The National tribune., 1900-07-19
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have 10 Say
About Their Campaigns.
A NIGHT RUSH.
Clashing With Forests Men-The Capture
of Capt. Hanchett.


EDITOR NATIONAL. TRIBUNE: Our bri-
gade was composed of the Sth Mich. Cav.
and 14th and 10th H. Cav, commanded
stoned officer of Co. 1 of the last-named
regiment The brigade had reached camp
near Henryville, Lawrence Co., kans.,
after a forced march from Waynesboro, in
Wayne Co., having marched all night of
Nov. 21, 1864, until, at noon of the I'D,
We sought well-earned rest. Nothing of
any note happened during the rest Of the
day or night.
On the 23d, about ] p. M, some of the
boys of our command were out west of
camp, and saw a rebel scouting party OF
about 100 travelling northward on a road
running parallel with that on which We
were camped and not more than q mile
west of us. Our fellows came into camp
at top speed and reported to Col. CaprOn,
who at once detailed 100 men from the
three regiments. l went with detail of
1S or 20 of our company. Capt. j. ID.
Hattery, of Co. II, 10th Ill. Cav, was put
in command.
As soon as we got out to the road on
which the rebel cavalry had been seen we
struck their trail, and by the time we got
strung out after them they had gotten at
least an hour and a half start. We fol-
lowed at brisk trot for about two miles
northward, when the trail turned west
ward. Six or eight miles farther we
struck a road running back southwark,
which they had taken, we guessed, in
order for them to rejOn Forests COM
mand. After we had followed the rebels
for short distance after turning south
ward, we realized that We had Travelled
but little faster than they.
1t was now about sundown. Our COM
the same roads by which we had come
out. About dark we could hear firing at
intervals in the direction of our brigade's
position. AS we got nearer to our start
ing point the firing became more general
and the vOlleying more frequent and fur
ious. We now believed that Forrest must
have moved up in our absence and at
tackled our brigade.
When we had gotten within about n
half-mile of our camping place we were
met by n scout. He informed Capt Hat
terry that Forrest had attacked our out
posts south of the brigade soon after we
left camp and the brigade proper had
now moved back about five miles towards
Columbus to a strong position at the foot
of steep hill, and the fighting that was
being done was by one company Of the
Sth Mich. Cav, under Capt. Smith, near
at hand, with one company Of the 18th Ill.
Cav, under Capt. Connolly afterwards
MajOr), who with his company was behind
a stone-andrail barricade across the road
Il
The barricade was located about50 yards
south Of the road coming in from the west,
on which we had gone out.
Our command halted when we had come
out into the road behind the barricade.
Capt. Hattery left us and went down to
the barricade, and while talking to the
officer in command the two were ap-
preached by Capt. Hanchett, Assistant
Adjutant General of the brigade, with an
order for Capt. Connolly.
Then Hanchett asked Hattery if he was
ready to go and join the brigade. Upon
receiving an affirmative answer Hanchett
said he would go with him. The forward
order was given and we started for the
brigade, five miles in the rear.
We had proceeded not more than 70 Or
100 yards when we heard cheering ahead
Of us. Hanchett asked Hattery what he
thought the cheering was for. Hattery
expressed himself as at loss to under
stand it, and then Hanchett t6fhed in his
saddle to me and asked my opinion. 1T
must be men charging" / said. Where
upon Hanchett said to Hattery: Don't
you think there ought to be an advance
guard sent forward?' Hattcry thought so,
and told ME to take eight men and go
ahead. Just as l was in the act of NOV
ing forward with the detail, Hanchett re-
quested me to send back word as soon
as | got to where the cheering seemed to
be, if l saw nothing alarming, as he was
very anxious to get on to the brigade.
When we had gone quite 4 little dis
tance the men of my squad and l were Of
the opinion that we had passed beyond the
place where the cheering had been, and
sent one Of the boys back with word that
l thought the rear was clear. 4 few
minutes later Hanchett came riding up.
While we were discussing the situation he
caught sight of Springfield rifle lying
by the side of the road. BY this time the
moon was shining quite brightly. Hanchett
jumped from his horse and picked up the
gun, making some remark to the effect
that soldier ought to be ashamed who
would throw down his gun in the pres.
ence of the enemy. He remounted with
out loss of time, however, and soon he put
spurs to his horse, moving in the direc-
tion of the brigade once more. We could
see Hanchett after he had passed beyond
us at least hundred yards, when sharp
turn to the left suddenly hid him from
sight. When we had reached the bend
we heard strange noise ahead. 1t was
like that of men running, and we caught
an occasional metallic click. We kept
right on, however, keeping a good look
Out.
Suddenly we saw campfres to the right
OF the road and ahead. AS we got near
we could see men moving about. Taking
some by the side of the road to be of our
brigade left there to guard the Lawrence
burg road, L asked what regiment they
belonged to, and got the surprising
answer in the way Of rush for us by
the supposed Union guards. They eyi-
IDENTIFY intended to capture us without a
shot or unnecessary noise. / yelled For
ward!' The rebels were grabbing at our
horses heads, but we broke through, and
received volley as we went. One young
man was hit, but l assisted him to keep
his saddle. We soon passed out of range
and came to halt, and later got to the
brigade.
Now, it was when we heard the sound
as of men running that Hanchett was cap
tured. The same crowd that had rushed
us in the road had gathered him In, and
he was off his horse and out of sight be-
fore we got there. The rebels we encoun-
tered We're Forrest in person and his
bodyguard Of 100 men; they had come up
the Lawrenceburg road. Quite a number
of our brigade were captured at the same
| place. Two of Co. l., Doc Robinson and
Fred Marcy, who were along with us, but
had left us while Hattery was talking to
the officers in command behind the -barri-
| cade, were taken in the same way. When
Hood and his army were driven back out
| of Tennessee, Robinson, who was a doc
tor, and Marcy, with all our wounded,
| were recaptured. Marcy said they were
only few yards In the rear of the rebel
| column when Hanchett was taken. They
saw him and spoke to him. The next