The National tribune., 1890-01-16
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
THE McCOOK RAID.
The Experience OF a lth nv. Mrd Inf Nan.


MID Inf
There were several other regiments along
with US, but / can only call to mind the 5th
Iowa, Sth Ind. and LIST Wis Cav. regiments and
a section OF the 18th lnd. battery. ! regret
that / cannot name ALL as they all certainly
deserve 10 be. Al the time OF receiving the
order We were on the right flank of the army,
and south side of the Chattahoochee. pom
toon bridge was thrown across the Chatlahoo-
chez at a point where our right rested ON the
river, 10 furnish us crossing 10 the north side.
As soon as This was done the march began.
We started north toward Marietta. but soon
turned west toward Campbellsville, on the
Chattahoochee where we expected TO effect
crossing On arriving ia the vicinity of Camp
bellsyille we went into bivouac until about
a. IN. on the morning Of the 2Sth, when we
were ordered forward 20 a few miles below that
hamlet. Here the pontOOn was put down in
great haste and we effected a crossing without
trouble. ride Of two hours and we draw up
At Palmetto Station, on the Atlanta x West
Point Railroad. Here we captured a train,
destroyed several miles Of track, aud all the
property belonging 10 the road at the station.
Ne now moved in the direction of Lovejey
Station on the Atlanta. Macon x Southwestern
Railroad. On the road at Fayetteville We
captured a large wagon-tran and three or four
hundred prisoners. The wagons were burned.
The teams were converted INTO Il pack-train aud
loaded with the SPOTS we had taken, aud so
occupied much OF our line Of march. In aGdi-
tion we took along the prisoners, who were
marched with MS
About ii a. IA. on the Goth we reached Love-
joy Station, and at once began the destruction
of the railroad which we continued for several
miles toward Macon.
Ever since Gen. McCook had encountered Us
with his immense paCk-train and long line of
prisoners, il was apparent that he had done
exactly what he ought not 10 have done, if he
expected 10 do the hasty marching and rapid
destruction OF rebel property anticipated by
Gen. Sherman when he started McCOok on this
mission. His long delay at Loveioy was not
understood. It appeared suicidaI@ We knew
nothing Of the intended junction with Stone
man at that point. Some declared that Nc
Cook had imbibed too freely OF the appleiack
we had secured in the wagon-train, and that
he was too drunk toIeaize has situation. Had
we known the facts we might have been more
charitable. OF course it would have made US
all feel proud IL we could have taken the pack
train aud prisoners through 20 our lines, and
everybody would have been loud in their
praises Of Gen. MNReok. But as il turned out.
he received great deal Of censure for loading
his command with such a burden. In my
Judgment il was the principal cause Of his fail
ure and the capture Of large per cent. Of his
command.
Assoon as the property at Lovejoy had been de-
Etroycd, including several miles of the railroad,
We naturally expected 10 move on; but McCook
tarriod 90 meet Stoncman, whom he had a right
10 expect At any moment. Pickets were ordered
out on al the approaches 10 the station. Com
pauy X. 10 which belonged was sent out on
the road running west from the station. So
Gar the whole thing had been a sort of picnic
excursion, but now a storm was brewing that
promised much trouble 10 the proud riders OF
McCOOk. For, just as we had settled down TO
orr picket duty. we heard firing east OF the
and . l.r.H
etteyille. In an incredible time apparently the
whole command seemed 10 be engaged, and we
were ordered 10 join our regiment in line Of
battle on road running parallel with the one
upon which we had Travelled 10 reach Loyeioy
IN rcjoinIng our regiment we passed Gen.
GcCOok. who was not far from Col. Dorr. who
had just been wounded, and also met Col. john
4. CroKtOn, cur old Colonel, and then COM
mauder Of cur brigade. He ordered Us 10
charge the enemy on their flank, which we did
handsomely, driving him back some distance
clearing the road selected for our retreat aud
thus enabling Gen. hcCoOk and stat 10 extri-
cate themselves from what appeared TO me a
dangerous situation for capture. Our retreat
now began in earnest. Lieut.. Chas swope had
been seBt with co. ID On one Of the roads 20
do picket duty, and IN trying 70 join the regi-
ment he and his company had been cut of and
were captured not, however, until the next
day, aud after they had emptied their car
lIalEE -DDAeh OF All the ammunition they had.
Du tie retreat first one regiment aud then
another was left behind to check the enemy.
until i became onr turn. This WAS just after
VIC crossed The Flint River on the road leading
from L0vejGE 10 Newman. Some Of the bows
said there WAS village near the bridge, but /
failed 10 see IT, The GOOber GrabbeTs called II
Shake Rag. Capt. West with his company fCD.
was left behind 70 destroy tie bridge. while the
regiment moved forward and destroyed another
wagon train which the command had captured.
Just before daylight on the morning Of the goth
we formed lu line ia rear Of 70. g. and awaited
al attack FROM the enemy. As soon as daylight
began the enemy moved on Co. q with force
and fury, driving il back from the bridge IN
some confusion 10 our line, which was adyauc-
ing - its support. IN less time than il takes to
tell . the whole regiment became engaged.
Col. *. N. Kelly, our regimental commander,
was just getting IN the right hGmor TO give the
JOhnHies a sample Of such fighting as they had
Dot seen during their service when TO our sur
prise We we're charged by regiment or more
on each flank, shooting yelling, and crying.
=" Halt! halt! you Yankee -" As We were
fighting dismountod, this placed us az great
tisao vantage, since there were many rebels be.
tween ug and our horses before We knew It,
IN attempting 70 reach our horses about two
thirds Of our regiment was captured, includ-
Ing Col. Kelly and most Of the line officers
My idea now lg that Capt Granville West aud
captured, and Capt. West was subsequently
taken ~ the ChattaAOOcbee where Col. Brown
low crossed, II i rightly remember. Just % I
caught loose horse ! saw Adj't Schable com
ing into the road, shouting: Get out II here
everybody" took him at his world got !:
that is, j mounted nay horse, put spurs 70 him.
aud rode 70 the rear as fast as I could 90
soon found that nearly hundred Of the regi-
meut had been az lucky As myself and all ap-
pesred anxious 70 get out"
some distance in rear Of where we had gone
into action, perhaps quarter Of mile, there
was deep ditch or raVine, don't remember
which, that was great hindraDce 20 the escape
of those who had secured horses az its banks
were 30 steep that il could not be crossed bv
men on horseback, except at the crossing of The
public road. Here the old Tickety bridge had
been covered with rails for the safe crossing of
the artillery aud troops that had gone on to.
ward Newman. Nevertheless, we rushed over
% a. though it was the smOOthest bridge IN ex-
lstence. u was now noticeable that while the
ditch had hIudered US, IL was also an obstacle
10 The rebel pursuit. as they. too, bad TO adopt
our tacticts 10 get over. Seeing that any al.
tempt 10 overhaul as would prove futile, they
gave ~ the pursuit We soon overlook Col
CFOztOn, who no doubt had drOpped 20 the rear
Of the column TO learn the fate Of his old and
iaF0rite boys. Presently We found the Igt Tenn.
Cav. In line, aud we passed on aud Joined the
column. We now fell in under command Of
Capt. West. 10 take part ia the battle Of New.
nan, which was 10 begin Ia two or three hours.
Meantime we talked over the events of the
morning. Some swOre Others wept and all
regretted what had occurred 20 the old zth