The National tribune., 1892-12-15

~ y the morning OF March a. 1863. with
Al q SCI az su-bc ing detachmcmts from the
First Secor l. and Thir'i Cavalry Bri-
gades twot ,mpanies from the attn T.
6 Cav. and Lieut.. NeNFeli section OF artillery
under orders from Gen. Stanley, Chei oil Cav
airy / renolfed Gen. sheridan, then conf
1nRndi,,g the Third Division of the iwenueth
Corps or the right wing OF tue Arm! vi I"o
Cumberland
I found Sheridan at ms camp GA the Salem
nike his divisoa abont ready 10 move. lie
informed me that lie wuuia march 10 Eagies
vile. and added: Your duty Will be TO mask
NV division fam the cnemy, and yoH have a
carte blanche To perform that duty IA your owA
way"
/ marched al once, leaving the infautry in
eamp. and pushed FOR Rover, near where, had
learned Rns>oiI's Brigade nncamped.
AT Rover met about Ace rebels. WAC showed
q bold front and appeared determined TO make
stand.
The 4th Mich made dash TO get in their
rear while 1 aCi vauced with the Itb Pa aud
zth Regulars aud when we arrived within
striking distance drew sabeIs and charged.
The enemy was rapidly driven TO Uhionville,
where we fouud liie remainder OF the brigade,
about GOO men. drawn up IN ii:'e covering their
camp Without Il pause we rode rieht at them,
and they were saan fleeing in confusion. with
the gallant 9Th Pa in such close pursuit that
byviile and brought out several prisoners.
The fruits of This charge-in which not one
shot was fired 10y my brigade, the entire work
being done with sabers-were So Killed. %
wounded who fell into our hands,. l5l UNI
wounded prisoners, II wagons, 81 horses, IL
mules 81 tents, two portable farges aud several
wagon -loads Of cotniiI;ssary stores; all OF which
] sent into Murlieesb0rO.
On our return 20 MUrfreesboro ten days
later / learned that Gen. Rosecrans. III his
relegraphic report of this affair to the War De
partment, used the following complimentary
language:
"The brave Col. Minty used Sabers where
csrbines would delay"
Here / desire to call attention to the fact
that when a commander is named, as ! was in
this report of Gen. Rosecrans. it does not mean
him personally; it refers TO the command
which is known by his name Thus The
brave Col Minty" in this case meant the
brave, the gallant. the noble men whom Col.
Minty had the honor to command.
OF course, | fully appreciate the fact that
those gallant men loved and had full and entire
confidence in me; and. consequently, / could
accomplish more with them than could man
who did not command their confidence: and in
this take pardonable personal pride; but the
glory of their achievements is theirs, not mine.
except in this. that l, too, was member of
"the Saber Brigade"
To resume: / bivouacked south of Eagles
vile that night, at which place Gen. Sheridan
arrived early next morning. He expressed
himself as highly pleased with our work of the
day before. and to his report Of that affair are
we indebted for Gen. Rosecrans's appreciation
of our services.
Ny only casualty was one man OF the 9TH Pa
slightly wounded.
March and / had patrols out in every
direction. opening communications with ont
fer the enemy, who were impressed with the
idea that the entire country WAS swarming
with our cavalry.
On the night of the 9th bivouaeked south of
Triune where Gen. Sheridan and his division
were enclnped.
About midday of the 7th Gen. Sheridan
received Information of the capture by the
rebel General Van DoTu, OF Col Columns Bril-
ssde. near rhompsons Station, in front OF
sonth OF Franklin. lie ordered me TO take the
advance ard TO march rapidly for Franklin
where arrived early the morning OF March g.
Gen. Sheridan arrived late the same after
noon.
Gen. Gordon Granger, with two brigades of
infantry and two of cavalry the latter COM /
manded by Gen. Green Clay Smith and Col. I
watkins garFisoned Franklin.
Shortly after Sherdans arrival, he and 1
Stranger held a consultation which / was in /
vitsd to attend. Here it was decided that Gen. 1
Smith, with his splendid brigade numbering
j 500 men. should push forward to Thompson's /
Station that night; that before daylight the |
next morning., Col. Watkins with his brigade
LOO strong should marcs On the Lewiston I
pike and forIa a junction with Smiths left, +
while j should march, at the same time on the /
Carriers Crsek pike aud form junction with 4
Smiths right; Changers and Sberidan's u- /
fsntry Ia march at daybFeak. follow Smiths 4
line OF march. but keep out of sight of the |
enemy; t.ic cavalry, as soon as the three /
brigades we're IN position, TO advance and drive (
the enemy.
Before break of day ] was outside Changers /
pickets Gu the Carriers Creek pike, and almost
Immediately struck the enemy
The two companies of the 9TH Regulars. COM
manded By Lients. Rows and Rendebrook
formed my advance. and they-s0cn commenced
sending prisoners to the rear al rapid rate.
From these prisoners / learned that Arm
strong's Brigade WAS in my front This caused 1
uE considerable nneasiness on Smiths account;
here enc Of the best Confederate brigades I
IN the field IN rear Of his right, aud what he had
% contend with at Thompson's Station was a
matter Of conjecture. / therefore pressed for
ward as vigorously as possible; the country was
rough aLa billy, almost mountainous and in /
every way unfavorabie for cavalry operations:
but / continued 10 drive the enemy rapidly.
until ] arrived at Thompson's Station which.
20 my CONSERVATION, i found occupied by
5tearn's Brigade Of rebel cavalry.
My position was now precarioss in the ex-
tfeme. WIS about y miles from Franklin. The .
country behind me was OF such character that /
an attempt TO retreat over il must result in the /
destruction Of nay command.
Ny advance for the last nine miles had been |
rapid / halted for about 20 minutes 70 allow 1
the column 10 close up.
The el7eIny beld position on rising ground /
northwest Of and covering the railroad.
moved the two companies of the 4th Regu.
lars and one battalion of the 7th Pa well 10 i
the right with orders 10 tHrn the enemy's left, +
and then with sabers to charge directly on their !
flank
The zth Mich. and the two remaining bat /
talions of the 9TH Pa disnoupted and, sup
ported By the 9TH Ind, LIST Tenn, and Cd and /
4th Ohio mounted made direct assault on /
tween my dismounted men in front and the 4
mounted men charging the flank as to which /
should reach the enenay's position first
The rebels. although outnumb ering us by 1
over two 10 oHe were so disconnected by the 4
vigor OF our attack that they broke in disorder,
and were rapidly driven by my entire force |
through the gap leading TO Spring Hill
Vale, in Minty aud the Cavalry" describ- |
ing our movements after the halt TO allow the /
column TO close up page 13s, says: In about |
20 minutes the advance was sounded, and the |
command moved TO the attack The rebels re-
treated rapidly, before coming TO close quarters
to the station; where being reinforced By
Stesrn's Brigade the 25th Miss and the 2d
o.