The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-02-26
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
KILPATRIcKs RAID.
Gen. Hinty Takes Exceptions TO a sO-cnlled HES
torv

career. with which I, as one Of tho principal
actors therein, am thoroughly familiar, and was
very much disappointed 20 find that the author
of this work, which purports TO be history
either knew absolutely nothing OF that OF which
he was writing or knowingly AND Intentionally
falsifed this so-called history.
Kilpatrick was one OF tho most gallant ana
dRshing cavalry officers In the grand army oil
the Republic during the war Of the rebellion,
and any honest man, writing history oil has
exploits. has q fruitful field 10 work from with
ont departing from truth or wandering into the
realms OF fiction.
Az an instance Of the mendacity Of the
author, ] repeat his account Of the great saber
charge made during the raid:
+" He determined 20 cut his way ont. lie
mRssed his men in six columns Col. Mlntys
Brigade, FIRST Division, had the rights Col
Murrays Brigade, Second Division, had che
left Of the first line OF columns; Coils. Long, and
Jones'e Brigades held tho rear, while our eight
pieces Of artillery were rapidly firing on the
enemy.
1.-The charge was sounded and our men rode
over the rebel bsrricades, sabering the men In
she rear, capturing four pieces OF artillery and
three bRttle-fags and large number oil prison
em"
The absolute facts were given in detail in
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE OF July 10, 1890. ]
briefly recapitulato part Of the account:
Kilpatricll's Division was the Third, and
before starting on the expedition he turned
over the command OF ID 10 Col. Murray, ms
senior brigade commander. j commanded two
brigades and the Chicago Board OF Trade Bat
terry, from tho Second Division. The First
Division was commanded by Gen. Ed McC0Ok,
and took no part in the expedition, the mon
dacious historian TO the contrary nOtwithstand-
ing.
When Fitzpatrick learned chat we were sur
rounded, he sent for me as one Of his division
commanders. When j reported 20 him he ad-
dressed me as follows: "Co Minty, we are
surrounded. You know what is IN our front :
jackson with 5000 cavalry Is M rear OF our
left, and Pat Cleburne with 10000 infantry rs
closing on our right; our only salvation 10 10
cut our way out We viii form here, facing 10
our present rear: you will form line on the
right of the road Col Murray will form on the
left; you will change simultaneously"
said: General, ] would not charge over
this ground in line. II we ever strike tho
enemy n will be thin, wayerlng blow that
will amount to nothing"
lie asked How, then, would you charge ?"
i replied, In column, sir. Our momentum
would be like that OF a railroad train; when
we strike, something has 10 break"
He paused for a moment aud then said,
"Form In any way you please"
j formed my own brigade in three columns
OF fours, at regimeutsl distance; the 9TH Pa.
on the right the 9TH Mich. in the center and
the Atm Regulars on the left j ordered Col.
Long to form his brigade consisting Of the list,
80 aud zth Ohio, in rear of my center, in close
column, with regimental front and 10 sweep
up whatever broke through"
Ny battery RHd smbulances were placed on
the McDonough road, in rear Of the 4th =. 5.
Cav.
When my command wss formed, ] rode over
10 Fitzpatrick 70 report 10 him; at the same
moment Col Murray came forward from has
aide Of the road and said General my men
cannot charge over this ground" Why not,
sir2" asked Fitzpatrick. They cannot do it,
General" repeated Col Murray.
Turning 10 me Gen. Fitzpatrick said, " Col.
Minty, arc you resdy2"
." All ready, sir"
"Then charge when you like" said the Cen
eral
rode to the head Of my center column and
ordered Draw sabcH followed by For
ward, trot; regulate by the center column
march i"
/" AS my columns got IN notion the "gallop y
and charge were ordered by me, and tho
charge was made by the First OF Saber Bri-
gade.
Col. Long broke into columns Of fours and
followed the First Brigade and the Third Di
vision also breaking into column followed my
battery.
DR. Moore saws:
hlNtl tthAF fliE nNei AliE tiltiiiN but AHtNtfh
reformed his brigades aud divisions, aud Eel
slowly back toward McDouough's, severely
repulsing such attacks as were made upon hil
rear"
The facts are, that as soon as we had cut oui
way through the surrounding force, Gen. Xii
patrick with the Third Division, marched fol
EcD0nough leaving orders for me to cover hii
retreat. j instructed nay Provost Marshal
Capt Dickson, Of the 7th Pa, to al once turI
over the prisoners 10 the Third Division, and
aent Lieut. Simpson Of the 4th Mich, q TEN
pOrary Aid on my staff, 10 Col. Long with
orders 10 oismOunt lie brigade, form across ID,
hcDonough road, and bold the enemy IN chccl
A. long ~ possible. When too hard pressed 3,
fall back through the first brigade Al thi
moment Capt Mcintyre commanding attn u
g., reported that bic regiment was out Of am
muniti0n, and j directed him 10 follow Gen
Fitzpatrick.
dismounted the 7th Pa and lth Mich. ant
placed them In position on rising ground will
al open space In front OF them. the eth Pa
and one section OF the battery on the right snt
the 4th Mich. on the left Of the road, and In
structed them 20 construct rail breastworks q
quickly Rs possible The horses Of both bri
Fades were strung out on the road In our rear
Col. Long was brought 10 the rear wounded
and tie command Of his brigade dev0lved OF
Col. EFglestOn, Of the LIST Ohio, who soon ate
reported that ClehurneiE infantry was ebdeay
% fan back, and az be passed the First Brigad
j instructed him 20 move Lis men on th
doublo-quick, 10 mount aud follow the Thir
Division 10 take position with Lieut.. Robin
sons guns on the high ground beyond III
swamp In front Of him.
The enemy followed him closely and made
vigorous assault on the position held BY the 40
Mich. aud I'm Pa, but were rcpulscd wit
heavy loss The section Of artillery was doiu
most effective work with canister, when on
OF the guns burst aud few moments later
Ehell wedRed 10 the other gun, rendering il Il
che time useless. j therefore directed nj
Bennett 10 take IL 10 the rear aud Join n
battery. second and q third assault w,
made on The position held by the two regimen
OF tile First Brigade and both were han,
bOmey repulsed.
After the repulse Of The third assault n
Second Brigade being well out Of the way, v
fell back 10 our horses aud followed the co
umn. ] found Col. EgRlcstOn with his briga'
and Lieut. Robinson with hs two guns IN pos
tion on the high ground beyond the swan
Immediately after the charge the Lain car
down in torrents, and ID cOntiuuef 10 pol
without cessation until about 4 o'clock In Il
morning
Clelurne followed ne through the swan
but few shells checked him, aud we saw not
ing more Of him during the expedition.
When tie command returned 10 los posti,
Ia front OF Atlanta. the officers aud mon
BilpatrckE Division. said Col. Minty cut
hole for us and we followed him out"
Col. Long Wac a gallant aud distinguish,
officer Of the Regular Army, and ig now
BriEader.General ou the Retired List, liyn
IN the city OF New York.