Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1913-09-12
AROUND THE
CAMPO sSsM
CAPTURED AT MURFREESBoRo
Pennsylvania Minister Relates story
of Arrest of Member or Forrests
Confederate Cavalry.

ON June IS. 1862, Company M, Sew
enth PENNSYLVANIA cavalry, OF wnich
was a member, was captured at Mur-
freesboro, Tenn. had the pleasure OF
meeting Rev. John Royal Harris
whose father was a member of For
rest,s Confederate cavalry. At my
request he sent me the following recoi-
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 SUP
urb various attachments at the JAN
and courthouse in the center OF inc
town. and the Third Minnesota ana
Hewitt's battery outside the town 10
the west. Forests success was III
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 pouy
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 McMinnvllie. ana
that they rushed into town about day
break. The pickets had been sur
prised. and no shots alarmed the
sleeping Federals. heard the ex-
sheriff of that county, Mr.. Arnold, ten
OF slipping up on one sentinel. MY Ia
Their said the men were still in their
tents and that he saw a 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 spy, from his resemblance
to a noted spy and bushwracker. 9th
err 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 1t
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 1t.
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 1t
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 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 a little against the
vigilance OF youT officer In charge,
General Crittenden had superseded
Colonel Duffield just day or so be.
fore the capture