The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-02-25

was the scene OF several cuutiicts be
tween tie union and confederate forces
during the civil war. When l first
saw it its inhabitants had all fed,
and W. or three smoke begrimmeo
buildings were all that remained OF a
once thriving and peaceful village.
The most heroic Of these conflicts, and
one of the most remarkable of the en-
tire war. was the defense of this place
by Col. Innis, Of the First Michigan
engineers and Mechanics, numbering
all told, only 39l, without artillery or
other breastworks than a hastily
thrown up h%arricade Of camp wagons,
underbrush and cedar saplings. The
position was held against six or eight
regiments of Gen. Wheeler's force,
under direct command of Col. Wha'.
ton, and numbering it Is said 1900
men aud two field pieces. "Col. In
MIS- said Gen. Itosecranz on the eve
of the battle of Stone River, twill you
holu Lavergne." ''I'll try. general
was the answer 81 ask if you will
do it, said the ~iaconic commander.
81 WILL" replied the Michigan com
mander, and turning on his heel with
out another word posted of to his
battalion of four companies. | will
tell of this fight in the words of James
r. Gilmore. On my return up the
Nashville railroad, ate in May, 1868
| had for travelling companion, Capt.
Firman of Gen. Lees staff, then be
ing conveyed a prisoner IF war to the
p%enitentiary at Nashville. We fell
into a conversation, during which he
graphically described to me the con-
| hicts in which he had been personally
engaged along the railroad. As the
train halted at Lavergne he said TO
me: ''Our worst fg ht was with Col.
Innis of the Michigan engineers. He
was posted on that little elevation at
the right OF the railroad and We came
upon him just as the sun was rising
on New Years morning. AS our col
umn emerged from the woods on the
southern side of the town, Col. Whar-
| ton told me to summon the Yankees
to surrender and riding up to the
fimsy breastworks l called out "Gen.
Wheeler demands an instant m un-
conditional surrender "Give Gen
| Wheeler my compliments, and tell
him we don't surrender much Col.
Innis then mounted his Kentucky roam
and rode slowly around the rude in
%trenchment. Boys he said to his
mer, 1--WE are only $50. they are 5000,
have you said your prayers:' 1--WE
are ready Colonel, let them come on
was the answer of the Michigan men
They did come on. Five times we
swept down upon them, and five times
| rode up With a flag and summoned
them to surrender, but each time
Innis sent back the message. varied
now and Their with ar adjective, ave
don't surrender much.' He sat on his
horse during the first charge as it he
we're on dress parade. but at our third
assault | saw him 60 down. though,
we had winged him. but when We
charged again there he sat as
cool as if the thermometer had been al
zero. One of our men took deliberate
aim and again he went down but,
when | rode up the fourth time AND
shouted: "We'll lot summons you
again, surrender at once" 1t was
lnuis who shouted back, pray DON,
do so again, for we don't surrender
much At the fifth charge | was
wounded and another officer was sent
with the summons. Your men halted
him a few hundred yards from the
br~eastworks. and an officer in a
eIry %overcoat, came out to meet him.
"What is your rank, sir demanded
the Union officer. "Major, SIR
was the answer. "Go back and tell
Gen. Wheeler that he insults me by
sending one of your rank to trea,
with one of mine. Tell him too, that
l have not come here to surrender,
shall fire on the next flag 1T was
Innis," continued Capt. Firman, land
by that ruse he made us believe that
he had received reinforcements.
Thinking it was 90, We drew of, ano
the next day Innis sent Wheeler word
by a prisoner he returned to us. that
he had whipped US with only 800 men.
There was q CLEAN of genuine admir-.
alton on Capt. Firmau's face as he
added, THE North has sent many
brave men to the war, but none brav-
er than Innis."
They had shot two horses from
under Innis, and sent two shells
through two of our wagons. That
was all the damage done us. while