The National tribune., 1889-03-07

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your issue
of Nov. % Comrade VIM. T. Ball of Co. L. 18th
III. Cav, has Il think unintentionaIIv} mis-
represented me. He states as follows: 1T has
been asserted in the columns of your paper by
Comrades Perry Lewis and J. A. Taylor that
the llth III. Cav was not in the fight at Par
kers Crossroads on Dec 81, 1862"
made no such assertion, nor did say a word
in my article about the 18th III. Cav doubt
not that Comrade Ball was as near the battle
OF ParkeFs Crossroads as he is to the truth in
his statement above quoted. l do not pretend
TO say that the 18th Ill. Cav was not in the
expedition after Forrest, nor do | pretend to
say that the 18th Ill. Cav. did not arrive on the
battlefield after the battle was virtually fought.
1t IS my recollection that Gen. Sullivan com
manded the forces of the expedition-three
brigades III all, our brigade being one of the
three-compOsed of the 50th Ind 39th Iowa.
l22d III. and about 40 mOunted men of the 18th
Ill. and one section of the 7th Wis battery.
commanded by Col. c. L. Durham. All that
! intended to claim in my article referred to
by COmrade Ball, was that the battle of Par
kers Crossroads was fought and won by Dun
hams Brigade. / am aware of the fact that
other troops were endeavoring to reach the
field of battle, and that they did arrive on the
field at the close of the fight. 1t was no fault of
theirs that they were not present sooner but
as to what particular organizations they were
l cannot say, further than that they were
troops Of Gen. Sulliyan's command
have written from my standpoint alone,
and 1t IS not impossible for me to be somewhat
mistaken, but know / am right in the main.
l would not knowingly take the least need of
praise from any command or individual, for full
measure OF reward can never be given to them
and l stand ready at any and all times to be
corrected; but would prefer to have the cor
rectlon come In an intelligent and decent way.
Comrade Ball says: The way they put it is to
the effect that the 11th Ill. Cav. did nothing
but draw their rations" / cannot see what
motive the comrade can have in making such
unguarded and unjustifable statements. am
proud of the Illinois soldiers, and say that in
my honest judgment no State furnished a bet
ter or Drawer set Of men.
Now, Comrade Ball. let US reason together,
am open to correction. Please say who com.
manded your brigade on the expedition in ques-
ton; what organizations composed it; where
you were camped the night previous to the
fight; what time your regiment went into the
fight, and where your line of battle was formed
| giving positions of the different commands
| during the entire engagement, and how manv
men your regiment lost in killed, wounded and
captured.
l trust that you viii kindly answer the ones.
| tions have asked, in order that we NAV. each
of US, present to the public nothing but true
| facts. Comrade Ball says, Zone man, w. III
| Kimer, of my company, brought in II prison.
eTs at Parkers Crossroads" | say, hurrab for
| Comrade Kimer; but what was the rest OF
| your company doing while Comrade Kirner was
surrounding and capturing II rebel soldiersP p
!. A. TAYLOR, Co. II, 122d H., Hartford. Kan
Boils and sores indicate impurities in the
| blood Ayers Sarsanarilla erodicotas b,r,.