USA > Illinois > History of the Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry Volunteers. Pub. under the auspices of the Historical Committee of the Regiment > Part 12
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LOUIS F. POCTH
WILLIAM M BERTON.
WESLEY T. FOSTER.
JOHN M FLETCHER
NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS.
strike them at a certain time after the hour set for the commence- ment of the battle. At the appointed time the cannons began to roar and the carbines to rattle all along our line. The Ninth marched as ordered up the river, and, crossing at Cowpen Stilla. moved out into the enemy's camp some five miles, on another road leading toward Florence. The instructions to Captain Harper were that when he found the enemy he was to charge them, and make them believe that the whole or a large part of our command was there. After coming thus far we struck another road turning to the left. and here Captain Harper directed Captain Mock (the next ranking officer) to take six companies and move on straight ahead, and gave him the same orders he had himself received, while he took the remaining six companies and moved to the left. At this time the fighting at the for was hard, our forces making vigorous exertions to drive the enemy and dislodge them so as to move forward, laut withom success. Captain Harper proceeded to charge large bodies of the enemy in his front, and such was his dash and impetuosity that the rebs gave way and he pressed forward some distance. Finally striking the main command, he was unable to go farther. and, being in great danger of being cut off, and not knowing the fate of the other six companies, he started back. In the mean- time, Captain Mock had moved forward, met the enemy, charged and drove them back into their cump, and could go no farther in that direction. Having carly in the day dismounted tire com panies, Hl. under Lieutenant David Hillier, and F. wude: Llvie tenant Niemver, to push the rebels back into their camps, so far did these two companies, under the lead of their gallant come manders, go, that it seemed almost an impossibility for them to draw their men away in safety. The swarming Confederate troops had almost surrounded them. Sergeant Henry Hardesty reported the rebels to be moving to the right, with the evalent intention of gaining the Federal rear. Finally Captain Mock got his six companies together, and moved back to the road, thinking if he joined again with Captain Harper the outlook would be- better. After marching about two miles with a persistent and aggressive pursuit, and a lat fim from tin robs, he are. Contala Harper coming back: he, too, having all be conhi do word a order
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more, and expecting they would have to out their way of, wool the whole command really surrounded. The Confederate no- manders did not know what to make of their bold attacke and soon became impressed with the idea that a much larger force was over the river and in their rear, where our main attack Tom been concentrated ; so that when the two divisions of the Xinh were again united, and preparing to force their way through. they suddenly found the way. in the direction of the lonk abandoned by the enemy, who were in ating a lesly retreat from the position in front of the main part of our forces at the for. where the brigade had been fighting they all the monther, and had been unable to dislodge them. This was an unexpected and fortunate movement for the Ninth, and they were not play to improve it. Then while the Regiment was pitching to the ford and across, the Confederates save their mistakes. They really had the Ninth completely bagged and then Fondly opened show door and let them walk away. When the bagare on the Federal side of the river saw the Ninth coming back over the very good just vacated by the Confederate troops, they thought surch they were enemies, and formed in line of battle to receive trent, Tot knowing if they were friends or focs.
The Regiment had been within a few miles of Florence god did steady and hard fighting, and throw the whole Confederate army into more or less confusion by the bold boss and dash of thos attacks, and finally withdrew in a love with but malthus.
From the 11th to the Fith of November, moving in the year ly of Shoal Creek, and having no regular rations, the Reginiona was obliged to forage on the country almost entirely; on the day. Hoy 17th, drew five days' rations: on the 1sth. crossed Shoal Crock again and moved out to the Butler Creek road : met the reddels and skirmished that day, returned to camp at Compen Mills, again raining all day.
November 19th the brigade again crossed the river and marched to Butler Creek road, expecting to emup there. "The battalion commanded by Captain Mock. A. R. K and JI, was on dered to the Waynesboro road, and ran into the rebel Gesamt Chalmers wagon train. aplatir . i to content .o. men and about fifty mnles and horses brom wich fles rutors dad. por
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NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY VOLL.OPERE.
stricken, when our cavalry dashed in upon them; while this was taking place the Confederate cavalry had forced the rest of the brigade back over the river, and this battalion was cut off. The position at this time was very critical. The rebels surroundel the small command before dark and charged on them repeatedly. They then broke for the woods, and becoming somey hat sepoated. wandered around all night trying to reach some ford where they could cross back to the command. They were now in the rose and in the midst of the Confederate army. It now being very dark, they frequently ran into some of the rebel camps, and they. supposing the intruders were rebs like themselves, paid theet no attention and finally laid down to rest. Toward morning they found a ford unguarded by the rebels, and. crossing over about daylight, joined the main commend some thive of four miles baut: from the river, with a loss at that time of thirty two men ; the most of them, however, came in within the next few days.
The following account is made up from extracts from a paper kindly furnished by Lieutenant Colonel A. R. Mock, who was not thetime mentioned. November 19. 1561, Captain of Comprory B. and was in command of a battalion of the Ninth Ilinois Cavalry. composed of Companies A. B. Kand M. commanded respectively by Lieutenant David Hillier, Company A ; Sergeant Thomas J. McNair, Company B : Lientenant 1. Clark, Company K : Lion- tenant Benjamin D. Gallino, Company M :
On the morning of November 19, 1861, in order to ascertain the strength of the enemy on the south side of Shold Creek, and north of the Tennessee River. General Hatch ordered the Second Brigade to move to the ford at Compen Mills and droe Shoot Creek, and go into camp at or near Bailey's Springs of Bruder Creek. Shoal Creek was a stream fully one hundred yards widdo. with an uneven, rocky bottom, and only fordable at certain places. The Ninth Ilinois Cavalry, Captain Harper commanding, walkin the advance, and Captain Mock's Battalion, the advance guard of the Regiment. Soon after crossing the river we Struck the rebel pickets, and drove them back as we moved forward. Two and one-half miles from the river, we came to a cross road. Here our command was to turn to the right and runch & Butter free On reaching this cross road, Company Ia, Captain J. H. Camponem
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commanding, was placed on the cross road leading to the rest; as a picket, and to protect that flank while the command wis passing. Captain Carpenter then, with his company, moved for- ward on this road about one mile, and, hearing the sound of moving wagons and artillery but a short distance over the HUMP, became convinced that the rebels were there in force, and marched back to his picket post. They had not been stationed here lont. when they saw a solitary horseman approaching on the road. The timber was scattering. He seemed to be quite uncongenial. and entirely unaware that there were any Yankees over the river : when he came within two hundred yards. John Shelton, against the order of Captain Carpenter, fired at him, and he inne hatily went back and over the hill : soon the rebels began to appear ospr the crest of the hill. and Captain Carpenter sent a courier. Honey Shelton, to Captain Harper, informing him of the suite of affairs. and asking for orders. Captain Harper, realizing the situation. ordered Captain Carpenter to fire a volley if attacked, and Holo the enemy in check as long as possible, and they moved to his relief with the balance of the regiment that was left with lilm. In the meantime the rebs kept coming up over the hill, sedl moving forward toward the picket. Captain Carpenter thees his company into position to receive them, by dismounting Is men and forming them in a half circle behind the trees, and awaited the coming charge of the rebels, with instructions so bit men not to five till he gave the order. The role changed as. and when within short range Company Lopened on them from their seven-shooting carbines, and kept up a stream of living ; on dashed the rebels into and through the little band. Many boraps were shot and rebels killed. A prisoner captured the most dag reported that they lost sixteen men killed and supposed they were fighting a brigade. One rebel's horse fell, shot through the neck. at Captain Carpenter's feet, and his two revolvers dropped from his saddle, which Carpenter picked up. The Johnmes could not stand the fire and retreated, while Company I did not lose ; man. It was bravely done. How in the world this one company beat off at least two hundred rebels was a matter of surprise. When Colonel Coon inquired who was on the jobled, and was informed that it was Captain Carpenter, be .vid. .. It wa al!
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right, and he felt safe." Pretty soon Captain Harper came up. and the rebels came back again, this time in larger force, and. after a sharp fight, our whole command was driven over the river. At this time Captain Carpenter was rear guard, and fought the enemy by platoons. The Second Iowa had already crusted by an old ford, which Colonel Horton had discovered the day be- fore, through which he had a short time before rushed over the wagon trains of the brigade, and they then covered our retreat across the river.
Captain Mock was directed to take his battalion and proceed four miles straight on to the Savannah road to ascertain the movements of the enemy, and to return and join our coronaud at Bailey Springs. When Colonel Coon gave his directions to Captain Mock as to what he wanted done. he remarked. " That he thought it doubtful about his being able to camp with the command at Butler Greck, and that when he (Mock) returned. he must be careful and not take the enemy for our coniand, For they were as likely to be camping there as out comman t would be, and that Captain Mock must look out and not be surprised." With these instructions, Captain Mock and his battalion moved out on a road running through heavy timber. On reaching the road designated by his instructions, a rebel wagon traits was observed moving along. Under cover of the timber, Captain Mock approached as near as he could without being observed. and then changed the train with two companies, holding two companies in supporting distance. The rebel escort fled of mice approach, and the train was captured with a part of the divers. This capture was the headquarters train of the rebel Geners! Chalmers ; but the enemy being near, and in large force. it was impossible to get away with the train. It was too wet to laugh. and as there was not time to destroy - the rebels were then in sight - the train was plundered, and partially destroyed. The drivers, mules, and as much plunder as they could carry were taken possession of, and the command started back the same way they came. By this time the rebel soldiers were upon them. and opened fire. The road being through heavy timber, and wide enough for only one company in lire covering the whale road, the small command of Captain Mock presentalas ange
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a front as the rebels, and hold them in check, while his command moved back at their leisure. Among the trophies captured were two large garrison flags, which were supposed to belong to heal! quarters. The command moved brick = the rear compriny skir- wishing with the enemy all the time -- until we neared the place where we left the command at the cross roads. Here the a banco guard ran into the rebels, and found them in force, and dis- covered that they had driven our main command away. and were occupying that place themselves. The rebels opened fire on our advance, and thus this battalion was attacked in both front and rear. It was also discovered that the rabais were between our little force and the main command, which meint very evidently that the battalion was cut off, and mu t get out of a bad serape the best way they could. When Captain Mook captured the train, and saw the rebels coming. he sent back a courier to Colonel Coon to inform him what had been done; but the courier never reached Colonel Coon, as he ran into smob rebels, and was captured.
The command then left the road. And, turning into the woods, had only to meet the enemy and defend from one di- rection, and soon left them in the rear. Moving through the woods some distance, a heavy rebel column was seen moving on another road. The command still in the woods under cover was halted; and, after the year of the colum had passed, You von were sent forward to reconoiter. When these four soldiions rosehed the road, two rebel soldiers came riding along and hope takes prisoners, and brought back in the woods to Captain Jack. They proved to be the bearers of important dispuches from the rebel General Forrest, giving the details of their intended movement on Nashville, and which dispatches also gave the information that the rebels were making a general advance that day, woud would move up to and camp at Shoal Creek that night. This was not pleasing intelligence, as it was then known theut Hier would have pickets at every ford that would prevent the com- mand from crossing back to the main body, which it was How known must have been driven back across the Shoal Crock. Consequently this battalion was left alone in the enemy's samo of the stream, which could only be forced at cappon places, wal
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could easily be picketed. At this time, Captain Mark had realizing sense that his troopers were out off from guy own command, and that there was no hope of succor from our fortes who had undoubtedly been driven ofer the river. Hoalab realized more fully the caution Colonel Coon hast given him in the morning. To avoid the enemy, he was obliged to hemp off and away from the main roads, and follow off of the was or blind roads, through the woods, makine his way up strogm He had not gone far before lo again came in sight of anarbor rebel column moving on another road leading toward the pier: again halted the command in the wood and the rest of the rebel column had passed, then sont two mon forward to the road to see if any more rebels were coming: if not, they were the beckon him to come on. The command was in truthed to con up, and that when we moved we should go rapidly, and for thera to keep closed up. Lieutenant Hillier, with his Gowyany & was the rear guard: and, while we were bafeed. Lient wont Hifter. with ten men of his company, were tied to the race. sunt when ready to cross the road, Captain Mock sent lite orderly yorvil. Broads back to tell the companies to move forward royalty. Lieutenant Hillier mistook the order, and being fed by the rear, instead of following us and moving forward, stand to the rear, and was cut off with his ten men. After watching good wandering through the woods the rest of the day fold wield. wws cessfully avoiding the energy. He Found Je desing, and reported to the command about daylight.
The two men, on reaching the road, not seeing any of the enemy, signaled for us to come on ; but ar low pols back then isy a bend in the road and they could not see vere far, and as the rear of our cohann was crossing the road, the lieoil of the robot column was upon us and came in contact with of war, and one boys, thinking thein a part of our commond. rode right into thent A few were captured and some of the others, getting away hold the rebels, were cut off from the command, and abandoning pour horses, concealing themselves during the day, and traveling be night, succeeded in joining our camp some of them affer ton day. . hiking. After era sing this road ami cong com paign & any billy, rocky country hunting for a rold, we came in shape of be
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cabin. Here were found a woman and a boy about fourrood you old, and on inquiring the direction to Bailey Springs, sho gave to be seven miles distant with no direct road, only a path through the wood, and many paths leading in all directions. Hispans of the boy if he knew the way there, he said, "he dul" It wa now near dark, and Captain Mock feared they could not find The way, so he asked the boy to go with them.
The mother asked if we were Yankees and was . november. "no." The boy was anxious to do with us, and Captain Most ordered one of the boys to bring up a mile fou him to zole Than his mother began to cry, and was inforno! " she had nothing to fear, that the boy would come back all right." She thone and - I believe you un's are Yankees." Captain Mock asked her wife she thought so. She said, " You me's dog tal. bike ise Har's owl your hair is shorter than our boys." Much assured her that the belonged to Forrest's cavalry and that it would not be safe for any Yankees to be on that side of the river. At the very No ment a rebel column was marching by only a short distance awalk Again starting out. it was not long before the command come to a road across our pathway fall of relse with the boy fois will them, they passed to the left and crossed the real. This the the party off the direction and they thorstenel oft for the river By this time it was dark, and they within one rate of the : sol. The command came to the rebel camps. The night was vor dark; they passed not more than me hundred calls from where the rebel soldiers were sitting around day les and in sese camps. Going down a steep hill of embank ment. Lorenato Che horse stumbled and the horse and rider rolled down the Milk sont another time a horse got astride a los, and it took considerably tam to extricate him from his difficulty. After passing their compo. they came to the rebel chain guard. Here they passed bot wrong two videttes not more them seventy five yards away ont neto between those two rebel videttes there was da right mail tendo, wod some of the boys ( Volney S. Wilkinson, of Company K. was anel dismounted and quietly laid down the fence, and our boys parmit through without attracting the attention of the videtten Aller crossing the fence they struck the ring lonrom, godt komp 2 70 ter of a mile back from the river moon craighint the forsen
reserve of the rebel piellet at the river, moveE by their think Find came to the river about a o'clock r. M. Hore a few mon vom dismounted and quietly moved up the street, and soon came ngay enough to hear the rebel piekets talking. and prophe that ille Com federate troop, were apprised of a body of Federal troops being on that side of the river and would be on the lookout for ss. it was necessary to be very careful. All they started down the stream, and Volney S. Wilkinson undertook to swing his horse across, but when he reached the opposite bug. be fomul it steep, and it was so dark, that he could not get out, and, bonng obliged to swim back, come netr losing his the. The then marched down the river still farther, and came to a plantation. and the rebels were in camp the other side of the house. A few men were here dismounted. ami going going to surge meno quarters, succeeded in finding a darky. I look some you to convince the darky and his wife that they vor Yankees Th negro expressed much surprise at seeing ur bete, and soul ; hat Marsa's house was full of rebel officers." midt that there was mo other ford where we could cross except above where the real pickets were, and down at Cowpen Mills. The darke was brope pr out and finally said that " he thought he koog at ford where there was no ford" a private out of the way for! where we can| pro- but on arriving at the place it was found that the river ater swollen and high that the command could morecass. It waston determined to go back up the river, rest protil negr das holly woo then force of capture the gaard and cross if po sible as this series to be our only hope of getting back to opr friends. o'clock in the morning, the command agam mounted, and started for the ford, a short distance from our resting place: molto along quietly, and expecting every moment a volley from the rebel pickers. Captain Mock instructed the go vance garnel flat il the enemy fired upon them or discovered their přesches, they shoothy charge them and drive them away from the ford.and Hold tham boards until we crossed. To the utter surprise and pleasure of this first and valiant little command, they moved to the ford and crossal without seeing or hearing a rebel. This was the shops vier where our brigade had been driven back in the alter von before and the same place where they heard the pockets when we all
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early part of the evening, and year when Adjutant W. A Lower had been concealed, and swan across the river, he also for ing been within hearing of the rebel pickets. Figuraely for our boys, the rebel pickets were stationed on a Bland a shiny Mit- tance back from the river. From this piter the bay vuol the darky were mounted on a mule and sent back, though they hosrb wanted " to go with the Yankees." Allgoth across Shoot Cruel .. it was by no means certain the command das at all safe get Captain Mock moved cautiously about barles uole. ami. conmoyen a house, called a man out and inquired of himy " what Troops load crossed there." He, not knowing whether our party were rowell or Yankees, was slow in answermet and Captain Work. becoming impatient, demanded of him " what aresind hold comment and where they were." JJulet then the door opero ! wol a voike said. "Captain Mock, is that you!" It was Adjplant Power. allting explained why the man avoided our questions. Adgetant Prover was there drying his clothes: he was glad formest us, and we for the first time after very many hours felt that we were some waym our own lines. A mule was furnished Fient most Power. and the command started for the camps of the brigade five miles fordot. It was at this time coming daylight. Litttenant Hoher Food the meantime reached camp, and the regifogft and bigode were feeling very much disturbed over the loss of your company. The. rest is best told in the language of Captain Mucha
We approached the pichets of the house forany for of the Nithy, and when they saw it was to, what a slang of wol come they gave us. Their shout was loved be the command An orderly was sent out by Colonel Cova to ascertain thosenon; when we met him he wheeled about, went back and informed them of our arrival. Of such a shout of welcome frontthe whole brigade. I meer felt better in all my life does I did thee. reported to Colonel Coon and showed iny dispatches. Heineadded back the dispatches and ordered me to report at once to General Hatch, about one mile distant. On reporting to and handing General Hatch the dispatches, when he read then he said . it furnished him the very information he was sent there to find out." He ordered his bugler to sound " To here." and destroybodo con mand started back lively, of the gallup part of the Line of Lex
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ngton. arriving there just in time to preven bonne cut off. oppo- mitting a rebel force from gaining our rear.
At several times during the day, the command of Captain Mook Was in plain sight of the enemy, who evidently thought they were their own men, as it was a rainy, dark day,and our meny bad on rubber coats or blankets, so their blue coats did not allow. find they did not expect any Yankees on that side of the river: loutit been a clear day, it would have been ahnos an impossible to have escaped capture.
CHAPTER AVIII.
LAWRENCEBURG --- CAPTAIN MOMANNIS BRAVE FIFIIT - CAMPRELES- VILLE -CAPTAIN HARPER AGAIN IN COMMANDS FINT SHE GEANTS KILLED AND MANY OTHERS KILLED AND WOUNDDOS COLUMBIA -- THE FIGHT AT FRANTIIN - - FORREST DRIVEN BARSK OVER THE RIVER --- EXTRACT FROM HOOD'S BOOK -- THE CAP- ALRY AT NASHVILLE=IS CAMP AT EDGEFIELD.
N NOVEMBER 224. On the military road in the fore part of the day, the Cavalry was camped north of Lawrenceburg, and the Confederates in large force drove our Cavalry out of town, and the command fell bach. on the Pulaski road. A strong jocker had been posted on the south side of town, north of the creek. This picket was composed of a battalion of the Ninth Ilinon- Cavalry and four companies of the Second lowa Cavalry under Captain Bundy. . The whole was under the command of Captain MeMannis of the Ninth. They had not been here long when they were attacked furiously by the enemy, and the fight was stablen. The rebs, though in superior force. could not make any Newsivagy. and were obliged to bring up then infantry and artillery. and after six hours, severe lighting, in which the saving ased then artillery freely. Captain MeMantis gave the order to fall back to the main command north of the town. This was about 4 o'clock P. M. Here the whole command came into action as the offerny advanced in large force, and the artillery was brought into play on both sides. The battle raged with considerable violence, the rebels pressing sharply upon our lives. The light lasted until dark, and at the last the Sixth Illinois Cavalry gallantly defended the rear, hard pressed by the enemy, when we fell back about four miles and went into camp on the Pulaski road.
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