The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-08-31
PICKETING AND SCOUTING.
incidents in the History of the Saber Bril-
gade, Army of the Cumberland.

gade, Army of the Cumberland.
~ \ the arrival of the brigade at Chat
tanooga, after covering the retreat
~ of Gen. Thomas, with the Army OF
the Cumberland, from Rossvllle, 1t
bivouacked on the Crutchfield property on
the slope of Moccasin Hill, and the weary
men at once proceeded to get their first
meal since the Dist.
Within half an hour after our arrival in
side the lines at Chattanooga l was ordered
10 report in person at Gen. Rosecrans's
Headquarters.
Without a moments delay reported to
Gen. Garfield, Chief of Staff, whom l found
seated at his desk, apparently overwhelmed
with business.
The moment Ientered the room he turned
to me and said:
"Col Minty, it is desired that you take
your brigade and make dash 10 the front,
TO discover the position and strength of the
enemy between here and Rossville."
/ replied: "Gen. Garfield it is not over
half an hour since | came in from the front.
/ have been fighting the enemy between
here and Rossville since halfpast five this
morning. and can give you the position Of
every rebel in the valley"
The orders are, sir, that you make
dash to the front with your brigade"
General, always obey orders, but you
will allow me to say, if my brigade makes
dash to the front, it will inevitably be
tangled up in the broken ground and woods,
and will never get back to Chattanooga;
every man of US must be killed or captured.
What are the instructions, sir?"
Gen. Garfield hesitated for moment, and
then said, " You will report with your bril-
-
in the trenches" and, grasping my hand,
added: "This is a dangerous service which
yOu are called upon to perform, but we are
satisfied that it viii be well and gallantly
done"
General, must acknowledge that fail
to see the necessity for this dash to the
front, or what good can result from it; but
you can depend upon the duty being per-
formed to the best of our ability"
And that was my last interview with
James A. Garfield.
Within an hour from the time we passed
through the intrenchments, entering Chatta-
nooga as the rear-guard of the Army of the
Cumberland, the Saber Brigade was stand
ing in column of TOURS with its head close
to the same intrenchments, ready TO be
landed into what / believed to be for us
the valley of death"
/ had no difficulty in finding Gen.
Thomas; his noble figure was the promi-
nent one on the advance line of works.
! rode forward, and Saiutipg, said: " Gen.
Thomas, l have been ordered to report to
you for instructions"
" For what, Colonel?"
A" To make dash to the front to discover
the position of the enemy"
" You viii do nothing of the kind, sir"
said the grand old soldier. you came in
from the front within an hour, did you
pot?n
al did, sir"
Send your brigade back, and return to
me-"
did so, and remained with the General
about two hours. I fully described the
position of the enemy, and he asked many
questions, but all to the point. At the end Of
the two hours he expressed himself as fully
satisfied, and returned to my command.
That night the 4th Mich. and 7th Pa.
worked in the trenches and early next
morning, Sept. %, the brigade crossed the
Tennessee River and marched for Washing
ton, near which place l rejoined the division,
which had not seen since the 1st day of
August, when my brigade was detached to
cover the left flank of the army.
/ reported TO Gen. George Crook, who had
succeeded Gen. Turchin in the command.
The duty now devolving On our division
was that of guarding the Tennessee River,
for the purpose of preventing the crossing
OF the enemy's cavalry and the destruction
or interruption Of our line Of communica-
tiona
Late on the afternoon Of the 25th, while
was with Gen. Crook near Washington, East
- -. n
Wheeler with 5000 men, was making for
Cotton Port Ferry, few miles below. The
General instructed me to send one battalion
20 watch the ferry. / suggested that /
should take my brigade 10 the threatened
point, but he would not allow me TO do so.
/ sent one battalion OF The 4th Regulars
commanded by Capt Mccormick, whom
instructed 10 get to the river as quickly as
possible TO resi-t The crossing TO the best Of
his ability, and to report 10 NE the moment
he arlived at the river.
Within half an hour Mccormick reported
that Wheeler had made Judgment on our
side of the river, and that already consid-
cradle force had crossed.
instructed my Adiutant- General to have
horses saddled Immediately, and then hur-
ried over 10 Division Headquarters, reported
the conditions, and asked 10 be allowed 10
move against the enemy at once while his
force was crossing the broad river, and in
formed the General that my horses were
already saddled, and that / could be on the
march inside of five minutes.
Gen. Crook would not sanction the move
ment, but directed me to send two batta.l-
ions TO reinforce Mccormick. / sent two
battalions Of the 4th Mich, under command
OF Maj. Horace Gray. j soon received re-
port from him that he was outnumbered 10
10 one, and that the entire of Wheeler's
force was crossing the river. This !
promptly reported 10 Gen. Crook, who at
once ordered TO horse" and with the en-
tire division made hurried movement TO
Sales Greek, a short distance north of Chat
tanoOga.
] sent couriers to recall Gray's and Nc
COrmick's commands, but they failed 10
reach them. They had evidently been cut
off The enemy was in force between us
and them.
] asked for permission to attempt their
rescue, but il was refused, with the remark
that they had without doubt been already
captured.
Itwas generally understood in the brigade
that one battalion Of the 4th Regulars and
two battalions of the 4th Mich. had been cut
off and captured; and it was with heavy
hearts that we marched south, leaving our
gallant comrades to their fate without even
making an effort TO rescue them.
About 10 o'clock we biyouacked north OF