The National tribune., 1900-10-04
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
KILPATRICK'S VERSION.
The Montrose Crossroads Surprise as Told
of by the General.

the M0ntr0Se CROSSROADS surprise as Tolu
of by the General.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the
year 1874 Gen. Fitzpatrick gave a lecture
in Pennsylvania, the subject Of which was
Shermans March to the Sea, but it cOv-
cred the period from the battles of Look
out Mountain and Missionary Ridge and
closed with the surrender of Gen. Joseph
e. Johnston's army in North Carolina.
Coming to the surprise, as has been
mentioned by comrades, at Montrose
Crossroads, etc, he gave it thus: The
First Brigade had been in the advance the
day before, commanded by Col. L. j. Jor-
dan, 9th Pa. Cav, and went iuto camp.
The commander of the Second Brigade
moved farther on and went into camp
also. Gen. Fitzpatrick went or to camp
of the Second Brigade said he did not
feel satisfied, called on the Colonel and
asked him some question concerning the
enemy, stating that he thought his camp
toe far from the First Brigade. The
Colonel assured him he would be able to
cope with any force that could be brought
upon him until reinforced by the balance
of the division. Therefore they all went
to rest and slept the sleep of the tired
soldier until rudcly awakened at the dawn
next morning by firing. The General
jumped out of bed, ran out to the front
porch in his night clothes. At this mo
mcnt Il rebel officer rode up to him and
asked where Kilpatrick's headquarters
We're. Fitzpatrick replied, pointing in the
direction of the camp of the First Bri-
gade, said:
Just one mile down that road" At
this the rebel turned away and gave Or
ders TO others to have the battery near by
harnessed and hooked and get it away be-
| fore reinforcements arrived. Then he
rode away. This battery had been cap
turcd before the General was out of bed.
Fitzpatrick here stated that the rebels
had charged the camp and surprised and
routed the brigade while they knew moth
ing of their coming until they were among
them. Many of the men did not get their
arms, but all who could get away made
| for n swamp near by those having their
arms firing as they fell back to the swamp
and keeping up a fire from the swamp.
When the rebel officer turned away
from Fitzpatrick to look after his men
getting the battery away Fitzpatrick went
back into the house and told his Orderly
to have his horse brought to the back
door while he dressed himself. He went
out, mounted, and started across some
First Brigade. Some Johnnies saw him
and started after him. His horse went
into the soft ground to the knees, the rebs
gained on him, and he jumped from the
animal and took to his own legs and
| reached the swamp.
On reaching the boys there he called to
them to rally and charge and recapture
their camp; that the First. Brigade had
arrived. They commenced to move out
at once and did take their camp and
their battery without any assistance eX
cept what effect this move had on the
rebels, as they no doubt thought the bal
ance of the division had arrived. The reb
els did not get the battery y,but did
get some prisoners.
o. L. Ball and Lafayette Caldwell both
of Co. NJ, 9th Pa. Cav, were Oil detail
duty with Fitzpatrick at this time. They
say that they were on guard at division
headquarters that night; that just at the
| break of day they were relieved, walked
| to where their saddles were, laid down
| their arms and walked away. Seeing at
| the same time some men riding up to-
ward them with blue overcOats on they
| supposed they were returning scouts, and
did not pay any attention to them until
| they came right up, and pointing revolvers
| in their faces demanded their surrender
| There was no firing up to that time. 1t
was not clear daylight. These comrades
soon were carried away prisoners, with
others, and the firing commenced about
| that time.
There were several members of the 9th
Pa. Cav. belonging TO the First Brigade
who heard Kilpatrick's lecture, o. Z. Ball
| among them. When the lecture closed
Col. Il. A. Irvine, of the 1st Pa. Buck
tail Regiment, told the General that there
were some of his old command present. He
said he wanted to see them, and each
| CHI dc. In
| asked if we thought he had related it as
we had seen it, and was answered that
it was as understood at the time, although
| we did not see all.
Now | suppose this is about as nearly
correct as anyone can give it, although
there may be incidents in connection with
| this fight not matters of record. The sur
prise was complete and the departure Of
| the rebels was just as quick and com
plete as the attack; but they left the guns
they had captured, and certainly did not
remain very long.-A. Il. STRAW, Co. NJ,
| 9th Pa AnSonyillp Pa