The National tribune., 1895-12-19

almost in sight of Andersonville, to a mer
handful of men"
When | wrote my account Of the Stonemal
raid i had not seen the official accounts o
that raid. / now have them, and will refe
to the official reports found in Series 1, Vol
80, Part 2, Serial number 20. On page 81!
is found report of Lieut.. Col. Robert w
Smith, Assistant Inspector-General, and OF
page 919 is report of Maj. Rowland Temp
kins, Provost Marshal, and on page 925 II
report of Col. Horace Capron, commanding
Brigade. Each one of these reports describes
the battle of July 81 essentially the same
as L, writing from my notes, described 1t
Col. Smith says, page GIG:
"A line-of-battle was at once formed anC
the enemy strongly felt, which resulted IL
the development that the enemy was there
in force upon ground of his OWN selection
with strong works and barricades on an ele
walton in the road in our front, with his lines
of-battle extending out from this point in
the shape of V, completely covering and
enfilading our right and left TANKS"
This is such a complete confederation OF
my description of the line-of- battle that !
leave the readers who have the curiosity 10
search these reports farther until they are
satisfied that those who were present and in
that terrible fight know a little more about
| it than this great historian, Capt. Rankin,
who acknowledges that he twas not in it."
Regarding Stoneman's conduct in the sur
render, these reports show clearly that /,
writing from my notes, gave as probable
that Stopeman planned to let the most of
his command escape, while he with few
gave themselves sacrifice for the rest
Col. Smith says (page Oh: al at that
r,onr Cn1 .,-,~o 1.
from Gen. Stoneman with permission to cut
out if he could; stating moreover, that the
General was about to surrender, but that he
desired all to get out who could, and he
would remain in person and engage the
enemy as long rs possible, SO as to give those
making their escape as much start as posi-
bleo
Maj. Tompkins says (page 92O): 1.-THE
men were nearly out of ammunition, and
fatigued almost beyond endurance. The
proposition was made TO move to the right
and pass the enemy. He (Stoneman) said he
could not move the whole command without
being discovered. He could make no resist
ance when pursued. He would have the
outside track with an enemy fresh to pursue.
His men would be broken up in detach-
ments and murdered, as some had been on
the 29th. He would not refuse any from
going, nor order them. If the enemy as
saulted and broke our lines, do the best we
could, but as for him he saw no other way
for the lives of the men to be respected but
for him to surrender"
This is not all that might be said in answer
to this criticism of my account, but il is
enough to establish the fact that / knew
what | was writing about. | wonder if it
was the same "ex-Johnny" that informed
the Captain concerning the Indian raid into
North Carolina. Let us examine his state
ment. / quote:
"a few years ago they wrote an account
of their taking in Thomas's Legion of In
dams in North Carolina, but never let the
readers of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE know
that Col. Garrard, with two battalions of
the 9TH Ohio Cav, was their support"
He then says that he Capt. Rankinl, with
one battalion, was sent TO guard a pass TO
prevent the Indians from escaping into East |
Tennessee. Well Captain, how many In
dams did you catch after we were through |
with them ? And as for Col Garrard and |
the 9TH Ohio Cav. being our support, a |
grosser fabrication never was manufactured. |
Not man of the 9TH Ohio Cav. was in sight |
Of US during this whole expedition.
In proof Of our assertion regarding the In |
dian fight we quote the following, published |
soon after by the Knoxville Tenn. Wing, |
edited by the famous Parson Brownlow:
MARCH 6, 1864
The following dispatch from Gen. Grant re-
fers to the recent expedition into North Caro-
ina conducted, as are informed, by Mai. |.
Davidson Of the 14th III. Cav. IL was a |
brilliant affair In justice to this gallant off.
GER and his brave command, let il be remem-
1ered that this expedition was conducted in
he midst of the Winter over the highest range
Of mountains east of the Mississippi River.
But few expeditions during this war have been
10 successful or conducted so skillfully.
Then follows this:
WASHINGTON. ID. c., Feb g. 1864.
The following dispatch has been received
lere:
NASHVILLE, TENN, Feb. 8, 1864.
Maj -Gen. HALLECK General-in- Chief:
len. Foster telegraphs from Knoxville, under
late of yesterday, that expedition sent
gainst Thomas and his band of Indians and
whites at Qualatown has returned completely
uccessfui. They surprised the town. killed
nd wounded 2l5. took so prisoners and dis
ersed the remainder of the gang in the
fountains Our loss was two killed and six
wounded. u. S. GRANT, Maior-GeneraI.
In settling the Captain ON the Stoneman
aid and the Indian expedition have ex-
ended this article TO such length as to pre-
Jude the possibility Of following the Cap
ain to Duck River, Nov. %, 1864 We can
My here say that some years ago this same ,,
apt. Rankin published an article in which
e stated thatshe, with some companies of {
le 9TH Ohio Cav, on Nov. 2s, 1864, rescued J
oil. Capron's Brigade from perlOus posi-
on. Since that time the Captain has found I
Mt probably through the Cincinnati ex- t
ohnny) that he was then wrong; so he I
ow says, in effect, that he simply rescued
oil. Capron from his brigade, which re- I
aimed till night fighting the enemy.-W. i
SANFoRD, Lieutenant, 14th H. Cav, !
hama, III.
STEADY, THERE!" i