The National tribune., 1899-01-19
ut DUCK RIVER.
Capt. Rankin. of the It'll Ohio Cav, Makes a
Lengthy Statement.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your
issue of Dec. 90, and in the column of
Fighting Them Over" / see that some
comrade, who signs himself "One of the
Boys Who Was There" has been rapping
Capt T. F. Allen over the knuckles for state
ments made in an article published by Allen
in your issue of Oct Is.
1t is net my purpose to take up Capt.
Aliens cudgel, but there are some things in
the comrades article that need explanation,
as well as others that are literally untrue
even if they do come from officers reports.
In the first place. Col. Garrard was not in
command of the 9TH Ohio Cav. at Duck
River, but was IN command of two other
regiments unknown to me.
The history of the 18th Ohio Cav says that
g they reached Nashville late in the evening
of the 25th of November, 1864, and on the
following morning, before daylight, Maj.
Beaumont came to the writer's tent, awoke
him from his sleep, and asked him to strike
light, whereupon he handed him a written
order placing him in command of the 18th
Ohio Cav, with orders to mount arm and
equip the regiment, and move it in "A hours
they having turned over their horses. arms,
and equipments to complete the arm,ng of
Kirkpatrick's Division before leaving At
lanta), stating at the same time, Your Cole
mel will leave at once for the front with two
regiments - And evidently the Colonel
passed through Spring Hill on the 9th, as
stated, while 1, with the 18th Ohio Cav,
reached Spring Hill in the evening OF the
2sth This makes Gen Wilson's statement
correct so far as it pertains to the 9Th Ohio
Cav. re
At this place was met byan Orderly, who
handed me written order, which read
"You will take the Left hand road, and
move with all possible speed to Hardison's-
Ford, or Hardison's Mill n--both were men
toned in the order, mot Hdey's Mill. as the
comrade has it,; the distance from Spring Hill
is 2 miles and report to Col Capron who
is fighting with his brigade the enemy across
Duck River" / reached Col. Capron late in
the evening, not to exceed an hour before sun
down, when lie directed me to form the regi-
ment in close columns of squadrons, and di-
rected me where | should send four compa-
MES, one to guard a ford on Duck River
half mile below his Brigade
/ sent Co. A, Capt. Ketterman. This
company was lost--by killed, wounded and
captured-entire. seut go. Il to make a
| scout five miles up the river, and y and G
| III.
| These two companies ran into a large force of
Texas cavalry, and came back good deal
| faster than they went forward. In the mean-
time the wagon train had Strengthened out
and was moving toward Spring Hill, which
is the direct route to Franklin, and is good
turnpike road.
l was still with the remaining six COM
panies of the 7th. On hearing firing iii the
rear | at once wheeled out by squadrons, and
after passing the wagon-train-, which, by the
way, was now being badly stampeded, and
moving in the opposite direction from the
one they had started Il at once formed La line
of battle, and fired oneyolley, ordered Draw
sabers and to 'smove to the right by fours. F."
This was an utter surprise TO the Johnnies, and
they wheeled and ran down the pike toward
Spring Hill, some two miles, when they
made stand. formed line, dismounted,
and fought them till O'Clock at night, when
l withdrew. A part of the 9TH did not reach
me, but was ordered by someone to guard the
wagon-train.
i came back over the same ground and
found everything gone. / took road not
knowing where it would lead me, and at !
O'Clock at night / came to tie camp of Col.
Garrard with the two regiments before men
toned / inquired of the Colonel for Col
/
in camp further up the road. | never re-
ported to Col. Capron, but went into Col.
Garrard's command, as that was our proper
place.
AS to the capturing of the 18th Ohio Cav
flag, the 18th did not carry their regimental
coors on this occasion. 1t was the custom
of Col. Garrard, when commanding a
brigade, to take with him the regimental
staff and the colors of the 18th Ohio Cav to
be used as the brigade staff and col0rs, and
when everything was gotten out and passed
to the rear, Col Garrard asked someone sto
GO back and notify Capt. Rankin of that
fact. and to fall back
The Sergeant who was carrying the colors
of the 18th Ohio volunteered his services.
and rolling the flag around the staff, started
alone i'll search of Capt. Rankin, when he
rode single handed into the rebel column.
and was made prisoner, and the flag thus
Icaptured. SO you will readily see that no
reflections can rest upon the 18th Ohio Cav
for having lost their ,.colors nor is there any
credit due Ross Brgade for capturing a
lone man bearing the,colors of the It'll Ohio
want to thank the comrade for quoting
the report of Gen. Ross, where he mentioned
the fight with the Sd Tex. and Hawkins's
regiment of his brigade; also the train
mentioned, for this ireasdp: that a Lieuten-
ant of Col. CaprOn's regiment has persisted
in denying that the 7thi Ohio Cav. saved
Capron's Brigade from capture, as we'll rs
his wagon-train, by driving the rebels from
his rear. ros g
Gen. Ross's statement agrees exactly with
what | saw, with the exception that the
superior force that he spoke of that drove
him back was nothing more than two or
three companies Off the 18th Ohio Cav
together with 30 men funder the First
Sergeant Of Co. A, 5th iowa Cav, who had
been detailed to guard scamp while the regi-
ment was fighting in the front, who on see
ing that they were surrounded, asked the
privilege OF going with the 18th Ohio ON that
charge, which was granted.
In a letter l received from him in Decent
her, 1893, he informed me that he lost four
men out of his squad in that charge As
this was noble act of the Sergeant, deem
it worthy of mention
Now as to the alleged running over Ham
mond's Brigade. This report of Gen. Ham,
mond is as void of truth as hell is of gun
powder. In the first place the formation ON
Anthony Hill, some eight miles south of
Pulaski, Tenn, was: The 18th Ohio Cav on
the extreme right, on their left the 9th Iowa
Cav, on the lett OF the 9th Iowa the 4th U. S.
/ Cav.
We had been there but very short time
] when the writer was ordered to take his hat