The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-04-04

and the scheme was to put thirty men
In each boat and make a rush across
the Tennessee in the face of Bragg's
army. Three divisions of General Sher-
mans army We're massed behind the
hills at Caldwells Ford by the 23d
of November, 1863. On that day a de-
tail from our third brigade, i'm charge
OF Captain John Kennedy of Company
b OF the Eighty-fifth Illinois, launched
ll6 pontoons in the North Chicaka-
manga.
Captain Kennedy had been a boat
man on the Illinois River previous to
the war, and so much of an expert
was he in his work that boats were
launched at the rate of three a min
ute. On the night of Nov. 23 detail
was made from the brigade of men to
row the boats out of the creek into
the river and down to the place where
the bridge was to be thrown across.
This detail was made from men used
TO boating, and was under the COM
mand Of Captain H. s. La Tourrette,
OF Company G Of the Eighty-fifth I'LL
nois. The boats were manned at mid
night, went quietly out of the creek,
dropped silently down the river, hug
ging the north bank until they reached
the point for the intended bridge. when
all pulled for the other shore. This
was reached, the men in the boats
jumped ashore. captured the picket
post. and two divisions Of Sherman's
troops were quickly carried over In
the boats, and the work of laying the
pontoon bridge was commenced. and
by IL o'clock on the oath the other
troops Of Sherman's army were cross
ing.
This, to my mind, was a wonderful
exploit. That the enterprise was car
ried out so secretly and expeditiously
as to avoid loss on our side was to the
credit OF those who managed the ex-
petition. But as l look back over
the record of army experience, many
events only incidentally connected with
our military operations stand out
| clearly because OF their romantic or
dramatic character. | never see the
name of Spring Hill, Tenn, but that
there comes to mind a tragedy there
that history takes small account of.
In the spring of 1863, General Earl
van Dorm was in command of the
left wing of Bragg's army, with head
quarters at Spring Hill. While there
the General enjoyed the hospitality of
well-known physician. whose daugh-
ter had married DR.. Peters, a surgeon
in the Confederate army.
DIR. Peters, visiting bis home. learn
ed that Van Dorm had dishonored his
wife. He mounted his horse, rode over
to Van D0rn's camp, handed the reins
to an orderly at headquarters, entered
the Generals tent and shot and In
stantly killed Van Dorm. Then, before
those at headquarters recovered from
their surprise, DR.. Peters mounted his
horse. rode into the Union lines, told
what he had done, and claimed the
protection of the flag. 1 do not know
what became Of DR.. Peters. but no in
cident Of our campaign In Tennessee
was more talked about at the camp
fire than that quick vengeance and
wild ride OF the Confederate surgeon.
'In June. 1863, two men rode into
the Union camp at Franklin, Tenn.
went to the headquarters of Colonel
]. p Baird, of the Eighty-fifth Indiana.
! then commanding the post, introduced
themselves as Colonel Orion and Ma
Jor Dunlap. inspector generals of the
United States army. They presented
an order from the War Department at
Washington directing Colon Orion. In
company with Major Dunlap, to make
and advances OF the Union army In
Tennessee. They presented an order
also from General Rosecrans to all
officers commanding outposts and de-
tachments to afford every facility DOS
able to enable these officers to prompt
ly perform their duties.
Accepting the papers and orders as
genuine, Colonel Baird showed Orion
| and Dunlap about the defenses. and
was complimented by them upon the
splendid condition of his camp. On
returning to headquarters. he gave
them supper and loaned them $50. In
the dusk Of the evening the two men
started as If going to Nashville. Col
onel Watkins, OF the Sixth Kentucky
Cavalry, was at headquarters when
they rode away and, suspecting that
the men were not what they pretended
to be, he called his orderly and rode
| In pursuit The officers were overtak
en-, were informed that Colonel Baird
desired that they return to headquar-
tiers, and after some remonstrance they
rode back with Colonel Watkins.
| Instead of taking the suspected Of
ficers to, headquarters, Colonel Wat
kins led them to his own tent, where
he placed them under guard and re-
| lieved them of their side arms. When
Major Dunlap's sword was drawn from
| the scabbard, ON the blade was found
| Lieutenant w. G. Peter. c. s. A.
| Further search discovered on their per-
| SUuS ildieIS WulCu SuONeQ they were
| rebel spies, and they confessed the
whole matter. The facts were tele-
| graphed to General Rosecrans, who or
dered that the prisoners be tried by
drumhead court martial, and If found
guilty that they be hanged immediate
ly. The court was called, the men
were found guilty, and were hanged at
. O'Clock the next morning and buried
| near the scene of execution One of
| these men was Colonel William o.
Williams, In command of a brigade of
| Confederate cavalry. The other. as has
been said, was Lieutenant Walter G..
Peter.
civilians at the outbreak of the re-
bellion was a lieutenant in the Second
regular cavalry. He was for a time
Inspector general ON the staff of Gen
eral Bragg and was familiar with the
forms as to orders used on both sides.