franklin and drove the enemy across the
river into the town capturing, 10 IL reported two
stands OF cOlOrs and near 200 prisoners. The
gh Ind. was supported by the 10th Ind. and 4th
Tenn, but the tirst-naEfed regiment deserves the
principal credit of the charge and success. .
The 4th Tenn. WAS pushed through the town, gain
ing position in the enemys rear.
1t is obvious that Gen. Hammond and Com
rade Watkins cannot both be right. In his ae-
count Of the fight at Reynolds Hill, southwest
of Pulaski, on Christmas Day, he says: - did
not know that any but our brigade fired q shot
or made charge that day." Gen. Hammond
says:
18th, moved on the right and was ordered to sup
port Col. Harrison in an attack ON Anthonys %
Hill lReynoldss Hill?l. The 7th Ohio Cav break
ing 10 the rear, cut my column in two Just the
4th Tenn, my regiment In advance, had success
fully gone into action driving the enemy into his
works. The remainder of the brigade went
into action by order OF Gen. Wilson and attacked
along with Gen. Hatch's division. . The 4th
Tenn. reached the enemy in time to see him re-
treat.
So that in this little fight, in which if his
saddle hadn't turned he evidently intended to
" do EN- up" himself, and in which he thinks
nole but HarrisOns Brigade took part, there
were really engaged three divisions or parts
thereof The cOmrade falls into the common
error OF installing impressions for facts.
The loss OF a gun in this fight seems TO be on
his conscience. Comrade Surby in "Hatch's
ma fia,- &c Ice. -, IT,,
tai way. The representative but heroic Wat
kins thinks this is reflection on his brigade,
and vindicates it thus:
heard Col. Harrison disclaim any blame for our
brigade in the loss of the gun mentioned
The way the gun was lost was this: The battery
was sent in the rear of line and " hen it com
menced firing thought we were in as much
danger from our own battery from the guns of
the enemy. OF course we moved to the right and
et To get out OF the way. The rebel infantry took
the one gun in.
Yes, we have all been little nervous when
our guns were firing over US, but isn't it little
strange that Comrade Watkins and the heroic
9th Iowa. who but few days before had to be
restrained from doing the work OF the corps,
should have taken this view of it? Since they
did it Is to be regretted that the rebel infantry
should have been so reckless. The comrade
says blame the rebels" 1t really looks as
though they were to blame. But Watkins is
afraid one scapegoat is not enough. He says !:
L heard Col. Harrison scod Gen. Wilson q think
that was his name) for sending the battery where
there was no place for a battery.
Yes, his name was Wilson. He had entered
the war carly and had passed up through all
the grades to the rank of Major General He
had the confidence of Grant, and Sherman be-
lieyed in him. Thomas had delayed the cam
paign until Wilson could organize the Cavalry
Corps. He had hitherto been uniformly sue
cessful, but he wasn't infallible He didn't
suppose the rebels would be so foolhardy as to
rush in where the 9Th Iowa feared to stay, and
so the gun was lost He perhaps wasn't aecuS-
toned to being scolded by Colonies, but it
doubtless did him good. 1t was valuable
lesson and enabled him TO make the Selma
raid without any serious stOp-oyer.
Now. seriously, there is no doubt that the 9Th
Iowa Cav. was fine regiment with a record of
which all its members may be proud, but Com
rade Watkins as chief buger blows his notes too
high. There was glory enough for all, and it
IS not worth while for one regiment to lament
that it had not opportunity to get it ALL or seek
to magnify the share it won. / want to claim
for the 9th Ind Cav. the chief honor of the
fight at Franklin and a fair share of Reynolds
Hill and Sugar Creek, and an willing to stand
by the official reeords.-Os b. HAYDEN 9th
Ind paUnra Tnvva