The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-10-03

Col. Capron Immediately sent up a com.
pany of the 9TH Ohio Cav, commanded by 8
Lieutenant. While consulting with this
Lieutenant about posting his men to best
advantage to resist another attack from above
a volley was fired in the rear north o.
Headquarters, on the pike. This was fol
lowed in few seconds by heavier volley
and then a clash of con ending forces with
continuous volley of firearms; then fol
lowed a perfect inundatiOn of graybacks
until it seemed that the whole Southern
Confederacy was massed between our posi-
aud Headquarters and our brigade, SO thai
we were completely cut off from them.
Here was indeed predicament-we, q
small band, entirely cut off from our brigade
by heavy force, and TO all appearances ouI
brigade captured. Forests army was acros.
the river, on the south; we were attacked by
! a heavy force on the east above us, and now
surrounded on the north and west. Escape
seemed impossible.
The 9TH Ohio Lieutenant faced his men
about and made charge in the direction OF
| Headquarters. ] ordered my men to keep
| their positions, as we were concealed some
what, until we could decide on our course,
as the post was now useless. The Lieuten-
ant failed to charge through the rebel lines,
and was pursued by large force back TO
our position.
We now mounted and, directing the men
into the path that led through the rocks,
made all possible speed. This was the only
unguarded point in the rebel lines. We es-
capped into the woods on the north, as we
could not swerve to the right or left without
encountering a strong force of the enemy.
We never learned whether the Lieutenant
and his company followed us and escaped.
We lost some men captured. This was
about dark, and must have been at the same
time that our brigade charged through, OF
which we then knew nothing. Surprising
that we we're all that escaped, and knowing
that the enemy were in strong force on the
pike, we struck through the woods in the
direction of Franklin, % miles distant, not
daring to 20 on any main road.
We pressed guides TO lead us. They were
all rebels and had 10 be watched and in
undated to prevent their misleading us.
Parties pursued us, but we threw them off
The track by inguiring at every house we
passed the direction of the Yankees. stating
that we had whipped them at Duck River,
and were in pursuit.
About half way TO Franklin we ventured
to strike the pike, even then not knowing
DuL NHat lne enemy was DetWeen us ana
Franklin. We reached Franklin about 2
p. m. of the Both. Here we could learn
nothing Of our brigade. After breakfast we
returned 10 the pike to learn the destiny of
our command. We were as much surprised
to find they had charged through the rebel
lines as they were that we had escaped. The
chances of each TO escape, as viewed by the
other, seemed impossible.
1t seems strange SO many errors creep into
history, but We presume they are chiefly
caused by the failure of the proper officers
to report their movements, leaving too much
to guess-work for the superior officers to re-
port the movements of portions Of their COM
msnds.-W. S. SANFORD, First Lieutenant,
Co. i, 14th Ill. Cav, Chana, Ill.