The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-08
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Hare TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
AT sHELBYVILLE, TENN.
Gen. MIniy COrrecis the Comrades and Gives True
Account.

sarilv limited 10 the operations of their own
sauadrons or regiments the tale, rs told by
them. must give but an imperfect idea OF the
work done by the First Brigade of the Second
Cavalry Division on the 27lh Of June, 1863.
] think the story Of that battle, told by the
commander Of the Saber Brigade" will in
terest all comrades Of the G. A. r.; but before
entering on the history of the battle, desire
10 say that COmrade John 4. NourSe is correct
in his statement that =" the Chicago Board OF
Trade Battery never lost gun" AT some
future time if the spirit moves me, may tell
OF the recovery of the gun with the broken
trail and the bursting of another in the fight
at Loveioy Station, during the Fitzpatrick raid
round Atlanta in 1864.
Now with your permission, / will give 4
short account of the battle, and how il came
60 he fought by my brigade
On the oath Of June, 1863 the Army OF the
Cumberland commenced its forward movement
from MurfreesborO, Tenn. Our Chief of Cavalry
was Mai ,-Gen. David > Stanley, one OF the
Crandest soldiers of the war. The First Di-
vision, commanded by Brighten. Il. b. Mitch
ell, covered the right Of the army; the Second
Division, commanded by Brig Gen. Turchin,
covered the left. On the night OF the oath Gen.
Stanley ordered my brigade-First, of Second
Diyision-tO the right, 10 reinforce the First
Division, remarking Mitchell has met more
than be can handle"
On the 9th the cavalry on the right had i'm
mediately before them Guys Gap, held by
Mhart0n's aud Martins Divisions of Conled-
crate cavalry under command OF Gen. Wheeler.
Stanley was IN command, McCook's Brigade in
advance, La Oranges next, and mine in the
rear The entire forenoon had passed in that
most tiresome Of all movements, advance a
couple Of hundred yards-halt-wait; dis
mOuut-wat.
AT about 1870 Lieut. Hutchins. of the Sd L.
s. Cav, temporary Aid on Gen. SANKEY'S staii.
came 10 the rear Oh the gallop, and riding to
the head Of my column, said; Col. Minty,
Gen. Stanley directs that you move 10 the
front; that brigade in front is so - slow he
can do nothing with it, Here let ME say
that the brigade referred TO was one of the best
IN the army. and was composed of regiments
that had no superiors in any army This
order, given in a loud tone, was heard by my
entire staff and escort, and was soon known
70 every mau IN the brigade.
MOuHt-ForWard, march-Trot march, "
and We were soon al the hont. The pike led
directly 70 aud through the gap Ia slight deprcs-
sion in the mountain range. The ground on
each side Of the road was comparatively open.
ordered the 9TH Pa. 10 deploy to the right,
the 4th Il. ;. 10 the left, aud held the 9th
Tenn, 9Th Mich. and Sd Ind. in column on the
road. b" Forward was sounded, and i'm 20
minutes we charged through the gap, the 9th
Tenn. leading with sabeTs. The enemy was
driven on the gallOp until they were behind
g.
This Was the position chosen by Bragg Oh
which 10 give battle, but Gen. Rosecrans's move
mcBt turned his right and he had 10 fall back
Oh Tulahoma.
The works extended along the crest Of the
low hills lying north Of Sbelbyville, and the
valley between Us and the works was covered
with an almost impossible abatis On the
turnpike there was a low bridge in the bottom
OF the valley. and from IL the planking had been
removed. Take it all in al, IL was a most IN
promising -lOoking place for cavalry 10 attack.
] sent astaG officer Lieut.. Naie) to report the
condition Of Affairs 70 Gen. Stanley and 10 ask
him 70 send me q couple Of guns as quickly As
possible, and added: " II they do not come az
once they VIII he too late" j dIsmOgutcd "A
portion Of the 9Th Pa. aud sent them into the
abatis as sEITm !sbcrs with instructions 10 relay
the plAukiug on the bridge.
sent for Maj Mix, commanding the 9TH
Mich, and Lieut-Co Kline, commanding the
ID Ind To the former ] said Major, take
your regiment well 10 the right, push through
the abatis and over the works, then iarn 20 your
left along the Entertainments. When / hear
your caTbiBes speaking. ] will move down this
road 10 Col. Kline j said. Colonel you
viii move well 10 the left. When you cross
the intfeuehments make for the rear above the
town, aud sweep down is right bank. ] will
Join you II Seull Camp Bridge"
Jn what appeared 70 be an Incredibly short
time, ! heard the 4th Mich az work ] sent
about 30 men Of tie 9TH Pa. under Capt
Thompson, 10 charge as fOragers on the pike,
and u necessary, 10 assist ia making the bridge
passa5ie and moved forward with the column
on tie trOt. ] found the bridge la good con
dltiou ordered tie charge. aud wc went up The
bi. with yell Capt. Sinclair, Gen, Stanley :
AdJutant- General, was riding al my side at The
head o. the column. i he enemy, without
waiting Tor Us, limbered Up and Fetreated al a
ga.l0p
A. we entered the works the 9Th Mich. joined
u; Mlj. Nix reported having taken prisoners
from cight different regiments.
About mile from the works we came sud-
denly on the town Of sbelbyvillc. the Court
house facing us, the Confederate artillery in
position ll the square, ready 70 sweep the street,
both sides Of which were lined With picket
fences.
] so1t Lieut.. Lawton, Of the sih Mich, with
guide 70 Capt. Mcintyre. commanding the
zth U. ;. Cav. 10 say 10 hiui tia; had not yet
heard from The "a lad; that / feared they
would be l2te d. getting 10 the bridge that
desired hlm 70 push rapidly through the upper
portion o. the town and 10 gain possession Ol
and bold the bridge.
Al this moment Capt Ayrshire. with uu
Ohio battery, reported 70 me- / said. Cap.
laIn, al want now il q little smoke; place
Onc gun On each side Of the street and fire ong
shell from each gun; give ali the room you
eau ioT my column 10 paas between your guns.'
Capt AyTe biFe promptly did ~ directed, and
before tie smoke rose the 9TH Pa, Jed by Capt
4. 4 DAVIS, aud one squadron Of tic stl L. s.
jed by Lieut.. AcCafierly. were more than hal
Way down the AiIl, aud every gun but one was
captured between the square and the BRIDE
and tHat one was taken q couple Of huudree
yards beyond.
Near lie railroad depot the 1sG Confed
crate cavalry commanded by an old soldier
Col. King, WaE disBOuHied and thro~n benin,
fences and any other cover they could find
with the hope o. checking cur advance bn
every man WAS either killed or captured.
young otLccr 81 the 9Th Tenn. brought Col
King - me. Before ] could speak he said
+" by devotion 70 nay General, cir, caused rnr
capture" ] replied: Colonel, YOU made
gal attempt l. check us, and the loss 4
your General Ol such regiment, with such
commander, must be irrepaTaLlc, aud our gail
d. capturing you aud your gAlIast regiment
PROBATIONARY great"
The ID lad. struck the rear Of the enern
about tie time rode over the Isl C0uled
eTaies, aud few moments later a regimen
from Miichslla Division came IN from the al
that Mcintyre, with the 4th q. s
ousl have arrived d lew minutes earlier.
We had bad SIX o. seven hours II heavy WORK
hnd meH and horses were completely worn out
u recalled my regiments aud biyouacked In II,
outskirts Of the town, aud surrendered In
persuIt 80 Gen. Mitchell, who had come 10 ia
front with his division.
The failure Of the 4tb II. s. 10 gain possession
q tic bridge was through 10 fault Of that reyj
ment or It's gallant commander Capt Mcfu
tyre had given tie order mount and H.