The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-09-08
FACTS ABOUT INGEKSOLL.
Col. N. N. Cox Tells of His Capture and
Parole mt Trenton.
Nashville Americ6nl

COL N N COX Tells Of His Capture and
Parole mt Trenton.
Nashville Americana
To the editor of the Americans
Several days ago piece was pub.
lished in the American, purporting
to be an interview with me in regard
to the capture of Col. Ingersoll by
Gen. Forrest In the latter days OF
1852 Capt. John Morton afterward
published piece in reply to the said
interview, calling attention to mis-
takes | had made. You also pub
lished that. do not know when I
was interviewed by any one in re.
gard to the war incident, but had
related what occurred to several
friends in general conversation
about the matter, ,and never thought
of any publication being made.
From what Capt. Morton says in his
article the statements made as to
what said about the matter are in
accurate. Here is the truth of the
transaction:
In Dece mber, 1862, Gen. Forrest
crossed the Tennessee River at Cllf-
ton, and his command entered West
Tennessee. The first enemy we met
was at Lexington, regiment with
artillery, commanded by Col. Bob
Iugersoll. We had a little fight
with him, and he surrendered. AS
understood it then, he and his men
were paroled by Gen. Forrest. | was
oldered to strike the railroad south
of Jackson, and knew nothing per-
sonally about what occurred after
the surrender. Afterward | learned
about DR.. Cowan loaning Ingersoll
the money. In fact, DR.. Cowan, told
me all about it. When L returned
from the scout, and we were de-
stroying the railroad betwe EN- Jack
son and Union City, was ordered
by Gen. Forrest to go to Trenton.
Without giving any facts about the
fight suffice it to say that the Fed
erals surrendered. They were in
the depot building and after they
surrendered [ was ordered to form
guard line around the building and
prisoners. We had about two hun
dred and seventy-tlve men and in
side our lines were over eight hum
dred Federals, who could have whip
ped us with the butts of their guns.
1t was at this time that Gen. Forrest
der Col. Starnes, (not Ferguson,) to
bring up his command. | under
stood that Col. Starnes was near
Humboldt on the railroad, but the
General sent the order so that Fed
erals near him could hear it. sent
out the courier who soon returned.
All of us understood it.
By this time dark had come and |
kindled up some fires near each
other and stationed my guard. Gen.
Forrest and his aides were in the de-
pot parolling his prisoners. Col. Ike
Hawkins was in our lines priso-
ner. He and | were personal friends
and had met time and again in the
practice of law. He spoke to me
and we shook hands. He was man
of truth and perfect gentleman.
He called my attention to the un-
pleasant condition he was in, and
asked me to secure his parole as
soon as possible. Col. Hawkins was
well acquainted about Trenton. |
aid secure his parole and turned
him out of the guard line. He went
short distance and returned and
said to me: You have q man in
your lines who has parole in his
pocket, and he is here to get on the
railroad to go to a parole camp
inquired who it was and he told me
it was Col. Ingersoll whom we cap.
tured at Lexington. | told Col.
Hawkins in substance that if Gen.
Forrest came to the conclusion that
he had been fighting us in violation
of his parole it might be very seri-
Gus thing. He then assured me that
he was trying to get train North.
believed him and have not the
least doubt 1e was telling me the
truth. told him to go back into
our lines and get Col. Ingersoll. He
did so, and turned him with Col.
Hawkins out of our lines. How In
gersoll got there | knew not and Col.
Hawkins did not seem to know, but
knew why he was there. L was in a
few days captured at the fight at
Parker's Cross Roads and eventually
reached Camp Chase. Col. Haw'
kins was there and l met him sew
eral times. We talked the matter
over. saw him after the war was
over and these facts were perfectly
familiar TO him. also met Col. In
gersoll in Washington, who sent fol
me to return thanks for my kind
uess.
These are the facts in regard t.
Col. Ingersoll.
The fight was a great victory 70:
our side, but do not desire TO giv'
detailed statement as to that.