The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-09-10


the night. Barricades were built across
the road about a half mile apart, behind
which was left a company, who renamed
until all the troops had passed, then they
would pull out for the head of the column;
this order was kept up during the night.
When Gen. Wheeler's troopers first ran
upon these works and were opened upon by
the Spencers (seven-shooters), to say the
least, they were surprised, and before the
men could be withdrawn from range many
went down.
On the afternoon of the next day Gen.
Fitzpatrick marched his command through
Waynesboro, which was held by the spe-
cial detail, whose mission to Milen was
fruitless, because the rebels had taken
alarm and removed the prisoners further
South This detail joined their respective
organizations. Night coming on, the COM
mand went into camp about one and a
half miles beyond, on the Augusta Rail-
road, where strong barricades were built.
There was little sleep for the boys this
night, for while a portion was on picket
another portion was at work destroying
the railroad. About midnight the enc
my's advance commenced a series of at
tacks upon the pickets, using artillery,
which was kept up the remainder of the
night, but each attack was repulsed, and
when morning came we were stubbOrnly
holding our position of the night.
On the morning of the 2Sth the column
was put in motion toward Louisville, Ga,
using the same tactics as the day before,
but not with equal success, for Wheeler s
men had had experience which taught
them to be careful of approaching too close
to these barbados, so they tried the ex-
pedient of thanking them, compelling the
defenders to beat a retreat to avoid being
captured. Gen. Fitzpatrick ordered Col.
Atkins with his Second Brigade to move
to point where the WaynesborO and
Louisville roads crossed each other, and
there take n position; Col. Spencer with
the Third Brigade to move past the Sec
Ond and take position in its rear, while
Col. Murray, with the First (ours), was to
move past both and take position; alter
mating in this order through the day, thus
withdrawing from any portion of the enc
my's forces that might be following them
up.
attack us as to separate the brigades, that
he might fight them i'll detail. For this
purpose he sent portion of his command
during the night, to secure position that
they might be able to cut off and capture
the advance. In the darkness, while en-
deavoring to prevent us from discovering
their movements, they became lost, and
did not reach the desired position until
after daylight, and the Second and Third
and portion of the First Brigades had
passed.
The rear regiment, 9Th Ind. Cav, Col.
Jones, was left without support by the
too rapid movement of the advance, and
was thrown on their own mettle. Cos.
A and Il having been posted on the right
flank of the column, facing the enemy,
rail fence-in the edge of woods at the
side of the main road, with G and ID be-
hind a barricade in the open field in our
front, endeavOring to draw the rebels from
cover of the woods SO as to use the artil-
lery upon them; but they refused the bait.
These companies were then ordered to fall
back to a new position, and the rebels
approaching the edge of the woods moved
to their right, with the evident purpose of
getting to our rear and capturing Cos A
and b. AS they were moving up-and
none too soOn-they were discovered by
Capt. Reeves, of Co. B, who rode hurried
ly back, giving the order, Fall back
gallop." We then knew affairs had taken
a serious turn. AS we passed from the
woods into the open lane we saw the
field "swarming' with Johnnies, swinging
into line along the fence on our right and
ond, and while emptying our Spencers into
their ranks. sent the rowels of our spurs
into the TANKS of our horses as we dashed
along their lines. A rebel standard was
Haunted at the end of the lane, where a
square turn was made, but a Spencer ball
brought the flag and its bearer to the
ground.
l have to this day vivid remembrance
of on this run looking into the muzzle of
a revolver in the hand of reb but few
feet away, and hearing the undesirable
summons Halt, you Yankee" but 1 did
not halt until l had passed through the
danger point. How rapidly thoughts
passed through my brain on that occasion,
and how quickly my thoughts were put into
action. Believing my time had come,
sat straight in the saddle. again sending
my spurs into my horses TANKS to hasten
his speed, if possible, SO that when shot
he might carry me out to the boys before
l fell. The revolver clicked, but no dis
charge, and l was safe. Crack bang!
went the carbineS and revOlvers from their
side of the fence, and from ours the Spen-
GERS were replying with wonderful effect,
as was shown by many empty saddles.
Finding they could not stop us, they threw
gaps in the fence to head off Co. B, but
they were not to be thus caught, and
opening a gap in the fence on the opposite
side, they rushed "cross LOTS and joined
Co. A, who had lined up behind a barri-
cade across the road and continued the
fight.
The Second Battalion of the 9Th Ind.
Cav. was posted on a road that inter
sected the Waynesboro road, to guard
against flank movement of the enemy,
while the Sd battalion had gone further
out on this road to prevent dash from
that direction. Gen. Fitzpatrick had ac-
the Sd battalion. At about the
same time we DIST battaliOn) were in the
hottest of the fight, the I'd battalion was
attacked by superior force,
that swung around him. There was live
" time for awhile, as the music of
their Spencers lulled to sleep many of the
rebels, and they fell from their horses. 1t
was life or death, prison or liberty, and
as the Sth Ind. Cav. boys are great lovers
Of life and liberty, they made determined
charge, cutting their way out, and at the
main road, Joined by a portion of the LIST
went to the assistance of the Sd
battalion, which was holly engaged with a
superior force, who came near capturing
them, and Gen. Fitzpatrick. Scarcely had
these events happened when We, at the
Cos. A and B, from the whist
ling balls about our ears, learned that the
rebels were again between us and the rest
Of the command. Our fighting blood was
now at fever heat, and turning, we
charged, shooting and cutting as we went
through IT seemed there was no end of