The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-01-18
Twelfth Ohio and 10. Wheeler

THAT story of Robert r. Miller"
said the Sergeant, reminded me of
the experience of the Twelfth Ohio
Cavalry in finishing up the war The
regiment was not organized until Octo-
Der. 1863, and was kept in the service
until late in November. 1865. 1t de-
feated John Morgan at Cynthiana,
Ky. in June, 1864, and, as the boys
of the regiment put it. was in extreme
ly active service until all the rebs
had surrendered. Before they left
Cleveland, in November, 1863, some of
the men had expressed the fear that
they would see no real fighting. In
six months they had changed their
opinion.
The campaigning in Kentucky was
very hard, but it couldn't hold a can
die to the experience of the regiment
in the two SLOVENIAN raids In the
last raid, in April and May, 1865, the
men were in the saddle siXty-Seven
days. participating in the chase after
Jefferson Davis and other Confederate
leaders. The Twelfth was not in at
the capture of Davis, but it captured
two of the most distinguished officers
of the Confederate army-Generals
Braxton Bragg and Joseph Wheeler.
These two remained with Davis and
his escort until after the famous con-
ference in which Basil Duke and 9th
ers in command declared that it was
useless to continue the struggle.
Bragg and Wheeler, being unat
| tached. did not vote on the Davis
proposition to keep up the fight, but
they approved the course Of Duke and
others in voting against it, and advo-
Gated the policy Of escape for Davis
and the policy Of surrender for the
officers and soldiers as soon as they
were informed that Davis had made
good his escape. Bragg and Wheeler,
with others, agreed to do all In their
power to mislead the pursuing Union
cavalry. and here comes in my story.
Bragg and three of his STAFF Off
GERS. with escort. left the Davis party
and went one way, and Joe Wheeler
and other officers, with escort, went
another. Both parties were pursued,
without diyerting the column hunting
for Davis. Bragg formally surrender
ed and was sent under escort to Stone
mans headquarters. When Wheeler
was captured he tried to gain time by
pretending to be Lieutenant Sharpe,
but when he could no longer serve
Davis by concealing his identity he
surrendered.
Bragg. Wheeler and other general
officers captured in the raid, and Alex
ander Stephens, found at his old
home. conducted themselves with dig
nifty and gave good advice to their
followers. In fact, good feeling was
shown on all sides. / remember that
when we met Colonel Dukes column,
maneuvering to mislead us as to the
course Davis had taken, we rode along
a parallel road until Duke was in
formed that he must 60 in a given
direction or we would resort to vio-
lence. This message amused the
Colonel greatly. but he said he WASN'T
looking for trouble and would do
whatever was advised.
"Then we rode together on the same
road. our men exchanging jokes win
the rebs, and advising them to go
home. and the rebs, on their side, ad-
rIsing us to quit our behavin', and as
the war was over go back to where
4lo& all
phases of Southern character in east
Tennessee and elsewhere ard count
ed ourselves rich in experience when
we were sent to Camp Chase in Novem-
Der. 1865, for mustsS-. out and pay.
There were a good many men of the
type Of Miller-honest as the day was
! long."-Chicago Inter Ocean.