The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-03-05
FIGHTING THEM OVER
hat0ur Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
cAPTuRING A BATrERY.
Row thellh MIch. Took The coppcrhonds' Cannon


bow the llth Mich. Took the Coppcrhcads Cannon
EDIroR NATIONAL Tribune; Many Of th'
comrades have written about how they re
captured DE Gress's battery, planted the hrs
fac took in whole regiments OF prisoners
saved the army at Chickamaula, etc. but there
Is the capture of one battery which the lltl
Mich. can claim without successful contIaalc
tion. We do not claim 60 have been the hrs
regiment I'm Nashville after the capture OF TOR
D0nelson, but We did our part IN holding th'
CITY aud saving il for the Union alter Gen
Rue}ps retreat to Kentucky. We did not dC
All the fnrtifying, fighting, fOraEing ana starV
inr necessary 10 hold IL until the advance o.
Gen Rosecraus. but we aid our part. Oul
regiment alone lid not stem the tide OF the reOc
advance Dec 80. 1862, at the battle OF Stone
River, hut We were among those who did. We
were not the only regiment that charged across
the river, driving the corps OF Breckthrag'
from the field but we were among the hrst x
do so. We were not the only regiment that
remained with Gen. Thomas on Horseshoe
Ridge al the battle Of ChickHmauea, yet We
were there and among the last 10 leave th'
field. Although not tho only regiment ina
made the gallant charge mp Missionary Ridge
CAPTURING an the cannon, smal-arms and prs
oners vet we wero there, and assembled tn'
ridge to the immediate right Of Gen. Bragg
headquarters
Ger. Stoughton, commanding the brigade, in
his repert saws: The nth Mich. was among
the FIRST IL not the FIRST, troops 10 reach Tire TOT
OF the Ridge" Although not the only troops
with Gen Sherman on his Atlanta campaign
we were there, and participated IN nj the bat
Ties i'm which the Fourteenth Corps was en-
gagged. Not the first troops 10 enter Atlantis
and plant the flag on the Courthouse, yet We
helped 10 make ID possible for some oUner req
ment to do SO. Although enlisted for only
three wears. unless sooner discharged, oul
patriotic officers kept us on the skirmish-lin'
IN front Of the enemy for nearly week altel
our full time had expired.
II was after this, q month later whlle on our
way home that the regiment won It's nnols
puted glory. Our numbers had become greatly
depleted we were worn with the recent cam
pairn. aud had passed through Louisville vel
we captured battery without the support o.
other troops. lt occurred I'm this wise:
on our Journey home ID was necessary Tor
us 10 change cars al Sidney, o. On the day we
were there. Saturday. Sept. "a, 1864, the Cop
perheads and their allies were having o grand
rally. That arch Copperhead, G. l.. Nallan-
dirham was 10 be the principal speaker OF the
occasion. We had great love for him, Tor de-
tAchmeut OF our regiment had escorted him
through the lines South TO his friends IN the
Spring OF 1893.
We are Ia line and have stacked arms along
. street near the depot. The train on which
NBliaudiRham is 20 arrive is momontariiy ex'
pected A six FOUNDER cannon finely mounted,
stands on q small bill, with canuoneers IN uni
form and ribbons 81 their posts ready TO fire a
salute on his arrival. committee with Inc
team and carriage awaits him az the depot.
The whistle Of the engine Is heard IN the ols-
tance. and now ID comes in sight around a
curve Boom goes the cannon IA honor 0i the
expected guest. He arrives Rt the depot Is
hurfiedly taken into the carriage drawn by a
spirited span of matched Rrays. As they pass
our line one Of the BOYS says, Three grOans
for KAllsndighRm - which were given rs only
soldiers OF experience knew how. The team
was badly ghtened-probably the occupants
OF the carriage also.
We then broke ranks, aud while some OF us
broke for the city in search OF Nallandlgham
Others made q charge on the battery and capt
ured it, The cannonoers deserted their posts
aud ran down the railroad track. IL was DIM
cult TO distinguish the color Of their uniforms
because OF the gravel they left flying in the
air behind them. The cannon was soon dis
mounted the carriage taken apart and the
whole thing loaded onto our train and taken
with Us 10 Michigan, where the little gun has
done good service each year since al our regl'
mental Reunions.
Those who went into the city 10 search for
Vallandgham were not so successful. be was
TOO well secreted aud could not be found. Our
stay was necessarily Short as our train Wai
whiting.
ON cur return to the depot VIC were greeted
by many OF the loyal young ladies and Others
Of Sidney who had come 10 prove 10 us thai
there were those who loved and honored IN,
old Gag and is defenders. They came 20 chcel
uG with such Refreshments as they could co.lcc
on 80 short 8 notice They bore with then
buckets Of bot coffee baskets Of cake, pies, cold
meats, aud such other articles az could be col
lected hastily Some OF them said, Had they
known we were coming they should have hao
9 good dinner Tor as"
We certainly Jared sumptuously. il was th'
frsi taste Of the fare OF civil life that many O
~ had had Tor three long years IL made N
the more anxious 10 reach home; but tha
which did us the most good was their true
Iowa. sentiments have often thought o
those loyal young ladies, and one old gentle
man iu particular, who said, while the tear
were c0uniuR down hiE iurrOwcd checks, as bt
distributed bis refreshments: p" God bless you
] nave three sons in this uuholy WAT" And
one young lady, Hn enthusiastic brunei Whs
said Some OF my Copperhead friends say
will marry a negro yet. ] tell them j woulC
rather marry q loyal negro than Copper
head j hope she married good, true, l0ya
soldier aud has since lived q happy life.--D. u
ROsE 90. a, 18th Mich, Dodge City, Kan.
g-
Read Better than Pension on page 9.