The National tribune., 1903-08-20
WITH THE CAVALRY.
fitzpatrick fitting With Wheeler Down in
Georgia.

named the organizations composing Kill
patrick's Division down in Georgia.
have an exceedingly vivid recollection that
the 9th Ohio Cav. was with Fitzpatrick ut
Reynolds Plantation and Waynesboro,
enga gements graphically described by
Gen. Raum.
l am writing from memory, and may
fall into error as to dates. Some incl
dents connected with Kilpatrick's opera
tons in Georgia failed to impress me;
therefore. l have forgotten them. Key
nolds Plantation, however, is written in
delibly upon memOry's tablet.
From Macon we swung off to the left
of the army, having little idea of our des-
tination. For few days We rode along
undisturbed, forasing extensively. There
came change. About Nov. %, the for
ayers were seen coming in from all the by
paths and crossroads, seemingly anxious
to rejoin the column. This was unusual
as they generally remained out until a
much later hour. 1t soon became known
that Wheeler was around. Maj. Griffith
and his redoubtable scouts came in and
reported that they had been compelled to
fight their way back to the command.
We went into camp some time before
night, and at once began the erection of
barricades to the rear-an indication that
trouble was coming. BY night our foragers
were all in-some of them having been
run in. An hour or two after midnight
we were ordered quietly to saddle our
horses. There was no sound of buSle. We
then killed all unserviceable horses. This
was done by Il blow on the head with a
hammer. 1t looked cruel, but such is war.
About 3 a. IN. Wheeler attacked the
barricade, and a hot engagement cnsued,
carbines and artillery giving the rebs a
warm reception. Now and then we could
hos tl, oil rhn Eirct RrtUula
held the position. Mounting and forming
tours, we swung into the road, and We're
commanded to trot-away from the fight.
When day dawncd we were still going.
Finally, on a slight elevation, we came to
barricade that was just long enough to
cover one company. There was an open
space for us to pass through, the object
of the obstruction being merely to check
the enemy while the troops were being
withdrawn. Similar barbados were
erected every half mile During the fore
noon we passed through a dozen of them,
never haulting until we overlook the wa
gon train, which had been moving since
midnight. Just how long our men fought
at the night camp l am unable to say.
However, when they abandoned the posi-
ton they came out hurriedly, just as we
had done. Wheeler followed, of course,
but when he found himself up against the
first little barricade he was surprised. The
company left behind the barricade were
armed with seven-shooters, with which
they stopped the further progress of many
Johnny. Wheeler withdrew his men be-
yOnd range, and then the company fell
back to the next barricade, continuing to
fall back from barricade to barricade,
their Spencers carrying destruction into
the cnemy's ranks whenever they came
within range of the Notifications" This
mode of warfare continued throughout the
greater part of the day. That night the
command encamped in a good position,
covered by an extensive barricade. We
remained quietly in that position until af-
ter midnight, when the enemy again at
tackled. The same tactics were adopted
as on the previous day, but they did not
so successfully retard the advance of
Wheeler's troopers. Experience had
taught them to be shy Of the barricades.
Instead of attacking them in front they
fanked them, compelling the company be-
hind the barricade to fall back to escape
capture. Handicapped by the wagon
train, orr march vas difficult and weari-
some. Again we camped at night, the
conditions being similar to those on the
two previous occasions.
Gen. Fitzpatrick now realized that in all
probability lie would have to give battle
or lose a wagon train. However, he got
away early on the next morning without
any serions objection from Wheeler. He
was strenuouslv endeayorinr to ride
oround the tanks of our column. which
he very nearly succeeded in doing on the
foIlowinp doy
Inst What reoiment K;lnotrick was with
when be emf his wov out I am NOT nre
norad n cav was nnder the imnres-
s;on bowoyer tb,t ho vac with tho 9Th
Ind ot ono time and that CriHth,s scouts
oncnaJ tLe w,v for him on onotber occa-
Sinn ,rben be wos in a enlightenment y
When the main column had crossed
Rnct Head Creek nv comnonv was or
doroJ 70 Hold tho hr;loo unt;i tho re.r
anord sbouId noss over and Tbap to burn
+ Tho comnanv had NOT baen long in no
s;tion wbon Tho ren,oinJer of Tho repimant
re,ur,ed r. smnnort ne Col r. w Heath
heing in command We were also sun-
norted Inv tho Rodmon ouns of tho 10Th
W. Tha rohois Voc oIosnIr nrossino tho
t.aons tho+ Lod n"t rot crossod tbo nroaL
tho f,;na h.;n~ yory ronid Nv comnony
d;s,nrneoJ w,s stat;onod alone tho
hr;dna hut tI,ara ,rora too many Of nc IN
do affoot;,o ,,ori, in dostrov;ng tho brdso
We i'o,-;nn SID that ,ro on7d NOT hmr,'
!. tha ,;1,hors heinz 5,mn nnd cororod
vii, uosS rannrted thn fact 70 COM
Tos sn no sneoos,;np ~ tha somo time thot
ST. 800 go 80, Non on tha hr;dna
7 told lin oIso tiat wa could do nn,h;no