The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-10-07
The Commercial, Union City, Tenn.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1921.

try, Col. George Nancy commanding,
which, after a short period of drill
ing was sent to West Virginia and
there served under Lee against Nc
Clellan. 1t was ct Cheat Mountain
and while on detached service with
twenty picked nen scouting in Nc
Clellan's rear that Colonel Field re-
ceived his baptism of fire, and it was
there, too, while temporarily sepa-
rated from his men, he killed three
Yankee soldiers whom lie was pur-
suing toward their camp.
After Cheat Mountain and come
very a-dIous service under Stone
wall Jackson, the regiment went into
winter quarters, and having been
promoted to Major of his regiment,
Colonel Field asked for and obtained
leave Of absence to visit his family,
for he was then married. But EDon
reaching Nashville and learning that
Grant was moving on Fort Dcnelson,
he at once reported to General Pillow
at Dover, Tenn, was attached to his
staff, and served as such until Buck
ner assumed command, when, With
out visiting his family as he had pur-
posed nc at once returned to his
command. Shortly afterwards, for
lack of adequate transportation, he
was detached with half of his regi-
ment and ordered to report to Gen.
Albert Sidney Johnson at Corilth, in
pursuance Of which he reached
Corinth in time to take part in the
battle of Shiloh. 1t should be here
CrI
remainder of the regiment, arrived in
time to take part in tho second days
engagement. After Shiloh, General
Nancy having been promoted, Colo
mel Field was appointed colonel of
his regiment, and he was also de-
tailed with Con. Marcus j. Wright
and Colonel Campbell to examine Ind
weed out incompetents up to and in
clu,ling their own rank.
Then followed Bragg's campaign
irto Kentucky, and then came the
battle at Perryville, where his regi-
mept lost between two hundred and
fifty and three hundred men, arcong
whom was that gallant officer, Lieu
tenant Colonel Patterson.
Maney's entire brigade had at
tempted to storm battery in their
immediate front. The assault was
unsuccessful, whereupon General
Nancy ordered Colonel Field to repeat
the effort with his regiment alone.
Without one word Colonel Field took
position some distance in front of
his regiment, turned and facing
them, slowly drawing his sword, he
cried with ringing voice: Follow
mol" The battery was carried with
hardly a man of the battery left to
tell the story; but a strong force of
infantry occupying q ridge to the
left continued to pour in on them an
cnfilading fire so destructive that to
again quote from Colonel Fields di-
airy, "seing that to hold their ground
meant the destruction of the whole
withdrew the regiment az
ter sacrificing the best and noblest
blood of Tennessee to a mistaken or
der. Twenty-threo or four commits
stoned officers were killed or wound
ed in the two assaults"
The campaigns in Tennessee fol-
low, eliminating in the battle of |
)ro, on which occasion |
Colonel Field was in temporary COM
mand Of the brigade, Nancy in
charge of the division, and Cheatham |
in charge of the corps. Here, while |
battery, Colonel Foild had |
his horse killed under him. Bra gg's |
movement followed, and |
then came the battle of Chickamau-
ga, in which Colonel Field led his |
Ccri mr. to hn Nd =
that, in company with General For
rest, he rode out of the woods into |
the open field at the foot of Snodgrass
Hill, where they were Unexpectedly |
fred on by an entire brigade, five |
Mimic balls passing through the little
gray mare the Colonel was riding,
killing her instantly.
tie need be said of the battle of |
Ridge. Colonel Fields
liary shows between the lines very
evident disgust with the unfortunate
In this action the LIST
Regiment was temporarily detached
rom the brigade and placed on
Bragg's extreme right at the point
If the ridge and confronting Sher-
nan. Colonel Field held this posi-
ion to the end, at times even fight
ng Sherman's men with rocks, which
we're thrown down on them. He fur
her states that" late in the even
n.y." expecting to bivouac on the
ground, he sent his servant to the
ear to bring his blankets, and later
through his servant he learned that
Grants army was in his rear and in
of his ambulance. Lack
# space will not permit me to follow
COLONEL Field in that notable cam
,aign from Dalton to Atlanta. Two
during that time are espe-
tally worthy of record in that they
most eloquently portray the bravery
nd unconquerable spirit of this re-
man.
Near Adairsville, Ca, and eight
hundred yards in front of Sherman's
apidly advancing lines, stood large
ctagon-shaped building with three
r four smaller buildings around it.
'hese buildings were held by two
egiments which, by order of General [
'olk, were withdrawn and replaced |
" Colonel Fields regiment with or /
ers to hold the position, though it {
ost the entire command. Later and
nder terrific artillery fire, Captain
tourney, his favorite cousin, re-
orted from an out-building, that
hev coIld no longer live and hold |