Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-09-11
AROUND THE
CAMPO IN
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FIRE 4k 8=;=.AsA
CAPTURED AT MURFREESBORO
Pennsylvania Minister Relates Story
OF Arrest of Member of Forests
Confeoer ate Cavalry.

On June 13. 1862, Company NJ, Sew
enth Pennsylvania cavalry, of which |
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 recoi-
lection of his father about our capture.
writes ]. 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
Hewitts 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 fanked the western
body, which had advanced toward the
until the rest surrendered.
I 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 | 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 lie said that many of the men
did rot 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 defesse.
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 mysteriousiy disappeared. and IL
was believed that he was identified
and made way with. Father always
! said that Forrest worked his old game
| of biu1, 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
MinnvilIe, and died in 907 on the old
| plantation.
1t Is matter Of record that Colonet
| Mitchell wired General Buell.. June 3,
| that Colonel Lester had told him OF
| 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. Duttield,
| 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 your officer in charge.
General Crittenden had superseded
Colonel Duffield just day or 80 be-
fore the capture.