Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-03-30

carried the advance of Sherman's army
across the Tennessee at the battle of
Chattanooga was managed by an old
Illinois river man? The pontoons were
collected in the North Chickamauga.
and the scheme was to put thirty men
III each boat and make rush across
the Tennessee in the face of Rragg's
army. Three divisions of General Sher-
mans army We're massed behind the
Mills at Caldwell's Ford by the I'D
OF November. 1868. On that day a de
tail from our third brigade. in charge
Of Captain John Kennedy of COMPANY
of the Eighty dfth Illinois. launched
ll6 pontoons in the North Chicaka-
manga
Captain Kennedy had been a boat
man on the Illinois River previous 10
the war, and SO much of an EXPERT
was he in his work that boats were
launched at the rate of three min
ute. On the night OF Nov. ~ detail
was made from the brigade of men 10
row the boats out of the creek into
the river and down to the klace where
The bridge WAS to Ike thrown across
rms detail was made from men used
10 boating and was under the com
mand of Captain II, $. Ia Tourrette,
OF Company G of the Eighty fifth M
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 I'm
the boats, and the work Of LAYING the
pontoon bridge was commenced and
by II O'Clock on the oath the other
troops Of Ssherman's army were cross
ing.
This, to my mind, was a wonderful
exploit That the enterprise was car
ried out 50 secretly and expeditlouslv
as to avoid loss on our side was 10 the
credit OF those who managed the ex-
petition. But as ] 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 tragedy there
that history takes small account of
In the spring of 1868 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
a well-known physician, whose daugh-
ter had married DR.. Peters, surgeon
In the Confederate army.
DIR. Peters, visiting his home, learn
ed that Van Dorm had dlshonored his
wife. He mounted his horse. rode over
to Van Dorn'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, Or Peters mounted his
horse, rode into the Union lines. told
what he had done. and claimed the
protection Of the flag | do not know
what became Of DR.. Peters, but no I'm.
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
j. 7. Baird, Of the Eighty fifth Indiana.
then commanding the post. Introduced
themselves as Colonel Orton aud Ma
Jor Dunlap. inspector generals OF the
United States army. They presented
an order from the War Department at
Washington directing Colon Orton. I'm
company with Major Dunlap, 10 make
careful inspection Of the Outposts
and advances Of the Union army I'm
Tennessee They prese.lted an order
also from General K0sccrans to all
officers commanding Outposts and de.
:achments to afford every facility Dos
sDie 20 enable these officers to prompt
ly perform tA"ir duties.
Accepting the l7I'ers and order. rs
genuine, Colonel Baird showed Orton /
and Dunlap about the defcnses, aud /
was complimented by them upon the /
splendid condition Of bis camp On
returning to headquarters. he gave /
them supper and loaned them $50. In |
the dusk Of the evening the two men /
started as II going 10 Nashville. Col (
onel Watkins, Of the Sixth Kentucky +
Cavalry, was at headquarters when /
they rode away, and, suspeCfing that +
the men were not what they pretended /
10 be, he called bis orderly and rode /
IN pursuit The officers we're oyertak- /
en-. were Informed that Colonel Baird I
desired that they return TO headquar-
tiers. aud after some rem0nstrance they /
rode back with Colonel Wstklns
Instead " taking the suspected Of. /