The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-14
Who Caught Shailer?

n,
ticed several articles IN the Confederate
Veterans column relative TO the battle at
Thompson Station, Tenn. ! believe this
subject was introduced by SOME one ask
ing the question Did Joe whec1er cap
ture shafter?9
DO not know that any particular regi-
men. or brigade is entitled TO any espe-
cial honor Tor the capture. Earl Van
Dorn's command captured him. think
the bulk OF all the brlgades were In the
saddle on the day of the fight
The day before the surrender General
Franklin Armstrong took part OF his
brigade and Kings battery Of artillery out
from Spring Hill TO what we called the
gap" on the Columbia and Franklin
(Nasbyille) pike, within four miles OF
Franklin, and began sharpshootnE the
pckets, and the .feierals began 10 come
out in force, We kept falling back from
ridge 10 ridge, using our artillery at every
rise OF elevation. until rundown. We
were then within about four miles q
Thompson Station on each side u the
pike. We then waited until after dark,
and took whole strings OF fences aud piled
them AZ though wa we're building camp
hres. and set them on tire on line 81 bat
tie We then placed ont plckets and the
brigade marched back 10 Spring Hill and
went into camp. As usual. next morning
the Federals began 10 advance skirmish
ing with our nickots. We met them In
force when they got 10 the hill, just be-
fore Thompson station.
General Whitfield was ordered to the
depot at Thompson Station to keep their
attention drawn TO the front so that GEN
eral Forrest could have time 20 cut them
nn IN the rear The Federals had n bat
terry Of artillery; we had Two batteries
on the front The Federal battery and
Kings battery were dueling about one
and one-half miles apart. The Missouri
battery got a position on our right wing
ard silenced the Federal battery. and
shgut that time we received word al
Kings battery that Forrest was In posi-
,ion. Our artllerymen hitched up and
see made a run with II to within about
3t9 Yards OF the Federal line aud began
10 Esd Asm canister shots and moved
-lYTnr arwn nike 50 many weeds for about
e'sN tafn niputes. When Forrest opened on
hesa 10 sle rear shafter tried to move out
by lbs MEn, wing, Armstrong sent the
Fif3t TennessAe cavalry on double quick
tilns aeid ain of, and Just as We were
setting fsRds % fire on them, they T2Sse'
whitaeIdis egin did make .fee at
terpte u thRrga Ia, Fredericksburg but
was 10 Hardy act n a ssa6Gid not hav
taken thyn by an assanlt-he was no
put there for that purpose. We under
stood he was there for skrmish duty
After we made tho move with the artll
lery our regiment was right In the rea
of Whitnelds legion. The Federals over
shot us. There was two-story ware
house right In our line, and bullets raj
tied like hail on the roof. I did not motto
one bullet hit within ten feet Of In
ground High shooting Is what saved IL
In regard to Forrest; After Van Dor
was killed Forrest took charge OF th
army until Joe Wheeler was put in con-
mand when Forrest went TO West Tennes
see and North Mississippi and made UP
pretty good army Of four or Ave brigade
OF conscripts and old men. He had moth
ing to do with Zoe Wheeer's comman
after the latter took charge.
The Thompson Station skirmish coul
not really be called fight We orr
drew out about four regiments OF infan
ry and one Of cavalry. The Federal cay
airy ran out before we could head the
off and the Federal army was fortified
and around Franklin.
The First Tennessee regiment was ke
as mounted scouts. Van Dorm never wdu
let us dismount TO fight no matter no
the lead was flying. high or low on
company OF the regiment was Van Dorm
escort and bodyguard We were camp,
by his headquarters when he was killed.
was personally acquainted with Ger
eral Whitfield. ! knew him when / W;
child before he left Tennessee ar
talked With him after the THOMPSON stg
ton fight. S. r Scott,
Company |. First Regiment, Tennessee
Cavalry,