The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-06-27
GENERAL MINTY--A
FEW "REMINISCENCES
BY COL. B. F. BAIR.

Editor:
I will give you short history Of
General Ninty and his war record.
He lived in Ogden. Utah. number
of years. At the beginning of the war
General Ninty lived In Detroit, Mlchi-
gan. He served as major Of the Sec
opd Michigan cavalry In 1861 and lieu
tanant-colonel OF the Third Michigan
cavalry, and on the 29th of July. 1857.
the Fourth Michigan cavalry was or
ganized at Detroit. Michigan, Minty
being made colonel. In September
the regiment left the state one thou
snnd two hundred and thirty-threo
strong for Louisville. Kentucky. AT
riying at Louisville II was immedi-
atey ordered to take the field. and
on the 10th of October led the ad-
vance on Stanford. Kentucky, where
Morgan was posted with ninety-tye
hundred men and two pieces OF arul-
lery. On approaching the town Col
onel Minty. after driving in the enc
myS plckets by a vigorous advance.
after a short engagement routed the
entire force OF the enemy. killing
lieutcnant-colonel and capturing
number OF men. My regiment, the
73rd Indiana Infantry, was there. and
took part In the fight | received
sabcr cut in my left hand there by
dismounted rebel. but took him pris-
oner all right The scar in my hand
Is plain to be seen today, After leav-
ing Stanford our division (WoodsD. &.
with Minty's cavalry in advance,
started for Nashville by way OF Bow
ling Green and Gallatin, Tennessee.
On the morning of the 9th OF Noyem-
Der we crossed the Cumberland river
and marched TO Silver Springs. While
at Silver Springs we learned that
General Morgan WAS at Lebanon, Ten
nessee, with his men, seven hundred
and fifty in number. and two pieces
of artillery. We learned that the clti-
zens Of Lebanon was giving big din
ner to Morgan and his men, SO we
started on a forced march for Leban.
on. Minty'e cavalry In the lead. when
{we arrived at Lebanon. Minty dashed
ION ! the enemy, captured the town,
bcattoring the rebels In every direc-
tiou. In the public square there were
tables set under the trees loaded with
provisions for Morgan's men In tho
courthouse they had tables set for the
courthouse, and there was lot of
rebel women In there. One of the
women made for me with a big butch
you nasty blue devil, you" Well,
got out, and took stuffed roast pig
with me. Well, the woman was right
after me, and Jumped over the fence.
/ lit astride Of Minty sitting down by
onl, NAI TO
and apologized for knocking him over.
saying had just stolen roast pig
from the rebel women. He replied,
You did not steal it. you conhscated
Il; don't forget to give me a hind
quarter OF that pig" Well. he got IL
all right. That day we captured a
large number of mules and all Of Nor
san's commissary stores and extra
clothing. Gathering the captured
property together. we returned TO Sill
yer Springs without the loss of a
man. A few days after Minty, with
his regiment started for Nashville
Minty's cavalry participated in the
battle of Wilson Creek and the first
battle OF Franklin,
MiDty and his cavalry. the Fourth
Michigan. participated in the battle of
Stone River. and followed the retreat
ing rebels through Murfreesboro. One
day at place called Rover there was
an outpost oil about six hundred rebel
cavalry. Minty ordered his men to
charge on the rebels with drawn ga
bres. The rebel line was struck, and
with the whole force utterly routed.
Stricken down. captured or routed.
among the prisoners was a rebel cap
tain who had received a saber cut
straight across the face. cutting
through the nose and down to the
cheek bones on both sides. As the
prisoners were brought IN they passed
Colonel Nlinty's orderlies. amongst
whom was an Irishman named Phil.
Rafferty,. who. looking at the unfortu-
nate Confederate with an expression
OF concern. said: "Arrah. what did
you run against to hurt yourself that
way" Phil. Rafferty, became noted
character In the brigade after that.
During the Atlanta campaign he fell
into the hands OF the enemy, and was
sent TO Andersonville. On one occa.
Sion he was with party OF prisoners
who were taken outside OF the stock.
ade to perform some fatigue duty
Besides the guard there was mum.
Der Of bloodhounds along. Rafferty,
had picked up a stick and as one OF
the hounds passed him he struck Il
on the head and killed it A moment
later General Winder passed, and, sec.
Ing tho dog lying dead. asked with
An oath, Who killed that dog2" Nc
ono answered. and he ordered the en-
tire squad to be placed under special
guard and given nothing TO eat until
the culprt should be identified. This
was too much for Rafferty,. so, step