The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-01-13
sRAyEsF OF TaE BRAVE.
Desperate Charge Of Col. !. E. Dunlop,
the Fighting Parson.

commanded by Col. ". j. Lawton,
was part Of this force. In it was q
Company commanded by Rev. j. =.
Dunlop, o Presbyterian minister, who
had resigned the charge of his church
in Bainbridge, Ca, to buckle on the
sword. and had been elected Captain
OF Cavalry Company which he had
been instrumental IN raising and to
whom his men we're perfectly devoted.
At Murfreesboro was force OF Yam
KEGS, consisting of Cavalry, Artillery
and Infantry: and considerably out
Numbering the Confederates. Col For
rest decided to surprise and capture
the Yankees, and thus get supplies and
arms for his men, many Of whom at
thaS time had nothing more ;effectlVe
than double. barrel shot guns. Accord
iugly we broke camp one Saturday.
and after marching all night, reached
Murfreesbolo Sunday morning just at
the dawn Of day. The Yankee pickets
were captured without giving an
alarm, and our foe, all unconscious OF
danger. was quietly sleeping. They
were in two camps, one on the oppo-
site side of the town from our ap-
proach, and the other to the right as
ne entered. The gallant Wharton Of
the Texas Rangers, with part of the
command, was ordered TO attack the
camp TO our right while Forrest with
the other part was to attack the one
on the opposite side OF the town.
Whartor,s attack was complete sur
prise to the enemy. Without warning,
he and his Rangers burst into the
sleeping camp, yelling and shooting,
drove out the terrified Yankees, and
for while held possession OF the
camp. Afterwards. seeing the small
force Of their assaiNauts, che Yankees
rallied, and after q stubborn fight. IN
which Wharton was wounded. they re-
gained possession of the camp. The
part under Forrest, in which was the
I'd Ca, we're not so successful. The
noise OF the horses feet striking upon
the stony ground as We charged through
the town, awoke the sleeping inhabl-
tants, who rushed out to greet us,
wildly shouting and cheering, and IN
their enthusiasm raising such din as
TO reach the ears Of the sleeping camp
q short distance out of town. Then.
too another unexpected difficulty arose.
In the center Of the town, directly
fronting the street up which We were
charging, stood the brick court house.
In this Was Yaakes guard, keeping
watch oYer some prisoners. As soon as
the head ef our column came in sight,
this guard opened Ere upon Us out OF
the windows Of the court house, This
unsxpected attack delayed Forrest,
and frustrated his plan of surprising
the camp beyond. When We got there,
Instead Of taking them by surprise, We
found them drawing up in line OF bat
tie OF the crest Of slope in an old
field, having splendid battery of six
guns. and long line OF Infantry sup
porting it. We we're the party sur
prised. Under this unlocked for con-
dition of things, Forrest ordered Col.
LaWton to draw up his Regiment in
front of the Yankee lines. In piece
of woods which sheltered Us to some
extent, saying that he. with the rest
of the troop, would ride around them.
and attack them in the rear, and or
dering Lawton, as soon as he heard
his guns, in the rear, to charge them
In front. Thus We stood for about two
hours, I suppose, waiting to hear For
rests guns In the rear. In the mean
time, the Yankees, knowing that we
were In the woods, kept up an inces-
SAINT fire with their Artillery, sending
continual stream Of shot and shell,
screeching over our heads, cutting
down the limbs of trees, bursting over
us, doing no particular damage it is
true, but terrifying and demoralizing
the men, most OF whom had never
been under FIRE before. Thus matters
stood we with our shot guns, listen
ing to the music Of the shells, and the
Yankees having q perfect picnic in the
way of target practice. we being the
target.
Finally, becoming emboldened by
our continued silence, the sharp-shoot-
ers from the Infantry crept down to
the edge of the woods, and ooncealing
themselves in the urderbrush, began
to pick at Us with their rifles, and the
whiz Of their bullets was getting to
be uncornfertably close to our heads.
Col. Lawton, noticing this. directed
his Adiutaut TO carry verbal order
to the Major to send a squadron two
companies--to charge those sharp
shooters, drive them back and return
to the command. The Adjutant, in
his excitement, misunderstood the
order and riding up TO the Major, y1e
said, The Col. orders tfaYyon senoAa
squadron of men to charge shat linz
Of battle. reform the 1nen, and charge
back." The order was delivered to
Capt. Dunlop to execute. I happened
to be near him at the time. saw
him straighten himself to his full
height in the saddle. saw the fire
OF battle kindle in his eye. saw him
draw his sabre and turning to his men
he said. "Forwar3 boys''
ss Charge was the Captains cry
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs not to make reply.
Theirs but to do or die. -
Riding down the sharpshooters,
clearing the woods, out in the open
field they were met by a tempest of
grape and canister from the Artillery