The National tribune., 1891-06-18
WILSON'S RAID.
The Charge Made b. Co. :, "a Iowa Cav, at Elan
tersyiii-, Ala

Inc Nharse MADE % 20. = "a IOWA NaN.. ~ Elau-
tersJili-, Ala.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUSE: have been
greatly interested in Capt. w. E. Doyle's
letters on the Wilson raid, especially in
tho account of the charge of Capt. Taylor, as
there n similar charge made by Co. +, Sd
Iowa, at same time and place. about quarter
Of a mile 10 the left. This is known only 10
a very few outside Of our own company, and
will be interesting 70 hundreds OF our corps
that saw US pass through their ranks on that
day.
"What regiment" That was the question
asked by men Of Upton's and Longs Divisions
as we were passing Through them. As no one
soldier knew all that occurred, will tell what
] saw, and will confne myself 10 the fight at
Ebenezer Church. Longs Division had the
advance. Upton's Division being in the rear,
the Sd Iowa Cav. in the rear Of Upton's Di-
vision. Gen. Wilson came up to Capt. Grail
and ordered him 70 clear the road in our front,
and he would support him. Capt. Grail ordered
the company 10 draw sabers, fOrward-trot,
Upton's Division. and part, at least, Of Longs,
opened their ranks 10 the right and left Of the
road 10 let us 20 through. Every band in the
corps was playing Yankee Doodle" as We
came up. The corps band was in front of
Ebenezer Church. As we were passing them a
shell came over causing some of them TO duck
their heads aud lose n note but they played all
70 the creek. The 72d Ind. were fighting the
rebels, who were on the other side. The sweat
was running off their faces, showing they had
been chasing the JOhnnies for some slime. When
they saw us coming on their left as fast as our
horses could go, they were evidently very glad.
Jumping our horses into the creek, we soon
dashed the water into foam, which gave some
of Us a good wotting. We struck the JOhnnies
so suddenly that We threw them into panic.
Charging right through them We scattered
them right and left, ordering them to throw
down their arms and go TO the rear. We sup
posed that our support was close behind, and
would gather them up. In this manner we kept
on chasing aud disaTming them until we reached
Plantersville. Here we came 20 another creek
with q bridge across IL. About 80 yards from
and between US and the bridge there was a
squad of rebels Into these dashed SerR't Arm
strong aud with his saber began striking right
and left. lie killed one man, when be was shot
through the neck and fell from his horse. His
horse ran across the bridge aud into the enc
my's lines. His comrades nearest him came 10
his assistance When the enemy saw them
coming they ran across the bridge. SeTg't
Armstrong was taken back, with the rest OF
the wounded OF our company, 10 Ebeuezer
Church, where he died two days later.
While talking 70 the prisoners that were in
the stockade az Selma we saw a man with a
handkerchief around his head. One Of the
boys asked him what was the matter with him.
He said that man riding a spotted horse at
Plantersville near the old mill, had cut piece
Of his ear of with a sabeT. The company be-
came somewhat scattered, but were all together
in few minutes and started on q charge fol
the bridge. BY this time the enemy had
gathered a strong force on the other side Of the
creek and swept the bridge with a volley.
Happily we had not yet reached the bridge, but
were little TO the left, so il did us no harm.
Now for the first time we looked back for sup
ports, but no supports were in sight.
We were then ordered back, dismOunted, and
tied our horses. We moved forward again and
took refuge under an old mill. The mill was
built on piles, sided with oak clapboards, and
was situated near the creek. From this posi-.
ton, behind those piles and logs, We kept up a
rapid fire on the enemy across the creek which
they returned with interest, the bullets elat-
tefing on the old oak clapb0ards like hai5tOnes
There were 1900 or 1000 rebels and 10 or Is Of
u.s. This looked blue for us. there being nc
support in sight and we three or four miles
ahead Of the column When we found we had
no supports we sentR man back 10 Col. Noble
10 tell him of the situation. He had a hard
time 10 get back, as thsroad behind Us was full
of rebels. The rebels that had been disarmed
bad picked up Rrms,and many Of them came
marching along in the road behind US. When
they saw our messenger coming they ran to the
brush, and many Of them threw down theil
guns, as they no doubt thought him at tho
head Of the company. One Of them reached
out 10 him Gen. Forests headguarter flag, bu
he having sore eyes did not sec him. This man
recognized him at the stOckade after the cap
ture Of Selma and told him all about it, Fear
ing he could not get back, we sent another mes
senger, the writer Of this, but on going abou
half mile saw Col. Noble at the head Of thu
regiment, coming on a gallop.
stopped to talk 10 SeTg't Restein, who wa
| badly wounded. In few moments a Surgeon
came, and left 10 catch up 20 the regiment
| Why We did not receive the support that Gen
| Wilson promised US he alone can tell. Tn
reason, heard, was that about the time W.
| FIRST struck the enemy the wagon-train in tn
rear was attacked, which caused the command
| 10 stop. i hope that Gen. Wilson will plain
this, az all Of Us would like to hear from him.
NJ. n. RoGERsON, Co. +, Sd Iowa Cav, Moline
Ill.