The National tribune., 1903-12-03
GdLiATiN

The Federal batteries. on Capitol Hill,
in Nashville. comma nded the locality
where the cars were; S0llected; there was
serious flaw in the plan of attack that
no one perceived until the affair was over.
Says Duke:
Morgan could not hope to succeed, m
less, by moving all night, he got close
enough to Edgefie!d. to dash in early in
the morning, before his presence was even
suspected. If he marched in the day time,
or remained after daylight in the vicinity
of the. place, his presence would certainly
be discovered, and preparations would be
made to give him warm reception; hut
il heIattaeked mt daylight. the troops COM
ing from MurfreesbOro would scarcely be
allowed time to commence their work on
the other side of the river or Mt any rate.
even if they should attack simultaneously
all the Federal forces would be aroused
and make serious trouble for the COnfed-
crates. 1t so turned out.
"Our brigade moved all night, Nov. ),
and striking through the woods came upon
the northern side of Edgefield. and just as
we struck the pickets, Forrest started a
racket On the southern side of the river
GAME FEDERALs.
While the head of my regiment, which
was in advance of the column, was strug-
Cling over a very rough place in the rail
road. it was opened upon by company
of infantry who came out from behind Il
small house. about 60 yards off. l never
saw men fight better tnan that company
of Federal infantry. There were 40 or so
Of them, and they were fully half mile
in advance Of the main Federal lines. The
timber of the ground over which they had
to retreat had been cut down 10 leave the
way clear for the play OF artillery and
we, therefore, could not charge them. Few
men beside those in the advance guard got
Il chance at them, and those game roost-
ers' turned and fought us at every step.
We captured only three of them, while mt
least eight or ten of them were killed.
lost three Of my advance guard. Conrad
of the guard saved his life in a peculiar
way Riding large gray horse, he rode
close upon the fighting Federals. and one
Of them, within few feet of him. aimed
at his breast and fired. Conrad reined his
horse tightly, making him rear and receive
the ball in his chest. The horse fell dead,
pinning his rider to the ground.
I'VE pressed on to within 100 yards of
the railroad embankment, in the bottom
near the river, and quite through Edge
field. Some little time was required to get
the regiment up, and Hutchinson and had
Just formed it, aud the line was adyanc-
had been reconnoitering in advance and
had seen strong force OF infantry behind
the embankment, and the fire slackening
oil the other side induced him to suppose
that more infantry, which we could see
double-quicking across the pOntOOn bridge,
was the entire Nashville garrison coming
to oppose us. However, it turned out that
this force coming over the bridge was
small; but the fact remained that the 18th
liz. and part of another regiment was
stationed behind the embankment, and
among the cars wei wished to burn. We
succeeded in burning only few OF them
Drake and Quirk, who usually hunted to-
gether, experimenting. the work.
Filling off from the !by-rOad by which
We had approached Edgefield, we entered
the Gallatin pike about 1t mile and quar-
ter from Nashville. g An infantry column
had moved out upon the pike, and we We're
somewhat apprehensive of being cut off,
but We got out safeIenongh.
HuTcHINsoN's DARING.
Having come into the pike from the
by-rOad, a small party of us remained be-
watch the Federals. The column of in
fantry had halted about 300 yards from
our point of observation, there having, as
yet, been no firing on either side. The
enemy seemed disposed to reconnoiter, and
we were by no means anxious to draw
their fire.
"Lieut.-Co Hutchinson, always superbly
cool and brave. and noted as the best shot
in the I'd KY, determined to have q closer
view Of the Federals and called to one OF
the advance guard. Billy Cooper, to ac-
demonstrated with Hutchinson, urging that