The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-11-05

Federals opened upon Quirk's Fifteen
into the cornfield. Quirk then Withdrew
his troops from the field, not losing a
man.
MORGAN RETURNS To GALLATIN.
| Learning that another Federal force
gan left Huntsville, Aug. 10, hoping TO
surprise and capture the new arrivals at
Gallatin. While on the road, however,
his scouts informed him that the Federals
had left the town, at midnight, going back
to Nashville. A company was sent to in
| tercept them, if possible, at point seven
miles below Gallatin, where bridge had
been burned, on the railroad, and where il
was thought a train would probably be
awaiting them. Morgan pushed on TO
Gallatin, arriving there at o'clock in the
morning, Aug. 20. Continuing his march,
on the Nashville pike, Morgan pressed
rapidly forward until he reached the point
| where Hutchinson's detachment had been
expected to intercept the enemy.
CAPTURING sTocKADEs.
Capt. Hutchinson had failed to intercept
the Federals retreatins from Gallatin, but
instead, he had achieved an unexpected
success-the capture Of a stockade, garri-
soned by 40 or 30 men.
| At stockade further down the road.
| another garrison of 30 men was easily
captured, and, pressing on, Morgan came
upon the troops that he had tried to inter
cept. The greater number of them es-
| capped by hand cars, and in other ways,
but about 40 of them were killed and
wounded, and the prisoners, Southern SYM
pathizers taken from Gallatin, were re-
leased
There was another stockade at Edge
field Junction. Lieut.. James Smith, com
handing the advance, attacked the garri
son, that valiantly showed disposition
to fight. Smith was soon reinforced by
Capt Breckenridge. The inmates of the
stockade fired rapidly and accurately, kill
ing Lieut.. Smith, and three of his men,
and Lieut.. Niles, of Morgan's staff, five
or six balls passing through his body.
Duke was present when Smith and Niles
were shot, and, seeing no chance Of re
ducing the work, even with great loss, in
the limited time that would be allowed, he
ordered the men back.
My comrade, Duke, speaks Of the stock
AIDES as follows: "These stOckades were
built with heavy upright timber, 10 or
II feet high. They were surrounded by
bitches and pierced for musketry. Assail-
ants when right at their bases were as
| far from taking them as ever There
was plan, which / am satisfied would
have been successful against them, but
l never saw it tried-to construct bun
dies Of bushwood large enough to shelter
man and compact enough to stop mus
ket ball, and place sufficient number of
them in the hands of the men, who hold
ing them in front, should advance and
press them against the loop-hOles, posting
Ehemen, of course, in range to prevent a
sally on the bundle-carriers. The fire
from the stockade having been thus
stopped. the walls could be chopped down
with axes. or brush, in large quantities,
| could be set on fire and tossed over among
the defenders, until they concluded to sur.
render. This plan, however, would re,
quire plenty of time, and that is just what
partisan cavalry have least Of on such
occasions"
Col. Morgan was much attached to both
Smith and Niles, and it required Duke s
most persuasive oratorical powers, sup.
plemented by the arguments of other Off
| GERS to dissuade him from continuing to
attack until the stockade was taken. The
need of the hOwitZers, left at Knoxville
was keenly felt. With the dull pups
the stOckade could have been reduced in
short order. At the first stockade, Cant
Hutchinson had luckily caught the garri
son on the outside. and when they made
a rush to enter, the Morgan men raced
along, entering the enclosure before the
portal could be closed. The other stock
ade taken, surrendered without firing /;
shot. The third stockade, garrisoned by
gallant fellows who appreciated the ad
vantages of their stronghold, was practi
cally invunerable. In truth,
"A hundred men might hold the post
With hardihood against a host
BATTLE OF HARTsvILLE.
Amid their ranks the chargers sprung,
High DER their heads the weapons swung
And shrek and groan and yengeful shout
Give note of triumph and Of rOut."