The National tribune., 1894-05-10


of himself and comrades, and hope it may
prove an incentive to other participants te
do likewise.
But the Captain is mistaken in regard to
the DAYS of the week on which it occurred.
The preliminary skirmishing, during which
a small cannon was captured from the enc
my, took place on Friday afternoon, Aug.
%, and Saturday, the Both, was the grea'
day of battle.
/ was member of Co. D, list Ind, after
ward known as the 9th Ind. Cav. The field
officers of this regiment were Lieut.-Col. Nj.
d. Topping and Maj. William Conklin, both
of whom were killed early in the day IN
Saturdays battle. The commissioned Off
GERS of Co. d were Capt. d. A. Conover, sub
sequently a Major in the 9th Ind. Cav;
First Lieut.. E. A. Thompson, afterwaTd
Captain of Co. NJ of the 9th Cav; and Sec
ond Lieut. Thos. Cullin.
The list was new regiment, having just
been recruited during the latter part of July
and the first days of August, and was mus
tered into the service at Indianapolis on the
18th day of August. only II days before the
battle.
We were armed and equipped, and went by
railroad to Louisville, thence to Lexington.
From Lexington we marched to Nicholas
vile, and after rest of day or two pro-
ceeded to Richmond, and went into camp a
little south of the town, and were attached
TO Gen. Manson's Brigade.
We had scarcely got settled in our quarters
before the camp was full of exciting rumors
about large army under Kirby Smith be-
ing at the Big Hill, and moving in the di-
rection of Richmond.
We being new to the service, these reports
naturally filled us with intense anxiety,
and little later the movements OF Met
calf's cavalry added not little to our trepl-
dalton. Some of the wags, of which every
company has its complement, made light Of
the rumors about an advancing enemy, and
Pat Veach, of our company, was willing to
wager anything that there was not an armed
rebel between Richmond and Cumberland
Gap.
On the 29th the long roll was beaten; the
companies formed and took their places in
the line; we marched south mile or two
and took position on the west side of the
road, on high ground, near cluster of hay
stacks. While we were at this place we
saw our advance companies return, bringing
with them a small brass cannon, or how
itZer.
All felt encouraged at this. The enemy
having been met and repulsed, and leaving
with us a trophy in the shape of a small
piece of artillery,we thought things were 60
ing in our favor, and of course felt somewhat
elated. As evening came on we moved for
ward to Rogersville, small village about
five or six miles south of Richmond, went
into a meadow, aud slept on our arms.
On Saturday morning, the Both, we were
up by daybreak and got our breakfast, and
about sunrise we heard cannonading down
the road, and Immediately received orders
70 10 laa dor ialy
As we hurried down the pike by the little
brick church the cannons were booming and
the solid shot and shell plowed the ground
beside our column, while some crashed
through the lower branches of the trees.
We took position on the east side of the
pike short distance south of the church, to
support a battery which was planted on a
slight eminence Immediately In our front
We had not been here long until Lieut. E.
A. Thompson was struck on the arm by a
piece of shell, inficting a painful wound,
and Eli Nation, Co. F, just to our right,
was killed.
Shortly after this we were ordered to the
right across the road, and before the move
ment was completed, by somebody's blunder-
ing command, we countermarched back to
our first position. This was done in an
open space aud under terrific fire of mus
kerry from the enemy, and but for the fact
that they overshOt us just little more than
half our men would have been killed.
Just as we got back to our former place
q retreat was ordered. The rebels were
close upon our left, and were pouring upon
us hot fire. / could not see them, but a
cloud Of smoke rising above the standing
corn showed that they were closing in upon
u. 1t was here that Maj. Conklin was
killed.
We fell back and passed to the west side
OF the road north Of the brick church. Here
IN the timber We found some officers trying
70 rally the men to make another stand
and while we were waiting to see if this
would be successful, we were startled by
sudden vOlley of smalI-arms which came
from the rebel cavalry, who had nearly
fauked us on this side
My brother, Serg't Russell p. Robertson,
was struck by bullet inside the foot. 1t
was glancing hot, just marking the leather,
but producing singing and burning sensa-
tiOn, and causing his foot to swell consider
ably We crossed to the east side of the
road again, and came TO where our forces
were making another stand.
A line was formed in the open fields. and
here we stood our ground for some time. On
this line Gen. Manson was a conspicuous
figure on his large horse as he gallOped from
the left to the right waving his hat, in full
view of the oncoming rebels in solid pha-
lanx. But the enemy had overpowering
numbers, and we had to retire from this po-
sition.
never in all my life suffered for the want
Of water as / did that hot and sultry day.
Seeing large farmhouse some distance
ahead Of us, / thought to myself will get
drink and ill my canteen when we get there.
But L was doomed to disappointment, for the
well was surrounded by a struggling mass of
men, all like myself furnishing for a drink of
water. / gave it up, and suffered on till
night.
Gen. Nelson arrived on the field in the
afternoon, having ridden from Lexington
since morning i had never seen the Gen.
eral, yet / recognized him as he rode along
with Gen. Manson, from his striking re-
semblance TO his brother, the Hon. Thomas
ii. Nelson, of Terre Haute, Ind.
Our retrograde movement continued till we
reached the cemetery near Richmond, when
another stand was made. The line formed
extended through the cemetery and across
the pike. was in that part of it just west
OF the cemetery. Gems Nelson, Manson and
CTuft rode along in front of us encouraging
the men, and in short time the engage
ment opened, aud for while it was pretty
hot
Finding the rebels were getting around
our right, we fell back into the town. This
has been called the graveyard fightr