The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-23
the CAVALRY STAMPEDE.
An Incident Of Con. scoy Smiths RAID

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / notice
a controversy in The National Tribune in
regard to the stampede that occurred at
Okalona, Miss, on Feb. t22, 1864, during
Gen. w. Sooy Smiths raid. As l was
member of the 7th Ind. Cav, and was in
that stampede, also in the saber charge at
Ivy Farm, will tell what know about it.
EARLY in February Gen. w. Sooy
SnitK was ordered from the vicinity of
Memphis south, to form; junction with
Gen. Sherman ut Meridian, Miss. Gen.
Smith had a fine army, and every soldier
in the ranks had confidence in him, and
expected under him to annihilate Gen.
Forests command.
Nothing of great interest occurred until
we had advanced south of Oklahoma. Miss,
Feb. y, 1864, when we were ordered to
counter-march. We had had several Skin
mishes with the enemy, but ali were con-
fident of victory.
When we commenced to retreat Gen.
Winslow's Cavalry was at Lewisyllle,
Miss, only A.. miles away, with Gen. For
rest between the two commands. Gen.
Sherman says in his report that the same
| fighting that it took to cover Gen. Smith S
retreat would have reached Gen. Wins.Ow.
II was continual fight the whole day;
but we managed to retreat in good order
until Feb. %, when the stampede occurred
which is in dispute. l will quote from the
history of the 18th Ind. Cav, published in
1876, by Thomas S. COgley:
"The Third Brigade having arrived on
the field. the 9TH Ind, which was the rear
of the First Brigade, and, being nearest
when the enemy was marching into OkO-
| Iona, was ordered to the position men,
toned, because the emergency required it.
1t was ordered to resume its position in
the brigade. 1t slowly Withdrew its line
| and fled to the rear in column of tours,
and started off on the trOt to Overtake the
brigade.
''The regiment had gone but about a
half mile when the rebels made a furious
charge on the Third Brigade. They
charged into the town, right up to the
battery of howitZers, and captured five or
six of them. The scene that followed was
terrible beyond description. The I'd Tenn.
broke and fled in wild confusion. Soon
the entire Third Brigade stampeded and
became an uncomfortable mob. Its regi.
ments lost all semblance of organization
The men threw away their arms and
dashed hatless, pell-mell to the rear, will
terror depicted in their faces. deaf alike tC
threats or entreaties. Col. McCrillis and
| staff and Gen. Grierson made superhumaI
efforts to rally this brigade, but to little
purpose"
| There were thousands of refugee negroes
following us. The road was full of horses
| soldiers and negroes, perfectly frantic and
as uncomfortable as wild animals, al
crowding to the rear, with the enemy pour
ing volley after voley into the mass.
The 7th Ind. Cav. was formed and
held the enemy in check until the FRS
Brigade was brought back. when order
was restored and we continued the retreat
In the evening Ivy Farm was reached an(
the enemy was flanking us. A little be
fore shutdown the 4th Mo. and the It'll
Ind. Cav. were formed on n hill sloping Il
the east. BY order of Gen. Smith the I'll
Ind. Cav. made a saber charge, Col. ]. 7
G. Shanks in command of the regiment
Many a poor boy went down that hi
never to come back. SdineI.of them fel
close to my side. 1t isHiikely that thu
majority of us would have been killed hat
not the rebe.s shot too hight There wa
an old stable on the hill, lind when l go
back to it the bullets wene Gathering OF
the roof like hail. 1t is ROtmuch wonde
that the I'd Tenn. became frightened am
ran. They had lost all confidence in thei
commander. and they knew. it was almos
certain death for SOntheyH man to b.
caught in the Union army. 4. -.e--- 80.
The I'd n. j. Cav. was ,brigaded witt
my regiment all the time, we, We're in tn
service, and / am able to say that it wa
not the I'd N. ]. that stamReded at Oko
" | have not written the above to get int,
controversy. 1 know that 1he I'd Tenn
was good regiment and did some goo
fighting, and they may not be to blam
very much for the way they conducted
themselves at Okolona.. do not want t,
cast any reflections on. Gen. SOoy Smith
We may not have known all the surround
ings. The rank and file knew but littl
about the situation except in their owl
company.-A. s. WHETsEL, Co. E, I'll
Ind. Cav, Dunkirk, Ind.