The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-05-24

Illinois, my 30 days were ended all too
soon.
XVI.
/ returned to my command to fill out
the short period of my enlistment. |
found the camp in the same old quarters
in which l had left it. The surround
ings seemed to indicate that my remain
ing duties would be little more than
nominal. But Gen. Forrest came to
pay us his respects once more before our
final muster-out. He came unexpected.
1t was Sunday. We were aroused q
little after 3 in the morning by firing on
the fernando road. Our camp was just
a little off the road.
THE BUGLEs SOUNDED
"boots and saddles" As the firing
drew nearer one-half of the regiment
were ordered to fall in on foot, while
the remainder saddled. One battalion,
under Maj Graham, proceeded to the
road. 1t was SO dark and foggy we
could scarcely see across the street.
| could just discern through the mist
the outline of squadron to the left.
l hastened to inform Maj. Graham of
the position of the enemy. / could not
find him at once, and / assumed the
responsibility of turning the squadron
to face the foe.
"Who's turning this command ?"
said the Major, coming upon the scene.
| had not time to tell him before they
were upon us. Ten feet from us we
could not distinguish friend from foe
Otherwise the rencounter must have
resulted in much greater fatality, for
none of our pieces had as yet been dis
charged. The fear of firing upon friends
shielded our foes.
We rallied upon our camp-ground.
They did not follow. Other regiments
were camped in the vicinity, and more
than likely, like us, they would come to
reconnoiter the scene of action. The
fear of firing into them completely
paralyzed all effective work on our part.
Meantime 300 or 400 of Forests men
had dashed into the city mile-and-a-
half or more, evidently to capture the
Major-Generals. The raiders knew the
exact house in which they were quar-
tered. As luck would have it, not one
was caught. Gen. Hurlbut, temporarily
stopping at the Gayoso House, happened
to be out of his quarters, and the squad
detailed to capture him were disappoint-
ed. Gen. Washburn had close call,
but escaped in dishabille by the rear
door, and made for the fort. Gen.
Buckland, commander of the post, re-
ceived timely warning and also escaped.
A squad made dash on Irving Block
to release the prisoners. The guards
quartered in the upper story fired out
of the windows. They shot down the
leader and drove the rest away. Their
effort to release prominent rebel prisoners
was failure. Gen. Forrest returned
from the city bootless. The part of his
command with whom we had been en-
gagged had kept open the way and Sc
cured his retreat.
Daylight had by this time taken away
in measure the impenetrability of the
thick darkness of the fog, and we were
enabled to establish communication with
other regiments. Forrest, however, had
escaped outside our lines, and all we
could do was to harass and hasten up
his rear-guard.
Forests retreat was followed by our
cavalry for eight or ten miles, with little
results. 1t was bold dash, but had
not the fog interviewed in his favor it
must have proved very disastrous to
him. Familiar with every street in
Memphis, and posted by rebel SYM
pathizers as to the position Of our troops,
our pickets and our Generals Head
quarters; taken by surprise as we were,
and not knowing the force by which we
were attacked in the thick darkness, is
it any wonder that he rode into and out
of the city? But it was good lesson.
My term of service was soon fulfilled.
The part of the regiment that re-enlisted
did valiant work after this. Even as
my time expired they began their march
to Nashville. They hung about Hoods
army and kept it long at bay in ad-
vance upon that place. And when Gen.
Thomas finally threw down the real lance
of war and hurled his army, like mighty
avalanche, upon the invading foe, our
regiment came in for its full share of
glory.
Acting with others, the Cavalry Bri-
gade was first to seize two forts from the
enemy. They also recaptured the famous
Chicago Battery, lost in our disastrous
raid to Guntown, and pursuing the re-
treating army to the southern line of
Tennessee, captured more prisoners than
they themselves numbered. This, how
ever, belongs to other history than mine.
1.-THE end]