The National tribune., 1906-03-22

| IdVeIhg 10 reach Logan'S Crossroads,
10 miles from Camp Beech Grove. THIS
was on the 18th Of January, and
Thomas only had portion OF his COM
mand with him, with the remainder
detained along the route by the diff
| culties encountered. He went into
camp to wait for them to come up,
and disposed OF HIS forces to cover his
position. The 10th Ind, wolford's
Cavalry and Kinney,s Battery were
/, pushed out on the road leading direct
ly toward the enemy. and with the
cavalry on picket.
| camped three-auarters Of a mile to the
right on another road. Gen. Schoepf
was ordered TO sen6 to Thomas the
18th Ky. and 1st and I'd Tenn. and
Standards Battery. The 4th Ky. Wet
| more's Battery, and the battalion Of
18th, leaving the 18th Ohio aud the
18th II. s. still in the rear.
Crittenden Determines to Attack.
Gen. Crittenden had kept pretty we'll
informed as to Gen. Thomass move,
lSsnts, but thought that the difficulties
OF the roads had strung out his troops
much worse than was really the case.
He did not appreciate, what even Gems
Grant and Sherman never fully learned
parently very slow, he was yet all the
time IN q surprising state Of readiness, |
and that attacking him had always the
dangers OF boarding q lion in his den.
Nor did Crittendcn understand the pro-
pulsive energy of the Union soldiers. |
out quickly from Camp Beech Grove, |
overwhelm the regiments which Thorn
as had thrown forward. and crush the
others as they came struggling forward
through the mud to the assistance of
their comrades, finally smashing
CS,l~~ 10
With 5000 men well In hand 1t GER
tainly looked as II Crittenden would
have little trouble in defeating Thomas
I'm detail. This view strongly CON-
mended itself to the council Of war
which Crittenden called on the evening
Rrigadier-G Generals, Colonies and Bat
terry Captains OF his command. They
unanimously voted to attack, and the
following order OF battle was issued:
Is, 1862
1.-THE following will be the orders of
march:
Gen. Zollicoffer-15th Miss. In ad-
vance, Col. Walthall; battery OF four
guns. Capt. Rutledge; 18th Tenn. Col.
Cummings; goth Tenn, Capt. Battle;
25th Tenn, Capt. Stanton.
Gen. Carroll-17th Tenn, Col. New
man: 2Sth Tenn, Col. Murray; 29th
of infantry, Capt. McClung; 10th Ala,
Col. Wood Gin reserve).
Cavalry battalions In rear.
Col. Brawner on the right; Col.
Mcclellan on the left.
independent companies in front of
the advance regiments.
"Ambulances and ammunition.
wagons in rear Of the whole, and
in order of their regiments.
"By order Of Gen. Crittenden."
"a. L. Cunningham, A. A, c.
The Attack. !
Drenching rains fell all the time on
Jan. II and 18. At midnight OF the
18th Gen. Crittenden set his regiments |
in motion, in the midst Of dashing |
downpour, for Logan's Crossroads. |
and they plodded sullenly forward |
showers They marched we'll, however,
and at $50 struck the pickets Of the
list KY. Cav, who offered stubborn |
resistance. Col. Wolford sent a COM |
pany to their assistance, which ran
against an Alabama regiment, and re-
and emptied a number Of other sad
dies. The company fell back in con-
fusion upon the infantry, and thereafter
Wolford's men fought on foot.
The morning was gray, lowering. with
frequent dashing showers that left
With the exceptions of a few Mexican
soldiers none Of the men had ever been
under fire, and the experience OF those
I'm Mexico was poor preparation for the
manner Of combat in which they were
now to engage. All was anxiety. with
each man summoning up his utmost
moral force to Withstand the terrific
ordeal. None Of the men had any con-
ception Of what was about to happen.
and could only brace himself to meet
4 1,A - ~rxI
the luckiest OF all because 1t was soont
under a sharp fire, and the men see
ing their enemies before them, were
at no loss what to do, and soon became
absorbed in doing it, while the regi-
ments farther back stood nervously
under arms, listening to the uproar In
| front and wOndered-wondercd with
| that consuming. racking curiosity that
| only young soldiers can feel. In the
midst Of this first encounter an officer
| wearing O rubber overcoat and accom-
panied by an Aid approached Col. s. s.
Fry, who was sitting on his horse at