The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-01-27
WAR STORIES.
IeroSn OF {, Pres,y teri;n Minister at Muir.
frceSboro.

splendid service a, colonel in the
Confederate army. The following tri-
butte by II. y. IIoyt appeared in the
Southern Prcsbytcrian
In the summer of 1862 Confcd-
crate cavalry + rec, consisting of four
or five regime 9, were cncampcd at
McMinnville, Tenn. Forrest, after
wards general, but at that time rank
ing only as colonel, was in command
Of the brigade. The 2nd Georgia
regiment, commanded by Col. w. j.
Lawton, was part of this force. In
it was company commanded by the
Rev. Rev. j. +. Dunlop, Prcsbytcr-
ian minister, who had resigned the
charge Of his church in Bainbridgc,
Ga, to buckle on the sword, aud had
been elected captain of cavalry com
pany which he had been instrumental
in raising and to whom his men were
perfectly devoted.
AT Murfrecsboro was force Of Yan.
KEGS, consisting of cavalry, artill
cry and infantry; and consider
ably outnunbering the Confedcratcs.
Col. Forrest decided to surprise and
capture c.se Yankees and thus get
supplies aaa arms for his men, many
Of whom at that time had nothing
more aneutive than double barrel shot
guaa, Accordingly We broke camp
one Saturday and, after marching all
night, reached Nlurfrccsboro Sunday
morning just at the dawn Of day. The
Yankee pickcts were captured with
out giving an alarm and our foe, all
unconscious Of danger, was quietly
sleeping. They were in two camps,
one on the opposite side of the town
from our approach and the other to
the rigls as we entered. The gallant
Wharton, Of the Texas Rangers with
part Of the command, was ordered to
attack the one on the opposite side of
the town. Wharton's attack was
complete surprise to the enemy. With
out warning he and his Rangers burst
into the sleeping camp, yelling and
shooting, drove out the terrified Yam
KEGS, and for while held possession
Of the camp. Afterwards, seeing the
sma!! force of the assaiiants, the Yam
KEGS rallied, aud after a stubborn
fight, in which Wharton was wounded,
they regain d possession Of lllc camp.
The part under Forrest, in which was
the 2nd Georgia, were not so success
full. The noise Of the horses feet
striking upon the stony ground as we
charged through the town awokc the
sleeping inhabitants, who rushed out
to greet us, wildly shouting and cheer
ing, and in their enthusiasm raising
such din as to reach the ears Of the
sleeping camp Il ehort distance out Of
town. Then too, another unexpected
difficulty arose. In The centre of the
town, directly fronting the street up
which we were charging stood the
brick Court House. In this was
Yankee guard, keeping watch over
some prisoners. AS soon as the head
of our column came in sight the guard
opened fire upon US out of the win
dows Of the Court House. This un-
expected attack delayed Forrest aud
frustrated his plan "r surprising the
camp beyond. When VIZ rot there,
instead Of taking thcm by surprise we
found them drawing up III line of bat
tie on the crest of slope in an old
field, having splendid battery Of six
guns and a long line Of infantry sup
porting it. We were The party sur
prised. Under this unlocked for con
dition Of things Forrest ordered Col.
Lawton to draw up his lines in q 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, aud or
oeflng LaWt0n, as soon as he heard
his guns, in the rear, to charge them
In front. Thus we stood fer about
two hours, | suppose, waiting to hear
Forests guns in the rear. In the
meantime the Yankees, knowing hat
We were in the woods, kept up an in
cessant fire with their artillery, send
ing a continual stream Of shot and
she'll screeching over our heads, cut
ting down the limbs Of trees, bursting
over US, doing no particular damage it
is true, but terrifying and dcmoral-
lzing the men, most Of whom had
never been under fire before. Thus
matters stood; we with our shotguus
listening to the music Of the shells,
and the Yankees having perfect pic
MIC in the way Of target practice, we
being the target.