The National tribune., 1910-05-12

Shots 10 the gun. 1t was hot old
time
i I. VIM. p. stedman. do solemniy
swear that the above facts are true to
the best of my knowledge and belief.
| VIM. p. Stedman.
District of Columbia, City of Washing
ton:
Subscribed and sworn to before me
OF Columbia aforesaid, this 26th day OF
April. 1910
Joseph Abel. Notary Public.
My commission expires Feb. Is, 1912
Abbey's Affidavit
SEMEN. Mimi, April II, 1910.
Statement of engagement at Block
tember, 1864. on the Nashville & De-
catur Railroad in Tennessee.
About noon on said date Gen. Wheel
er. said to have about 5000 men and
several pieces of artillery. came in sight
of the house about mile away down
the valley to the north There was a
range of hills on the west and north
west of the blockhouse, from 80 10 100
rods away. Mr.. Wheeler took his posi-
| ton along under cover of those hills,
so as to run his artillery up on those
hills, fire them, run back their guns and
| reload. ] was on the lookout that day
when he (Wheeler) made his appear
!
ton was taken: then / made my way
down TO the little fort from the lookout.
About this time an officer, supposed to
| be Gen. Wheeler, and two men made
| their appearance with a flag of truce
| along the railroad from the north. They
came up several rods from the block
house and stopped The officer came
up quite near the fort. being met by
| VIM. Stedman, Bickford and Caldwell,
when he (Wheeler) demanded an i'm
mediate surrender. Stedman. having
been given command by Bickford. said
| to Wheeler: We are from Michigan:
| we never surrender" Said Wheeler:
| Il have two regiments of Texans with
me, and if let them loose / will not be
accountable for their deeds" Stedman
told him to let them come; we would
try to manage them. The officer then
President. Then he withdrew. and the
talked of McClellan's nomination for
battle was on.
In the meantime they were getting
their artillery in position under the
truce. and they began TO pound away
at us and kept it up for about six hours.
We had II Spencer carbines and plenty
of ammunition There were only %
men all told, and never put in a hard
er six hours work in my life. There
was not dry thread on my body. They
kept us busy playing on their artillery
being in command. / saw Bickford
loading few carbines. A little later
cannon ball-I think, 12-pounder
solid shot-struck the blocllhouse right
toppoSite to where Stedman stood lean
ing against the timbers. looked around
about that time, and saw Stedman GO
ing across the blockhouse sprawling
like frog, and / saw no more of Bick-
ford only as he lay down by the water
tank out of danger until the battle end
ed. persuading some of his pals to in
duce Stedman and myself to put up a
white flag and surrender. We told them
we would rather die there for our
country than in a Southern prison, and
We should never consent to any such
thing
A Mr.. w. crawled into the water tank
from the start and never fired a gun.
and Bickford's influence caused a good
deal of anxiety between Stedman and
myself and some others, for fear he
would influence a majority to raise the
white flag, for it was very hot times
there at that time. He (Wheeler) had
moved his artillery around under cover
of the hills, there being a low spot in
front of the blockhouse just back of
little knoll. He (Wheeler) ran his guns
into this low spot, then would run them
up to the top of the knoll and pour
their grape and canister into the door
way of the blockhouse; but, fortunately
for us. the doorway did not go straight
into the house, and the shot landed
against solid timber. They were not at
this time more than four or five rods
away. We could hear them talk and
give commands. After firing few
shots there we heard the commander
say: Get out of here; they will kill
every horse we have got" We were
shooting just as low as we could, and
not shoot into the ground at the top of
the knoll We received a few shots
after this. as it was very near night,
and Wheeler had begun to draw his
forces away and give us up as bad
job.
They formed in line, two regiments,
to charge us, but Wheeler told them we
were not worth the loss we would make
to them, and they withdrew. This a
citizen told us after the battle. I stood
guard all that night outside the block
house.
am satisfied il Col. Minty had known
the facts of the case the honor would
have gone where 1t belonged. The mat
ter ought to have been investigated at
the time. Stedman and myself came
very near losing our lives there, which
was only our duty as true to our coun-
try to do. l do not feel that the honor
should have gone to Bickford, who
would have brought disgrace on his
that fought the battle.
AS I understand the matter. and as
it was, Bickford after the battle a few
days was relieved and taken to Gull
leoka, and a Sergeant sent to take his
place at Blockhouse No. 10. Carter be-
ing in command there, took Bickford's
and thru Carter's influence
the honor went where it did, to Bick-
ford, and / do not think it right to re-
cord it in the history of Michigan, of
brave Michigan soldiers, as the facts in
the case.
This statement was written by Joseph
II. Abbey, a member of the 4th Mich |
Cav, Co. /, who was in the battle as
above stated.
Joseph H. Abbey.
State of Minnesota. County of Baker. IS:
Joseph TT. Abbey, being by me first /
duly sworn, deposes and says that the /
foregoing narrative is true.
Sid Oberhauser. Notary Public.
Becker County, MINI.
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