The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-09-11
AROUND
CAMPO IA
FIRE &@MA
CAPTURED AT MURFREESBORO
Pennsylvania Minister Relates Story
Of Arreet of Member Of FORESTS
Confederate Cavalry.

On June 13, 1862, Company M, Sew.
enth Pennsylvania cavalry, of which l
was a member, was captured at Muir
freesboro, Tenn. had the pleasure of
meeting Rev. John Royal Harris,
whose father was a member of For
rests Confederate cavalry. At my
request he sent me the following recol-
lection of his father about our capture,
writes J. H. Shuster, Beaver Falls, Pa,
in the National Tribune.
The Federals were in three posi-
tions-the Ninth Michigan, and Sew
enth Pennsylvania in the eastern sub
urb, various detachments at the jail
and courthouse in the center of the
town, and the Third Minnesota and
Hewitt's battery outside the town to
the west. Forests success was in
keeping these separate and capturing
them in detail. He first got the CEN
trail position, leaving part of his COM
mand engaged with the eastern body,
which did not surrender till about
noon. He then fianked the western
body, which had advanced toward the
courthouse, but had been held in check
until the rest surrendered.
have heard my father say that
the Confederates marched nearly all
night coming from McMinnville, and
that they rushed into town about day
break. The pickets had been sur
prised, and no shots alarmed the
sleeping Federals. l heard the ex-
sheriff of that county, Mr.. Arnold, tell
of slipping up on one sentinel. My IA
ther said the men were still In their
tents, and that he saw Texas Ran
ger fire his six-shooter into an open
tent. He said that many Of the men
did not have time to put their clothes
on, and that they were marched
through the streets SO, and that the
Texas Rangers amused themselves
striking at their shirts with their long
whips.
He himself was In one of the in
dependent companies. He saw the
assault on the courthouse, and COM
mended the bravery of the defense.
His brother was in the Jail, suspected
of being a spy, from his resemblance
to noted spy and bushwracker. 9th
er men in the jail were to be killed
the next morning, and one Federal, as
the men ran to the courthouse for
making a stand. set fire to the jail
and tried to shoot the prisoners. This
man mysteriously disappeared, and it
was believed that he was identified
and made way with. Father always
said that Forrest worked his old game
of bluff, and made the Federals think
he had more men than he had, and
threatened to give no quarter, though,
of course, he did not mean it.
was born about ten miles from
Murfreesboro, on the Jefferson pike.
From the description of your escape
and capture you must have been very
close to my old plantation home, and
possibly you did visit some Of our
people.
The prisoners were paroled at Nc
Minnville, and my father went along
to help guard them. He said that it
was difficult to guard SO many, and
that they /darted off into the bushes
all along the way. He lived at Nc
Minnville, and died in 1907 on the old
plantation.
1t is a matter of record that Colonel
Mitchell wired General Buell., June 8,
that Colonel Lester had told him Of
1000 Confederates being near McMinn-
Vile. Again, June "a, he warned
Buell.. On the day preceding the
capture Buell. wired Halleck that the
enemy was in that section. Duffield,
in view of all this, seemed to let him
self be surprised easily. Without the
surprise and his widely separated
forces Forrest never could have made
the capture. 1t is new to me that your
command was without weapons. That,
too, seems to be little against the
vigilance of your officer in charge.
General Crittenden had superseded
Colonel Duffield just day or so be-
fore the capture.