The National tribune., 1906-08-23
CAPTURE OF COL. RHETT.
The Boys Did a Little RetaliatinE on the
South Carolinian.


Editor National Tribune: In your
paper of May 81 is given an account of
the capture of Col Rhett. of South
Carolina. 1 want to say that Comrade
Morris Z. Hollis account of the capture
| is very correct as far as it goes. 1 had
the opportunity of seeing and knowing
more of the details of his capture and
confinement as long as he was held by
| Kilpatrick's cavalry command. We
crossed Cape Fear River, and about 3
p. M, March 15, We struck warm
number, that proved to be Rhett's
South Carolinians. in a piece of pine
woods near Averasboro. This brigade
of Rhett's had served all their time in
the works in and around Charleston, S.
C. When they were obliged to evacuate
! they We're armed with old-fashioned
rifles, and were sent to the front to join
Johnston's army, which Sherman and
his boys were driving through the mud
and waters of the Carolinas.
Having been out but few days, they
knew but little of the Yankee tricks of
the invading army. AS narrated above.
we struck them about 8 p. m, and had
a right smart tilt with them until re-
| lieved by some of Gen. Howard's in
| fantry just as night closed down upon
us. We had our skirmishers out; so
had they. Capt. Northrup, Chief of Kill
patrick's scouts, with three of his men,
| viz, Richard Bowling, Co. \, 9th
Mich. Cav; VIM. Pitts, Co. A, 9th Mich.
Cav, and l take it for granted that the
other one was the Nelson Minot men
| toned in Comrade Holt's article. The
four were dressed in the uniforms of
| the enemy most of the time, and could
| talk the Southern twang equal to the
g
rup led his little squad around the right
| flank of the rebel skirmish line, and got
| between them and their main line. 1t
was there he met Col. Rhett and two
| of his staff officers, 1 think both were
Captains. Northrup told his men when
| they got close enough to cover the Cap
tains with their revolvers (not car
bines), and he would care for the one
| of higher rank (RhetO. When they
came together Rhett, taking them for
Confederates, fell to cursing them for
being away from their command, and
ordered them back to 1t. The oppor-
| tunity had now come for the gallant
| Captain and his boys to act They pre-
sented their pistols to the head of each
and demanded their surrender. With a
string of oaths Rhett said, eff you are
Confederates l am your friend; if
Yanks, I am your prisoner" Northrup
replied, after disarming them, Then
| you are my prisoner. Forward, march,
| by the right fiank!" Northrup with his
| men and prisoners went over the same
route they had travelled but a short
| time before, and were soon at Gen. Kill
patrick's headquarters with three of the
maddest Johnnies that were ever seen.
Rhett cursed everybody in sight, even
the General. and said 1t was a %
Yankee trick" The General just laugh
ed at him, but finally ordered him to be
taken to the bullpen, where we had our
days capture Of prisoners. about 100,
and where he was placed with the com
mon herd. much to his disgust. After
short time Gen. Fitzpatrick gave a num-
Der Of his men the tip to go down and
take Rhett's fine uniform and give him
an old butternut suit Right here let
me say Rhett was one of the finest
dressed officers that ] ever saw. One
of the boys said: "Say, pard, come out
of those patent-leather boots, as l guess
they are about my size" Rhett got in
exchange a pair of common old army
shoes. Another said: That is an awful
nice overcoat you have, Rhett; l need
1t In my business, so come out of It,"
Another took the rest of his clothes,
and they dressed him in a full butter
nut suit. His uniform and boots were
delivered at the Generals quarters
This usage seemed to quiet him down q
good deal, and he quit his cursing and
| began to beg to see Gen. Fitzpatrick.
After time the General went to the
| bullpen and had a talk with Rhett,
| who was more quiet than during the
former interview. fitzpatrick told him
| that his men were in the habit of strip
ping our boys when they were taken
prisoners, and he guessed they wanted
| to retaliate when the opportunity Of
fered, but II his clothes could be found
he should have them again. They gave
him rs suit again, but he had hardly
put 1t on before another squad repeated
the performance of stripping him. When
our prisoners were turned over to the
infantry the next morning over to the
his uniform on and looked very much
subdued. The cavalry could not care
for the prisoners they captured, so they
were turned over 70 the prison squad
every day. Now, this is the history of
Rhett's capture, as I saw 1t and was
told by the boys who were in 1t. After
the infantry relieved the cavalry in the
fight the headquarters of the 9Th Mich.
were near Gen. Fitzpatrick, so 1 had
good chance to know all about what
have written and was Acting Adjutant
| at the time.-T. E. Camburn, Lieuten-
ant 9Th Mich. Cav, Putney. S. d.