The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-12-20
THoMPsoN's STATION.
4 Hard-Fought Battle by columns Brigade.

1Nu., "a w is. ana 18TH Mich. we telI i Tauh-
lin on March 4, 1863 with very heavy forage
train, with orders to so TO Spring Hill to gather
forage. For that occasion there was added to
this command one regiment Of cavalry Il think
the ID Michl, one battery of artillery and one
Ohio regiment have forgotten the number
20. u. S5th Ind, was left at Franklin to do
guard duty. We moved south from Franklin
and had gone bat a short distance when we
encountered the rebels under Forrest and Van
Dorm, but upon our advance they gradually
Tell back. There was a little fighting on the
4th, but ID was not Of much consequence. We
broke camp early on the morning of the 9Th,
and when we neared Thompson's Station we met
very heavy force Of the enemy. The turnpike
aud railroad ran through a gap in the hills,
and the S5th and SD Ind. were placed on the
hills on the right. the 22d Wis. and 18th Mich.
on the left, part of the artillery OH the rlght
of the roads and part on the left; the ONO
regiment being back with the wagon tram
The S5th and SD Ind. attempted to charge
battery of the enemy that were playing upon
Us, but upon reaching the depot OF Ih0mpsons
Station it was discovered that the battery was
strongly guarded by heavy line of rebel in
fantTy behind a stone fence just in front OF the
battery. so we were ordered to fall back to the
hills in our rear. This we did IN columns of
company, unseen by the enemy until we had
got some distance, when they opened a murder
GUS fire upon us. killing and wOunding many.
fell into line. At this time the enemy was
pressing rs hard, but we soon stopped their ad-
vance, only TO have them come again. We had
an excellent position on the hill and held 1t to
the bitter end. We repulsed charge after
charge, and the ground in front of us was
strewu with dead rebels. We held our posi-
ton, and captured several prisoners and one
stand Of colors that got too near our lines to
retreat Finally our left gave way, or those
troops on the left of the pike and railroad. The
18th Mich. and part of the 22d Wis. came to
our assistance; part of the ODD going back
with the wag0D-train. Col. Utley, of the 22d,
was wounded IN the face at this time, but he
never left the field; lie formed that portion of
his regiment that staid in the fight and rode
along the lines with the blood streaming from
the wound he lad received. We held our posi-
ton from o'clock in the morning until three
IN the evening; most of the time the fighting
was very severe. Col. Cobun stood by his
post Of duty, where the fight was most severe.
When surrounded and cut off from retreat, and
ammunition exhausted, we gave up the ghost
and surrendered 10 about 10 times our number.
Oar loss was 100 killed and 800 wounded. The
rebel loss was $50 killed and $50 wounded
We were very soon on our way to Richmond,
where we were confined in Libby Prison, some
L30G being the total number captured. In this
Struggle we lost many good officers; among
them Capt. Abner Floyd, Co. A, S5th Ind. who
soon passed TO eternity. We were then march
ed that night to Columbia, Tenn; thence to
Shelbyville. We camped in the woods without
any protection whatever from the rain and
storm, which was almost constant until we
reached Tullahoma. l have always been
thankful to some good people of Shelbyville,
Tenn, who attempted to alleviate our suffer-
ings and hunger by distributing cornbread to
Us; but as soon as this was known to the rebel
authorities it was 0uicElv STONED
We remained in Shelbyville about Is hours;
then We marched again through rain and mud
TO the woods, again to camp for another night,
TO be drenched with rain, without protection
from the fierce storm. The next morning we
again renewed our march, 1t rained almost
continually, and all the streams were swollen,
which We were compelled to wade through.
When we reached TuIlaboma we had been in
the mud and water for several days and nights,
and were almost ready 10 lie down and die.
We were placed on a vacant lot TO the north
west OF the village, with mud about six inches
deep no blankets, 10 place to sit down, no place
TO lie down, with nothing to cat but little
raw c0nmeal, which we mixed with the water
that accumulated in our tracks. The rain con-
tinged TO pour down until late in the night.
when il turned cold and soon began to freeze.
BY daylight it had frozen sufficiently to bear
our weight, so we just had TO keep stamping
around all night to prevent us from being
ton the morning found rs. Then we were
marched by corner in the village in our wet
and frozen condition and compelled by the
rebel authorities TO surrender our oYeTcoats.
Then We we're placed in cars and hurried on our
way to Richmond. On reaching Lynchburg
we were unlOaded, and passed one more dread
ful night in an old, dilapidated fair ground,
aud the next morning we were put on the cars
again.
At that time it commenced showing, which
continued for several days Toward evening
Of the first day after leaving Lynchburg the
train stuck in the snow in the hills, and there
we remained about IS hours-snow Is inches
deep and very cold. However, We succeeded
IN keeping from freezing by building a fire in
the car in a fryingpan with shavings made
with jackknives from rails procured from q
fence near by. There being no way for the
smoke to escape, you may imagine the condi-
ton of our eyes. When the train started the
prisoners pushed it out. At that time we could
easily have oyerpowered the guards, but to
escape to our lines over that mountainous
country indeed was impossible. We reached
Richmond in a few days, and were placed in
that wretched Libby Prison, which needs no
description, for many of my comrades who
may chance TO read this know what it was to
be in Libby Prison. Luckily for us we were
held there only for a short time, and returned
to our lines by way of City Point When we
GdL4lC IN Sitlib Vi the DDdb ana saw The CID nag
flying from the tall mast Of the vessel which
was 10 carry us to our beloved land, we could
not be restrained. Every one that was able, in
spite Of the efforts of our rebel officers jumped
from the ears and ran for the boat. On reach
ing the boat we were counted in two by two, a
rebel officer on one side and Union officer ON
the other side Of US. When we had become
quiet we were given piece of meat and cup
of coffee and ali the bread we desired
From there we went to Annapolis Nd;
thence to Camp Chase, O.; thence to Camp Nor
ton, Ind; thence to Franklin, Tenn, where
We were reorganized and ready to give battle
again to the enemy. Some of us lived to 90
with Sherman tothe capture of Atlanta and to
the sea. We well remember the Cd day of Sep
TENDER, 1868, when the city of Atlanta was
surrendered to our hOnored brigade commander
John Coburn.-JA8GEs L. N. BRIGHT, Co. A,
S5th Ind, Cameron Neb.
Write to E. A. Armstrong Detroit Mich, for
his GAR or s. of Y. Price List. Sent free.