The National tribune., 1894-02-15
TUNN Ell HILL
A Smart Encounter That Reflected Gre lit
on the 39th Ind.

on the 39th Ind.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: One would
think III reading the ar,Icles in The Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE that fighting regiments"
were rarity during the late war. Now /
claim, and facts and records will bear me
out, that the old seth Ind. was fighting
regiment from way back, and has a record
that il is proud of. II IN Init fair to assume
that every regiment did its duty, aud the
fact that one was called into a position that
requir, hard fighting is no argument that
another placed on duty where there was no
call for fight wOuli not have shown as
much valor had opportunity offered.
i had the homer OF belonging to a regi-
ment known as The 39th Ind, afierwaId
Mid Inf, then 9Th Ind. Cav. After being
mounted We were rearmtd with the Spencer
| r f1e, seveu%hOeter, which Was just being
| brought IN o Use.
The occurrence IF which / wish to speak
was in February. 1864. We lay on The Chat
tanooga & Knoxville Railroad, six miles
from Chattanooga. From our numerous en-
counters with and Severe dressing OF the
rebs in Tennessee and Georgia, they gave
rs the cognomen of "HarrIson's KrItrer
Regiment" and we were egoti>tIca1 enough
to think we could do little fighting. Col.
|
regiment, or that portion he had there. on
the 22d OF February, 1864, with three days
ratiOns, and to push the T, bells along the
Western & Atlantic Railroad.
Gen. Wheeler's forces were steadily driven
back to point near Ringgold, where they
made a stand, but after short encounter,
being hard pressed, they Tell hack to Ring
| gold, where another stand WAS made; hut
| the old 39th were not in The least dsmayed,
and went straight at the emmy, using the
| SpeDcers with such deadly effect that the
| followers of Wheeler put ont on the run,
with Co. K leading hot pursuit, not
allowing them an opportunity TO again re-
form until within two miles of Tunnel Hill,
Ga. Then the rrbs, dsmOuDtiBg, formed
behind a rail barricade, thereby placing an
obstruction in the way, thinking TO keep the
| Hoosiers " out of the town. Blu, Col. Har-
rison took in the situation at glance. He
ordered a company 10 either flank, and
| placing himself in front, drew his saber, and
| gave the order TO charge.
The little band swept down upon the
| works with such an irresistible force, accom-
panied with volleys from the Spencers, that
sent them back in the most precipita' ION,
closely followed by the boys, who, when
they reached the top of hill overlooking
view md5 pltScuiGu CudL Il
seldom seen. In the town the troops were
in confusion and surprise, while an effort
was being made to form them in line for
resistance. Our COlOnePs quick perception
showed him the advantage tn he gained by
| prompt action, where the odds were so large
Oh the other side. He ordered two companies
TO the right and left flank, then taking posi-
ton in the center, with his men he charged
with deafenIng yell down that hill into
their midst, whilst the leaden messengers Of
| death increased their CONSERVATION.
The rebels, dismayed at the sudden and
reckless onslaught of handful OF Yanks,
broke in disorder, each one trying to get into
the front ranks. tumbling over each other in
| the most ludicrous manner, while the charg-
ing party rapidly CLOSED in upon them. Once
OF twice they tried 10 reform, but voIley
from the Spencers sent them again in con-
| fusion, leaving their dead and wounded be-
hind.-L- S. FALLS, Qnartermaster-Ser-
geant, Co. A, Both Reg't, = h Ind. Cav, 1924
West Congress street, Chicago, Ill.