The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-02-25

]
Orderlios were killed"
Tbr last number Of the Chattanooga Rebel ever
/ published IN CHATTANOOGA, sheet about IL
/ inches square, and printed on one side only,
contained the following paragraph: In the
! fight at Sparta on the 18th, the notorious Yam
kee cavalry General, Miuty, WAS killed"
A force was crossed about quarter Of mile
down the creek, which soon disodeed the
enemy, who retreRted rapidly toward King
sion, aud in the morning no trace oi them
could be found, except their dead, whom the
citizens were ordered TO bury.
Vale says, pages 207 s: The rebel force en-
! gagged was l.I9J men; Miutys force was l,400,
aud operating in IN unknown country while
evory cow path was familiar 10 the enemy;
notwithstanding which they were driven from
\ position after position from TO p. NJ als-
! tEuCe Ul il mics often al gIlop. Inc
number captured during the day was p repre-
! seutiug four different regiments tut the de-
moral ization Of their command WAS such that
! Dlbrcll officially reports that the sta Tenn.
/ alone crossed the Cumberland Mountains aud
I H. with less than when he reached Sparta. lie
/ likewise reports loss Of eight killed aud 50
wounded"
Ny loss was ono drowned, three officers and
| IL mon wounded.
On the night of the 18th ] arrived at Pixies.
4 willie, in the Scquatchie Valley, established a
/ hospital and loil my wounded there, with an
/ Assistant Surgeon in charge.
ON the 18th / took possession OF Smiths
/ Crossroads in the Tennessee Valley, making
/ prisoners OF $50 men, who were surprised al
/ the foot Of Waldron's Ridge
Sept. / Maj. Gray, with the 9TH Mich. opened
communications with Gen. Burnside's right
at Kingston, and
MADE PRISONERS OF l2s MEN
! from Buckners Corps, and on the Cd reported
] Go Con. Crittcnden: BuckneT's command has
40
now being pushed fast as possible toward
/ Chattanooga"
On Sept I3 ] crossed the Tennessee River by
fording, detached the 81 Ind. 20 Chattanooga for
/ picket and courier duty aud with the remain
der Of my brigade drove FcGram's cavalry
/ through GRANVILLE and about midnight re-
ported 10 Gen. CriteBden az Lee q Gordon's
Mil. On the lsth, under orders from Gen.
Crittendeu, ! crossed Missionary Ridge into
Lookout Valley and returned 10 Gordon's Mil
next day.
ON the evening Of the 18th Gen. Crittendon
directed me 20 proceed at once TO Pea Vine
Valley and establish my headquarters in the
vicinity of Lect's Crossroads.
Crossing the Chckamauga at Reod's Bridge
] moved into Pea Vine Valley, east Of Pea
Vine Ridge, and at dark camped at Keeler's
Mill, on Pea Vine Creek, near the Ringgold
road and sent patrols i'm the direction Of Gray
willie, Riuggod Lcot's and Rock Springs On
the return of the patrols during the night, /
reported 10 Gen. CritlCnden the information
gained, and 81 about 2 a. m. received the fol-
lowing TcPy from Capt. Oldershaw, Assistant
Adiutant General, Twenty-frst Corps: The
Major General commanding directs me 10
acknowledge the receipt OF your letter Of this
date, informing him that Forrest is al lIpggOld,
LOngstreet at Dalton, PePram at Leet's, and
Buckner at Rock Springs. al this would in
dlcate infantry, which the Major-GeneEal COM
mauding cannot believe"
Van Horne, in his History Of the Army Of
the Cumberland" page 327 says: Daring the
18th Minty reconnoitered the front and re-
ported that the enemy was in force at Dalton,
Rnggold, Leets lanyard and Rock Springs
Church"
On the 10th reported to Con. Crittenden
that force of infantry had that morning
moved from the direction Of Rock Spring
toward RnggOld.
lie REPLIED VERY CURTLY,
" it was nothing but small force Of dis.
mounted cavalry"
j personally went 10 Gordon's Mil 10 see
Gen. Crttendeu, and followed him TO Crawfsh
Springs, where i found him with Gen. Rose
Grams j did my best 10 convince him that
Gen Bragg was mRssing on his left; that lac
bad been reinforced by Gen. Longstreet with
two corps lie secuted the idea, and said:
/" LongstFeet is in Virginia"
l4BietAGtel
was yesterday at Dalton, with two corps from
The Army OF Northern Virginia"
Gen. k0secrans ma4e some remark. d0 not
recolcct Do with sufficient cloGrncss 10 quote II
now; bot il indicated that he was inclined q
place confidence in my report Crittendou
: sprang TO his feet and, raising his hand above
his head. exclaimed
General, j Will guarantee with my corps
I TO whip every rebel within 20 miles Of rs"
This settled the matter. Here was a distin.
. gulshed General, commanding q magnificent
, corps, The left wing OF the army, and / only
Z Colonel, commanding a little brigade Of cav
airy took my leave with a heavy heart and
. FASTENED back 10 my command.
, On the return Of my patrols, on the 18th,
3 sent my report as usual 10 Gen. Crttenden
When my courier returned he informed Enl
. that Col. Wilder was at AleXander's Bridge be
G tween my position aud GOrdon's Mill. Thi
was cheering news, Tor IL ] was la a tigh
place ] would rather have Wilder with Dbl
splendid brigade Of mounted infantry, support
ing me, than any brigade In the army. We ha,
! / worked and fought together, and the two bri
gades had full and
{ PERFECT c0NFIDENCE IN EACH OTHER.
Before daybreak on the 18th had stroni
3 patrols on the roads leading TO Riuggold ant
d Locls. About 6 O'Clock c0uriers came ia fron
Q both directions, reporting the enemy udyancin
b in force. al once reported this fact 10 Gen
Gordon Granger, commanding the Rescry
q Corps, az ROssyille; 10 Gen. Tom Wood, O
4 Gordons Mil; Gen. Crittenden, al Crawlis
d Springs; and Col. Wilder, at AleKander's Bridg,
and took position on the eastern slope Of Pe
Q Vine Ridge.
g Will now drop my narrative for o while
t aud quote from the legend on the Official maE
g that portion which makes mention Of N
brigade:
= LEGEND on MAP A.
PEELIMIEAEY MOVEMENTS.
Minty's Cavalry Brigade Ia front and east ,
kccas Bridge, la addition 10 the threatening d
II monsiThuOus made by the enemy on the 10Th au
e lsth from the direction uf both Ringgoid aud II
4, iaycttc WA curly on thc 18Th nppIlzcd by airon
= patrols cent out lu both directions that the enem
a was advancing la heavy force from RiuRgo.d ,
"a well ub Lafayette.