The National tribune., 1890-05-22
GEN. NELSON.
The Opinion lie Had of tho Services Of the c,


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the Fall of
1862, Gen. Kirby Smith, of the rebel army,
was operating in kentucky, gathering troops,
clothing, horses aud in fact supplies of all
kinds, shipping them South where they were
much needed by Bragg's army. Gen. Nelson
| (who was afterwards killed by Gen JEFF. g.
Davis), then holding position under Gen. Blu
ell, was directed to proceed to kentucky aud
assume command of all Union troops in that
State, aud drive Smith and his marauders out
of the State.
Tho LIST battalion of our regiment-the 7th
Ia Cav.-at that time was stationed at Tula-
homa, Tenn. -Four men OF Co. I-Corpl Ed.
Sparks, JAS Flomming, Tom McCloon aud %
Noishman named John o. Jones-wero detailed
to carry a dispatch from Tullahoma TO McMinn-
vile, whore they would meet Gen. Nelson on
his way to Kentucky and deliver the dispatch
to him.
The country between the two places was then
considered dangerous for small parties of Union
troops, on account of the hostility of the inhab-
itants aud the presence of rowing bands of
Ruerrilas infesting il. The party arrived at
McMinnville all right, where they found Gen.
Nelson, who had Just arrived and to whom the
dispatch was delivered
Tho General, after reading the dispatch and
giving them m answer, with many maledc-
tons heaped on them, bade them mount their
horses, with the final send off of g. -
your cowardly souls, you Cowardly
now get out of here, and don't stop until you
get back dismissed them. The boys. as they
told the story when they got back TO camp,
presented a laughablo spectacle.
When they returned to the company quar-
tiers !hey were aspeCtacle They did not know
whether they would DO regarded as heroes
martyrs or towards. The story they told is
here reproduced AS nearly as | can from NOM
DRY. They all belonged 10 my mess and were
FaNxr sslVR l.
until he was killed by a bullet in the head at
hcAfee's Crossroads, Ga.
Upon leaving the General they rode on their
return at sharp trOt until they came To
small hamlet about mdway-l6 miles from
either place. Here their horses began to fag
and they concluded they would feed and rest a
little before proceeding further Just as the
horses were muuChing their corn, along came
Gen. Nelson and Staff Then began the greatest
chapter of profanity that ever emangted from
the mouth OF mortal man. We will omit all
but the closing scene between the Welshman
and the General. While the General was set.
ting ience-rails on tho FIRE with oaths tho men
were bIidling their horses and mounting to
get away from his wrath as they supposed.
Taking in the situation he shouted 90 them to
dismount, which they quickly did. He then
ordered some of his escort to take the horses
and arms away from the cowardly -
Directing his eyes on Jones, who was rather
slow ia his movements he shouted "Get off
that horse, you - - ugly looking Irish
man" This was more than Jones could stand
He could stand anything else but being called
an lrishman, and he told the General SO; but
the General told him he was an Irshman, and
the meanest looking one he ever saw. and If he
opened his - - ugly Irish month again he
wonid ram his sword down his throat.
Jones would not shut up, being too highly
offended TO do that, and SO no took of his hat,
exposing bis bald head, and began to remon-
5trate with the General and toll who he WINS
Such unprecedented conduct on the part of
private was an objectionable oflense, and
withal so comic that the rest of the crowd be-
came conyulsed with laughter, which still fur
ther enraged the General who began anew to
heap abuse on the cowardly cavalry who no
declared, never stopped to fire shot ut tho
enemy before they surrendered. AZ last, hav-
ing expended his wrath, and taking in the
situation, be cast one last malediction Mt the
cowardly cavalry, and proceeded on his way to
Iullahoma leaving Jones aud his companions
standing in the middle of the road 10 miles
from camp, without horses or arms with the
parting wish that the bush whac1ors might cut
their cOwardly Threats. They made their way
INTO camp us fast they could, aud a sorry
sight they presented when they arrived. They
created much amusement among their com
rades telling of the scene which had taken
place between the General and Jones.
When the rumor spread that tho famous GEN
eTal was IN town, crowd soon gathered at the |
railroad depot TO SEQ him, at which place he |
WAS inspecting some suppiies As soon aa he
saw the crowd he shouted at them TO clear out
aud drew his sword. This quickly dispersed
the boys; but one man, Major think. alone
remained lie was vain enough TO think his |
shoulder straps would exempt him from tho |
vengeance OF the General. lie was mistaken |
however, for the General ran at him shouting, |
- - you; did not tell you to clear out |
you lousy reprobatc / will kick you" This |
had the effect of starting the Major on the run |
for safer ground amid the cheering, hooting aud |
bowling of the crowd.
From this point the General and his party |
took the ears for Nashville. While he was |
waiting for "A train he paid the hospital a !
VISIT Sam OveriOn, member OF our COM |
pany who had been shot through the head "A |
few days before in brush we bad with For |
rests cavalry, was n patient. The General |
seeing the cavalry uniform on Sam hastcned /
to his side thinking he WAS q Gt subject for his |
wrath. Sam was shot through the check bone. |
the ball coming out at the base of the brain at |
the back Of the head. His wound was such AS
to make 10 painful 10 eat or speak, and when |
the General asked him what the matter was,
sam began to humble as best he could TO tell |
him. The General became so cnraged that no
delivered another TRADE against the cavalry;
but when be learned the truo state Of affairs he
took sam by the hand aud shook IL warmly,
aud said he was brave man, declaring at the
same time that Inc was the first cavalryman ho
ever saw shot, and called the Steward, telling
him 10 provide the best food he could get for
him. The General was a rough man, but he
was sincerely true and loyal 10 the Union which
is more than can be said of many other Gen
erals-PATRIcK MOONEY, Sergeant, Co. !, 9TH |
Pa. Cav.