The National tribune., 1901-06-06
DEATH OF GEN. GARNETT.
A 7th Ind. Veteran Writes of the Battle Of
Carricks Ford.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In a T,

attempt upon the part of Gen. Benham
and his friends to either entirely ignore
the 7th Ind, as in this instance, or else
misrepresent the facts, and upon all oc-
| casions TO belittle its achievements.
The facts are that Gen. Benham was at
that time an Aid on Gen. McClellan's
staff, and while a portion of Gen. Nor
ris's Brigade, composed of the 9TH and
9th Ind, the 14th Ohio, with two pieces
of the Cleveland Light Artillery, was fol
lowing Gen. Garnctt's retreating army
from Laurel Hill, he Gen. Benham) at
tempted to take command. This resulted
in u quarrel between Col. Dumont, of the
9TH Ind. and Bcnham. Col. Dumont, as
the ranking officer, refusing to take or
ders from the aforesaid Gen. Benham.
Col. Dumont took command of the entire
forces and under his command the battle
of Carricks Ford was fought. Gen. Ben
ham never afterwards lost an opportunity
TO cast asperSiOnS upon the 9TH Ind. or
its Colonel
This accounts for the misstatements
publiShed in your paper, as well as for
tn" -lny other attempts to rob the 9TH
Ind Of its hard-earned laurels. The Ith
was always in the front of battle when
there was fighting to do. and always
brayely did its duty. SO much in defense
of my regiment and its gallant Colonel.
The true history of Gen. Garnett's
death is as follows: As stated above, Col.
Dumont of the 9TH Ind, took command of
this, the advance column, of Gen. Nor
ris's Brigade, placing the 9Th i'll the adj
vance, with the 14th Ohio next. and the
9th Ind. i'll the rear with the artillery. We
pressed Gen. Garnett so closely that he
was compelled to throw away almost
everything in the way of camp equipage.
Finally we came up with his army at
Carrick's Ford, on the Cheat River, while
ntt
train across the river. Garnett's whole
army occupied a position on the bluffs on
the opposite bank of the river. Their ar
tiilery, on the bluffs, Immediately across
the river, opened fire on our advance, and
the 14th Ohio and the 9th Ind charged up
to the river and opened fire from behind
n rail fence, while our artillery imme-
lery's position. The 7th Ind. charged
across the river, capturing the baggage
train and two pieces of artillery. At this
time only about one-half of this regiment
was across the river, owing to the diff
Guilty of getting around the wagons, with
which the ford was jammed.
Our charge drove the Confederates in
utter rOut from their position. Gen. Gar
nett, in attempting to rally his forces,
to rally around him. A young boy of the
1st Ga. got up beside him, and while they
were standing there 4 scattering vOlley
was fired by the boys of our regiment
and Gen. Garnett and the boy both fell
dead at the same instant. l was less than
30 yards from Gen. Garnett when he
was killed. in plain view of it all, and
saw the whole affair, and was at the spot
where he lay just as soon as l could
reach there by running.
This is the fact about his death. There
were no other troops on that side of the
river at the time, for all of the 7th had
not yet got across. They could not get
there, as the ford was so blOckaded by
the wagon train that only one man at a
time could get through the jam.
Another inaccuracy in Gen. Benham's
statement is: While examining the dead
at this position, Serg't-Maj. Gordon, of
the 9th Ind. came up to him, asking if he
knew Garnett saying an officer had just
been killed mt the next ford who had stars
on his shoulders" There were no dead
at any other ford or position, for there
had been no other fight. Only at Carrick's
Ford had there been any fighting, and
only at that ford We're there any dead.
If Gen. Benham crossed any ford and
saw Gen. Garnett's dead body, he crossed
at Carrick's Ford. Neither did he find
Gen. Garnett lying within 90 yards of the
ford. for it was at least 100 yards: neither
could he have been shot from the other
side of the river, for there were high
bluffs on the side the COnfederates occu-
pied, with the ground sloping rapidly back
from the river, while on the other side of
the river the banks were low, with level
bOttOmlands reaching far back from the
river.
Again, if Gen. Benham saw no other
signs of strife near where Gen. Garnett
lay, then he was either blind or was not
there, for there was where the battle of
Carrick's Ford was fought and won, re-
sulting in the utter rOut and destruction
of Gen. Garnett's army, the first army
that was entirely destroyed during the
war; and while it was not a great battle,
yet there We're plenty of signs of battle,
such as captured cannon, wagons, broken
and bent muskets, all the discarded para
phernalia of a routed army. together with
Il few dead and wounded soldiers.
Gen. Benham well knew that the 7th
Ind. killed Gen. Garnett, but because of
dislike of Col. DumOnt he has seen fit to
write so much that is untrue and mislead-
ing. He well knew that to Serg't Bur-
lingame. of Lawrenceburg, Ind, n men,
Der of the 18th Ind, was accredited the
honor of having killed Gen. Garnett, and
for this he was made Lieutenant.
| do not wish to detract anything from
the 9th Ind. or 14th Ohio, for no braver
regiments We're mustered; but l simply
know them. for l was there and saw the
things of which | write, and took part
in them; neither do ! wish to do Gen |
Benham an injustice, but to point out his
and give the reasons for his
against the 1th Ind. and its
Colonel.
No brayer man ever marched in his
armies than Col. EbeneZer Du-
mont. He served through the Mexican
war and through the civil war. being
made Brigadier General for his gallantry
at this battle of Carrick's Ford. 1t may
also be mentioned that the troops engaged
in this fight camped on or near the bat
tlefeld, and did not cross any other ford
that day after the death of Gen. Garnett. |
| wish to pay my tribute of respect to q
brave man, though an enemy. and | be, |
lieve every cOmrade of the 9TH will bear
me out in saying no braver man. in either |
army, nor no more gallant officer, ever
led men into battle than Gen. Garnett.
Whoever wrote the article for Nc |
Clures Magazine knew nothing whatever
about this matter, and if his information |
OH tie other matters of which he writes |
is as accurate O. he is certainly a valua> |
BILE historian. | write this by request of |
many members of the old 9TH Ind.-RoB- |
ERT F. CoNovER, Co. 3, 7th Ind, Rush |
vile, Ind.
The Battle of Piedmont
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: | wish to
add my testimony to the truth of the state
ment of Comrade Brooks, in the issue of
May go regarding the death of Gen. W. |
b. Jones. My recollection is that we