The National tribune., 1886-04-01
KILPATRICRS2 SURPRISE.
How a Captain Ssyed the Brigade.

To THE EDITOR: have read several accounts
in your paper of the surprise of Fitzpatrick near
Fayetteville, N. c., (Menroe Cross roads, and,
as l was in that affair, think the whole story
has not yet been told.
I commanded Co. C, 1st Ala. (Union) Cav, in
that affair. When we went into camp the night
previous we occupied the ground vacated by a
rebel division, and, unknown to US, another,
commanded by Wade Hampton, moved in and
camped close in our rear. Gen. Fitzpatrick took
up his headquarters in large log house, which
was also headquarters of the Third Brigade.
Other brigades should have come up, but were
cut off by Hampton and went to the infantry.
We came down road leading to Fayette,
and when within about 13 miles of town we
turned to the right in wood, with an open
field on the left, and camped in the following
order: The 1st Ala. Cav. in advance; 5th
Ohio center; 9TH Ky. in the rear, and about
300 dismounted cavalry to the right of the bri-
gade, the whole force not numbering over 200
men. We went into camp about II o'clock at
night, and slept without disturbance till
the reveille sounded next morning at day
break.
AS the reveille sounded there was shot or
two fired on our right. 1 jumped out and
shouted: Fall in! fall i'm" Co. c, in the
center, Co. ], on the right, and Co. d, on the
left, obeyed, and / marched them to the right
and went about so yards when, looking back,
quarters flag, with his columns following, and
brought the three companies "right-about"
and commenced firing. We killed five men on
the ground where my company had slept. This
was the first shot they had received, and they
got it while calling to us to surrender but we
hadn't any notion of complying. mounted
my horse while they were fighting, and got
shot in the left arm, and my Orderly, who had
already mounted, got enc in the heart. They
then rctreated, and the balance of the command
gave them shot as they went. When they
rctFeated l ordered Co. to mount Cos. l and
obeycd with them, and as they started after
the retreating column, Fitzpatrick came up,
mounted on mule, and took command of the
three companies, the only ones i'll camp that
were mounted.
Fitzpatrick charged and retook headquarters,
which had been captured when they moved up,
and had guard over it, and it was reported
that Fitzpatrick was on the porch in his sslipperS
and without either coat or hat when the rebs
came up and cut him off from his command
They captured the commanders of the regi-
mcnts, the Surgeon of our regiment, and took
them away. 1t was said that Kilpatrick's dis
habilie saved him, because they did not know
him, and he escaped.
My opinion is that the whole brigade would
have been captured if had not been so prompt
i'll getting those three companies into shape.
There were not enough unwounded commits
stoned officers left to command the companies
after the battle.
We had quite number of prisoners, and
when the rebs took headquarters they released
them.
In mentioning the companies that responded
to my call SO quickly may be mistaken about
one, which have called Co |. 1t may have
been Co. K.-JoHN LATTA, Captain, Co. c. 1st
Ala. Cav, Harold, Oak