The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-25
COL. INGERSOLL IN THE VAR.
His Honorable Military Service-The Tru,
Story of His Capture.

story OF HIS Capture.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: In your
sketch OF Col. InGersoll's life printed in this
mornings Sun find this statement: While
guarding a crossroad in Tennessee he was cap
tured by Confederates. his own captor being a
very young boy
Allow me to say that the story OF Col Inger-
soil having been captured by "a very young
boy" belongs to the variety OF false stories
often circulated by unscrupulous persons. IL
is truo that during the war Col. Ingersoil was
captured by tho Confcderates, but his c0ptor
was not "a very young boy" In n letter from
John W. Kinsey. late Lieutenant Company b.
EeyGnth l!noiI 'nynlTy dated d, At It, Peoria,
soils record in the war isGiren In those words
The Eleventh Illinois Cavnlry; Col. Ineersoll in
marrMns %a to st. " From At point SsI
proceeded yuanspott to Pittsourg Landing, wnore
a Of Fl the nnf SS
of Sh n. wher" Col lngcrsoll's regiment did good
service several OF les number being killed and
Us nc;t e.perience. except the constant scouting
two DAYS fight at 'orintb Miss Tn >re again. under
command Of IT. gallant Colonel IT p,oy' it's loyal
bravery lk" the regiments that fought by It's side.
by its list of wounded and desd.
Tom. AVA ." III" 2"hi day Of Novemhsr $50.
news u thu m"'ysmen'." Of tho radnq rebel cavalry
with force consisting Of rnrt Of his own and
othcr cavAlry regimen and section Of artillery in
NOTHING expedition in the direction Of Lexington.
Tenn. We campcd a. night the vii.
ldg", and very early the next r.orning were
strong. lie tCol. Ingcrsnl had only time to deploy
his su all force in SIN lie rank each side Of tho
road, whore h" La lanird til" artillery, and whore.
having disHonrtrl he was personally Il rect the
service ~ his two gnns when We were literally over
whclmfd by the rebel forces, charging six ran =
deep. good many of onr command. cling run
over and passed 10y the ,ntmy, escaped as hest they
could. but Col, Ingersoll; hghtngo on foot together
with part Of his mon aud the battery. entirely
eurroui ded. and overbornc hy numbers surran.
dercd to III" enemy.
Forrest supposinT no doubt, that large force
in his fr mt Immediately rarolel his prisoners and
pushed forward CO.. ngersOll was sent 10 IT, Louis
to command IN oiled camp and hero. attacked ny
illness. he waited weary mouths f0r his exchange. As
thero appeared little prospect of this all exchanges
at this time having been Suspended ny the Govern
m"nt. Col Irgcrsnl dcspairirE OF return IN active
service visited his regiment IN the fall and declared
his intention IN resign. Though deeply rcgrcttnQ
the loss of their brave and r"nih comman Ter the
boys babe hm 40 ,l.hy with the convict that
under She Cir'nmS AaC"s his rOnrFe tho wisrst
one. Thus tn" Government lost his personal
vices in tho fed but on his r. turn home his match
less coqucncr in behalf OF the old fay aud his oil
comrades in the front was worth thousands Of men
and millions OF money. and will live when marble
has cmmbled to dust.
hone you will publish these true facts Of
the ease. &. W. CooLRIDGE.
New YORK, July %.