The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-04-18
FIGHTING PARSON DUNLOP"
A Desperate Charge Under Storm
of Shot and Shell.

talns most graphic description Of q
thrilling incident ut Murfrcesboro
Tenn, which is from the pen Of Rev.
Henry L. l1oyt, DID,, of Harmony
Grove, Ga. The hero Of the occasion
was Rev. j. T.. Dunlop, now Jealous
and honored Presbyterian minister,
living at Georgetown, S. G. DR.. Hoyt's
account is as follows
In the summer of 1862 COnfedcr-
ate cavalry force, consisting of four or
ilVc regiments, was cncampeu at Nc
Minnvillc, Tenn. Forrest, afterwards
general, but at that time ranking only
as colonel, was in command of the
brigade. The Sd Georgia cavalry rCgi-
ment, commanded by Col. w. j. Law
ton, was part of the force. In it was
company commanded by the Rev. J.
E. Dunlop, Presbyterian minister,
who had resigned the charge of his
church in Baiubridyc, Ga, to buckle
on the sword, and had been elected
captain of cavalry company, which
he had been instrumental in raising
and to whom his men were perfectly
devoted.
At Murlrcesboro was a force of
Yankees, consisting OF cavalry, artillery
and infantry, and considerably out
numbering the Confcdcratcs. Col. For
rest decided to surprise and capture
the Fcdcrals, and thus get supplies
and 'trrl:4s for his men, many of whom
at that time had nothing more ctfcc-
tive than doubc-barrcl shotguns. Ac-
cordingly we broke camp one Saturday
ano, after marching all night, reached
Murfrcesboro Sunday morning Just at
the dawn of day. The Federal pick
cts were captured without giving an
alarm and our foe, all unconscious of
danger, was quietly sleeping. They
were IN two camps, one on the oppo-
site side of the town from our ap-
proach and the other to the right as
We entered. The gallant Wharton, Of
the Texas Rangers, with part of the
camp to our right, while Forrest, with
the other part, was to attack the one
on the opposite side Of the town.
Wharton's attack was a complete sur-
prise to the enemy. Without warning
he and his Rangers burst into the
sleeping camp, yelling and shouting,
drove out the terrified Fcdcrals, and
for while held possession of the
camp. Afterwards, seeing the small
force of their assailants, the Yankees,
rallied, and, after stubborn fight, in
which Wharton was wounded. they
possession of the camp. The
part under Forrest, in which was the
I'd Georgia, were not so successful.
The nUi-1 of the horses hOofs striking
upon the stony ground as we charged
through Tic town awoke the sleeping
who rushed out to greet
us, wildly shouting and cheering, and
in their enthusiasm raising such Il din
as to reach the ears of the sleeping
camp, Il short distance out Of town.
Then, too, another unexpected DIFF.
licully arose. In the centre of the
town, directly fronting the street up
which we wcrc charging, stood the
brick Court House. In tins was a
Federal guard, keeping watch over
some prisoners. AS soon rs the head
of our column came in sight this guard
opened fire upon us out Of the win.
dows Of the Court House. This unex-
pccted attack delayed Forrest and frus-
tratcd his plan of surprising the camp
beyond. When we got there, instead
of taking them by surprise, we found
them drawn up in line Of battle on the
crest Of a slope i'll All old field, having
a splendid battery of six guns and
long line of infantry supporting it.
We we're the party surprised. Under
this unlocked for condition Of things
Forrest ordered Col. Lawton to draw
up his regiment in front Of the Federal
lines, in piece Of woods which shell
tered us TO some extent, eaying that
he, with the rest Of his troop, would
ride around them and attack them in
the rear, and ordering Lawton as soon
40 he heard his guns in The rear to
charge them in front. Thus we stood
for about two hours, I suppose, wait.
ing to hear FORESTS guns in the rear.
In the meantime the Fcdcrals, know
ing that wo were in the woods, kept
up an inccssant tlle with their Al ill.,
lcry, sending continual stream OF
shot and shell scrccching over our
heads, cutting down the limbs of trees
bursting over us, doing no particular
damage it is true, but terrifying and
dcmOralizing the men, most of whom
had never been under fire before.
Thus matters stood We, with our
shotguns, listening to The music of the
shells, and the Yankees having a per-
feet picnic IN the way of target prac.
tice; we being the target.
Finally, becoming cmboldcncd by
our continued silence, the sharpshoot
ers from The infantry crcpt down tt
the edge Of tho woods and, concealina
themselves in the undcrblsh, began r.
pick at us with their rifles, and the
whizz of their bullets was getting to be
uncomfortably close to our heads. Col
Lawton, noticing this, directed his ad
jutant to carry verbal order to the
major to send squadron--two com
panics---to charge those sharpshOotcrs
drive them back and return to the com
mand. The adjutant, in his excite
mcnt, misunderstood the order and