USA > Kentucky > History of the 3d, 7th, 8th and l2th Kentucky C.S.A > Part 17
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FROM MONTEVALLO TO SELMA.
and held the enemy in check for over an hour, forcing him to bring up his artillery and placing a large portion of his command in line. Cross- land was not driven from his position, but moved back, owing to the fact that he was being flanked by a large force. General Wilson says in his report, in regard to this particular point: "The enemy en- deavored to make a stand at a creek four miles south of Waterloo. General Upton placed in position and opened Roddy's battery (I), Fourth United States Artillery, and passing Winslow's brigade to the front, they again beat a hasty retreat." Crossland had dismounted his brigade and placed them in a good commanding position, as described. The enemy never made any attempt to drive them from their position by direct assault, although they had spent at least one hour in putting their force in line, and otherwise showing that they had anticipated a stubborn resistance. While Crossland was thus engaged attempting to retard the progress of the Federals, Forrest was putting forth every possible effort to have Jackson and Chalmers form a junction with his small command, somewhere north of, or at Selma, but owing to some misunderstanding as to routes they should travel, together with the rapid movement of Wilson's command, they never were able to join Forrest and assist him in his last struggle. Probably the thing that worked the greatest detriment to Forrest was the fact that a courier of his was captured carrying papers revealing his entire plans. The information enabled Wilson to detach a portion of his command to operate against Jackson and Chalmers, while with his main force he could push on to Selma.
Crossland continued to contest the advance as doggedly as he could with his small force, which was gradually dwindling by casual- ties. Forrest had come upon the ground, and at once laid his plans to make a desperate effort to hold Wilson in check until Jackson and Chalmers could be brought up. Forrest selected a strong natural posi- tion on Bagler's creek, to which point he had two or three hundred militia brought out from Selma, under General Dan Adams; one hun- dred and fifty men of Armstrong's brigade; a few of Roddy's com- mand, and the Kentuckians under Crossland. On the morning of April Ist this little force of about two thousand was formed in the following order: The artillery was placed so it could command the road; Armstrong's men and Forrest, with his escort, took position behind the artillery; immediately on the left of the road Crossland's men were formed with their right near the artillery; on the right the State troops, under Adams, were formed.
Confronting Forrest's meager command was an army of at least nine thousand. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon the enemy made his appearance in front of the Confederate line. In a little while a small mounted body of Confederates came dashing down the road to the right of the Kentuckians, closely followed by a column of Federal cavalry, the horses of both running at full speed. In his report Gen- eral Wilson says that this charge was made by four companies of the Seventeenth Indiana Mounted Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Frank White. This charging column struck the Confederate line
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HISTORY OF THE 3D, 7TH, 8TH AND 12TH KENTUCKY.
where Forrest, with his escort, together with two mounted Kentucky companies under Captain Tyler, was in position, who engaged the Fed- erals who broke through the lines, in one of the most desperate hand- to-hand conflicts that perhaps occurred during the war, the Federals using sabers and the Confederates revolvers. When the main line of the enemy advanced the Confederate right gave way. Repeated efforts were made to break the line of the Kentuckians without success; they held their position until a large portion of the Federal command had passed on their right and was swinging around to their rear when Crossland, seeing that his command was being surrounded, ordered his men back to their horses. As soon as they left their line the Fed- erals dashed upon them, forcing them several times to halt and drive the enemy back. When they finally got to their horses they were found in confusion, having been dashed upon by a column of the enemy's cavalry. In the confusion of mounting and getting away under fire some were captured, and the remainder in some way became divided, a part going into Selma with Forrest, while the others, with Colonel Crossland, were cut off from the roads leading into Selma, and were not, therefore, in the engagement around that city on the following day.
The writer was with that portion of the command which went into Selma. This city had been fairly well fortified, but the works were contemplated for a large army. The force that Forrest had at his command was not sufficient to man half of them. He was de- termined, however, to make the best resistance possible with the re- sources at his command. The remnant of Roddy's command was put in position on the right. Armstrong, who had succeeded in getting his brigade there, consisting of about fourteen hundred, was located on the left ; the militia was located between the two; Forrest with his escort and remnant of the Kentuckians a little to the rear and right of the militia, part of the men in some old works. When the Fed- erals moved to attack the militia, in front of the Kentuckians, they gave way in disorder, and the Federals dashed through the gap; the Kentuckians succeeded in maintaining their position until the Con- federate line on their right had been driven from its works back into the city, when orders were given to make a dash for their horses and save themselves the best they could. Some succeeded in mounting, others were captured in the effort to do so. The writer, with a num- ber of others, succeeded in mounting, and with a squad of about thirty attempted to make their escape by going out west near the river. In a short distance they struck a bayou or lagoon of water, and before they could cross or attempt to go around it they were attacked by a column of the enemy with drawn sabers. The writer carries a scar across his arm now from a cut he received at that time from a saber. In a short time after that the squad was surrounded, compelled to surrender, and marched to a stockade constructed by the Confederates for Federal prisoners, and remained there until the 9th or 10th of April, when we were marched out and moved off with Wilson's army.
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FROM MONTEVALLO TO SELMA.
The following night the writer, with a comrade, Lieutenant B. P. Willingham, made their escape.
When Wilson succeeded in breaking the Confederate lines around the city and Forrest saw that everything was hopelessly lost, with his escort and some others he made his way out through the Federals, having to fight his way at one point, which was the last engagement in which he or any of his men participated. On the 4th Forrest arrived at Marion, Ala., where he found Jackson's and Chalmers' commands, whom he had endeavored so hard to get in front of the enemy before they arrived at Selma. If they had succeeded in getting there per- haps the greatest cavalry engagement of the war would have been fought out at Selma.
About the 14th, news reached the men of Forrest's command that Lee had surrendered on the 9th. The Kentuckians, in the mean- time, had been moved to Columbus, Miss. On the 6th of May an official circular was issued to the troops, informing them of the sur- render of Lee and Johnston, and they were further informed that General Richard Taylor, the Confederate commander of that depart- ment, had entered into an agreement with General Canby, of the United States Army, for the surrender of all his forces, including For- rest's command. The Confederates were to be paroled and permitted to retain their horses.
The end was not unexpected to those who cared to keep up with events. Lee had been crushed by overwhelming numbers; Johnston was being driven from pillar to post, with no more places to fall back upon; the Mississippi and Trans-Mississippi departments had been worn to a frazzle; there was no base of supplies, and in fact no army to supply. The strange thing is that the end did not come sooner. In taking his leave of the men who had followed him through so many dangers and vicissitudes, General Forrest issued the following address, which should be read and taught to every decendant of that noble band of heroes, as well as everyone who admires the heroism of the men who offered their lives to the Cause of the South :
"HEADQUARTERS FORREST'S CAVALRY CORPS,
"Gainesville, Ala., May 9, 1865.
"Soldiers : By an agreement made between Lieutenant-General Taylor, commanding the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana, and Major-General Canby, commanding United States forces, the troops of this department have been surrendered. I do not think it proper or necessary at this time to refer to the causes. which have reduced us to this extremity, nor is it now a matter of material consequence as to how such results were brought about. That we are beaten is a self-evident fact, and any other further resistance on our part would be justly regarded as the very height of folly and rashness. The armies of Generals Lee and Johnston have surrendered ; you are the last of all troops of the Confederate States Army east of the Mississippi River to lay down your arms. The cause for which you have so long and manfully struggled, and for which you have
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HISTORY OF THE 3D, 7TH, 8TH AND 12TH KENTUCKY.
braved dangers, endured privations and sufferings, and made so many sacrifices, is today hopeless. The government which we sought to establish and perpetuate is at an end. Reason dictates and humanity demands that no more blood be shed. Fully realizing and feeling that such is the case, it is your duty and mine to law down our arms, to submit to the 'powers that be,' and to aid in restoring peace and establishing law and order throughout the land ..
"The terms upon which we were surrendered are favorable, and should be satisfactory and acceptable to all. They manifest a spirit of magnanimity and liberality on the part of the Federal authorities which should be met on our part by a faithful compliance with all the stipulations and conditions therein expressed. As your commander, I sincerely hope that every officer and soldier of my command will cheerfully obey the orders given, and carry out in good faith all the terms of the cartel.
"Those who neglect the terms and refuse to be paroled may as- suredly expect when arrested to be sent North and imprisoned. Let those who are absent from their commands, from whatever cause, re- port at once to this place, or to Jackson, Miss., or, if too remote from either, to the nearest United States post or garrison, for parole. Civil war, such as you have just passed through, naturally engenders feel- ings of animosity, hatred and revenge. It is our duty to divest our- selves of all bitter feelings, and, so far as it is in our power to do so, to cultivate friendly sentiments toward those with whom we have so long contested and heretofore so widely but honestly differed. Neigh- borhood feuds, personal animosities and private differences should be blotted out and when you return home a manly, straightforward course of conduct will secure the respect even of your enemies. Whatever your responsibilities may be to government, to society, or to individuals, meet them like men. The attempt made to establish a separate and in- dependent confederation has failed, but the consciousness of having done your duty faithfully and to the end will in some measure repay you for the hardships you have undergone.
"In bidding you farewell, rest assured that you carry with you my best wishes for your future welfare and happiness. Without in any way referring to the merits of the cause in which we have been en- gaged, your courage and determination, as exhibited on many hard- fought fields, has elicited the respect and admiration of friend and foe. And I now cheerfully and gratefully acknowledge my indebtedness to the officers and men of my command, whose zeal, fidelity and unflinch- ing bravery have been the great source of my past success in arms. I have never on the field of battle sent you where I was unwilling to go myself, nor would I now advise you to a course which I felt myself unwilling to pursue. You have been good soldiers; you can be good citizens. Obey the laws, preserve your honor, and the government to which you have surrendered can afford to be and will be mag- nanimous. N. B. FORREST, Lieutenant-General."
As soon as the Kentuckians were paroled and permitted to make their way home they left in squads of from twenty-five to one hundred.
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Crossing West Tennessee, they soon reached their homes in Western Kentucky, every honorable man determined to make as good a citizen as he had made a good soldier, and with the fewest exceptions they lived honorable, upright lives altogether worthy of imitation.
It has been said that the Southern armies were made up of the flower of the young, chivalrous manhood of the South, and in proof of that, from their numbers have been selected men to fill the most im- portant positions in the gift of the people, the duties of which they have performed with ability and honesty unexcelled by any like num- ber of public servants.
CHAPTER XVI. Biographical Sketches.
EDWARD CROSSLAND.
Colonel Edward Crossland, of the Seventh Kentucky Cavalry, was born in Hickman County, Ky., June 30, 1827. He was educated in the common schools, and in early manhood was occupied in farm- ing. Taking a leading place in his community, he was chosen as the first Sheriff of Hickman County under the Constitution of 1850. Sub- sequently he took up the study of law, and being admitted to the bar, engaged with success in the practice of that profession. From 1857 to 1859 he represented Hickman and Fulton Counties in the Legisla- ture of the State. In April, 1861, he was among the first to organize companies for service in the Confederate States Army, and took his command to Nashville and thence to Harpers Ferry, Va., where a force was organized under J. E. Johnston. He was sworn into the service as a captain in Virginia, and was on duty in that capacity under Colonel Blanton Duncan and Colonel Thomas H. Taylor, in the First Kentucky Infantry, until promoted to the rank of major in that com- mand and later to lieutenant-colonel. After the regiment was dis- banded at the end of its year's enlistment he became Colonel of the Seventh Kentucky Infantry, May 25, 1862. He commanded the regi- ment under General Breckinridge at Vicksburg and the battle of Baton Rouge, La., and under Van Dorn in the two days' fight at Cor- inth, October 3-4, 1862. In 1863 he served under General Pemberton at the battle of Champion's Hill, and under J. E. Johnston in the cam- paign for the relief of Vicksburg during Grant's seige, and the defense of Jackson, Miss. Early in 1864, his regiment and the Third and Eighth Kentucky Infantry were mounted and did duty as cavalry, forming, with the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry and Huey's battalion, the brigade of General Lyon, in Buford's division of General N. B. Forrest's command. He served under Forrest until the close of the war, participating in the battle of Brice's Cross-Roads and other famous combats in Mississippi, the operation on the Tennessee River, the cavalry fighting of Hood's campaign in Tennessee, including the famous defense of the rear guard on the retreat, and the engage- ment with Wilson's cavalry in the spring of 1865, when he was in command of the Kentucky brigade. After Colonel Crossland returned to his home he resumed the practice of law in the First Judicial Dis- trict. He was elected Judge of the Common Pleas Court in 1866, but resigned from the bench in 1871 and took a seat in Congress as a representative of the First Kentucky District. After a service of two terms at Washington, he returned to the practice of law, with his residence at Mayfield. In 1880 he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court, an office which he filled with great ability until his death, Sep- tember II, 1881.
GEN. V. Y. COOK
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
HYLAN B. LYON.
Brigadier-General Hylan B. Lyon was born in the State of Ken- tucky about the year 1836. He was appointed to the West Point Military. Academy in 1852, and on graduation in 1856 was promoted in the army to second lieutenant of artillery. His first service was against the Seminole Indians in Florida, 1856-57. Then he was on frontier duty at various posts in California; in 1856 was engaged in the Spokane expedition, and in the battle September 5-7, 1858. He served later in Washington and Montana with promotion to first lieu- tenant, Third Artillery. There were very few officers of the United States Army who did not regret the great sectorial quarrel and the war that resulted therefrom, and yet there were few from the seceding States that did not obey the voice of their States and range themselves under the banner of the South. Where there were great divisions of sentiment, as in Kentucky, Missouri, etc., some remained in the army and did splendid service for the Union, while others were unsur- passed in their zeal and fidelity to the South. Hylan B. Lyon was one of this latter class. On April 30, 1861, he resigned his commis- sion in the United States Army. He entered the service of the Con- federate States, and was commissioned first lieutenant of artillery. He was first captain of Cobb's battery. By the 3d of February, 1862, he had been promoted lieutenant-colonel of the Eighth Kentucky Regi- ment. He led his regiment at the battle of Fort Donaldson and was mentioned for gallantry by his brigade commander, Colonel John M. Simonton. After the Donaldson prisoners had been exchanged, Col- onel Lyon and the Eighth Kentucky were placed in the Army of the West Tennessee, in the First Division of the First Corps. On the 5th of December, 1862, this division commanded by General Loyd Tilgh- man, had an encounter with the Federals at Coffeeville, which was a complete success for the Confederates. General Tilghman reported that the Eighth Kentucky, under Colonel H. B. Lyon, was conspicuous in the fight, where he "had seldom seen greater good judgment and impetuous gallantry shown by any officers or men." In June, 1864, Colonel Lyon was commissioned brigadier-general and in August he was assigned to the corps of General Forrest. This brigade con- sisted of the Third, Seventh, Eighth and Twelfth Kentucky Regi- ments. These troops, with their commanders, shared the glories and hardships of Forrest's campaigns in North Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. During the march of Hood into Tennessee, Lyon was very active, penetrating even into Kentucky. After the war he returned to his native State, where he has been honored with several im- portant trusts, among them the position of warden of the penitentiary.
VIRGIL Y. COOK.
Virgil Y. Cook was born at Boydsville, Graves County, Ky., No- vember 14, 1848, son of William D. and Perneeia Dodds Cook. Edu- cated at Boydsville public school and Spring Hill Academy. Enrolled in Confederate service July 27, 1863. Mustered in August 9th, follow- ing, private in Company E, Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry. Detailed No-
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HISTORY OF THE 3D, 7TH, 8TH AND 12TH KENTUCKY.
vember 2, 1863 as courier and so remained until March 27, 1864, when transferred to Company H. Seventh Kentucky Mounted Infantry, For- rest cavalry. Participated in the battles and campaigns of that com- mand; paroled May 16, 1865. Entered school on returning home, where he remained until June, 1866, when he went to Arkansas and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Grand Glaize, Jackson County, on Lower White River. In July, 1874, he founded the town of Olyphant, on the Iron Mountain Railroad, where he continued his mercantile business until 1884. In the meantime he purchased large tracts of land in the Oil Trough Valley, Independent County, to which place he removed in the latter year, continuing in the mercantile business until 1900. He was commander of Tom Hindman Camp, No. 318, United Confederate Veterans, Newport, Ark., for a number of years, and adjutant-general and chief of staff of the Arkansas Division, United Confederate Veterans, and major-general thereof for four years. Was connected with the Arkansas State Guard and Reserve Militia fifteen years, serving in the last capacity as major-general of the Arkansas State Guards. Served in the Spanish-American war as colonel of the Second Arkansas Infantry, United States Volunteers, serving in the Second Brigade, Second Division, Third Corps, and Second Brig- ade, Second Division, Fourth Corps, and the First Separate Brigade, Second Corps, commanding at intervals, as senior colonel, each of these brigades, serving ten months and was mustered out February 25, 1899, with the regiment. Was a member of the Board of Trustees, University of Arkansas, for six years, and president of the Arkansas Historical Society and served as member of State Board Confederate Pensions. Is now a member of the Board of Managers, Endowment Fund, Hundrix College, and is major-general, commanding Third Division Forrest's Cavalry Corps, United Confederate Veterans, com- prising Lyon's Kentucky brigade, Ross' Texas brigade, McCulloch's Missouri and Arkansas brigades, Thalls' Arkansas battery and King's Missouri battery. Retired from mercantile business in 1900 and from active operation of his Oil Trough plantation in 1907, having leased the latter for a number of years, some thirty-seven hundred acres in cul- tivation, for an annual money stipend. He resides at Batesville, Ark.
ABRAM BUFORD.
Brigadier-General Abram Buford was born in Kentucky in 1820 He entered the United States Military Academy in 1837, and at grad- uation in 1841 was promoted in the army to brevet second lieutenant of the First Dragoons. He served on the frontier and in the Mexican war, having reached by that time the grade of first lieutenant. He was brevetted at Buena Vista for gallant and meritorious conduct, was ordered again on frontier duty and was in the Santa Fe expedition of 1848. On October 22, 1854, he resigned, having then the rank of captain in the First Dragoons. He became a farmer near Versailles, Woodford County, Ky., being also at one time president of the Rich- mond & Danville Railroad. When it became evident that war between the North and South could not be averted, Captain Buford without hesitation cast his lot with the South. During the occupation of Ken-
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
tucky by Bragg and Kirby Smith in 1862, a cavalry brigade was or- ganized in the State, of which Buford was put in command with a commission as brigadier-general, dated 3d of September, 1862. He retired from Kentucky with the cavalry command of General Wheeler and formed part of the latter's force at Murfreesboro. In the latter's campaign Buford's brigade was composed of the regiments of Colonel Smith, Grisby and Butler, in all about six hundred and fifty men, and was actively engaged in the cavalry fighting, including the La Vergne raid. Soon afterwards he was ordered to report to General Pember- ton at Jackson, Miss., and by the latter was assigned to Port Hudson, La. In April he was ordered to Jackson with two regiments, and this was the nucleus of the brigade under his command, Loring's division, which took part in the battle of Baker's Creek, Johnston's operations against Grant, and the defense of Jackson. Included in the brigade were the Seventh Kentucky, Colonel Crossland, and part of the Third, Major J. H. Bowman. The Eighth Kentucky, mounted, was detached. Buford's command took a prominent part at Baker's Creek, and he was commended for his leadership. Remaining with the army under Johnston and later Polk, in his brigade in the early part of 1864, in- cluding five Alabama regiments, the Third, Seventh and Eighth Ken- tucky and Twelfth Louisiana. But he soon returned to the cavalry service with his three Kentucky infantry regiments, mounted, and given command of a division of Forrest's command, including the three Kentucky infantry regiments already named, Colonel Faulkner's Twelfth and Forrest's Alabama regiment, formed one brigade under Colonel A. P. Thompson, and the Tennessee brigade of Colonel T. H. Bell. With this command Buford took part in Forrest's spring cam- paign in West Tennessee, and was so prominent in the famous victory of Tishamingo creek that Forrest declared his obligations principally due to Buford. During the Atlanta campaign he took part in the operations in Northern Alabama and Tennessee in a number of engage- ments, among which Johnsonville is the most famous; and later he was with Forrest in the operation about Franklin and Murfreesboro and the rear guard fighting of Hood's retreat, until he was severely wounded at Richland creek, December 24th. In February, 1865, he was assigned to command all Alabama cavalry within the limits of General Taylor's department. After the close of the war he resumed the occupation of farming in Kentucky, and served again in the Legislature of 1879. His death occurred June 9, 1884, at Danville, Il1.
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