The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-10-27
HOW NELSON HELD
BRIDGE IN 1862

A story which appeared In The Tribune
on Aug. II. 1903. sheds, bright light on
chara cteristic for which William Mel
son was noted among all who knew him
his personal bravery. Although he was
then edltor-in-c chief Of The Tribune. the
story was printed without his knowl-
part OF his associates who felt that the
event was one that deserved 10 be COM
incorporated, Not Roman Horatius himself
ms ,ban 6 bs
twenty-four men when they held the
bridge against the Confederates at Point
Rock in 1862. The story was as follows:
Away back in lS62-it was In April.
lS62-when the war was young-there
was a detachment OF soldiers from
the Tenth Wisconsin Infantry detailed
to guard the bridges Of the Memphis
and Charleston railway. This de-
mand OF Major Hardness. now a resi-
dent OF Salt Lake Among the de-
tachments was one under the direct
command of Sergeant William Mel
son. now OF Salt Lake City,
On the night Of April %; 1852,
dete echment OF Storr's cavalry made
an attempt to capture and burn a
bridge at Paint Rock; Sergeant Mel
son was In command, lie had been
advised through friendly negroes that
the attack would be made. He had
twenty-four men In his command,
He stationed eleven men at each end
OF the bridge and two on the center
pier and the plcllets who were on the
outposts were instructed to fire upon
any one who was found TO be moving
on the small force: without any warn
Ing.
At 10 O'Clock on the night In ques-
ton. the first shot was fired by the
enemy on the force at the west end
OF the bridge. Sergeant Nelson was
In direct command There was
battle fought which lasted two hours,
the contest being waged in absolute
aply m Trfft1 II 4
and later sent an emlssary with
demand for the surrender OF the
bridge The reply from Sergeant Nell
son was characteristic of the man.
I'VE did not come 1000 miles to
surrender. II you want us. come and
This brought a second attack, in
which the enemy was repulsed, al
though they had $50 men. When
dawn came and II was light enough
twenty-s!x dead Confederates and
fifty wounded, while Sergeant Nell
son had seventeen OF his twenty
four wounded Bur the bridge was
saved and the supply line was kept
For this gallant defense. this saw
Ing of the bridge by which the sup
ply line was kept open. General o.
geography. and who was In command
OF the division, showered special hon
Ors upon Sergeant Nelson and his
men. Sergeant Nelson was also COM
plimented for the gallant stand made
by him aud his men by Edwin NJ.
Stanton, secretary OF war. and also
by President Abraham Lincoln.
Sergean Mt Nelson, who is now a resi-
dent OF Salt Lake City, Is very reti-
cent about any part Of the war IN
which he participated, and when
questioned by his co-workers. who
every once In while hear OF some
brave act which he performed In
Uncle Sans service, he declines TO
talk. He did many things like this
during the war for the Union. He
was idolized by the men under him.
He always looked after their interests
first and he fought for those interests
and obtained them.
This story is told The Tribune by
g. w. Billings, who served with Wil-
liam Nelson. Billings was mem
Der OF Company X. Tenth Wisconsin
Infantry, and when he detailed II to
the writer and extolled the acts OF
bravery OF Sergeant Nelson. of how
the men under him would fight for
twenty four hours every day in the
week for him. and OF the kindnesses
performed for the men in good health
as well when III. the tears rolled
down his cheeks. Sergeant William
Nelson Is now the editor In chief OF
The Salt Lake Tribune