USA > Illinois > History of the Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry Volunteers. Pub. under the auspices of the Historical Committee of the Regiment > Part 14
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CHAPTER XIX.
TIME BATTLE OF NASIVILLE - BRENTWOOD- FRANKIE. I'MA RUTHERFORD CREER - SUGAR CELER - BIS CHECK FARM.
T rTHE battle of Nashville. December 15th and 1ob, 1561. What memories do these few words bring up to every l'el- eral soldier who had the honor to be present on these avant full days !
The glorious victory has been so oft ud graphieghy described that I shall not attempt to give anything more than a brief account of some of the part taken by the gyvaly division, of which the Ninth Ilinois Cavalry Regiment formed : pier, To Gen. Jas. H. Wilson's Cavalry Corps was, in these eventful days. assigned the position of honor in the field. the extreme right, and to them was given the task of sweeping forward and gromal to the left of Hood's army, which was on this side strongly entrem hed behind fortified hills, and embankments. and redonbis in gront numbers. How vividly the scene of that dull Decoder woning rises before me; then later, as the sun slowly emerged and forsel his rays through the banks of fog and mist, they Slowly todled back as a curtain, and the field spread out, an thoven surface made up of hill and dale.
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The Ninth Ilinois Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Joseph W Harper, formed a part of the old Second Brigade, campo off of the Sixth, Seventh and Ninth Illinois, and the Second Towa Cavalry. commanded by Major Horton. The brigade commended by Colonal D. E. Coon. formed a part of the Fifth Division Cavalry Corps, the division being under the command of Brigadier General Edward Hatch. and the cavalry corps communted by Brevet Major-General James II. Wilson. As mentioned, the car- alry formed the extreme right of that long I'mjog love it une lett, their right resting against our Cavalry, were the Fried seul
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gallant veterans of the Sixteenth Army Corps, under the leader ship of Major-General A. J. Smith. At & o clock on the morning of the 15th, recville sounded in the camp of the Ninth Binga Cavalry, and ere daylight the Regiment was slowly moving out of camp. On every hand was seen the active movement of a large army. The sun had barely risen, but was obseured by : dense fog that lung over the city like a pall, the ground vel sey. but slowly giving way to the more bumid atmosphere.
Never did a large, army move out upon an enemy supposed to be equal or more in numbers, and one who had had ampho thne and opportunity to select their own ling and ground of defense. than did this grand army commanded by Major General George Il. Thomas. Notwithstanding the lack of confidence shown Mio. be General Grant, the old soldiers knew him and the new ones cool learned his merit. Now, on this eventful day that should show an army broken and falling back, all were sanguine of stages. How much this feeling has to do with vietory only those who share tho sentiment really know.
Now the long lines of the cavalry are slowly but surely woche ing forward and around to our right to close in on the rebel hoste The Ninth Illinois Cavalry, under the leadership of the brave and impetuous Colonel Harper, and his gallant officers and may. moved out steadily along the line of Richland Creel. up ball. send down over stumpy ground. Soon the cavalry, in the long weheard necessary to reach the designated position, strack the redouble said abatis of the rebel army, but did not patke, but changed right of to and over them with a wild hurrah that sent the dolmans depro back to a new line. On dashed the cavalry, now the officers and men vie with each other to see who will giin the works of the hill first. It is well fortified and so steep that the men can hardly go up, and, holding their Spencers almost at a " present." begin to ascent, while the Confederate troops send round after round and volley after volley to hold-back our rushing upward tide, but they generally shoot too high. Hereand there a poor fellow falls, struck by the leaden messenger, but the struggling soldiers stop not then. but on and up. The fort is gained, and the brave Cavalry havs scale the walls, and in a moment the white the of surrender is aloft. General Hatch, Caparia Carpenter, Hjerteglan Delorgit
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and of the Second Towa. Colonel Coon. Major Horton, Captain Budd and Color Sergeant Hartman, the latter shot dead on the parapet, are in the fort. The Ninth Illinois Cavalry claims, and justly, too, the honor of being first in the fort. The den! and wounded are on every side and many prisoners Woon. General Hatch, all excitement, calls for men, and orders the rebel guns turned on the fleeing Confederate soldiers, and. without thinky y. orders a rebel captain of ant Hery to help miền the guns The soldier stirs not, but a look reminds the General that he le asking too much of a prisoner. Hatch grasps a gun, we all turn in and help him, and it is not long ere those same gons are beich ing forth destruction to their former owners. Colonel Hill, egne- manding a brigade of A. J. Smith's command, received order about the same time to change these works. It was a rava he tween the cavalry and infantis, but the dismounted troopers gained the fort and were over the parapet in advance, though well were very nearly together, Colonel Til falling dead at the head of the charging soldiers. Here wasdemonstrated what had boop heretofore declared an impossibility. viz .: For cavalry even dia- mounted to charge and carry fortifications. We captured in this fort six pieces of artillery and a number of prisoners.
This occurred on the line of the rebel forces near Hillsboro pike, but there were more works on this line. Two divisione of infantry from the Twenty-third Army Corps were ordered to General Smith's right and next to the Casaley, and un advguys was made. While this ascent was in progress. the Cavaler was passing forward and enlarging the ende And charged with the infantry on the second fortified hill, and the enemy were goop driven ont with the loss of guns, colors, and many prisoners.
By this time the Confederates were forced back, and the whole line driven to the line of infrenchments on the Granny White pike. The importance of these movements will be better mider. stood when it is stated that this line was a very strong ono mai- urally, and the Confederates had heavy guns and large forces to man them, as these three hills were nearly on a line with each other. a little farther to our left and their right.
Not more than five minutes before our first ascent was movie General Hood himself was in one of these tous and gave ontore
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ASS'T SURGEON STACY HEMINGWAY
to hold them at all larda, and told his officey he would 50 ml five thousand men immediately to reinforce them. This bo dal. but before they arrived the works very ones, and we took Myodb of the way a goodly proportion of those sont to their relief as prisoners, and it Hood had not pot of pretty girl we nowhl have had him, too.
The retreating line of the enemy's left was closely folkapoel by the cavalry and infantry, but as darkness cange of the stone army bivouacked for the night, stopping just when They los pened to be. The results of the first day 'slight were that It how's army had been driven more than two miles frome hy nes bi of defense, with the loss of All the retraites send fortifiedtony my that lise : many of his soldiers were kolla and wowilest. ... large number of guns and prisoners captured, and in our cember and right the Fourth and Sixteenth Army Corps. With the cut- alry, pressed close to his second line
In this day's fighting the Ninth Himon Cavalry distingoisiol itself by the enthusiasm and dash vily which book offerts real men performed every duty and more than va assigned to dem. Colonel Harper, v lile grundy leading the result of the social hill, received a painful wound in the grid, and the communal of the regiment then full upon Major Jak. w. allen. cipal to the occasion, led the army on to renewed dessinent chung. Gry er Hatch and Colonel Con were wild want explodion afor delight over the spirit cineverdens of our bakp paraley boys. All lay down to rest that night fall of suppliesand as one ment, with the campfires of the theing in tuit sighe spod the rumble of moving divisions plainly hoand as Homal was bysy tor rowing his line and concentrating bis Tored; for theirau strugpo of the morrow. There was no one, however, that had a food now but that we should again be the victors, and had bich bojest that Hood's army would be annihilste.
On the morning of the lich, the cavalry had, by a while detour, passed beyond the extreme Confederate left and real a lodgment on the Granny White pike. It was Hoped by Com eral Sherman that the cavalry would not be needed on the rolul flank, but would be enabled to march rapally still further to Have year, and thescent of the only avenue of cream of the 1. lig pony
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Just at this time, while the infantes and artillery were by for action, a part of General Hotch's division of ewvairs, the oo1 Second Brigade, were dismounted, and, perching long way theouch the woods, bad dragged by hand two pieces of fraNoes op n steele hill, and now plusted up among the clouds. from that cjey. ilon poured a destructive fire on the devoted heat of Bater pool division, and then the Ninth Hingis Casados. charging tipode hill with their seven shooting carlinos and amdf well and titolo phant cheers poured volley after volog into Unesiel tanks and rushing in, completed the general semade of the croient. god the works were out's.
Later in the evening of the Ben, the rebels made a stoliborn stand on both sides of the pike, behind stone formes, which com regular stone walls; the Second Brocode was in ams, and the Nel Illinois Cavalry in advance. Colonel Coon directed Copain Mock to form the Ninth on the right of the pike, dopowanted, and to charge the rebels in our from. The Nath impellerg dismounted and Formed in line. when Colomd Cooff set somdos Captain Mock by his Adjutant. Caption Avery, that the Tyloink Tennessee Cavalry would charge on the left and that he dienst to see which regiment would carry their promote first. The rebel position in front of the Naitderas op gaffe a ridgic vorli m gradual descem in front of the regiment. The Nulle now advanced under heavy fire from the rebels, nel more tlou, tou hundred yards away: this was just at dos, wol tip Siner advanced rapidly. thing as they moved forward; they por land and sealed the stone wall, and carried their poration before The Twelfth Tennessee.
. Colonel Coon highly complimented the Veteran Ninth for a promptly and gallantly carrying the position. If this chargede Ninth took a great many prisoners. the rebels leding their post- tion until the Ninth boys sealed the stone wall, and then le wor too late for them to get away, and they surrendered in large nigro bers. By this time it was dark, and in tin confusion somos of the rebels got away, but the most of them were taken in. It was just dark enough for the continuons firing of both sides to pre- sent a grand sight : sheet after sheet thehed forth from sho Ninth's Spencers and the rebel gion equaling of no evelien grand display of Fourth of July fireworks.
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The Twelfth Tempssee were not so Fortunate in their coTedy Although a gallant and brave set of boys, towy wow table => carry their position and dislodge tio memy until ance tim nyhed in their front saw that the Ninth was on then thal. and nunes their rear, then they Bed.
After we pressed the rebels back about one mile fredagen stone walls. Colonel Com ordered Capping Mork to mose il Ninth to the left of the pike, and move forward in line and form on a line with the Twelfth Tomeser Covaly. After the Soul had crossed over to the other side of the joke and while turiu to the front, Captain Mock. Adjutant Power, Liomoment Corp no ter and some others were riding along on the pike, feeling wo ila Twelfth Tennessee, and came to a speed of from woche jak asked them " if they belonged to the Twelfth Tomove said " they did:" they were then asked where their Fine ve mod told us that it was there. Captain Moot then Jalnel Lim XY ch and remained there some time. After a while they loand move of our troops coming up on the right of the jako, and whyon that reached the troops that the Ninth had forged low on. engels manded of the other. .. Who are you?" of samed we like it. Thon the clash of arms conen need. Iv umed aus that the the the ym had formed on was the rebel Twelfth Tempsser, and the ottom were the Union Twelfth Tennessee. The rebels alen went to. then or there captured were soon pat to fight, theoule there was a whole brigade of them commanded in the rebel Gondel Filmen A captain of the Twelfth Temester rode up to Einen! I and asked him " who he was?" it Was so dark one coldet mold tinguish friend from foe. He said, " Iton General Rocker." 1% was told to surrender, but, attempting to draw his swayed, wars euro through the ann, and had his arm broken so that i had to be amputated." Captain Mock supposed that our Twelfth Tomies see had preceded him and were somewhere in the front. Lord they had not, and the Ninth had been there alone with the rebels
* Captain Carpenter is very positive that the cradle of the capture of Geomet Rucker belongs to the Ninth, as he saw him in charge of Harry Gifford of Com pany B, and Racker told Gifford that " Forrest would soon be there nad sconti capture all the Yankees." It would appear then this was to send this Redes was turned over tothe Twelfth Temnt
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supposing that they diers did not know that the enemy was gently resting on liner left.
We had all been fighting apl on the go for two day . abd Au that two days of Hooly batile ver. all tired off and ausjor- Tai rest. and very glad of the opportunity of buying groet for a bile while, as were the rebels and for this reta mother sale Loch much pains to find out who wore thet meghbers. Theropes were making this their rallying print and returning to stop for advance, and as their troop weis contint dig coming back. Alay naturally supposed that when the Ninth cado there it was hi part of their own force tablet, Tags and it was so dark that the. could not see if they way few or mang in wem 1.
Captain Mosk sent LE almente Cannone . alead de ploy For men from farther advance. Aibe moving forward some db tance, he came up with sopp soldiers and Oneguiel. .. Wood command ?" " Seventh Mabego." : de noche. what they were rebels, but said nothing. You quickly matched along wide them until he reached our lives, and brought in severe rebel as prisoners.
In these two days of hand fighting. the Fight Division Con aby. under the command of the pollame pod airpil Gemyno Hatch, had taken every gun that had been modet tol, capboval twenty-three pieces of artillery several started alles. dph large number of small er and many pomag. Colonel con while gallantly leading a charge of the Senior! We stal around him, and exposed to : fire fight they directions in hill in our front, one on the right, and a regiment of newentry behind a stone wall on our lefty Had Richtung alot : bar, swann to say, though the poor beast was shot through. I lived, want next morning.
The Ninth Ilinois Cavalry, led by The gallant Grond! Hagge during the first day had stonned and expanding afres, sat bder in the evening and during the letlf under the command of the cool and brave Lieutenant Colonel Block, peroatgal so many deeds of valor and daring that to mention them all would be impossible.
On the afternoon of Dee at - 17uhr dem bele wvote = float
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MATH ILLINOIS CAVATRY VORSTELLE.
on a ridge on the Franklin pike, and toward evening our whole brigade charged, mounted, and drove the enemy, while they fell back a short distance and made another more desperate agol determined stand. This was just before dark : Here we charged and drove them back again. In both these engageraguts the Ninth did a good deal of hard fighting, the rebels having con- tested every foot of ground ; our brigade was barely able to boll its own. Colonel Coon and Captain Avery. A. A. G., rallied the men, when they again advanced, this time with their horses i a slow walk, firing rapidly, drove the rebels so fast as to com- pel them to leave their three-gun battery unsupported, which General Hatch observing, with but a handful of followers, rasled forward, capturing three twelve-pound brasa places.
The rebels soon re-formed. and mado a desperate attomips to recapture this battery : but Captain Mock, with the Ninth Hoe Cavalry. stubbornly and successfully resisted every advance of the enemy. The Ninth here fred by volieys at the word of com mand. In this way, it being after dark, they prevented the enemy from taking advantage from the flash of our galis to return our fire. After repeated attempts to break through our lines, the Confederates withdrew, and the day was ours ; the field, with the enemy's killed and wounded. as also their can non, being in our possession.
Colonel Coon complimented the Ninth for the gallant in mulig in which it advanced and drove the rebels back under shell a galling fire.
December 19th the whole command leal a hotly contested fight at Rutherford's Creek. The Ninth was in line with tho whole brigade, and was engaged nearly all day. The rebels land destroyed the bridge, and a new one had to be built over this creek, which was much swollen by the recent heavy rains, before we could cross or advance.
This enabled the enemy. to hold their position and keep us in check as long as they did, and they did light stubbornly and bravely at this time for the purpose of holding us in check as long as they possibly could, to enable their straggling forces to gain a safe distance on their retreat, as it was appartes to theme ane this was their last bold and desperate dowe belong cousine line
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Tennessee River, infantry and cavalry on both sides being engaged and considerable artillery firing being indulged in. From this on we had skirmishing until we reached Columbia ; have there va, considerable firing across the river, mostly by artillery. Tien skirmishing occurred from this on intil Christmas Day: we bad ofu last fight, and Forrest made his last stund. This way on the hill near Ross farm. The Second Brigade was passing through a narrow valley, just about wide enough for our Regimeus to form a line across it. Here we found corn and todiler in abrus dance, and as we had not had opportunity to feed for some time. General Hatch halted his division, with each rowinunnit in fum closed up behind each other. thus showing a residential front which completely filed uus narrow valley. We had taken the bridles of our horses, and they were rating. Our brigab. with the Ninth Illinois Cavalry in the front. was the advance of our division , with another division still in the advance ad dr. Gente eral Forrest had laid a trap for this advance division, and the. ran right into it. Forrest closed in on them, and completely routed them, and sent them back whirling and discrednikel non us, but our blockade of the valley stopped them. The rise sprang their trap too soon, or they would have surrounded and tylow in the whole advanced division. General Wilson emme nding back. hunting for General Hatch, who was with the Ninth, that the head of the column. dieseral Wilson scored reich surprised to see General Hatch feeding his horses, and roll Him that Forrest had routed the advanced division and would soon he back ale him (Hatch). General Hatch told Gerend Wilson not to be alarmed, that Forrest knew too much to attempt to come back. and he could not get by 's anyway, for we had the valley block aded. General Wilson then ordered General Hatch to move los division to the front and advance. As we moved forward, the Ninth in the front, and coming in sight of the hill (Rose farm). we saw the rebels pulling up the hill, by hand, some artillery they had just captured. General Wilson kept hurrying General Hatch, and when he saw the rebels pulling up this artillery he said to General Hatch, " There they are; hurry up!" Hatch then said to Wilson, " General, if you will lou me take way onen course, I will carry that hill in twenty minutes." Wasser grill.
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NETH HEINOUS CAVALRY VOULAISERE.
"All right; go ahead." General Hatch they ordered Captain Mock to dismount the Ninth, and to move up the hill on the right of the road, as far as he could safely, in front of the enemy, att to make it as hot for the rebels as he could. At the same time. the Seventh Ilinois Cavalry was also dismounted and dire gul to advance up the hill on the left of the road and in a line with the Ninth. The Second Lowa Cavalry was sent mounted to our right, and to strike the left and rear of the enemy. The Twelfth Tennessee Cavalry was sent mounted around the emmy's right. flank, and the Sixth Ilinois Cavalry was left in our rear as o support.
The rebels had made a strong breastwork in our front. on the hill, by tearing down log houses and using rads, and with the two had made very formidable works. The Ninth advanced up The hill to within seventy five yards of the rebels, keeping up a heavy fire all the time as they advanced. The enemy being in too heavy force for the Ninth to go any farther, they remained there under cover of logs and trees, and kept up a heavy five on the- rebels to hold them there, and prevent them from reinforcing their flanks, and in about twenty minutes we heard the firing and welcome shouts of the gallant Second lowa coming in on the flank and rear of the rebels, then the Ninth rose up, and with a shout moved forward and carried the rebel works, and the eneroy fell back. By this time it was dark, and the fighting ended. W. went out some five miles and got forage, and, returning, went into camp on Ross' faun.
There was captured here a number of prisoners, several pice . of artillery and a quantity of small arms, the latter having login abandoned by the enemy.
Going back to the evening of the both I find that the Ninth Illinois Cavalry followed the retreating army of Hood, and at Brentwood again had sharp fighting, and camped on the field. On the 17th reached the Franklin pike, where the the were making another stand, but they could not hold their ground in the face of our advancing column, and the retreat continuol to Rutherford creek, which now, owing to the continued mains and melting snow and ice, was a rushing torrent. The Holein qu were not long, however, in crossing, finally coming to Und-
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River, on the opposite side of which was Columbia, we were sold see the long lines of Hood's supply trains slowly moving away. A sharp fire was taking place over the river. Gepend Hutch with a few staff officers and orderlies, were well in front on the skumphy line, and as we came in sight of the town a large number of Cho federate troops were seen on the opposite bank. While we hallout a moment to view the scene the crowd parted and we saw ard- lery just in the act of being fired at our little apod. General Hatch said quickly. " Scatter, boys, they are going to shell m." As he spoke, the blue v reaths of smoke from the r guns were soen. and the shot whistled over our heads. We went to closethat they shot too high, so we galloped back unscathed.
It was not long ere we saw a white sing approvening our line. and a party was sent out to meetthem. They lenght a me -und from General Forrest saving he wanted to meet General Hateb. (The bridge over Dach River had been burned by the relais to November.) General Hatch soon went forward to the riveranto. and Forrest appeared on the abutalent on the other sale, amt calling across. said, " You are shelling your own wounded non and prisoners and the women and children in the town :" ako that "he wanted to exchange some prisoners." This shady showed how wily was the Confederate chieftain. for while Gen eral Hatch was communicating with General Thomas, the Cop- federate trains were moving away in safety. When atter tids delay the Federal soldiers finally crossed the river there was too one in Columbia but the wounded of both armies and the voilet and children. In " The Campaign: of General N. B. Forrent." published in 1865, occurs the following account of this : fur :
On the morning of the 19th of December the energy & cavalry were end'y on the field, and in formidable numbers displayed a resolale purpose to force the passage at Rutherford's Creek, while a considerable column Va observed ja movement, as if aiming to cross Duck river below the joint of the efec with it, but up to : p. M. they were unable to break the leurier of bnccreek, and moon while the Confederate train and main force were safely beginnt back river; thew the rear guard was withdrawn southward of that stream without hindrenes, and bivouacked on the night of the 19th at Columbia.
There, on the morning of the 20th, Walthall's division, Stewart's corps, rela- forced by five other fragments of brigades, in all ofily nineteen lamdred baymer, was placed under the order of General Porrest, as cores 1 and he wasdirected to hold the position to the last possibile manual, Ma. ...
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