The National tribune., 1894-01-18
AT NASHVILLE.
How COoper's Brigade Won a Victory Not
Intended by Their Commander.

| now SOOpeTs won tEctOfV MOI
Intended by Their Commander.
| EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / see in
| your Picket SHOTS that many of the boys
make an imaginative assertion in regard TO
the command which connected with Wilson's
Cav. on the right of the Federal line at
Nashville on the afternoon of Dec 10, 1864.
| was there, and talked and acted with the
di-mounted cavalrymen in taking redoubt,
capturing three cannon and 20 or so prison.
ers. / never served an hour in 4. j. Smith 8
or any other command except j. E. CoOpers
Brigade, COUGHS Second Division, Twenty
third Corps They were III it at that point
about 2:30 to p. M, and stayed long enough
10 break the rebel line on their lett, with
out orders, which brought about complete
victory, with slight loss, about 3 p m. on the
10th.
1t was then reported that Gen. Couch
made verbal complaint to SchOfield, GEN.
suring Cooper's Brigade for disobeying orders
by charging the enemy's fortified line, while
we uld hear him shouting Haiti" Tor all
he was worth; all of which are literal facts.
1t was also reported next day that Scho-
field asked Couch if the aforementioned
brigade (COoper's) accomplished what they
undertook, and Couch answered Yes"
well" said Schofe!d, that is All right,
as that is what We are here for-to fight and
whip those rebels"
Couch then closed his mouth. give this
as l heard it repeated broadcast at the
time.
However, Couch left us in North Caro-
lima the following March, and Ringer sue
ceeded HIM. / presume Couch became
disguised with our capers, and asked to be
transferred or relieved, as our style was not
according to West Point and his idea of
military machinery which he undertook to
carry cut on the eve of Dec. Is, 1864
On this occasion he undertook TO form his
division with Cooper's Brigade on the LETT of
the aforementioned three cannon redo1bt
on the very crown of the high ridge which
ran southwest from the red0ubt, said redoubt
being in the rear or west of what Cox calls
Mrs. Bradford's House. This house was q
hewn log house; at least, it was the only
house ] saw in the vicinity, and take ii for
granted that it was Mrs. Bradford's
As 10 Couch's intended division formation
on crown of the open ridge within musket-
range Of the enemys fortified line, with his
artillery and musketry playing on Us, he
could just as well have formed so yard,
more or less, in rear, and we would have
bad shelter while waiting for the remaining
DTigaues 10 come up ana form on our right;
but no, we must be a target for rebel artiI-
lery in order to crafty West Point wbim,
and for no other reasonable or imaginable
cause whatever. And what his intention was
after be would have completed this dress
parade formation, no man has ever attempted
TO explain; I seriously doubt that he could
explain il himself
Col. Cross of the Sd Tenn, as well as
every officer and enlisted man in the brigade,
saw the absurdlty of such exposure. He
stepped few PAGES in front of the few re-
naming men OF his regiment, and, with a
wave of his old regimental glove, every man,
with sudden impulse, charged the reboubt,
and all - would not have halted them
COoper's Brigade was then composed os fol-
lows: 81 and 9th Tenn, % Mich, 99rh
Ohio, either the 18th or Goth KY. and the
PersimmOn Knockers, both Ind.-FRANCIs
OLEARY, Go. d, both Ind, Rexford, Kan.