The National tribune., 1899-10-05
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
A FIERCE LITTLE FIGHT.
Hailed as Great Victory and Had Wide
. Reaching Moral Effect.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I writ
this to correct the report OF the battle of
Wild Cat, KY, fought Oct. 81, 1861, as
given by Historian Headley, Vol l., pages
90 and 20, in which he says that the 33d
Ind. and the 1st KY. Cav. arrived at Wild
and defeated the rebels under Gen. Zolli-
Golfer. -'r
1t would appear from Headley's report
that the SD Ind. and the 1st KY. Cav.
were the first and only troops on the ground
and engaged in the action, except some artil-
battalion of the 1st KY. Cav. Were there
and participated in the battle, but there
were other troops that participated.
The 9TH Ky. left Camp Dick Robinson,
KY, on Sept %, 1861, and arrived at Wild
Cat on the 9th, and at once commenced
there engaged in Strengthening the position
until the rebel attack OF the 21st.
On the evening of the 10th one battalion
of the 1St KY. Cav. came up to reinforce
us. The next troops to arrive were the
18th Ohio, then the 33d Ind. They came
to Wild Cat on the day preceding the battle.
The same evening about 1S5 brave, hardy
mountain Home Guards and citizens also
came to our relief.
Early in the morning of the 21st Col.
COburn, 33d Ind, was ordered to take four
companies of the 33d Ind, the battalion of
the 1st KY. Cav, the Home Guards, and
four companies of the 18th Ohio, which had
Just arrived on the score. and take position
on q hill on the northeast side Of the State
road, and hold the same.
Other troops were assigned to other
positions. The 18th Ky. occupied posi-
ton Oh a ridge on the opposite side Of the
road. The remainder OF the troops, to wit,
stationed to the right and left, and the 18th
Ohio held in reserve. That was about the
dipoSitionS at the commencement ard dur
ing the action.
About o'clock on the morning of the
21st Co. K, 7th KY, on picket, having just
relieved Co. A, 7th KY, were fred upon
and driven back by the rebel advance.
> About O'Clock a. m. the rebels made
their main attack upon the position held
by the Indianians, OhiOan' and Ken
tuckians, the attacking force consisting
of four regiments of Tennesseeans, two
Of Mississippians, and one of Alabamiars.
They were gallantly repulsed, and lost ID
dead on the field and several so severely
wounded that they were left where they
fell.
About II o'clock the rebels attacked
our center, which was held by the 18th KY.
and two batteries of artillery, that had
come up on gallop during tie first attack.
The 7tII KY. held Its position and with the
aid of a few shots from the artillery repulsed
the enemy.
Thus ended the battle OF Wild Cat, KY
| do not wish in the least to detract anything
from the 33d Ind. and the ist KY. Cav,
for they did nobly, and then and there
esta blished their record for bravery, which
they maintained during the remainder of
the war; but desire that all the partici-
pants in that engagement should have
their need of praise. have no doubt all
of the troops who arrived on the field would
have done as well had the enemy met them
face to face.
The Home Guards at one time early in
to retire from the field, but Col. Wolford,
1st KY. Cav, rallied and led them back
into action, where they remained, fighting
until the close of the combat.
[ was in plain view of the action, about
300 yards away, no distractions interven-
ing, and | watched the movements with
much interest. l saw the Home Guards
start on their retreat and saw Col.
Wolford rally and lead them back into
action. was an active participant
in the second attack OF the. enemy-Z On
that morning / had been ordered to COM
mand Co. d, 7th KY. (the officers of
said Co. d were all on the sick-liss), and /
took great interest in the progress of the
action. / can truthfnlly say that all the
soldiers behaved gallantly. | saw no ex-
hibition of cowardice by any of the privates.
One Captain showed the white feather,
and rushed to the rear, but his company
Indignantly refused to follow him, and
stood to their work.
The rebels commenced retreating at II
o'clock at night. | will add that they
fired Only three cannOn-shots at us, and
their balls went high over the tree-tops.
Our battery soon dismounted their piece,
giving them time to fire only the three
shots.
1t is but proper to add that the Sd and
4th KY, the 1st, I'd, Sd, and 18th Tenn.
were in supporting distance and anxiously
awaited orders to join us.
While the battle of Wild Cat was a small
and insignificant affair of itself, yet it
went out through the country as a great
victory, and was regarded as hard-fought
battle. 1t, however, had great moral
effect all over Kentucky and East Ten
nessee. 1t decided in favor of the Union
many wavering, timid men in Kentucky,
and strengthened the determination and
loyalty of the noble. true-hearted, and per.
secuted loyal Tennesseeans. 1t gave great
encouragement to enlistments i'll the Union
army III Kentucky and from East Ten,
nessee.-G. W. DANIEL, Second Lieu.
tenant, Co., 7th KY, Frankfort, KY.