The National tribune., 1894-07-12

Inc augusta railroad 10 Tue east Vi hU~
lanta had been effectually disabled by Gar
rard's Cavalry Division at different points
between Decatur and Covington, and by the
Fifteenth Corps between Decatur and Stone
Mountain. The communications TO be de-
stroyed, therefore, were south of Atlanta,
viz, the Montgomery & West Point Railroad
and the Macon & Western Railroad, which
ran from Atlanta together to EastpOrt, and
then branched off to their varons destina-
tions, as will be seen by the map.
Kilpatrick's proposition for the raid en-
braced more destruction of railroad than
that of the other division commanders, and
he was, therefore, selected but on the eve
of his departure he requested to be reinforced
ON account of the weakness of his division,
and consequently the brigades of Col. Minty
End Long and the Chicago Board of Trade
Battery, all from Garrard's Division, were
assigned him, leaving Wilder's Brigade,
under Col. Miller, near Buckhead to patrol
and watch the left of the army.
Fitzpatrick set out from Sandtown on Aug.
Is, 1864, and proceeded to L d Bank, on the
Montgomery &, West Point Railroad tearing
mp some track there and on the route.
With occasional fighting the command
next reached Jonesboro, on the Macon d
Western Railroad, and destroyed consider
able railroad track there.
The rebels in Atlanta having received
speedy word of Kipatrick's movements,
trainloads of troops were pushed down to
Jonesboro to intercept him, while the rebel
cavalry gathered On his TANKS and rear
His next move was south TO LOveJoy's Sta
ton, where he again attempted to destroy
railroad, but the rebel cavalry were pushing
him hard, while the infantry from Atlanta
were close on his heels In this dilemma,
literally surrounded, Fitzpatrick became, as
Comrade Landegan says of him on the Rich
mond raid of the previous March, He was
not in it. He did not seem to be himself"
At this critical juncture Col. Eli Long, an
old dragon, commanding one of the at
tached brigades from Garrard's Division,
suggested TO Fitzpatrick a plan of action
which he urged must be Immediately acted
upon to save the command. Fitzpatrick
adopted the plan and gave such orders of
formation as Long suggested.
On the McDonough road one small brigade
of Texans, about 900 men, and three guns,
under Ross, was holding position to check
Fitzpatrick until the rebel infantry came up.
Longs plan was not 10 wait to fight, but
this being the weakest point of the rebel
line, to ride right through it.
The 5000 troopers were therefore formed,
with Col. Minty's Brigade in advance, and
they rode down the Texans and got away,
closely pursued, however, by the rebel in
fantry. In this rush out of danger every
thing was put on the charge-artillery,
wagons and ambulances. The rebel guns
were taken, but one of our pieces broke
down and had to be abandoned in Cotton
Creek.
Fitzpatrick gave Col. Long full credit for
his ability and readiness, and upon his
recommendation Sherman urged his appoint
ment as a Brigadier-General of Volunteers.
and he was commissioned as such, to date
Aug Is, 1864, the date on which the Kilpa!-
rick raid started. He was also brevetted
Colonel in the Regular Army, to date Aug.
81, 1864, for gallant and meritOrious serv-
ices in the battle of Lovejoy's Station, Ca"
he being then Captain in the list Z. S.
Cav, with brevets of Major and Lieutenant
Colonel for gallantry and meritorious serv-
ices at Pennington and Knoxville. Having
no political influence being a Kentuckian,
he served with the LIST u. S. Cav. in his
actual rank until appointed by the Governor
of Ohio Colonel of the 4th Ohio Cav. in
February, 1863, upon the recommendation
of Gen. Rosecrans
His abilities being recognized, Gen. Long
was eooh aosiShou W Solhhi1hu vi shc Cef-
airy Division in which was his own old bril-
gade and those of Coils. Miller and Minty,
and by his brilliant assault on the works at
Selma, Ala, on the Wilson raid. insured the
success of that expedition. He was severely
wounded in the attack, and subsequently
brevetted Major-General, U. S. A., as well as
Major-General Volunteers, for this action.
He was retired as Brigadier-General after
the war, being disabled by his wound.
Col Minty commanded Longs Division,
after the General was wounded, for over a
month, until it was disorganized by the
muster-out or transfer of the troops, the war
being then over, and was brevetted Major
General of Volunteers-WM. T.. DOYLE,
Adjutant, 18th Ind, Stevensburg, Va.