The National tribune., 1909-12-23
DEFENDING BLoCKHoUsE NO. 7.
The Struggle at OveraIrs Creek and the
Gallant Lieut.. CLOSER and 33 Men of
the 115th OhiO-A Comrades Brave,
UnSclfiSh Act

Editor National Tribune: Comradt
Capt. S. T. Carrico, Co. B, 61st Ill.
Alva, Okla, under the caption Fight
ling Forrest" says: Il read an article ir
your paper about the relief of block
house on OveralFs Creek, Dec. 4, 1864
My opinion is that your correspondent
is a little mixed as to regiments. He
states the blockhouse was in charge OF
a First Lieutenant of the 115th. Ohio
My opinion is that it was a First Lieu
tenant of the 17Sth Ohio. Who is
right"
1 can bear witness that it is Capt
Carrico who is wrong. AS a member
of Co. E, 115th Ohio, and one who suf-
| fers to-day as a result of that sanguin-
| airy struggle at OVeralls Creek, my
memory is quite clear.
The 115th Ohio had charge of the
| railroad from Nashville to Tullahoma,
Tenn, with instructions to protect the
| road and particularly the bridge at
| OveralFS Creek and preserve commune
cation between the army at Nashville
and the Federal forces farther south.
| In accordance with this plan one de-
| tachment of Co. E, under Capt. Nc
Clure, was stationed at Blockhouse No.
6. The other detachment, under Lieut..
! Closer, was stationed at BlockhOuse
| No. Z, four miles farther south at over
all's Creek.
When Sherman started for the sea.
Hood gathered together his shattered
forces and started north, fighting all
the way to Nashville, where he laid
| Isiege to that city. 1t was important
that every available man and p-ece of
artillery between Chattanooga and
Nashville should be forwarded to the
latter point over the Nashville & Chat
tanooga Railroad. Then arose the mo-
mentous question: Gould the 115th
| Ohio defend and protect communica-
| ton between the two forces until all the
available troops and munit ons could be
| forwarded to their respective places o.
The 115th Ohio was equal to the oc-
caSlon, and in spite of Forrest and his
whole army held every bridge and
every foot of road until the last regi-
ment and piece of artillery had been
carried to its destination. Then q cou-
rier was dispatched to notify the COM
manders of each bIockhouse to evacu-
ate and march to Nashville, except
Blockhouses. Nos. 6 and Z, which were
ordered to retire to Murfreesboro.
1t was late at night when the order
reached Blocfhouse No. 6, and all the
property had to be destroyed as well as
the blockhouse itself before evacuat on
The next morning the dispatch was to
be delivered to Lieut.. Closer at Block
house No. Z. These dispatches were
carried by Orderlies from one block
~ iotHSi 'iila ti'eiept accepting
up communication with each other
every day, and the men were deta led
in regular order. On this particular
occasion il fell to the lot OF my com
rade, Smith, man of family.
During the day negroS and refugees
passing along the road had notified US
of large force of rebels a few miles
south and moving toward US. while the
duel between our forces and Hoods
army could plainly be heard day by dav
as our army fought at Pulaski, Column
bia and Franklin on their retreat to
Nashville.
So when Capt Mcclure notified Smith
that he must bear a dispatch to Block
house No. at daybreak the following
morning he felt as if he had received
MS death warrant. Naturally his mind