The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-08-04
SAVED INGERSOLL'S LIFE.
From FORESTS Wrath.
Washington Post.l

FROM Forresbs = Nrhth'
Washington Postl
Robert G. IngersOll. when In
Washington some years ago, sought
out Hon. n. n. Cox, of Tennessee,
and expressed his gratitude for the
preservation of his life by that gen.
tleman thirty.odd years before. 1t
is quite an interesting story, thrill
ing episode of the great war between
the States.
One morning, in the winter of 1852
63, Gen, Forrest had ordered Col Cox
to take 250 men and go into Trenton,
Tenn, "to see what he could find
there" There had been rain the
day before, followed by a severe
frost. The roads were in wretched
condition, and Cox made rather
slow progress in his journey of fif-
teen miles. When he had gone
about half the distance he met a
coun5ryman who bad just come from
Trenton. Cox at once discovered
that he was Southern man, and
placed implicit reliance on what he
said. The countryman represented
to him that there was a full regi-
stockade around the railroad depot.
and they could whip thousand
men.
Cox sent an orderly back 70 For
rest with note explaining the situa-
tiOn, and proceeded slowly on his
march to Trenton. When about u
mile from town he heard great
clatter of horses hoofs behind, and
up rode Forres. like a thunderbolt at
the head of sky men. I'll show
| you how to take this damned town, "
he roared, and so they bOlted into
Trenton at a Gilpen pace, and yell
ing like mad. Tney charged in front
and wele repulsed. Forrest then
made flank movement, charged
again, and the F. deral commander
surrendered. Forrest, Cox and half
a dozen other Contederates entered
the stockade, and the Federal sol
diers proceeded TO ground their arms
They were Sullen about it, and let 90
their guns with much reluctance.
They felt that it was a most unnec.
essary surrender, and that honor,
too, had been sacrificed. 1t came into
FORESTS mind that they might re-
new the fight and take him prisoner
farming to Cox, he said:
Col. Cox, order Gen. Buford to
march into town with his DIVISION y
Cox knew that Buford was fifteen
miles away, but he saluted and
started to execute the order. The
Federals were blutfed, and in very
few minutes they were without
arms.
Among the prisoners Cox found
Robert G. Ingersoll. He walked up
to him and said: Are you not that
Yankee Colonel we captured the day
before yesterday?'
II am, was the reply.
"What are you doing in here?'
said Cox.
II came here to take the train fol
the North to await my exchange"
"Great God" said Cox "if Forres
finds you in here with his parole il
your pocket he will stand you up anc
order squad out and shoot you full
of holes.n
II can't help that" answered In
gersoll. "The facts are as / told you.
Cox said that he believed him, anC
would smuggle him through, and 81
he did. Forrest never knew of it
Cox said it would have been just like
Forrest to have Ingersoll shot ant
Investigate afterward.
A good story is told of how Inger
soils wit saved his life when he wa
first captured. A great igrebel haC
double-barreled shotgun leveleC
upon him at less than ten PAGES
:. | InunrSoll thrnw nm his handS am
exclaimed: Don't shoot, m,
friend, don't shoot; / have beef
anxious to recognize the indepen
dence of your Confedera"y for tn
last half an hOur!'
The rebel threw up his gun and eX
ploded in laughter. mgersoll sur
rendered to him, and he was know
in Forests command az "that Van
kee Colonel whose wit saved hi
, life"