The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-09-12
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STORY OF DECATUR BATTLE
Interesting Account Is Related Of Hot
Time at That important Strong
hold In Alabama.

III inc ANdllOudA 1llDuu0 VI may a.
Sergeant Ashley V. Newton, Co. D.
Sd Mich, In "Colored Troops at Deca-
tur," says that at Nashville his regi-
ment got a rush order to proceed to
Decatur to reinforce General Milroy,
who was being closely pressed by For
rest. General Milroy was not at
Decatur; neither was Forrest writes
VIII A. McTeer, adjutant, Sd Tenn.
Cav, and asting assistant adtutant
general. First Brigade, Fourth Divi-
sion, Cavalry Corps. Maryville, Tenn,
In the National Tribune. Gen. Robert
s. Granger was in command Of the
military district OF north Alabama,
with headquarters at Decatur and
Huntsville. Col. c. c. Doolittle, Of the
18th Mich, was in command Of the
post at Decatur.
Comrade Newton says: I'VE found
the bridge burned, but General Mil
roy had provided for our coming by
erecting a pontoon bridge"
Our Cavalry Brigade reported to
General Granger for duty, arriving at
Decatur July 10, 1864, and the bridge
was destroyed before that time, and
the pontoon was erected then, and ap-
peared as II 1t had been there for
months before. 1t appears that 1t was
placed there by General Sherman
when on his way from Memphis to
Chattanooga"
Further, Comrade Newton says:
THE Confederates seeing us, empha-
sized their objection by rushing six
piece battery down to the bank Of the
river within easy range Of the bridge,
and they would have mixed things up
very seriously for the Sd Mich. but
for the timely Intervention Of two
companies Of colored troops that were
sent by General Milroy to distract
their attention in another direction"
was acting assistant adjutant
general Of the Cavalry Brigade and
on the line Of battle. Hood (not For
rest) attacked US, October 20, 1854.
In General Granger's report to
General Thomas he fxes his whole
force at Decatur at 1850, and with
the 29th Mich. added, which had just
arrived, and $50 absent on patrol
duty, there were only 1000 men to de-
fend Decatur. Every available man
was placed out on the line, and then
we could not reach around more than
half way in front of our works. The
only reason that the first days fight
ing was not one Of the greatest bat
ties Of the war was because there
were not men enough to make 1t so.
There were no coIored troops there
that day, but in the night we were re-
inforced by the 14th U. s. Colored
Inf, commanded by Col. afterwards
GeneraD ]. T. Morgan.
The Sd and 29th Mich. reinforced
us while engaged in the hottest part
on the first afternoon. l remember
distinctly their coming. and as they
went out on the line the appearance
Of the bright, new uniforms was in
decided contrast to our own worn and
dingy clothing.
The Confederates were using bat
terry at a lively rate with deadly ef-
feet, but 1t was nearly mile from
the river and not in range Of the
bridge at all. On the 9th the enemy
threw up some pits on the bank Of the
river, about a mile above Decatur and
nearly a half mile from where the bat
terry was first used by them on the
first day. On the morning of the 2Sth
detachment from the 18th Mich. and
102d Ohio according to my journal
At men) made their way down the
river, succeeded in flanking the Con-
federate rife pits, made a gallant
charge from their rear, in which a
number of men were killed and
wounded, and brought In 120 prison.
ers.
l stood on the upper porch of the
Decatur hotel when Colonel Morgan
came in front with the 14th regiment
Of colored troops (not two com.
panies), and they piled their KNAPP
sacks, leaving one man to the com.
pany as guards. noticed Colonel Nor.
gan holding in his hand a small
hatchet, and also that number of
the officers had hatchets. They start.
ed out in the open field, marching in
excellent order to within rife range
Of the Confederates, when they fired
volley. then raised yell and charg.
ed
The affair did not last much more
than 20 minutes, but the work was
bloody. They drove the Confederates
from their support with the bayonet.
The guns were spiked, and the coll
ored boys had to fall down along the
waters edge under the bank Of the
river, while the enemy ran along
above them and shot down on them.
In his report Of this charge, Gen.
eral Granger says: I'VE lost 40 killed
and wounded" and up to that time
our loss amounted to 80.
In the. forenoon Of October 29 the
etaIny began to withdraw, and I was
at the place where this battery had
stood, and 1t was a place of blood
without a doubt. Prior to this charge
Capt. Albert F.. Beach, Battery A, 1st
Tenn, had taken two sections of his
guns up on the north side Of the riv.
er, opposite the Confederate battery,
and they fought an artillery duel
across the river, and Beach succeed.
ed in blowing up two Of their cais.
sons, which killed quite a number OF
them, and this was evident on the
ground.