The National tribune., 1891-03-26
Read Better than a Pension " on page
KILPATRICK's RAID.
A COmrado CALI Cen. Hln,y 20 Account.

COmrndc Calls Gen. VI nty 30 Account.
EDITOR NATIoEAL TRIRUNk: I read Gen.
Muty's letter Of Feb. 20 with interest and
great surprise; with interest because of the
author with surprise ~ tho statements. !
also read his letter Of July 10 1899, and was
not less surprised then than now, but thought
j would leave ID 10 some ADLER pen than mine
20 answer him bot there was no answer, aud
he comes again to cliuch his former statements,
as il were.
! viii say that I believe Comrade Moore Is
wrong about the number # our division II
my memory serves me right, ours lkipniricls's
DIviSi0n) WAS TIE Third Cavalry Division. ]
VIII say that al write is written from
memory, as have no data 10 write from. and
II has been over quarter Of a century since
u trgnspired; bat that was one act ia the great
drama Of cur civil war that was iadeibIy
impressed upon my mind. Al every recurring
thought OF that day, The whole scene passes ia
review before me.
We had been marching and lighting FOR The
past two or three days aud nights We were
tired aud almost worn out when We arrived on
that memorable field, bat VIC were full Of hope
for our future safety. Bul presently tbc men
d.smouutee aud deplOyed facing la al direc-
tIuHs. aud The word passed along the line that
we were surrounded. Then came The order 20
cease firing, and The men began 10 ask one
another what all this meant Meantime Gen.
i
stationed within few rods Of his headqEartors.
and could see adj that was going on there, aud
could hear All thai was spoken In "A loud voice /:
aud remarked the Generals apparent anxiety,
and tod FJnB Of the boys that sOmuth. ug
would happen soon.
The gloom that was fast ohscuring our hopes
Of safety WIS in striking contrast with TIE
bright shining SUM- that had not a cloud TO
olm Us ulster. For once We ail were anxious
Tor the fray, rs anything was preferable TO
surrender. AudcTs0nyi.lo aud Libby lO0med
up before us ia all lhclT tcrnble horrors
Presently ] SAW Gen. Fitzpatrick spring 10
4 his feet aud heard him call bis hugler and tell
4 Aim 10 sound officers call, which be did Tie
Geflra waited o moment and he saw that the
lc!d officers were al that were answering the
cali. lie then tod the bugiCr t0s0uud officers
cgll again. which be did bet atil the line
officers moved not. Then tie General stepped
p ieH STEPS forward, aud called cut in has clear
shrii. voice, Gentlemen. that Is officers call
and they came ~ without farther orders
When they weTa assembled he made a short
speech 10 HON. saying tlgi DE time had come
when The commanding General deemed il best
10 consult hls Subordinate officers. lie fail
We must lame'y surrender OF else We must cut
Qua way out. " What 30 You say, gentlemen -
/ J helT verdict was almost unanimous 10 cut our
way out was watching them very closely all
I Tins time very anxious no know what they
Won q do o. what they wautcd 30 do.
When they were sll through Gen. Fitzpatrick
addressed them .n very vigorous manner
said be- Gentlemen return 20 your rcsucciiyc
commands aud prepare l0r a charge" The
officers Wheai,a tHc!F horses aud started on
/ Tho ran ior lHcr places Ia line bul before they
4 had got tAarc the word was passed along the
entire lime We ARE going 90 charger
4 Gen. KlipatricE turned and went 10 his
horse and a- he went hc called out Bualer
SQUAD 20 horse! ana the last note or the call
bad NOT ceased ID echo until the whole line
4 within sound Of that bugle was on a run Tor
their horses. That JnElc had called our spirit.
Z ir0m iHe very depth Gi despair 10 the highest
1 pinnacle Of hope; each man had resolved not 10
/ be- le't uIlra- he l.l in The conflict for il was
4 better % die iglting mani uIy than be taken
/ prisoner aud exc out "a miserable existence in
/ AudrnYnglile sr Libby.
/ Mount, Forward Draw sabsrsl" and
81 aenHud that every blade luapea from its
/ scabuard 40 once ] was in "A place where I
could see the whole command aud the sight
. wHs grand beyond dcscr.pt on The sun was
+ shining as bright IS could be, and the reflection
OF the sunlight OD our sabcIs WAS ike a fash
1 oil lightning Away we went every mau in
the whole command, each taking the place rs
signed 10 llm by the commanding General
each performed his part well in that drama
each did bis whole duty. we captured four
pieces Of artillery and about 800 urisoucre. We
simply scattered The rebel cavalry 10 the four
winds. We picked up prisoners almost an the
way 10 Decatur In squads Of from two TO 10 al
/ q time.
Now as TO Col. Minty reporting 10 and ad.
yisiug Gen. Fitzpatrick, ID is simply imagina-
ton. All the chance Col Miuty OF anyone else
had 10 advise the General was VIII lie thc OH GERS
were receiving orders about cutting their way
out Or surrcndcruR aud do not believe that
Col. Minty or anyone else would have pre-
sumed 10 improve on Gen. Kipairicks plan OF
assault Col hiuty says: THE facts are. ms
soon rs we had cut our way through the sur
rounding force Gen. Fitzpatrick with tue
Third Division, marched for McD0n0ugh, leay.
ing orders for mo % cover his retreat" etc
We halted and reformed our respective COM
mands Col. Minty 20 the contrary notwith.
standing and al that lingo about what he d "a
10 cover our retreat is The work of his mHginR.
ton. Gen. Fitzpatrick never forsook any por-