USA > Illinois > History of the Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry Volunteers. Pub. under the auspices of the Historical Committee of the Regiment > Part 13
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At this place, though the fight had lasted nearly all day, our loss was not large, as our boys managed to protect themselves from the enemy by the unevenues of the er and ard de fond outs, as they would seek places of shelter when they observed the
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enemy about to five his artillery. In this wayin the latede under the command of Captain Me Mannis, with the five pronto nies of the Second Iowa, had a long continual confer with enemy, who had brought up their i fyntry and artifices assine them and were engaged from lo a. s. till dark, host a joby dito main command in the afternoon. The Ninthr, with the Sorines Jowa and Sixth Ilinon Cavahy, das day bote the lognet the battle right gallantly.
The end of November, dres rations there dass and than lo out on the Columbia road and campel. November 24th, most out carly and passed through Hamilton, and Ichnisl Kou Inliner at Campbellsville. Tenn. Here the rebels coffe opon us. 63000 - fire upon our tickets: we started to the north, lad they eating form marched a part of their command around and ahold of the At this time Captain Blackburn And again been rolosist fora 1 command of the Regiment and Capitoline Hatper ware Again i to mand. The rebels having interceptel of advanced brigade, the First, commanded by Colonel Well, se tinned of course sel moved east or northeast on a road running to Lym this on Ala pike. This road ran through a deepand notron path with bible steep and impassable Hills on each side. This napos pas lesoin a valley about two hundred yards wide. As the coromant was? por placed, the Ninth was in the rear of our bagade. and the Find Brigade was in our year, and this post was their only slange of escape from capture.
The rebels were advancing up this valley solom the Non came into the valley from the path. They halted and Fortical o line ready for action. Four companies of ola Regiment pushy Caja tain MeMannis were thrown in line atal mounted to the left of ilo valley over the high ridge to protect our left and flank, of totaldo The other eight companies were dismounted, and under the 100 mediate command of Captain Mock were thrown in Line Holder the valley. These eight companies drove the relics back Abrand two hundred yards beyond the functions, and several small and houses, and an orchard, took position, and formed their lines helpful these buildings and the orchard fence, and, with a firm doreeni- nation to fight it out on that line as Long as possible, bis Patria tions being to " LOBOat all hazards. It was less von one fare
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dred vards across the orchard, and the robots com muted pool with augmented numbers again advanced, and when willetwas range our boys opened a heavy fire upon them : bet gie they canve in good order with the evident intention of chiarand geras im orchard, but when they got to the fence our fire hatten sohbet sor them that they dared not attempt to move across the opens fold and laid down behind the Fence. Soon abouther tabel have won seen advancing to the fence, and then both Rops artempresa climb the fence, and advance on our boys; har monia they found it too hot for them, and they, too, laid under covey of the fruit The firing was constant on both sides, and ca automated to strengthen their position by taking of the top male and support up the cracks. Freien Capturing Much os win ' Una Fer Ungen Harper, that it would be impossible for him to done this post, o much longer, and soon seeing a third line forming youdecideifso his little band. he again, for the thinginte souf naest boot menu Harper that the rebels were again advanced, and it would be on- possible for him to hold his position hogy longre. wet her legs if i in very heavy force, and his amit datioly was giving off. Un each time was informed by Captain Hangon that if was Green Hatchi's orders that it must be hellan all Forzante Our boys And all confidence in General Hatch, and lies ties sier saborlivs were given there were some very urgent rebol the thema. aol that. for some maison to them unknown. It mint for a modig Captain Mock told his men . to make good .i'm, straat low, or make every shot count." When the this I Hor red list the love the others rose up, and all advanced. I was proved a formidable force for our little band of eight companies to Byli, wordt. You the orders were imperative " to hold atad wards." The on Yhotelof came almost in solid line, on, on. they swept atomes the Golf our fire was weakening. for not pinch amimarione wasdeff. poi this brave. this heroic little band, toder the eye of the gallant Captain Mock, did not flinch. They held they position agans that overwhelming force advancing and ready to pragueg open them : they did not for an instant falter, but right of anik gal lantly did they hold their line at the force until the finer afour separated them from the enemy, and our leave boys what their on parents were fighting in a hand to hand soins wytele Me , our
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JOHN T. SHOWALTER.
C
NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY SOLLSTTHIS.
clubbed. A few struggling shot- were now all our boys had to give the enemy, and it was either fall back of surrender. Capisco Mock then, to save his command from certain destruction, gavo the order, " Fall back." This too, was a terrible ophel, for the rear was an open meadow without any cover or soppon for . half mile, and while falling back they were exposed toly whole structed five of the enemy. Had these eight companies to supplied with plenty of ammunition, it seemed they had plock enough to have made it too hot for any washer of the genty to have attempted to have crossed that ordland. Support the Ninth boys had gone into the outhouses to be finder cover. and fired from the windows and cracks: But when the Tice py they fence suddenly gave way and fell back, many of these in the buildings were unable to get out, and some were killed with others were captured. During the early part of the fight, o file our forces were driving the rebels back, the women and the or three children were in the large house winch. war between the two fires, and during the hottest of the firing these women and children ran out of the house between our lives for the hill. Both sides, by one impulse, ceased firing until these women ant d- dren had passed out from between the two lines. Whogy this command started to fall back, as Captain Mock was jesing one of the outhouses, a flanking party of rels, who had como spoon the other side of this building. aw him, ami one of the side ES said, " There goes an officer : shoot the daten Yangop." and you or three pulled up their guos and fired : but the Coptoin borst them in time, and suddenly changed his courses and, partying one side, narrowly escaped. It was a close call.
While these eight companies were having spoke het work. the battalion. under the gallant Captain Me Mannie, were having their hands full on the ridge at the left, he having dismaysted his four companies, and, throwing them forward, was boldog a much larger body of the enemy back, and the firing was atende and hot. Finally, they fell back to where their horses were In the rear. the rebels in strong force almost upon them ; but just as steady as a regiment on dress parade was this little borul : the horses were in line; and, at the word of commipid. cas trooper vaulted into the eddie. omt (in command. " Loff who t"
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was given, and with a meting shot dinge nel dar - to alorsalp- port.
, It was here that lieutenant Carpenter, the calling alllow commanding Company J. received a shot in the dopl. Heat first thought it was a gun swinging from a command's soldbe Lool had struck him : but on examination found that billet. w.04. 401 bedded in the flesh. It was not so deapciet that be pillant woont and found the wound was not of a serions charmer.
By this time the brigade in our rear hai fasent by foot place of safety; the gallant and firm stand and bask behring of the Ninth Illinois Cavalry had saved them From exposed. When we fell back, the gallant Second Tour Cavalry. anyof The hero Major Hotten, were in line, and ready to talk Gre ther me the reau, and for some time stubbornks Feld the sige halls of redale back. The Second Towa, less than five hindret work, were Boy dismounted, seeking such cover de was posibil and with thela seven-shooting carbines met the ching ng ress with att a storm of lead that they were at the first chefed in theer al. vance; but. as heavy reinforcements come up. the Second bowe were obliged to give way, and the order to returned green. A this place Major Moore was in command of the viele Sie, and found the enemy in his rear, and dert he was ogr off from Inex men and horses. It being impossible for him to escape by the road, be fell back to the right and rear, and anpr & ronnow fight of nearly four miles reached on command a safer to this fight at Campbellsville our loan To killed seus Proven Matsel, Sergeant of Company (: Madethe Core). Sergio of Company F; Robert Henderson. Sergeant of Company d: Will iam J. Teas, Sergeant of Company 1: Stephen Matos. Robert Peters, Horatio B. Hesser, all of Company 1. and a number of others whose names I cannot obtain, besides twenty- yen wounded and prisoners.
In this engagement. the Ninth Regiment Ilinon Cavalry was commanded by Captain J. W. Harper, and in the Innd nightng the Ninth was called upon to perform he was prompt land cond in handling his command; while the battalion confunden. Captains Mock and MeMannis, galhuth got beach hold their commands steadily in the hotped places of obier they
SI LE JEDINOU CANTLEY VOUESTERES
were ever placed, and while the brave and ballons affivers atol men were fighting the enemy, the condnet of all was worthy of the highest praise.
1) D. L. TALLOT1.
Undoubtedly, ore of the hottest hood to. hanol conflits over experimrod by members of the Ninth Minor Cavalry was on the Sideof November 1- a near Campbellsville, Tenn., where a whole biri .one of the diomy bude prob fon them as they were dismountir g ond preparing to 1 038 capde Burrow corre in the road. In this section the Ninth los some thing met In slau veng molo 0 Company I losing twelve or fifteen. Franling . Whyte, John Tippsw, Alfred McDode, Miles H. Strong and D. I. Taloft were taken personers good wood Strong was shot in the Hipafter havingcommend 1: Japan, Wenn him turned to shoot Talcott, when his revolver vor handhel from his betel by a rebel hentenant, who cursed nin, somally for showing men who had supromileml big sergeant, William foxs. sho' Drrough tin brest. To be copied . 00 - 50c8 he said, when dying! " If over you meet or buy- nodig til de me when I was shot. how I died, and tell then go thiye for me.' Jie feast Mendi ont ant bravely; with a grasp of the hand he Did from a fel firewolf. Then save you the brave and gritty little Scotchman, Robert Peler above terms of service lad expired some days before , who soon expected to go ladie to late for his oreal cual feeble parents, who had all these three kra gens abi ervice rendel fine by filial love he love for them being the only reason Itaint no yeterince, Foglio B. Hersey, the quiet and tru-ty, and Stophop Maloy, the male rtat wong kitfeed instantly. Michael Fark had a kned halford, spol Top Andopen Fost at che (the right, I think). The wound, I prisoners were leftby the driving, and helse were afterward bynight inside of the Union Hans. 3. Trade von 15her del sol died while , For tran Septher prison Talent Piste ned The ing were sent to And ronville prison, Georgia, and Liches all mestre.
November 25th. The Regiment crossed Duck River & Colon- bia, and camped two miles from town, skinmidning along the lines in the afternoon. An inspection a time The showelapor a large part of the horses of the command land the arcade. caused by the almost constant rains and so often forUnter the streams, and the gravel and lime water they had been where line in so long, so that really we had a very incomplete moud for the Ninth.
General Hatch, in view of the bard service his command hard endured, and the valiant exploits perforated, and more por ticularly in consideration of the condition of the horses, was given the opprimity to perresol to No taille for ral sont remount : but the General, not befor foodmed to retire as One of
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there was an enemy dos . by. asked for and obtained permission to move his division into the country, and press houses from the citizens. The division marched northerst eight miles, and small squads were sent out in every direction for horses, and with to much success that in a few days the Ninth were again namely vi mounted on good horses.
On the 28th, the command moved to the Shelbyville piles and lay in line of battle all night. On the 29th. Marched to Mount Carmel, and relieved General Grovton in the rolf. ans Jos was hard pressed by the enemy. The Second Brignole. Colonel Coon commanding, held the fortifications here for air latte or more, then was ordered to retire, the enemy following som that found they could not make any impression upon our bus, served as we were with repeating cabines, and so readily thrown told line of battle : we marched to Franklin with no further por-nd, and camped there the same day.
The cavalry command bad in all the . days been in off : 40 and in front of Hood's army, holding the cnoiny in check in order that our large trains could reach the roads to Naslovfile : and, as these roads were in a terrible condition, owing to time heavy rains of the past week, it was no light task to move the heavily loaded wagons, as they could move on the plaggals only
The whole army had now left the siemity of Doek River. God had of course evacuated Columbia. The chairy command of fun the Ninth formed a pat, moved comp November 2016 times miles east of the town of Franklin, and drew three days ' poione
FRANKLIN.
A little past 3 o'clock r. w .. the rebels began the attack on our line by repeated charges of the fiercest and most determined ches acter, and while the infantry were engage! in whut hos josile. and truly been termed " the bloodiest battle of the way." con id- ering the length of its duration and the numbers ener gis !. Com oral Forrest with his cavalry had classed the river east of town, and. made determined and repeated attacks on our cavalry, which was on that side, ever on the watch for their onomy. General Hateb. with all the available free of the Fifth Divisione mondial by the eral Croxton, was ready for En amel hurled For es notes
back after severe and hard fphtive from om denks, and Thewin he made repeated attempts to break through out fines to flor 1- deavor to strike our moving troops and weons on the 19by lie could not fores a passage and was driver back to und ayer che Harpeth River. At the same time the bottle Que maging without violence all along the line, and as tir robel ade loavond les ate charges on our lives, curry in some of theur by the import of their tried and desperate veterans things. If the the be-coffom of their command and losing fourtythy in manbos ihr cach daines while some of their general officers were dallied at the fond of their advancing column or in the rain codegrie to carry auk land the outer works of the Union lines. The battle at this E-supr a hand-to-hand struggle, and, as Food says by this report. "sono of the rebels ware Bited by the hair of their heads of the Miere. and taken prisoners."
The loss at Fred lin on the Union -dle was : bon af Nevnt von dred, and that of the Confed, rites in the neighbortass | ud thousand. General Hood's claim that the horses wereabout opal would appear to be very wideol masak. Forthe adbains in salle tal report a loss in this battle of forty five involved. ichoffre ts glo killed : Major-General Clehomme, and Brigadedama G Adams, Streid and Granberry : and the webroile! : Majon foorval Brown and Brigadier Generals Carter, Manwish. Quales, CON rell, Scott ; and captured : Major General Godin.
General N. B. Forrest says their Jæ kore was sik Hlou sand.
After the battle of Frankhe. the Ninth IBibop Creades marched to Nashville, and went into Choun Blocfall. Ahogy was found the remnant of the Regiment which Dollarsvel from MY phis a few days previous, bring the comp equipage, oto - m sled once more the boys could be comparatively comfortable aller a long and ardous campaign of sixty-four days.
I deem it interesting in this place to make some extract from a work published in Isso, entitled the " Advance and Rettest." by Lieutenant General J. B. Hood, in which is reported sending reasons to show why he did not succeed in winning battles, and in which he lay's the blame of it's many as capas to the Pinfo-de ence of orders and bitessom support of him alospe
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manders; also to show how pronte he was to exaggertie the 100- bers opposed and the obstacles thrown in his way.
Writing of the battle at Franklin, November 30, he says : " ME early dawn the troops were put in motion in the direction of Franklin, marching as rapidly as possible to overtake the enemy before he crossed the Big Harpeth, eighteen miles from Spring Hill. Lieutenant General Lee had crossed Dack River after deer the night previous, and in order to reach Franklin was obliged to march thirty miles. The head of his column arrived at Spring Will at 9 A. M. on the 30th, and after a short net followed in the wake of the main body. A sudden change in sentiment hore took place among officers and men; the army became metamor phosed, as it work. in one night : a general Bolig of recallination and disappointiaent prevailed in its ranks. The tromp Jpppared to recognize that a rare opportunity had been totally disregarded. and manifested seemingly a determination to mnievé if possible the fearfid blunders of the previous afternoon and night.
The feeling existed, which sometimes iduers men, who have long been wedded to but one policy to look beyond the sphere of their own convictions, and at least be willing to make that of another course of action.
" Stewart's corps was first in order of march. Cheatham for lowed immediately.and Lieutenant General Lee intherear. Witing about three miles of Franklin, the enemy was discovered on the ridge, over which passes the turnpike. As soon as the Conferler ates began to deploy and skirmishers were thrown fort and. 19 Federals slowly withdrew to the environs of the town. It was about 3 P. M. when Lieutenant General Stewart moved to the right of the pike, and began to establish his position in the bout of the enemy. Major-General Cheatham's, as it arrived in town. filed off to the left of the road, and was disposed in live of battle. The artillery was instructed to take no part in the engagement, on account of the danger to which the women and children in the village would be exposed. General Forrest was offered to post cavalry on both Blanks, and, if the assault proved successful, to complete the ruin of the enemy by capturing those who attempted to escape in the direction of Nashville. Lee's cops, as it arrived, was held in reserve, owing to the lateness of the hoursand apety ability to post it on the extreme left.
.. Schofield's position was renewed bevorable for detentos in open ground in front, art topterry ixxtrendline me, which for Federals had thrown up. not withstanding the Confederate Inol marched in pursuit with all possible speed. At one ofthe found along the short space. a slight abatic had been hastig con tweedy by felling some small lovast saplings in the vicinity. Soon after Cheatham's Corps was massed on the i.D. Mager-trongal CU bourne came to me where I was created on my hora in reserve ton line, and asked permission to form has division ju two on. MIT remember correctly, three line . for the assault. Tal oger pumped his request, stating that I desired the Pedonale to be different the river in theb inpiediate rear, and do cting IDnes misto on as soon as he had control the d vision Shortly afterward Cheatham and Souvent reported all forfood ness for action, and received orders to drive the eyepre from lo position and into the river, at all ingede. Abres that may dl bourne returned, expressing himself vale an enthusiasm wisch I had never before betrayed in our jonercontre and said . Complaint am ready, and have more hope in final times, of one care tham L have had at any time since the Mist gun was ficel. I neplod. · God grant it." He finned and moved it offer toward the new of his division : a few moments thepeopley he was hat To the role amid the tumult of battle. These last Words spoken to the by this brave and distinguished soldier. Ilene efter meallel; they they can never leave my moment, de willed Todes moules ufer he uttered them. He HE Holds upon by West the Way they the for. The two coupeadvanced in battlearing platine les, and soon swept away the first lines of de. Federal. for Men driven back upon the main line. At tias moment i candied a to centrated rear of musketry, which recalled to the spousal the deadliest battles of Virginia, and whichit now produinput type too possession of Nashville was once migr dependent upon the fort unes of war. The conflict continued to rage with intense fury, Our troops succeeded in breaking the main line in ono to store point. , capturing and turning some of the gons ypon show opper ments. Just at this critical moment of the battle, a hugede of the enemy, reported to have been Staffley's, gallately alargeel wood restored the Federal pie. capoucos of the nos ypond nlivori
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HISTORY OF THE
thousand of our troops within the intrenchments ; still the gropen was obstinately contested, and at severa! points upon the imme- diate sides of the breastworks, the combatants ondervond to use the musket upon one another by inverting and raising it perper- dicularly in order to fire ; neither antagonist at this junction was able to retreat without almost a certainty of death.
It was reported that soldiers were even dragged from one lide to the other of the breastworks, by men reaching over hurriedly and seizing their enemy by the hair or collar, Just before dock Johnston's division of Lee's corps moved gallantly to the support of Cheatham ; although it made a desperate fight and succeeded in capturing three stands of colors, it did not effect a permanent breach in the time of the enemy.
The two remaining divisions could not, unfortunately, become engaged, owing to the obscurity of night. The struggle core tinned with more or less violence until 9 r.y., when followed skirmishing and much desaltory firing until about S A.s. the ensuing morning. The enemy then withdrew, leaving their desil and wounded upon the field.
Thus terminated one of the fiereest conflicts of the war
The remnant of the Regiment, when the Ninth lett White's Station, September 30th, moved into Memphis October Juth, 200 It was not considered safe for so small a command to retsgor odi- side. Lieutenant Colonel Burgh came back from his trip hop! and took command of what was here left of our caudry divis ion.
Memphis was then excited over an anticipated raid by Forrest. and the city was put in a state of defense ; streets were batyloaded with bales of cotton, hay, etc .; but as there was quite an army there General Forrest did not appear.
November 17th, the detachment of cavalry left Memphis on the steamer Rate Hart bound for Nashville, Where it was expected to join the mam part of the division of General Hotch.
We reached Cairo on the 21st and immediately reshipped on the fine large boat John H. Gros beak for Nashville, Colobel John Lynch, of the the Sixth Ilinois Cavalry, in command of our remnant. The detachment from Memphis arrived at Nashville November 24th, the very day of the light of Giangbelse the
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where the Regiment had suchy hend fighting and let so bige n number of men.
Here we found our former Colour Brackett. Inspectorto eral for General Sherman.
The Cavalry were to go into cpap sont fout tales find the city, across the Cumberland River, at Egetich. We here Are that the gallant Ninth, for some time under the company! tto brave and dashing Captain Harper, had had ford fightone con had distinguished itself, day after div. asu late and Mint Regiment.
General Hatch said : " The Ninth Bhiors Covalry fight Ilo devils, and are the best Regimen in my division."
This command had been of god and is range of regiments or about six thousand cavals. The carognigy fond lasted sixty four days when the command sono kod Nashvil.
While the cavalry command of General WY Mas erung at Edgefield, across the Cumberland Rover from Nadliedje. Hom was a sudden change in the weather, while became very old. and much suffering was experienced by old boys in cage mole especially as stringent orders but been issued against antingen
Had our brave soldiers not been able to procure by toyogis some little fuel, the hardships then captured would have been mo l greater. As it was, the Casal boys ware glad of the other to move, which came December Lzth, when the youngand sorrowot the Cumberland to Nadiville and camper men ofen field east of of the city. Then as the weather mounted somes hat the gun became more of a nuisance than the cold recently combined. Huge we wallowed for three days, and were not sorry where the order cours to exchange our disagreeable camping ground for the me dangerous and exciting scenes of the coming Imizle.
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