The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-01-26
FIGHTING THEM OVER,
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
THE Der BRIGADE.
An Expedition FOR the Relief of Part of Rey-
noids-s Division.


notably one on March go 10 relieve
the Second Brigade ofGeu. Reynolds Division,
which was surrounded by Gen. Morgans force
at Milton about 10 miles southeast from Muir
freesboro.
1t having been determined to drive John
Morgan from his stronghold al Snow Ill., south
Of Liberty. Gen. Stanley organized an expedi-
sion for that purpose
On the morning of April = Gen. Stanley or
dered me TO take the advance with the First
and Stcoad Biiradcs OF Cavalry, and to march
rapidly for Lihrrty.
Tho enemys pockets were met at Auburn,
and were driven TO Prosperity Church by the
advance guard. liere VIC met strong force
holding good position on Ugh ground on the
southwest bank of Smiths Creek.
The enemy. assuming the offensive. moved
= force up the Jeff tank OF the creek threaten
ing an attack on NY left. | sent Col. Paramore
with his hrieaAc-Isf. Cd. AID 81 OAio-against
this force. which fell back before him. As
Paramore advanced he IN turn threatened the
right OF the reicl position causing them to
waver perceptihiy.
/ directed Lieut. Newell to open fire with
his two guns; a battalion Of the 4ih Mich. dis
mounted aud quickly dislodeed the enemy
Ekirmishers and shsrpsaoOters from the woods
bordering the creek.
At this moment Gen Stanley arrived on the
field with division of infantry, and Morgan
fell back towards Liberty. / occupied their
position. on which bivouacked that night.
Early on April 3 Gen. Stanley ordered for
ward movement. With my brigade adj
vsnced directly mp the valley, and quickly drove
the rebels through Liberty. They made stand
sghort stance south Of the village. or the foot
hills, with creek in front of their position. /
directed Col Paramore with the Second Bril-
gade to cross the creek higher up and to turn
the left flank of the rebel position.
Morgan 81 once fell back | followed him
closely. aud ordered Col. Paramore to move up
3 valley parallel to the one / was in, and to
keep in line with my brigade.
About bali n mile from the foot of Snow Hill
Morgan again attempted to make stand. He
occupied formidable position, and opened fire
from two batteries In earthworks short dis
lance up the hill. The 4th Mich. Gismounted.
and pressed forward into the woods on the bill
side. in frcnt OF the enemys lett, and was sup
ported BIZ the 9th Tenn. The 9TH Pa advanced
directly up the road, slowly followed by the
10th Ohio and the section Of artillery.
The FIRE of the 4th Mich. proving very
effective on the rebel line. ! ordered the 18th
Pa. to charge, which that regiment, led by
Lieut.-Col. Sipes, did In its customary gallant
and dasbing style. The rebels did not wait
for the rencounter, but fell back rapidly to
their position on Snow Hill.
Ideployed the 10th Ohio and moved il n the
face OF the hill. placed the artillery in position
TO shell the rebel batteries, and with the 4th
Mich. 9Th Tenn. and 9TH Pa. moved rapiily up
Dry Run. endeavoriug TO get in Morgans rear
and 10 cut off his retreat AS moved forward
Morgan abandoned his position and reireated
rapidly to McMinnvile.
This was the same force which had sur
rounded and attempted to capture Col, Halls
Brigade at Milton on the 20ti of March, and
numbered $50 Glen. with six pieces of artillery
The infantry and the Second Cavalry Bril-
gade returned directly to Murfreesboro, while
/ made circuit through Alexandria, Cherry
Valley. GAINESVILLE. Statesville, Lebanon, and
Boards Mill, arriving ct Murfieesboro az p.
N, April 6.
We buried II Confederate dead, and brought
in 65 prisoners aud 357 horses and mules.
The total loss in the cavalry were two men
wounded in the 4th Mich and one killed and
two wounded in the 9Th Pa
On April 9 Gen. Stanley marched for Frank
lin to reinforce Gen. Gordon Granger, who
was threatened by the rebel Gen. Van Dorn,
with 10000 cavalry and mounted infantry
For the only time in the history of the
Saber Brigade il went on an expedition
leaving ia camp. j was under the Surgeons
care and unable to go with il.
After SANKEY'S arrival at Franklin Granger's
force mustered about 5000 infantry and 2,7O0
cavalry.
truck the enemy in flank. The 4th L. s. Cav.
made gallant charge and captured Freensu's
battery; but before they could bring it off
Armstrong; rebel brigade made a counter
charge and recaptured it.
Vale, in "Minty and the Cavalry" pages
las aad 1f6, gives the following description of
this affair: 4" Gen. Stanley crossed the Harneth
northeast of the town and engaged the enemy
under Col Starnes, whose force on that part of
the field consisted of his own brigade and Free
mans battery Of four pieces. The 4th Cav
dashed upon the center of Starnes's line broke
Il. driving it dernorslized from the field; then
charged upon the battery. & short but desper-
ate encounter took place over the guns Free
man, knowing that Forests whole force was
al baud, encouraged his men TO fight to the
last, and when completely overpowered en-
deay0red 10 retreat with two of his guns Lieut.
ReBdlehro0k, with two companies dashed after
and soon overtakIBg him demanded his own
and the surrender of his guns. Freeman re-
fused and urged his horses on. firing his re-
vclrer almost in the face of the Lieutenant
At his third shot Serg't-Msj. Strickland. with
single shot from bis revolver, laid him dead
on the road. The guns were brought back to
where the other portion Of the battery was in
possession Of the 4tb.
Forrest promptly rallied his command and
attacked the 4th with Armstrong; Bri-
gade. The 9th, being entirely unsup-
ported retreated, when nearly surrounded to
the north side Of the river, abandoning after
disabling. the captured guns. The rebel loss in
this engagement was 81 killed and over $50
wounded and captured. Most of the wounded
prisoners were recaptured when the regiment
retrested, but the 4th brought out As un-
wounded. The 4th lost & We men killed and
1e wounded"
Gen. Stanley reported particulars of this af.
fair 70 Gen. Rosecrsns by telegraph, and added:
IF hInty is well enough send him TO me- If
be had been here today we would have brought
out those guns"
Gen. Rosecrsns sent for me ard handed me
the Telegram, which ] read and handed back.
saying: General, ] am ready" An hour
Later, with couple Of Orderlies my servant
and horses j was Cd my way TO Nashville by
rail At Nashville / was transferred 10 the
Nashville & Decatur Road and early next day.
April IL, L reported TO Gen. Stanley at Frank
lin; but Van Dorm had fallen back 10 Column
bis south Of Duck River, during the night, and
there was no enemy near US.
Van Horne, in his History of the Army Of
the Cumberland" Vol. /, pages 1885,, saws:
Gen. Stanley crossed the river aud struck The
enemy in flank, but was subsequently, forced 10
recrOss. Having met such opposition before
reaching Franklin. Gen. Van Dorm retreated
without making general attack.
The command returned to Murfreesboro ar
irving on the evening of April II. The death
OF Capt. Freeman, who was a gallant soldier,
would have been a very serious matter for
Serg't Maj. Strickland il the enemy could have
captured and identified hiin. Vale pages
1865, after telling Of the killing OF Free
- a avs -. HI.