The National tribune., 1900-07-26
HOT CHASE ON A HOT DAY.
A Little Brush With John Morgan That Did
Not End Just Right.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: As
picked up the type in the Office on the
morning of July my mind went back
to that day 80 years ago-July 8, 1852
and as / knew there were others perhaps
of my comrades who were present at that
date that would remember the day with
sorrow on account of dead and wounded
comrades, some Of whom are suffering
from the effects Of wounds received at
that time, / concluded to make an ef-
fort to have short sketch of this little
battle that took place at that date at
Tompkinsville, Ky, reach the columns OF
our paper.
This fight was not exactly of that class
that mostly get into the papers, from the
fact that we did not make the Johnnies
run, except we count what they did while
after us. We had been in several skir-
mishes and raids before this, but gener-
ally had things our own way. While at
Edgefield, Tenn, we were told that Nc
Clellan was about winding up the war
around Richmond; that it was very doubt
full If we would see any more rebels in
arms. Some were very sorry, and COM
planned of those in authority as conspiring
to keep US from getting into any real
fighting, and intending to send US home
to our friends without that honor that we
so much coveted to earn in big battle.
Others were satisfied to go home.
Soon after this Co. I fell in with a
force of the enemy not far from Tomp-
kinsyille, KY, and had a severe fight.
Capt. Mccullough and others were killed
and wounded.
Cos. G, l, l. and M were camped at
Tompkinsville, and did scouting into Ten
nessee and along the Kentucky State line,
having several skirmishes with forces un-
der Capt. Ferguson and others, without
any loss in numbers. But on that morn
ot do nf hn rafn 10
Gen. John Ii. Morgan attacked our force.
copy from Capt. Il. S. McCahan's state
ment in his diary as to the numbers,
losses, etc. He says we numbered about
250 present for duty; that Morgan had
about 1900 men and four pieces of ar
tillery; that we were completely surround
ed. Our forces were commanded by Maj.
L. ]. Jordan afterwards a Brigadier
General, commanding a brigade In Kill
patrick's command on Sherman's march).
AS | write these lines l can see the I'd
Ga. Mounted Infantry gallop up and form
line of battle in front of US, our line hay-
ing been formed and waiting for some
thing. 1t came later, and l shall never
forget how their first volley made that
they aimed too low, but did better next
time.
We commenced to fire also, and pumped
carbines freely. Those in front of us had
to fall back q few rods and reform on
higher ground. Others opened on our left
flank about this time with artillery, also
small arms, and as it was thought they
were closing around for n capture, Maj.
Jordan ordered the line to fall back direct
Iy to the rear of our line, past our camp,
across the open field several hundred
yards, to the woods. This was done with
out much excitement.
After we had crossed the fence into
the woods Co. Nj was ordered back into
the field to form and charge the artillery,
that was making noise but not doing
much damage. After we had formed again
in the field facing the enemy orders were
given to follow up the balance of the COM
mand. Therefore the charge was not
made The balance of the command had
pushed a way through and we followed
and struck Il road and commenced to move
briskly for safety, as we did not relish
the idea of being captured.
The Johnnies did not seem up to this
stage of action to know where we had
gone to or what we meant to do. Nor
gan may have thought we were bagged
and would surrender, because he did not
press us hard up to this time after we
to fall back. But when they
discovered that we had gotten away from
them and the direction We had taken they