The National tribune., 1900-03-01

the artillery The 45th Ohio M't'd Inf. was |
on our left flank, though some distance
from us. The enemy had clear view OF
our position and made the best OF this
opportunity, their muskets having fuil
sweep of the plain We occupied.
This was the only engagement ever
witnessed in which the commanders OF
opposite sides seemed TO be lmpelled bH the
same motive at the same instant OF time,
but il very quickly developed that each
side was preparing for cavalry charge
1t was at this interesting stage OF the game
that Lieut.. Joseph " Wiltshire carried over
the bullet-swept plain an order from Gen.
Gilmore To the 45th Ohio, directing that
regiment 10 charge Pegram'S right flank.
Lieut. Wiltshire was only a yOungSter of
about 1S years, but full of zeal, and mayne
lacking in knowledgeof the danger incurref
in crossing the open plain within easy
range of the Confederate musketry. AT
all events. Wiltshire made the mad gailop
across the open fields. and, Of course, drew
the rebel fire: but, laying low over his
horse. he made the perilous ride with moth
ing more serious than bullet Scraping the
side of his face between the eye and ear.
From this wound the blood flowed freely
and his appearance when he reached the
commander of the 45th Ohio was most
alarming.
'You are badly wounded, 'Curley, said
Col. Runkel.
No" said Wiltshire; "it is not so bad as it
looks"
In few seconds the charge was sounded
and the 45th Ohio gallOped forward toward
the right of Pegram's line. At the same
instant Gen. Gilmore sent Maj. Norton's
battalion of the 18th Ohio Cav. up the hill
towards the center of Pegram line. These
two charging columns went mp the hill in
fine style, but they had scarcely attained
the top the hill. when Pegram's charging
column came within the range Of our vision,
and very much TO our surprise the attack
was from our rear. We had only few
seconds warning, but that was enough.
A large part of Pegram's cavalry had
passed through wood out of our sight,
around our right flank. and came in upon
our rear in beautiful style. Before coming
within range of our guns We could see them
sweeping over the ground at mad gallop,
and the rebel yell" was borne TO our ears by
the chill March wind.
Gen. Gilmore was fully equal To the
emergency and quickly dispatched Capt.
William +. Sandersof his staff with an order
10 the 1th ONO Cav. 10 meet the coming
charge with a counter-charge, and Capt.
Sanders said that he had Gen. Gilmore s
permission TO ask for the command Of one
of the battalions. He was given the com
mand Of Maj. McIntyre's battalion, which
he instantly led against the rapidly ap-
preaching enemy.
The Confederates seeing the counter
charge coming at them, swerved off 10 our
left, but Sanders put his column straight al
them, when the enemy failed in heart and
undertook To escape Sanders. The re-
volvers were cracking away on both sides
but Sanders was the stronger. and soon had
his opponents on the run for escape. The
two forces were almost hand-to-hand in
conflict
The pistol shots died away in the distance
as pursuers and pursued passed out Of sight
III nearby forest. Within an hour Sand
ers and his command returned with large
number OF prisoners and three battle flags
The enemy fled i'll all directions, leaving
Gilmore in possession of the field
This was our first introduction 10 Capt.
Sanders, afterwards Gen. Sanders, who
was killed while in command of the cavalry
resisting the advance Of Iongstreet's vel
Grams upon Knoxville. The members OF
for Gen. Sanders. A part Of the 9TH was
with him on the successful raid he led into
East Tennessee in the Summer of 1863
Gen. Sanders's death was a great loss tc
the Union army. With his cavalry com.
mand he had been retarding Iongstreet' s
advance on Knoxville 10 give the infantry
time 10 intrench. In this he had beer
cmlnently successful; but late in the after
noon OF Nov. Is. 1869, after three days fight
ing. when within two miles of Knoxville al
almost the last shot i'll the day. Sanders
received mortal wound, reeled upon his
horse, and, falling, was caught in the arms
OF his men and taken TO house in town.
In full possession of his mind, there was
no disturbance of his calmness by the
answer of the surgeon TO his question as tc
tie nature of his wound. Death had nc
terrors for him He had done his duty
and served his country rs well as he could ;
That was all, i'll few and simple words, he
had 10 say.
The following day, being informed that
the end OF his life was nigh, he asked for a
Christian minister. and then that he should
be baptized in the faith of Jesus the Son OF
tfod. The Rev. Mr.. Ryder, Chaplain OF
the post, complied with this earnest desire
and a writer in the Atlantic Monthly relates
that then the minister in prayer com