The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-09-19
AROUND THE
CAMPO IA
FIRE @Ggs9a
CAPTURED AT MURFREESBORO
Pennsylva1la Minister Relates storY
Of Arrest Of Member Of Forests
Confederate Cavalry.

On June 13. 1862. Company NJ. Sew
enth Pennsylvania cavalry, OF which
was member, was captured at Mur
freesboro, Tenn. had the pleasure Of
meeting Rev. John Royal HarriA
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 ]. II. Shuster. Beaver Falls, Pa
in the National Tribune.
The Federals were in three post
tions-the Ninth Michigan. and Sew
enth Pennsylvania in the eastern sub
urb. various detachments at the jan
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
tral position, leaving part OF his com
mand engaged with the eastern body,
which did not surrender till about
noon. He then flanked 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 Confederatss marched nearly all
night coming from McMinnville, and
, that they rushed into town about day
break. The pickets had been sur
prised, and 10 shots alarmed the
sleeping Federals. heard the eI-
sheriff of that county, Mr.. Arnold, tell
OF slipping up on one sentinel. My fa-
ther said the men we're still in their
tents. and that he saw a Texas Ran
ger FIRE his six-shooter into an oper
tent He said that many of the men
did not have time to put their clothes
on, and that they we're marched
through the streets so, and that tho
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 a 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 1t
was believed that he was identified
4 TnfI NV
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 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 a matter Of record that Colonel
wired General Buell., June 8,
that Colonel Lester had told him of
l 900 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
'orces Forrest never could have made
he capture. 1t is new to me that your
command was without weapons. That
90, seems to be a little against the
vigilance of your officer in charge.
General Crittenden had superseded
Colonel Duffeld just a day or so be-
ore the capture.