The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-01-10
McLAUGHLIN's SQUADRON.
Two Companies that Did Regiments Duty.

Two Companies that Did Regiments Daty.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: As your paper
tries to make correct history of the rebellion,
I wish to put fagot on the campfire and speak
of an organization which was composed of two
companies-A and (Which aided for four
years in crushing the rebellion, and most of
that time did the work of regiment. Among
the numerous correspondents of The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE we are always cassed with some
other body of men. After the defeat at the
first Bull Run, when the almost demoralized
Union army were scattered in and about Wash
iugton, President Lincoln one day saw gray
haired veteran wearing Captains shoulder
straps. He attracted his attention so much
that he inquired who he was, and learned that
he was William Mclaughlin, of Mansfield, o.,
and that he was Captain of Co. /, LIST Ohio, and
that he had raised the said company in one
hours time, and that he had served in the
Mexican war and in one of the Indian wars, he
being at that time 70 years of age. He was
given Majors commission and authorized to
raise an independent squadron of cavalry for
Sherman's Brigade, which was recruiting at
Mansfield O., and name it after himself.
Hence we were known as the Mclaughlin
Squadron. at Cincinnati this squadron sepa-
rated from the brigade and joined Col Garfeld's
army in eastern Kentucky. They did their
part with the LIST KY, I'd Va. Cav, AID and 40th
Ohio, and 22d and 14th KY. in the battles of Jen-
MES Creek, Middle Creek and Pound Gap, and
in driving Humphrey Marshall out of the Big
Sandy Valley. In the Summer and Winter OF
1862 they secuted from Mt. Sterling KY, to
Charleston, w. Va, and from Catlettsburg, at the
mouth of Big Sandy, TO Gladesville I6 miles be-
yond the Cumberland Mountains. At Gainesville
the Mclaughlin Squadron and one battalion
of the 10th Ky. Cav. captured the 10th KY.
(rebel). Some comrade, In writing of this af.
fair, gave all credit to the 10Th KY. Cav, when
it is of record that we went into the town first
During 1868 the Mclaughlin Squadron went
with Burnside into East Tennessee We were
in the siege of Knoxville; on the cambridge
campaign, and were i'll camp at Strawberry
Plains AT this place We lost IL or Is men
with smallpox.
In 1864 we were with Sherman on the At.
lanta campaign, and were also in the Stone.
man raid through Georgia, although O. F. Chap
man. 9Th Ind. Cav. does not mention US in his
communication.
The Mclaughlin Squadron, 14th III. Cav.
and Sth Mich. Cav. composed Capron's Brigade
of Stoneman's Division. The squadron lost 81
men by that affair at Sunshine Church. We
operated between the two lines on the flank
movement which gave US Atlanta We were
| almost constantly under fire at JOnesboro. We
were on the left, and captured twice as many
! prisoners as we numbered. When Sherman
made his famous march to the sea the Nc
Laughin Squadron formed part of the Second
Brigade (Kilpatrick's Division), commanded
| by Col. Atkins, and formed part of the sam,
brigade through the Carolinas, and was in thu
service little over four years. participating il
As battles skirmishes and sieges. We had 46(
names on our muster rolls, and mustered GU
| only 90 men. During our term of servic,
we were attached to the AID Ohio, doth Ohio
| 14th KY, 9Th Mich. Cav, 9th Mich Cav. an(
| 9Th Ohio Cav.
A detachment of this squadron captured a
one time the kentucky giant, Capt. Bates
| This giant was captured twice. This squadron
opened the battle of Averysboro and wer,
among the first in Raleigh, N. c.
write.this because this command is entirel,
ignored in all communications that appear il
your paper, for ] have read every copy now 70
five years,-W. K. SPENCER, Co. B, McLaugh
Inns Squadron, Ohio Cav, Bridgeport, Ill.