The National tribune., 1906-09-20
HoovERE GAP.
A sharp Dash and GqQd Staying I'm Dis
obedience of Orders Which Made the
TulIahOma Campaign n Success.

! 81 "a
(Paper read before,tbe Ohio Command
cry of the Military Order of the Loyal
Legion of the United States by John +.
Wilder, BrigadieriGeneral, L. s. W
In the Winter of 1853, following the
battle of Murfreesboro Gen. Rosecrans
directed the First Brigade Wilder).
Fourth Division (Reynolds), Fourteenth
Corps (Thomas), to seize horses in the
neighboring country north and east of
Murfreesboro in sufficient number to
mount the brigade of four infantry reg
iments. This was speedily accomplish
ed. and the brigade, numbering over
1000. were then armed with the Spenc
er magazine rife. capable of firing a
shot without drawing on the magazine
which held seven cartridges. The rifle
carried an ounce bullet of SO caliber in
copper cartridge, had bayonet, and
was most formidable weapon, espe-
cially at short range and would carry
with accuracy half mile.
This mounted infantry brigade was
in number of skirmishes with the cav
airy of the enemy, and the men soon
found themselves equal to at least twice
or thrice their number of men armed
with Misunderstanding guns. On June 30
orders were issued to prepare for an
advance on Bragg's right center by way
of the Manchester turnpike, leading
south from Murfreesboro. The army
was organized with three corps. Gen.
Thomas l.. Crittenden, in command of
the Twenty-frst Corps. to move on the
left, by way of Readyville. with Minty's
Cavalry Brigade: Gen. Geo. II. Thomas.
| in command of the Fourteenth Corps
xx,ff1, So Int To
move in advance directly south on the
Manchester turnpike. and Gen. A. Med
McCook, commanding the Twentieth
Corps, to move south along the Nash
vile & Chattanooga Railroad, and the
remaining force of cavalry under Gen.
d. S. Stanley to move south on McCook' :
right on the Shelbyville turnpike, with
orders to care for McCook's right flank.
Gen. Stanley seemed anxious to send
cavalry brigade with Gen. Thomas. as
lie said. to take care of Wider's Tad
pole" Cavalry, as he called us. fearing
wilder would rush into the enemy and
get captured, and Stanley would have
those magazine guns to fight. Gen.
Thomas assured Gen. Rosccrans that IL
| Wilder'S Brigade was captured thcr.
would he no need for cavalry about.
| ut O'Clock on the morning of juno
| "a Wilder's Brigade passed south
| through Murfreesboro, and took the ad-
vance of the Fourteenth Corps. with
Gen. ]. J. Reynolds following as the
advanced division of Thomas's infantry.
The mounted infantry moved forward at
a quick walk towards HOover's Gap. 10
miles south of MurfreesborO. where q
| brigade of cavalry under Gen. A. Bu
ford stood guard to prevent the pas
| sage of our forces. HOovers Gap was
= narrow valley through line of lumpy
| bills some four miles in extent and
about 300 feet high, the hills being
wooded and thickiy grown with under
| brush and green briars, making it i'm
| practicable for cavalry. The turnpike.
good macad6miz9d road, wound
through this narrow pass. some four
niles in extent. following the littrs
brook. one of thS, htadwaters of Stone
River. "a -
Our advance guard consisting of five
companies of the l72d Ind and 25 bii-
gade scouts. all iinderii Lieut.. Col. Kirk
patrick, 72d md, CAME suddenly on the
the entrance to the gap. We at once
charged them at!iS s:iilop in column "f
fours, surprising ana c.5persng BIZ
ford's commando wfib' were in bivoua-.
at the gap. routing them in disorder
without even tirue to saddle or mount
their horses, and the Brigade pushed on
through the gap. not even a scout or
messenger. the enemy DelIB dHedu
us to give the alafr: to the enemy's in
fantry under Gen. Bate. supposed to h
ut the summit of the gap where the
turnpike descends to the valley of thu
Garrison Fork of Duck River running
west at right angles to the line of RoO"
ers Gap. / decided to move rapid.t
on. intending to surprise the enemy
infantry the same as we had surprised
and dispersed their cavalry. Judge "f
my astonishment when we reached Their
supposed position to find no force there.
Looking down the valley to the vii
lage of Peech Grove, two miles to the
west down the valley to the Garrison
Fork. we could zee the tents of an en-
campment I at once halted the com
mand, dismounted and deplOyed three
regiments of my force in q line across
the road and gap, with the TANKS re-
tired, keeping the 98:h Ill. in reserve.
and put the 18th Ind. Battery in posi-
tion to cover any advance of the enemr.
and sent Lieut.-Col. Kirk patric with his
five companies and the scouts to stir up
the enemy, which they did in fine style.
Gen. William B. Bate commanded tn"
brigade. which belonged to Gen. A. p.
Stewards Division of the four brigadns
of infantry placed along the valley "f
Garrison Fork, and seemed to be en-
tirely unaware of our advance. Many
of the officers of Bates Brigade We're at
a spring holding Masonic picnic IN
honor of st. John. ii being the oath of
June st. Johns Day. Col. Kirkpatrick
rode into their camp. and had time TO
take seven wagons loaded with tobacco
out with him and bring them back 10
our men, who had tobacco to burn.
Gen. Pate supposing 1t to be cavalry
dash, aroused his men and came spee'l-
lily up to attack us. We allowed him to
cCme within about 100 yards up gen.
tie slope in front of our line. when we
opened a terrible fire from our Spencer
rifles, and Capt. Lilly poured double
shotted canister from his 10-pounder
Rodman guns into their lines, which
staggered and rcpulsed them with Sc
we're loss. Bates 20th Tenn. tried r0l
turn the right flank of the 18th Ind. in
the forest at our right, when the 9Srh
Ill. quickly moved up the hill and
doubled them up by charge on their
left, hurting them back in confusion ont
of reach. and they We're compelled 40
retreat beyond reach of our fire, and
other troops We're sent to their assist
ance. They came up more cautiously.
and opened on US with two batteries 4.
a distance of about half n mile, with n
rapid fire which did little execution.
While this wasrgoing on Capt Rice.
Adjutant- General, iofu the division, cane
riding speedily to the front with orders
from Gen. Reynolds TO me to fall back
eight miles in ourI rear, having stopped
to repair a bridge, without letting me
know of it. / ted him I would hold
this position against any force, and :?
tell Gen. Reynolds to come on without
In in a & thnrl..Ny.AS 1Dnpnr nj =