The National tribune., 1899-03-16

crossing, and the result was that BuiorC
could not join him, and he did not move
on Spring Hill till the next day. Then
Schofield had prepared for him by rush
ing Stanley forward.
But have only produced rebel proofs
that none of Wilson's cavalry except
Capron'S preyen ted Forrest from crossing
on the 2Sth. will now state the location
OF Wilson'S cavalry. We might produce
proof unlimited from the official reports
but we must be limited to only a few de
clSIVe proofs. Capron'S Brigade was or
the Lewisburg pike at its crossing al
HardIson's Ford. CroxtOns Brigade was
at or near Huey's Mills, and Hatch's
cavalry, except Stewards Brigade, was
between Huey's Mills and Gen. Cox's
position on the river. There is no evi-
qence that any great force of Wilson s
| except Capron s was posted on the river
nothlng except Rickets and patrols, sc
orrest met with no resistance.
Hatch on page $40 says that on the
/ 2oih the enemy attacked his camp (Which
/ was several miles above Colffniia !. and
was repulsed, and he was ordered by
zen. wilson to move 10 the Lew iSburg
pike. Hatch says nothing about even a
| skirmIsh ;it the river, but the attack was
on his camp, when he was ordered to
move, leaving the line of defense. This
was no fault of Hatch s. nor Of his noble
men, and it was not in keeping With their
former record
Col. Coon's only record of the 2sth is
found on page 5SS, where he says: NOV
20, rained until II m. At2 p. m. received
orders TO move immediat teiy While boots
and saddles was being sounded the enemy
opened with voliey on the picket" He
could sec the enemy in a strong force two
miles off. He ordered battalion to sup
port the picketS while the command made
preparations to move. Again, we repeat il,
TINS retreat was not the fault of these
nUhln al thar tn
manderS
Gen. johnson, who commanded the
AXth Division, to which Capron's and
Croxton's Brigades belonged, says on
page 33I that Capron's Brigade, com
posed of 14th and 18th III. Cav. and Sth
Mich. Cav, had the 5ih Iowa Cav. as
signed TO il. Nov. 25 Capron's Brigade, to
which the 5th Iowa had been temporarily
assigned, was sent tO take position on the
LcWiSDurg pike at its crossing of Duck
isiNer. Croxton was established at and
near Huey's Mills.
inns day Nov. rs }, under orders from Gen.
Wilson, ! moved with Cr0x tons Brigade
lor Hurts house on the Lewisburg pike"
ihiS point was about seven miles in the
rear oi Capron's position. Further, ne
says: The head of my column reached
the Lew isburg turnpike Just after night
lali, an time 10 find Inc eth Ohio TO which
the other regiments of Capron's Brigade
TeuTing fu the direction OF Franklin -.
again THE 9Th Iowa Cav. and the
greater part oi the 1ith and 18th LII. Cav
and the Sth Mich. Cav. }, from whom Col
tapron mad been cut OF by the enemy,
came inio camp, having galantly charged
through the superior force of the enemy
~hich mad mterposed itself betn cen them
;ttid the rest oil the command" On page
ii40- wilson, reporting from Hurts Cross
roads ON the Lewisburg pike, says The |
cavalry rebel began crossing at Davis. s |
i orc, near HueyS, about noon. but could
not get across ut Hardison'S on this pike |
tiii CdprOn's and Garrard'S Brigaeles were
struck IN flank and rear by the rebels at
Rally Fill"
On page 1920 Wilson says: "The rebel |
cavalry crossed Duck liiver at Davis's |
Ford this afternoon, CaPron and Garrard |
having q hard fight" But nothing OF any |
other fighting.
On page ii13 Wilson, reporting from
Hurts Crossroads, Nov Is, S 80 .. NJ. |
says. 81 have succeeded in concentrating
nay command here. Capron's Brigade re- |
lnioTced by the 9Th Ohio and 5th Iowa |
nave been holding the lords in front Of |
here all day, in spite OF the determined
ellorts of the enemy to cross"
Now, my dear COmrade Spencer. how
nluch do lack in proving my assertion,
his report alone proves that Wilson
Withdrew all his forces from the river. and
thdt Capron's Brigade. alone stuiybernly I
resisted. Forrest also proves this. Gen. 7
latch and Col. Coon say they were or
Tered back early in the afternoon and
not one word about opposing the crossing
Di the enemy. Gen. johnson also saws
he removed Croxton's Brigade about
p. m, thus leaving the enemy free 10
cross and To take the road TO Spring Hill |
on page ll24 Capron reported from
fiardison's Mills on the Lewisburg pike
Nov. Is: The 9TH Ohio is here" On page
900 Wilson reports. by p. M tof 28thl
the entire force was concentrated at
Hurts Crossroads. Col. Harrison, how
ever, had not reached his brigade. but
having been posted by Col. Capron, il
neid on as long as possible. Col. Capron
with a small portion Of his COM
liand, fell back in disorder toward Frank
In. The detachments at the. various
ords held ON bravely until night, when
hey were collected by Mai. j. Morris
lis retreat cut off, boldly charged broke
through the rebels and brought of his
command with trifiing loss" On page 6O4
$ MAJ. 1oGng's report, in which he de
'crlbes the surroundings and the gallant 1
charge through the rebel lines
Col CaprOn IN his Memoirs describes
he position OF his Headquarters and of
he various detachments Of his brigade.
md also the fact that after Col. Garrard.
"lth the 1th Ohio Cav, reported TO him he
posted one or two companies Of the 9Th TO
guard that bend Of the river that ap- [
lroachcd nearest TO his Headquarters, and
he remainder OF the 7th, under Col.
Iarrard, was posted at Headquarters and
n ITS rear as guards. Capron describes
iow the rebel cavalry came upon his rear,
and after a sharp fight how he, with Col.
iarrard and the eth Ohio Cav, was cut
)ff from his brigade and was driven back
1y overwhelming numbers
All this saw from my picket post and
know 10 be true, and 1 also know that
here was no disgrace in their fight, or
Is Capt. Allen in a recent article de-
'cnbed as "the hurry Of Col. Capron's
Brigade To get to the rear; but the strange
hing TO me is that Capt. Allen, on that
post with his 90 braves of the 7th Ohio,
lid not know his own regiment when it
an over his men, causing such a rage