The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-04-09
BATTLE OF wAYNESBORo.
nrserIbca hr camraae on ihs oth OhIo CIV.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUSE: In your paper
OF Feb IL appears very interesting and valu-
able article from the pen OF COmrade John L.
Frederick, Co. G, 10Th Ohio Cav, giving n very
accurate and concise account Of KilPatTick's
fight a. WaynesborO. Ga Dec. f. 1864. WhilO
] have nothing but praise for the article writ
ten, and offer no criticisms, i must assume TO
say, what has so many times before been said
by different comrades in the same engagements,
that no one man saw IL all. Let US 20 back
a short time previous TO this sanguinaTy en-
EagemCut and ses what brought it on. The
cavalry at this time was with the LETT wing OF
tho army, commanded by Gen. III. W. SlOcum,
because the demand for the protection OF trains
had been tho most absolute in this direction.
Ever since tho army divided and left LOycjOy
Station. the cavalry had put up with many
annoyanees from WhCcler's Confederate troop
erS and several lively sbirmishCs had taken
place. when, on the afternoon OF Dec. 2, the
command, at least a part of 1t, passed
through the village Of WayBCsbOTO from the
northeast and, without changing its course,
passed five miles beyond and went into camp.
The next day, as We were resting on good
high ground. some infantry belonging to the
Twentieth Corps became quite holly engaged
with a small column that Wheeler sent out TO
feel our position. The 02d III. Med Inf. and
9Th Ohio Cav. were pushed out to drive thom
back. which was accomplished in fne style ;
but their audsCity had aroused Fitzpatrick 5
fighting blood, aud feeling goaded and iTritat-
cd. he resolved to punish them for 1t the next
day. He sent for Griffin his Chief Of Scouts,
aud learned from him that Wheeler was at that
time occupying WRyncsboro. five miles IN our
rear, with all Of his command. The buElo
sounded officers call" and soon the stars and
eagles of his whole command assembled at
headquarters. lie briefly told them to look out
for fun tomorrow. Every officer was to sec
that his command was ia the best OF condition.
aud in a few words Of encouragement told
them 20 strip for a fight"
At very early hour next morning the men
were in the saddle and then commenced re-
| trOgrRde movement 10 strike Nheelet's position
from the rear. We came mp on road leading
| into the village from the north. the 9th Ohio
! Cav, Col. w. ID. Hamilton commanding in the
! lead. 60. ii, Capt. J. i. Caldwell, was thrown
/ out well ia front as slsiTmishcIs, and broke
! through the woods 10 the edge Of the fields i'm
mediately in front Of the rebel battery on the
/ LEFT o. the road. They opened on US Tedh0t
| from their first barriCadc but We held snug 70
/ the fence until our regiment came up, when,
| taking our place in The ranks, we became the
! charging left regiment in the conflict
When our regiment had swung well out on
/ the extreme left flank, little personal Incl
dent occurred 20 tho writer Oi this article that
! leads him % believe that history, aud not Com
]
/ ton aud part taken in this fight by Col. Heath''
H 9th Ohio Cav. At a point close under the
/ northwest edge Of the elevation marked q on
| lIarmon's map was a low piece of swampy
] wet ground, through which a narrow ditch had
been cut at least five feet deep, running nortt
| and south.
10 became necessary for our regiment 10 cross
and in the confusion Of jumping and plunginl
1 horses, the writer's animal, himself astridc
! landed lCHGthwiic in the bottom Of this cXca
| walton. The command swept on close mp 20 thu
| edge of the swamp. driving everything iefoTe it
/ ] was LEFT in ihis prCdiCamcnt for two Ion:
hours, finally procuring the assistance OF TIVE
| darSies 10 help extricato the animal. AuC
! during this time no troops Of any description
| passed 10 my LETT or even entered the field Owe
which We charged. The line Of battle at tht
first formation from right to lett was as follows
9th Mich.,ll0th Ohio, g2d H. Mounted Int, 81
Ohio; the 10Th Wis battery being almost cX
actly in our rear from where We started will
our sabcrs flying.
Now, comrades this is written entirely from
memory. which after q years may have be
come somewhat rusty. Boys Of the 9th OH;
| Cav. is this correct? Surely We have a RICH
10 speak, for this was by far the most severe en-
| ga.cment on the march 10 the sea.
/ want to say, in closing. hurrah for Til
! NATIOSAL TRIBUNE, the soldiers friend, an
a service peRsiOn.-E. J. WEsI2, Co. II, 90
Ohio Cav, Little Falls y. Y.