Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-06-21
Our FIGHT at Trenton.
A Renaissance of the War OF the Re-
bellion, by one Of the Boys, A. J.
Brown of Ithaca, Sergeant Com
pany G, Mich. v V. Cavalry.

Brown OF Ithaca, Sergeant Com
pany G, Mich. v V. Cavalry.
During the winter of 1862 and 1868 our
regiment. the Third Michigan Cavalry,
was in west Tennessee, with headquarters
at Jackson, Tennessee Our work con
sisted in hat of huuting Guerrillss, which
infested that part of the country, plumber.
ing OIL what Union men there were in that
parl of the state.
My company Company CO. commanded
10y 7. Y. Quackenbush, was sent out To
place called McIemonville. small town
of about three or four hundred souls black
and white IL was a bitter "secesh" town.
there being but one Union man in the
place. but as we were fine looking lot OF
men from cap down, they treated us finely,
and think we enjoyed our stay there as
well as anv place that we ever found dur
ing the war.
They had in those parts what are called
Tennessee home guards, men who had
banded themse YES together to protect
themselves against the Guerrlllas One
evening Just as the sun was sinking in the
far west three of the above named gentle
men rode into our camp and told cap
that band of Guerrllas had the night be
fore been in a small town called North
Hampton and robbed and plundered a
store that was kept by a Union man, and
that morning had left there and were on
their way to Trenton Cap thought by
marching all night he could overtake them
at Trenton, or perhaps before their arrival
AT Trenton So Just at dark we left Me.
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. three men including
captain We marched until about three
o'clock the next morning, then we stopped
TO feed our horses, aud what men were not
on guard could catch few moments sleep
But was not one of the lucky ones, for
the orderly said was 10 take charge OF
the guard My orders from Cap were,
lust as soon as saw the least sign of light
to rout the men out. SO before 1t was
fairly light we were in our saddles once
more and on the road for Trenton. We
had not gone far when we came onto the
trail Of our rebel friends They had
moved out of barnyard, perhaps about
the same time we had moved out of our
bivouac. Although not knowing it, we
had gone into camp perhaps less than one
mile from their camp. They had gone on
toward Trenton. AS we rode up an old
man came out, and cap" began asking
! him questions. We found that they were
Just the boys that we were looking after.
The old man thought. of course, we were
rebs, too, as We were the first yanks that
! had ever been down in that part of the
state We learned that there were twenty.
five Of them and that they expected to
meet another company at Trenton. | sup
pose the old man thought we were the
other company. AS we started on the old
called to Cap and asked him if he would
be so kind as 10 tell his boy John TO send
back the key to the meat house. OF
course, Cap told him that he would.
The old man said they were about twenty
or thirty minutes ahead of US. We moved
right along on the road TO Trenton, where
we arrived about sunrise Before reach
ing Trenton there was long trestle built
across the Fork Of Deer River At the
end Of this bridge they had put their
picket. As our advance came up on him
he was standing on the ground talking
with woman, and before he could mount
his horse our boys had the drop on him,
so he had nothing to do but surrender up
his old shot gun
As soon as we had taken their picket,
we started on the gallop across the bridge
As we crossed the bridge, we turned to the
left aud went one block to the left then
we turned to the right. That street led
directly to the court house, which was
about four blocks away As we turned
to the right, about three blocks ahead
were our rebel friends drawn up in line of
battle across the street ahead Of US. cap"
gave the commands Form plattoons!-
| forward-double quick-march" and as
our horses came abreast, Cap" waved
his revolver and sang out Coin, boys. and
give them h-ll' We began to yell and
roll the spurs into our horses sides. And
As we saw them sit there on their horses
with their double barrel shot guns in their
hands it looked as though some of US
would bite the dust before we got up to
them. But to our great surprise when we
were within about fifteen rods of them
they broke and ran; and CAP" sang out
Scatter, boys and follow them, and we
did so. Sergeant Mason, Marshall Bor
don and myself turned down the street
leading to the left with eight or ten rebs
ahead of US, They ran about three blocks
when six of them turned TO the left, think.
ing the street led 10 the woods.
But the street was fenced up at one end.
When they saw it, five Of them turned to