The National tribune., 1905-10-05

could enfilade the earthworks, and I
sent Cluke with his regiment and the
remainder OF Owens regiment to eros.
the river at a ford below the bridge and
make demonstration on the rear.
Benefits enfiiading fire soon drove the
enemy from the earthworks I'm front
OF the abatiS, and I was moving my ar
tillery with the intention of opening fire
upon the Notifications. when Gen. Nor
gan Joined me in the earthworks, and
gave orders not to use the artillery, and
sent I'm summons to surrender Tho
reply soon came from Col. Moore, say
ing. The Fourth OF July is not a good
day for a Federal officer to surrender
Morgan immediately ordered me "a
take the remnant of my brigade left
on that side of the river. about 400
strong. and storm tho stronghold.
begged the General not to attempt &c,
as We could easily flank the place, but
he insisted. and / led my men 10 the
charge. BY the time We reached the
abatis about SO Of my men were killed
or wounded, including the brave Col
Chenaut. Dukes charge on my right
met similar fate, he losing the gallant
Erent and other valuable officers and
men. We withdrew. and Ranking the
bridge. moved toward Lebanon"
The reader will observe that Gen.
Rasi! Duke and Gen. Adam johnson.
brigade commanders under Gen. Nor
gan, both agree in the statement that
they withdrew. after having their noses
bloodied by Col. Moore.
/ conclude by quoting to you herewith
Col. Orlando III. Moore's report of the
engagement under discussion:
Headquarters. 25th Mich. Inf, Battle
field Of Tebb's Bend, Green River,
KY, July 4. 1863.
Il have the honor to report that I
have had fight with the rebel General.
John H Morgan.
Il did not move my command from
where Ii was In camp on the north side
| of the river until Morgan's advance had
entered Columbia. / then moved for
ward to occupy the ground had pre-
viously selected, and had the night be-
fore prepared for the fight, which was
one and half miles in advance. on
the Columbia road, south side Of the
river. / lid not al any time occupy
the stockade. which was far on my
rear. but gave battle at the narrows
entering the bend.
II engaged the enemy's forces this
| morning at $3.50 o'clock. Early in the
engagement he opened on our breast
works with battery, and after firing
| shot, disabling two Of my men, he
sent in flag Of truce with the follow
ing demand:
Headquarters Morgan's Cavalry Divi-
sion, July 4, 1863.
To the Officer Commanding the Fed
eral Force, near Green River Bridge
Kentucky
Sir: In the name Of the Confeder-
ate States Government, I demand an
immediate and unconditional surrender
OF the entire force under your command.
Very respectfully,
John II. Morgan, Commanding Divf-
sion Of Cavalry, c. S. A.
II sent a reply to Gen. John III. Nor
gan that the Fourth Of July was no day
fDt o4<sx e-gSs
After receiving my reply he opened fire
with his artillery and musketry. My
force. which occupied the open field.
We're withdrawn to the woods, where
they engaged the enemy with a deter
mination not to be defeated. The bat
tie ragged for over three and a half
hours, when the enemy withdrew, with
loss Of about SO killed and 200 wound
ed. Among the killed were Col. ID. w.
Chenault, Maj. Thomas Y. Brent, and
another Major, five Captains and six
Lieutenants, as near as can be estimat-
cd. The conflict was fierce and bloody.
At times the enemy occupied one side
Of the fallen timber, while my men
held the other. in almost a hand-to-
hand fight. The enemy's force consist
cd Of the greater part Of Morgan's Di-
vision. My force was fraction of my
regiment, consisting of 200 men, who
fought most calamity. / cannot say
too much in their praise. Our loss was
six killed and % wounded.
after the battle I received, under a
flag of truce, a request from Morgan,
asking permission to bury their dead,
which request / granted, proposing to
deliver them in front of my lines.
"a detachment of 40 men, under the
command of Lieut.. M. A. Hogan, Sth
Mich. held the river at the ford near
the bridge, and repulsed a cavalry
charge made by the enemy in a very
creditable ard gallant manner.
1.-The gallantry of my officers and men
in this engagement was such that cam
rot individualiZe. They all did their
duty nobly.
Respectfully,
Orlando H Moore. Colonel. 25th
Mich"
Col. Orlando H Moore, OF the 25th
Mich, herein referred to, was appointed
Second Lieutenant 9Th United States
First Lieutenant. March, 1861; Cap
tain, May, 1861; Lieutenant-Colonel,
18th Mich, in January, 1862: Colonel,
25th Mich, in September, 1862; Major.
9Th U. S., April, 1882; retired April,
1884; brevetted Major, u. S. A., for
gallant and meritorious service at
Tebb's Bend, July 4, 1868, and Lieu
tenant-Colonel for gallant and meri-
torious service during the war; died
Oct. 30, 1890.
I trust that CorpI William Cross will
not write any more history telling of
the defeat of the 25th Mich. at Tebbs
Bend on July 4, 1863. We did not spike
our guns. we did not burn the bridge we
were placed to defend, and we did not
retreat. 1t was altogether the other
way. We licked John Morgan to a
standstilI, and he abandoned his at
tempt to defeat U.S. and he did not get
the Green River Bridge. That was our
bridge, and we kept it.-Johathan
Mcbride. 25th Mich, Lansing, Mich.