The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-11-16
GEN. GEORGE sroNEMAN, q. s. A.

GEN. GEORGE SToNEMAN, u. s. A.
was so unexpected by the enemy that they
broke in confusion, not waiting to ascertain
how many were in their front.
followed them for two miles, when they
made stand. continued the fight until
8 o'clock D. m, when l drew off and fell
back, not knowing where was going; but
1t turned out ali right, for at II o'clock p.
M came upon our camp. The first man l
met was Col. Garrard He could not sleep,
and was walking back and forth in great
trouble ever the supposed loss of his regi-
ment But our r-gimen:al cslsrs were lost.
When everything had fallen back Col.
Garrard asked some one TO go back aud notify
me that all had fallen back, and for nae to
follow.
The Sergeant who was carrying the colors
of the 7th, which the Colonel was using as
his brigade colors, volunteered his services,
and rode right into the rebel lines and was
captured. He said it was the 9Th Tex. Cav.
that got him and the eolors. We have made
every effort since the war to recover those
coloIs, having written to the Governor and
the eAGiu aut-General of the State. The
Governor wrote that he would make special
effort to recover them.
The Adiutant-General wrote that he knew
several times upon the ba tlefield, and that
nothing wou d give him more pleasure than
70 return to the brave men the flag they had
fought under, and that nothing would be
lacking on his part in searching for them
and if they were TO b. found tBey would at
once be returned; but as yet they have not
turned up.
On the following dav the most desperate
fight of the war all things considered-the
battle Of Franklin-took place On this day
the cavalry skirmished with Forests cav
airy, and prevented them from striking our
infantry on the lett flank as we laced the
enemy, hut on the right rs we moved back
on Nashville, and also prevented him For
restD from getting between our forces and
Nashville.
On reaching Nashville the 7th was ordered
20 go into camp on the north side of the
Cumberland River at Granny White Ferry,
which Is three miles beiow the city.
Our duty was 10 patrol The river as far as
Harpeth Sboa's, distance 40 miles, and pre-
vent the enemy from crossing, and to keep
Gen. Thomas informed if they did cross.
We were kept on this duty, the writer still
In command, until the evening of Dec. IA,
when /
TOOK THE REGIMENT
bridge the crOss-ties covered with plank l
put the regiment in position on the right of
everything except two small monitors. The
right Of the 7th was on the bank of the
river. On the morning of the 18th the Colo
mel was relieved OF the command of the
brigade by Col. Ben Harrison, who was then
lihout commai d bis having gone through
with Sherman 10 the sea. Col. Garrard re-
turned TO the command Of the regiment and
10 that Of the 1st la TALON.
as there Was considerable controversy
over articles written by ne and published
IN The NATIONAL TRIBUNE a few years
ago, as TO who occupied the right Of Thomas's
line, / viii give the position of Wilson's
cavalry, that operated on the right of
Thomss's line.
On the right of the Fourth Corps infantry
was Hatchs Division; on the right of Ha chs
Division was CrOxtOn's Brigade of cavalry;
on the right OF CroxtOn was Kn pes Division
Of cavalry; on the right of Knipe was John-
sous Division Of cavalry and on the extreme
right OF JohBso','s Division was the 7th
Ohio, their right resting on the Cum berland
River
As soon as the fog was sufficiently raised
on the morning OF the 18th oi December cur
forces moved out from behind their works,
and then came The ting 0i war" In john
sons Division there were but two regiments
mounted. viz, the 5 b Iowa and 7th Ohio;
these two regiments were on the right and
the dism0unted regiments we're on our
left, next 10 Knipe's Di, ision, and in front OF
JOhnson's DiSis on Was Chalmers's Division.
By O'Clock he first day he 5th Iowa and
the 7th Ohio were driving Chalmers back so
rapidly that they unhitched from four guns
IN coTn6ed Dear the river about FIVE niilts
tu Ia In, fka a., r@l
we passed it just as we found it, These
guns wers hauled down and put on board
one OF the gnnboats that accompanied us
down oa their return 10 Nashville, bat dis
amed any honor Tor their capture but
gave II 10 the cavalry, as ! learned from
friend who wEs 1reseut when they returned ;
but saw ia The NATIONAL TRIBUNE under
"FoFecsstle F" items that some comrade claim
ed them ss a trophy of the navy.
The ground WAS very soft In these corn
fields, snd the JohnBies had The first pas
over 1t, and il was very iaborious on our
horses, and the Colonel ordered me TO take M
battalion and charge down the pike. Thi.
was charge sUmb,r 10. SO / COZ tinued in
this chase aboHt enc miie, when ran upon
battery Of guns just across creek,
which opened on me as soon as my front
was cleared. ] was so cl Sc on Ia them that
they had not time 10 destroy the bridge that
epanned the creek
On being conronted by artillery, dis
mounted my men aud sent the horses be-
hind = ridge and
ENGAGED THE MEN
as skirmishers. On the Colonel coming up
be said: Captain, will give you Co. f to
add 10 your battalion, anu ] want you io
take the battery" l felt little spotted
and said: Colonel, is not that little pre-