The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-22
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
IN FRONT OF HOOD.
4 Reply to Some of the Statements of Capt.
Alien 18th Ohio Cav.

| EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the issue
of Oct. Is appeared an article by Capt T. f.
| Alien, 18th Ohio Cav, under the head of
Met in the Field,' being "reminiscences of
| prominent Union officers. In an anecdoe
of Gen. j. II. wilson he says:
. he had been resisting Hoods advance
into Tennessee just prior to the battles of
| Franklin and Nashville. < Oar cav
airy division had been holding the line of
Duck River, but was then falling back toward
| Franklin. / was posted with my
company of GO Spencer carbines to cover the
retreat of our forces over a rocky ford
! x < Our brigade, commanded by Col.
Capron, in falling back became a little too
hasty, and i'll their efforts to get to the rear
ran over my company" and then, according
TO the Captain, very interesting converse
ton took place between himself and Gen.
Wilson.
The Captain seems to attempt to show that
Capron's men were flying from a force that
could easily have been held in check by the
Captain and his go carbines. If the Captain
had been at the front Of Hoods army as long
as some of the other fellows he should be
| aware that there was perhaps a military
| necessity for the fellows to make rapid de-
| tour to the rear, and that, too, without i'm
puning the courage and gallantry of his
comrades of Capron's Brigade.
/ was a humble member Of Wilson's Corps,
and have always taken pride in the achieve
ments of all the gallant troops that COM
prised it. ! was not a member of Capron's
Brigade. ] marched iii the ranks of the
First Brigade of the Fifth Division, under
Gen. Hatch, bold, courageous, safe COM
mander; SO it cannot be said that my toes
were trod upon When the gallant Captain
efforts to get TO the rear.
A careful study Of the situation at the
time written about will demonstrate that for
our forces conditions were rather critical.
The cavalry force of Hood greatly outnum-
bered that of Thomas. Desperate efforts
were being made TO get as large a force of
cavalry as possible to aid Gen. Schoiield in
his mastery withdrawal TO Nashville For
this reason keen efforts were placed ON foot
to get the 9TH Ohio Cav, with others, to the
front.
On Nov. "a the 18th was at Nashville, 40
or so miles from Duck River page 1922
Serial Vol 50, Records OF the Rebellion, dis
patch of Beaumont, A. G.) Presumably
the regiment left Nashville on the afternoon
of the 25th. page 1026, same book, order of
Beaumont also dispat h of Beaumont to
Gen Wilson of date Nov. 26, page 1861,
same book
Now this regiment was undoubtedly obey
ing proper orders. and performing its whole
duty, and nothing else could or should have
been required Of it; but it was not down on
Duck River resisting Hoods advance at this
time. 1t did not reach Spring Hill zen
route to the front" until the afternoon of the
9th. dispatch OF Col. Garrard, page 1899,
same book
Gen. Wilson in his report ION page $50,
same book says: At noon of Nov. 81
there appears to be confusion of dates
here; the editor inserted 90, and think the
latter is the correct date] the pickets of
Croxton's and Capron's Brigades gave notice
of the appearance of the rebel cavalry at the
various fords between Columbia and the
Lewisburg pike, particularly at Huey's Mil,
eight miles above Columbia, in such force rs
to leave 10 doubt as to their intentions
The pickets i'll the vicinity OF Huey's Mill,
We're soon driven in, and the rebels immedi-
ately began crossing. At 2 p. m. | sent
dispatch TO Mai. -Gen. Schoield notifying
him of the enemy's movements; by Z
p. III. the entire (Wilsou's) force was concen-
trated at Hurts Crossroads"
On page 100, same book, the rebel Brig
Gen. l.. 5. Ross has this TO say: Nov. 20
we remained in front Of the enemy's works
skirmishing freely, and keeping up lively
demonstration. On the morning OF the 9th
= we were ordered over to the Shelby
vile pike, and camped the following night
on Fountain Creek, crossing Duck River the
next morning. (2Stil at the Mill, nine miles
above Columbia evidently Hueys Mill.
We We're directed thence to the right ON the
Shelbyvile road
Here, now, is where, according to Gen.
Wilson, Croxton's aud Capron's Brigades had
been holding the fOrds Our pickets were
driven in, " and the rebels Immediately began
crossing
Gen. Ross continues: And when near
the Lewisburg and Franklin pike again en-
countcred the Federal cavalry A spirited
engagement ensued, begun by the Sd Tex,
which, being dispatched to attack a train of
wagons moving in the direction of Franklin,
succeeded in reaching the pike, but was
there met by a superior force OF Yankees and
driven back. Seeing this l ordered Col.
Hawkins to hurry up his regiment (the
Le@ior) to the assistance of the Sd, anu
ordered charge, which was made in gallant
style and resulted i'll forcing the Yankees
from the field in confusion, and with the loss
OF several prisoners and the colors of the 7th
Ohio Cav"
Now, is it not possible that Capt Allen
mstOOk this incident for the one he has de-
scribed? There is nothing in the official re-
ports which show the Captains regiment got
closer to Duck River than the point where
Ross says he engaged it, / am certainly
making no claim that they were not cup
against it," but the records seem to be
against the claim made by the Captain.
Gen. Hammond, commanding First Bri-
gade, Seventh Division, in his report of ope-
rations subsequent to Dec. 10, at plge COZ
OF same book, has this to say: 18th, moved
on the right, and was ordered to support
Col. Harrison in an attack on Anthony Hill
The 18th Ohio Cav, breaking to the rear. cut
my column in two just as tine 4th Tenn, my
regiment, in advance, had successfully gone
into action"
Is it not somewhat singular that Capt
Allen and Gen. Hammond should use almost
identically the same Language in speaking of
organizations outside their own immediate
commands, and both seemingly intent on
disparaging the acts of others ONE OF THE
BOYS WHO WAS THERE.