The National tribune., 1899-04-27
FIGHTING THEW0YER
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
A Dash IN THE DARK.
low Serg't Clark Spoiled Rebel Plan for
Cnpturing q Regiment.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The 14th
Mich. was mounted and equipped with
Spencer rifles and Colt revolvers, making a
formidable lot of men. They camped at
Franklin, Tenn, in 1863 built fort, and
threw out pickets on all roads leading to that
town.
About once n week part Of this regiment
would sally forth over the mountains toward
the Tennessee River and engage q guerrilla
regiment, under Duncan Cooper They
were always successful in killing, wounding
and capturing number of this guerrilla
band; so much 20, that Cooper, becoming
desperate at being whipped so often, was de-
termined to turn the table, and had it not
been for the brave act of Serg't Michael
Clark, now of Ann Arbor, Mich, would have
succeeded in surprising and capturing most
of the regiment.
1t was in the latter part of November,
1863 that the regiment were enjoying them
selves as best they could, resting after so
many successful raids The night was dark !;
officers and men were soundly sleeping in
side the fort, including the Officer Of the
Guard and the Officer of the Day. One lone
sentinel was placed at the entrance to the
fort, for it was supposed that all was safe
and no enemy within 40 miles of Franklin,
but that if there should be a midnight dash,
the pckets on the roads would be sure to
give the alarm.
Hereour confidence was badly shattered, for
within half mile of the silent fort, crouched
on the hillside, overlooking the town, were
$50 desperate guerrillas under command of
Col. Cooper, Capt. Kirk, and other leaders
A detail of an officer and Is men were
ordered to crawl on hands and knees and
surprise and capture the three nearest guards
George Marshall, Chas. Reid, and Richard
Lawrence) without firing or making any
noise whatever; or, as their Colonel expressed
himself, 81 want to capture every -
Yankee in the town and fort"
This detail carried out instructions, for
one of the guards, hearing slight noise at
his feet, stopped to ascertain the cause, when
his head came in contact with pair of re-
volvers and he heard the whispered words:
keep still or you are dead man." He
was then relieved of his rifle, boots, jacket,
and cap, and whatever greenbacks he hap
pened to have.
The other two guards were sleeping only
90 yards away, and knew nothing of what
was going on until awakened and treated in
a like manner.
The three guards were then brought into
the presence of Col. Cooper, who, putting
revolver to Lawrence's head, demanded the
countersign, which demand was refused.
The other two were treated in the same way.
One weakened, and gave the watchword.
There were now two obstacles in the way.
Before dash for the fort could be made,
Serg't Clark and eight. men lay in the path,
and seven men and il were in the court
house, with guard at the entrance.
The capture of these two posts as quietly
as the first was the intention of the guerrilla
chief He detailed one Of his best Captains
and 80 men, with instructions to take both
posts without noise. Leading their horses
on the dirt road into the town, they made
direct for the courthouse;, but for some
reason, probably the darkness Of the night,
they did not stop at the courthouse, but
passed directly in front of it, and not more
than so feet from the sentinel. 1t was plain
that they were headed for Clark's post.
The guard at the courthouse, hearing the
horses and seeing their outlines through the
darkness, woke the Sergeant, and told him
what he had heard and seen. TIE Sergeant
replied that it was Lieut.. Kirk making the
grand rounds, as Kirk had told Serg'ts Clark
and Witherspoon to look out for him, as he
intended to take squad of men and 20 the
rounds of all the lines.
Scarcely 20 minutes had passed when two
shots rang out from the direction of Serg't
Clark's post All guards were Immediately
aroused, with the exception Of those at the
fort, where the main body OF the regiment
were sleeping, the guard neglecting to call
his Sergeant and the Officer of the Guard,
who, contrary to the rules Of war, was sound
asleep.
/ ordered my men to barricade themselves
in the courthouse. l then started for Serg't
Clark's post. We were such close friends
that nothing could prevent US assisting each
other. As | dashed up the pike / was hailed
by a man who proved to be a doctor of the
town, who, in hurried words, told me that
the pickets were all captured, and that Serg't
Clark, in making his escape, was badly
wounded and could not live long, and was at
that time lying in his yard.
The doctor was instructed to assist the
Sergeant into his house and do all he could
for him until assistance arrived. l thea
started at breakneck speed for the fort,
drawing up my horse only few feet from
the entrance before the guard had challenged
me- l was admitted and quickly aroused
the Officer Of the Day and guard and entire
garrison.
1t seems that Clark had taken the fore
part of the night for his watch; he then put
his Corporal on duty, instructing him to be
careful to look for the Officer of the Guard,
as he expected that official. Serg't Clark re-
tired a few yards from the Corporal and the
other guard and was soon asleep with the
guards who were off duty. The guard on
duty with the Corporal was George Wander
haden. He was fine young soldier, but had
not been long with the regiment and was
not posted in tactics as well as the others
Hearing horses advancing on him from the
rear, he supposed it was Lieut.. Kirk with the
grand rounds. Arriving within hailing dis
tance he ordered them TO halt. 1t was too
dark for Vanderhaden to get glimpse of
them, but they halted at the guards COM
mand. Then to his challenge, "Who goes
there?" came the answer, Friends with
the countersign." Instead of giving the
order "Dismount, one friend, advance and
give the countersgn," the guards order was:
Advance, friends, and give countersign."
This they did with rifles at their shoulders.
A few moments later Serg't Clark and his
comrades were surrounded, and the guards re-
lieved of their arms and money. While this
was going on, Serg't Clark stood in their
midst, no doubt feeling keenly the surprise
and capture Of himself and comrades, as he
well knew that this was only small part of
the guerrilla regiment, and having gotten in
his rear in some way, their object was to |
capture his post; then the read to the fort |
would be open. He made up his mind that |
he would compel them to shoot him, and by |
so doing alarm the other pcketS Watching