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THE NATIONAL TBIBTJNE: WASHINGTON, D. 0., DECEMBER 31, 1881.
DIRGE FOR A SOLDIER,
In memory of Gen. Philip Kearny, killed September
1, 18G2.
BY GEORGE H. BOKEK.
Close his eyes, his work is done !
What to him is friend or foeman,
Ilise of moon or set of sun,
Hand of man or kiss of woman ?
Lay him low, lay him low,
In the clover or the snow !
What cares he ? he cannot know :
Lay him low !
As man may, he fought his fight,
Proved his truth by his endeavor;
Let him sleep in solemn night,
Sleep for ever and for ever.
Lay him low, lay him low,
In the clover or the snow !
What cares he? he cannot know :
Lay him low!
Fold him in his country's stars,
Roll the drum and fire the volley !
What to him are all our wars,
What but death bemocking folly?
Lay him low, lay him low,
In the clover or the snow !
What cares he? he cannot know :
Lay him low !
Leave him to God's watching eye,
Trust him to tho hand that made him.
Mortal love weeps idly by :
God alone has power to aid him.
Lay him low, lay him low,
In the clover or the snow !
What cares he? -he cannot know
Ijiy him low !
BATTLE OF BALL'S BLUFF.
THE STORY AS TOLD BY GEN. ROSECRANS.
"While the San Franeisco debris committee
was making their tour of investigation last
October the writer of this accompanied them
through the mountain parts of their trip. While
at Grass Valley, in conversing with General
Rosecrans about the battle ef Ball's Bluff and
the death of Colonel Baker, he said: "It is a
fact that a bottle of whisky was the real cause
of Colonel Baker's death." As General Rose
crans's narration differs materially from any
account heretofore published, I have deemed it
of sufficient interest to give it to the public.
About thirty miles above Washington, on the
Virginia side, is the town of Leesburg, which
at the commencement of the rebellion con
tained about 2,000 inhabitants. The rebels were
in force at this place and at other points along
the western bank of the Potomac River. The
Union troops were scattered and in different
encampments along the eastern bank on the
Maryland side. A few miles above Leesburg is
Harrison's Island, a narrow piece of land about
five miles long, the river dividing and part run
ning on either side of it. At the upper end
of this island is Conrad's Ferry, and about six
miles below is Edwards's Ferry. Opposite this
island, on the Virginia side, is Ball's Bluff.
Back of this bluff and in the timber some of
the confederate troops were encamped. It is not
known just how many of the rebel army were
in this camp at the time of the battle, but their
number was greater than those of the Union
forces engaged. Colonel Devens was in com
mand at Harrison's Island with several com
panies of Massachusetts volunteers. Colonel
Bakei was encamped a few miles in the rear of
Conrad's Ferry, with the California battalion,
680 men; Baxter's Fire Zouaves, 900; Owens's
Pennsylvania regiment, 700; Morehead's Penn
sylvania regiment, 500, and Harrison's cavalry,
140 men in all 2,920. It having been deter
mined to move on the enemy, General Stone
being in command of part of what is known as
Bank's division on the eastern shore, nearly op
posite Leesburg, received orders to make a
demonstration on General Lee's lines, opposite
his position, over the Potomac on Goose creek,
to favor the crossing of the Pennsylvania Re
serves, under General McCall, to strike the
enemy's left. He at the same time was ordered
to make a demonstration in favor of General
McCall when he deemed it necessary. Colonel
Devens, in command at Harrison's Island, was
ordered to send a few troops across the river to
reconnoitre and to hold the remainder in readi
ness to cross at a moment's notice.
For some reason the order for McCall 's crossing
was countermanded, but Gen. Stone had received
no notice of it, and continued grouping his forces
at Edwards' Ferry, at the lower end of the island.
The small force which had crossed from Colonel
Devens's command at the upper ferry advanced
to near Leesburg just in the dusk of the evening
of the 20th. In their reconnoitre they thought
they had discovered a rebel camp of 30 tents, but
were deceived, as they mistook openings in the
timber for tents. However, they returned to
Gen. Stone's camp and told him the story of the
supposed 30 tents, and the general at once re
solved to take this rebel camp by a dashing as
sault. It was now late in the evening, but he
ordered Col. Devens to at once cross the river at
tack and destroy the camp, and fall back to the
bluff. Colonel Baker was roused from his tent at
2 o'clock in the morning by an order from Gen.
Stone to have his California battalion at the ferry
at sunrise, and to prepare the remainder to follow
after an early breakfast. He had the Californi
ans on the march in less than two hours, and at
6 o'clock the remainder of the brigade followed.
It was about three miles march to the ferry,
which Col. Baker reached just at the break of
day. When he arrived there he found Colonel
Devens still ferrying his men across. After he
had crossed all his men Col. Devens stationed
about 100 too guard the ferry, and with the bal
ance advanced to find the enemy. Gen. Stone
had given ordeis that Col. Baker should cross his
forces at once if he heard firing, and advance to
the assistance of Col. Devens.
The only way there was to cross was by one
old ferryboat which would carry no more than
forty men at a trip, and required more than
half an hour to cross and return. At about
11 o'clock rapid firing was heard in the direc
tion Colonel Devens had taken. It was seen
at once that the troops could not be crossed
by this ferry in time to be of service; at the
same time they were impatient and eager to
meet the enemy. Just above the ferry, in the
canal, they found two old boats, or scows, which
they at once brought to the river and put in
position, when the crossing went on more rapidly.
By this means Colonel Baker crossed about 1,700
of his men and advanced to the second stream,
where the same trouble awaited him, there
being but one ferryboat to cross in there. How
ever, the crossing was continued as rapidly as
possible; but it was placing them in a terrible
position, for if they should meet with defeat
there was no means of retreat except tnis one
small ferry, and before they could recross they
would be doomed to slaughter. As soon as Col.
Baker had got two companies over the stream
he took them and advanced to the assistance
of Colonel Devens, whom he found with a few
companies of the Fifteenth and Twentieth Mas
sachusetts regiments on an open plain, with
timber just beyond, which was filled with the
enemy, who were dealing death-blows to our
men from every tree. The Union troops were
greatly outnumbered, but there was no alterna
tive for them but to fight, which they did in
the most desperate manner. Colonel Baker took
the lead in command, and at the head of the
ranks encouraged the men by his bravery, and
the fight soon became general. For the pur
pose of driving the rebels from their position
in the timber a charge was ordered, and with
fixed bayonets our men advanced, driving back
the first lines of the enemy ; but they soon
rallied and charged on our lines with great
force, and the conflict soon became a hand-to-hand
struggle. While thus engaged a tall, red
haired rebel advanced suddenly from the smoke
to within a few feet of Colonel Baker, and with
a self-cocking revolver fired five or six bullets
into his body; at the same time a musket-ball
struck him back of the ear, and he fell dead
almost at the feet of his slayer.
Captain Beirel, who was near Colonel Baker
when he fell, sprang forward, and with pistol in
hand placed it to the rebel's head and laid him
dead beside the heroic warrior. Seeing they were
greatly outnumbered and no hope of victory,
with their leader dead, the brave little band of
Union heroes began to fall back, but fought
bravely, contesting every inch of ground as they
retreated, carrying off the body of their brave
leader. Many were killed and others drowned
in their endeavor to recross the stream, and thus,
through an error, another disaster to the Union
forces was caused, and a deep gloom again settled
over the loyal North. It appears that there was
more than one blunder committed in this move
ment on the part of the Union forces, for it was
clearly an oversight in not notifying General
Stone of countermanding the order for the cross
ing of General McCalPs forces, for if he had
known it he would have proceeded very differ
ently in the reconnoitre and subsequent orders.
Then the action of the advance, sent out to make
the reconnoitre, in not fully informing themselves
as to the supposed thirty tents of the rebel en
campment, was most stupid, and caused a hasty
crossing of a few forces, with no support on that
side. However, the disaster would not have oc
curred had there not been a neglect of orders on
the rebel side also. It appears that General Lee
was informed of the order given for General Mc
Call to cross and attack his forces, and he accord
ingly ordered General Evan's brigade, which was
on his extreme left, at Goose creek, to withdraw
and change his position. General Evans was a
man who, at times, drank liquor to excess, and
on the morning of the receipt of his orders to
change his position had received a bottle of
whisky, of which he drank too much for the
good of our cause ; as it was, under the stimulus
of the whisky he resolved to have a fight before
he left. Accordingly he postponed compliance
with his orders and marched from his position
and attacked our little band of Union heroes, as
above stated. In this conflict thus rashly
brought on, that good man, statesman, patriot,
and soldier, Colonel Baker, fell, the untimely vic
tim of Evans's bottle of whisky. San Francisco
Chronicle.
MILITARY DISCIPLINE,
There is a certain melancholy interest in rem
iniscences of the war of 1870-71 which the French
are never tired of relating. An officer who went
through the campaign of the Loire was recently
giving some idea of the state of demoralization
of even the unbeaten soldiery, who deserted in
hundreds and gave themselves up to the enemy.
At times, when provisions and transport were
scarce, "the Prussians" would not make them
prisoners, but only broke their rifles and took
away their cartridges and accoutrements. In
such cases the wretched bands had to be driven
off at the point of the bayonet. This officer al
leges that some French general commenced
shooting their few German prisoners in the hope
that the enemy would make reprisals, and so de
ter the crowds of French deserters; but "the
Prussians " saw through it and did not fall into
the trap. The late D'Aurelles de Paladine was a
disciplinarian of the strictest kind. All men
falling out of the ranks were disarmed, tried,
and shot out of hand ; and if an officer alone en
countered a straggler, his positive orders were to
blow his brains out. On one occasion a sergeant
major, passing a peasant's house, took a fowl,
telling the owner he had no money with him,
but would return from the camp, hard by, in ten
minutes and pay him what he asked. When he
came back, according to his promise, he found
the man, who fancied he had been robbed, tell
ing his wrong to D'Aurelles de Paladine, who
was passing on a tour of inspection. "Was it
you," said the General, "that took this man's
fowl? " " Yes, ray General," said the sergeant
major, saluting, "and I have now brought him
the money." He was immediately put under
arrest, tried by court-martiaL and shot the next
morning.
RELICTS OF THE REVOLUTION.
There are, according to the report of Commis
sioner Dudley, 82 windows of soldiers and sailors
of the Revolutionary War now on the pension
roll. Of this number four are residents of Maine,
four of New Hampshire, six of Vermont, one of
Massachusetts, seven of Pennsylvania, three of
Ohio, three of New York, eight of Tennessee,
eleven or North Carolina, seven of Georgia, ten
of Virginia, two of South Carolina, one of Mis
sissippi, and three of West Virginia.
Army of the Cumberland.
Continued from First page.)
mounted, whose business it was to unlimber on
the slightest provocation and hammer down a
stockade at a safe distance from the muskets of
the garrison. It was the habit of the Union offi
cers to ridicule the care used by Morgan in sav
ing his men, and his disinclination to attack a
force equal to his own was ascribed to timidity,
but it must be admitted that his power for evil
was in proportion to his strength, and that as he
never wasted it voluntarily his lease of power
was vastly increased by economizing it.
The authorities at Washington had learned
nothing by the experience of Buell, in his vain
endeavor to maintain a railroad line through a
country open to hostile raids, and had turned a
deaf ear to his reiterated appeals for cavalry, and,
scorning to take lessons from their antagonists,
they still persisted in refusing to increase this
efficient arm of the service. Millions of dollars
were expended in replacing railroad equipments
and army supplies destroyed by Van Dorn, Mor
gan, and Forrest.
The most important expeditions on which the
armies could be engaged were defeated in Ten
nessee and Mississippi, while across the Mississippi
River, where the cavalry was equal in strength to
that of the enemy, Curtis had driven the armies
of Holmes from Missouri, and were at this mo
ment established far across the line in Arkansas.
In the absence of a cavalry force sufficient to
attack Morgan upon his predatory incursions into
Kentucky the alternative was. to protect the rail
road by building stockades covering the bridges
and most important trestles and manning them
with infantry. The completion and protection of
the work was intrusted to General Thomas. Upon
the advance of Smith's division from Glasgow
to join the corps on the Cumberland, Scott's
brigade of Dumont's division was posted at that
place and Dumont's and Miller's brigades were
sent to Scottville. Fry's division took position
at Gallatin, where Thomas established his head
quarters. Subsequently Scott's brigade was
transferred to Hartsville, whSre it relieved the
Tenth Kentucky infantry in guarding a ford
over the Cumberland in the directin of Lebanon,
Tenn. On the 18th of November Crittenden
moved his corps from Silver Springs and en-
camped in front of Nashville. General Paine
assumed command of the troops guarding the
railroad and made his headquarters at Gallatin.
Colonel S. D. Bruce, with a mixed command of
infantry and cavalry, made an expedition to
wards the Cumberland below Nashville. On the
29th he met an irregular command of confederates
beyond Russellville, routed them, and continued
his march to Clarksville, where he took position.
On the 22d Morgan and several of his officers,
all disguised, visited Colonel Lister, who with the
Thirty-first O. V. I. was posted at Cage's Ford,
under a flag of truce.
Divining their object, Colonel Lister quietly
recrossed the river after they had left and took
position on the north bank of the Cumberland.
The change was made not a moment too soon,
for a few minutes later Morgan's cavalry dashed
into his vacant cainp, where he was greeted with
a volley of minnie balls, under whichhe' retired
with equal rapidity. Colonel Kennett posted
his cavalry on Crittenden's front, where on the
27th he came in contact with a considerable
force of Wheeler's cavalry, routed and pursued
them on the Franklin turnpike fifteen miles.
The next day Colonel Kirk drove another de
tachment from La Vergne, capturing several
prisoners, who gave information of Bragg's move
ments. November 27th, Col. Roberts, of the Forty
second Illinois, captured a captain and squad of
Morgan's men, with horses and equipments, and
about the same time Maj. Hill, with a squadron
of the Second Indiana cavalry, crossed the river
at Hartsville, recaptured a forage train, released
the prisoners and killed twenty of the force that
had made the capture. The month of November
had not been fruitful of results to the confede
rate cavalry. The multiplicity of fords on the
Cumberland, however, rendered it almost impos
sible to guard the crossings. One of the easiest
of these was that near Hartsville, where Thomas
had stationed an entire brigade of infantry sup
ported by a battery of four guns, and a battalion
of cavalry for picket duty. The position was
elevated, approached by an easy grade on all
sides, except toward the river, where there was a
high bluff. Later in the war a breast-work and
line of rifle pits and an abatis would have deco
rated the sides of the hill, but at this time such
defenses were regarded as a confession of weak
ness. Col. Scott was relieved of command of the bri
gade on the 3d, by Col. A. B. Moore, of the Ono
Hundred and Fourth Illinois. His regiment, the
One Hundred and Sixth and One Hundred and
Eighth Ohio, composed the brigade. The effective
strength of the command was 1,200, including
250 of the Second Indiana cavalry, and one com
pany of the Eleventh Kentucky cavalry, 70 men,
under Lieut. Terrell. Besides these there were
present in camp 400 men unfit for duty. Mor
gan planned a complete surprise. He crossed the
river at the fords with 1,200 men, leaving a force
on the south side of the iiver, on the night of
the 6th, unnoticed by the cavalry videttes, and
the first intimation that the infantry had of his
presence in the vicinity was the march of his
columns across the plain at the foot of the hill
opposite the river, to gain the cover of a ravine.
A frail skirmish line alone barred the advance
of his compact line of infantry and dismounted
cavalry. He knew that only nine miles away
at Castillian Springs, Harlan's stout fighting bri
gade was ready at all times to march, and that
it would be upon him at a double quick within
two hours after the opening guns signalled the
attack. Gaining the ravine he opened a rapid
fire upon the hastily formed lines throwing them
into confusion. There seemed to be no concerted
plan of defense, and no head to plan one under
fire. One company of the One Hundred and
Fourth Illinois, under Captain Palmer, two com
panies of the One Hundred and Eighth Ohio, un
der Captain Pivot, and the cavalry dismounted
and fighting as skirmishers, alone retrieved the
disgrace of the affair. The artillery was now
brought forward and one piece placed in po
sition in the centre of the line. It did good exe
cution, exploding one of Morgan's caissons and
killing several men. The Second and Ninth
Kentucky infantry of Hanson's veteran brigade,
680 strong, and a cloud of Chenault's, Clark's,
Huffman's, and Bennett's dismounted cavalry now
advanced under cover of a heavy artillery fire
from Cobb's battery. The raw Union troops
were receiving their first lesson in battle. Equal
in numbers, but vastly superior in discipline, the
confederates pressed forward in the face of a gall
ing fire, pouring in heavy volleys as they ad
vanced. Colonel Moore now ordered a rttreot to
the top of the hill. No order could have been
more unfortunate. The utmost coolness and
courage on the part of both officers and men is
required-to effect a, change of position under fire,
especially toward the rear. The men found
themselves at every step an elevated and visible
target Every shot seemed to take effect The
regiments became widely separated. Colonel
Tafel, of the One Hundred and Sixth Ohio, per
ceiving the in vitable destruction which a retreat
to the top of the hill would involve his command,
disobeyed the order, and retreated toward the
woods, and using a wagon train for a breastwork,
made a gallant stand for ten minutes. The One
Hundred and Eighth Ohio broke, a part joining
the One Hundred and Sixth, and a part the One
Hundred and Fourth, the remainder scattering
through the woods where they were shot down
or captured by the cavalry stationed so as to cut
off all communication with Castillian Springs.
Meantime the confederate line had pursued its
relentless way in the wake of the One Hundred
and Fourth Illinois. Colonel Moore, now seeing
no means of escape, hoisted a white handkerchief
upon a bayonet, which was at once recognized
and acknowledged by the order to " cease firing."
Relieved of the necessity of a heavy force in front,
a portion of that which had secured the surren
der of Moore reinforced that which had attacked
Tafel. Unable to maintain his position at the
wagon train, he had fallen back toward a ravine,
where he had, up to the time of Moore's surren
der, held his regiment together. Here he was
astonished at the sudden appearance of a confed
erate cavalryman wearing a blue overcoat, who,
galloping up the ravine, shouted to him to sur
render as all the others had done. He was at
first induced to disregard it, but soon found his
command surrounded, and further resistence
useless.
General Morgan lost in this affair about 125
killed and wounded. Among the dead left upon
the field were Lieutenants Rodgers, of Bullitt
county, and Thomas, of Hardin county, Ky. The
Union loss, nearly all in the One Hundred and
Fourth Illinois, was 55 killed and 100 wounded.
The remaining 1,445 were captured and sent im
mediately under guard across the river. Wagons
were hastily loaded with abundant supplies, guns
exchanged, the camp set on fire, and within two
hours after the first shot was fired the entire force,
with their captives, were on the march to Mur
fresborro. The capture of an infantry brigade by what
was supposed to be Morgan's cavalry m as heralded
to the country as another evidence of the prowess
of that renowned command. Morgan's star was
now in the ascendant. Praised in general orders
and in a dispatch from Bragg to the adjutant
general of the army, a leader in the gay society
of Murfreesboro, he shortly after led to the altar
a daughter of Judge Ready, one of the fairest
of the lovely women whose presence at Mur
freesboro inspired their favored gallants to feats
of arms not unworthy of the days of chivalry.
Reports of the battle, however, gave the credit
where it actually belonged to the infantry regi
ments of Hanson's brigade, 680 strong, under
command of Colonel Hunt. The Rebel Banner,
published at Murfreesboro, in its account of
the affair, said, in closing: "But the most re
markable fact connected with the expedition
was the endurance of the infantry troops.
They marched on a bitter night over fifty miles,
fought a splendid battle, captured twice their
numbers, crossed the Cumberland River twice,
and yet there were no complaints heard or strag
gling witnessed. The losses of the cavalry
regiments were trifling." General Rosecrans
promptly telegraphed the fact to Halleck, who
replied that the President wished to be in
formed how an isolated brigade was left in such
an exposed position. The report of General
Thomas was called for and transmitted. In it
he staled the fact that Colonel Moore's brigade
relieved Colonel Harlan's at Hartsville, and at
the time of the capture the latter, together
with Miller's brigade, was at Castillian Springs,
only nine miles distant; that Colonel Harlan
had represented the position to be strong and
defensible, and that Colonel Moore allowed him
self to be surprised. The report made by Colonel
John M. Harlan exhibits the prompt action taken
by that zealous commander on the occasion.
Hearing cannonading in the direction of Harts
ville about half-past seven o'clock, he at once
dispatched a courier to ascertain the cause of the
firing, and to return rapidly as soon as he heard
musketry. The brigades Mere called out, and
Colonel John F. Miller's at once put in motion
toward the scene of conflict. Colonel Harlan
learning in the meantime, through his pickets
on the Hartsville road a mile distant, that mus
ketry was audible, determined to follow with the
Tenth Kentucky, Lieutenant-Colonel Hays, the
Seventy-Fourth Indiana, Colonel Chapman, and
four pieces of Southwick's battery, leaving the
Fourth Kentucky, Colonel Croxton, the Tenth
Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel Carroll, and two
pieces of artillery in charge of the camp. His
intention was to place the Tenth Kentucky and
Seventy-Fourth Indiana and the four pieces of
artillery within supporting distance of both
places, if necessary ; but soon after, receiving a
request from Colonel Miller to go to the front and
assume command, he complied, ordering up the
Fourth Kentucky and taking his anvance regi
ments with him. He found Colonel Miller's
brigade within three miles of Hartsville, formed
in line of battle.
Up to thi3 time they had not met a straggler
nor a messenger of any description from the
field. The firing had ceased, and it was evident
that Moore's brigade had either repulsed the
enemy or were prisoners. Riding forward to an
eminence, Colonel Harlan observed a dense smoke
arising from the hill that had been occupied by
the Union camp. A rapid advance across the
country was now ordered, and a few minutes suf
ficed to bring the advance in sight of the ford.
Morgan's rear guard, in charge of several wag
ons loaded with captured property, were in the
act of crossing. On the other side of the river
the road was filled with men and horses. Each
cavalryman seemed to have a man behind him.
All were moving on the road leading to Lebanon.
Nicklin's battery of Millers brigade sent a few
shells among them, when the rear guard, aban
doning the wagons, took to their heels and speed
ily disappeared beyond the hills. Pursuit was
useless. The water was waist-deep to the men,
and fully two hours would be required to cross
a force in wagons sufficient to warrant an attack
in case the enemy should be overtaken.
Eleven wagons and thirteen mules were recap
tured. The camp presented a sickening specta
cle. Down along the edge of the ravine where
the conflict had raged between Hunts' infantry
and the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois, the
dead lay thick upon the ground. The wounded
lay helplessly bleeding where they had fallen,
tents were burning, and a vast pile of subsistence
stores piled up and set on fire were slowly cook
ing in the flames. Fifty-five Union and fifteen
confederate dead were buried. The only Union
officer among them was Captain Gholson, a brave
and efficient officer who had been acting assistant
adjutant-general to the brigade.
Many of the confederate dead and all their
wounded, over one hundred in number, were re
moved by their comrades.
Although the lustre of the Union arms was
dimmed by this event and the enemy proportion
ally cheered, the effect was beneficial upon the
army, and the total lack of sympathy expressed
for Colonel Moore resulted in greater care by
brigade commanders to guard against surprises.
Rosecrans V advance, consisting of Crittenden's
and McCook's commands, was stationed six miles
in front of Nashville, and the railroad being bur
dened with ammunition and subsistence, frequent
expeditions were sent out to procure forage for
the animals.
Supplies accumulated slowly. On the 3d of
December General Rosecrans had bat five days'
rations ahead. The cars were now running
through to Mitchellville and Thomas was clos
ing down upon Nashville.
On the 9th of December Colonel Stanley Mat
thews, with his brigade, consisting of the Eighth
and Twenty-first Kentucky, Thirty-fifth Indi
ana, and Fifty-first Ohio, with Swallow's Seventh
Indiana battery, escorted a train of fifty wagons
on a foraging expedition in the direction of La
Vergne on the Murfreesboro road. Leaving the
turnpike, he passed to the left toward Stone
River, where in a rich valley he soon loaded his
wagons with abundant forage. While the wagons
were loading, a reconnoissance was made to Dob
bin's Ferry a mile beyond. Satisfied that no enemy
was in that direction the train was about to be
set in motion on the same route by which it
had advanced, when almost immediately the
sharp report of musketry was heard in the rear.
A company of the Twenty-first Kentucky on
guard near a clump of cedars, still engaged in
loading a wagon, was attacked by a body of dis
mounted cavalry, which was repulsed and held
at bay until the arrival of a squad from the
Thirty-fifth Indiana, when the enemy was put to
flight. The train now started on its homeward
march. The Fifty-first Ohio, Thirty-fifth Indiana,
and the artillery in advance, the Twenty-first Ken
tucky at intervals along the train, and the Eighth
Kentucky in the rear. Soon the sharp rattle of
musketry in the rear gave intimation that the
object of the expedition would not be accom
plished without a struggle. A line of skirmish
ers suddenly appeared emerging from a dense ce
dar thicket at the side of the road With a rous
ing cheer the boys of the Twenty-first charged
upon them and drove them back into the woods.
The enemy's guns now opened, when Colonel
Matthews ordered a charge along the whole line.
This movement resulted in dispersing the enemy
and the train returned to camp without further
molestation. The loss in Matthews's brigade was
five killed, thirty-one wounded, and six missing.
Brigadier-General D. S. Stanley reported for
duty as chief of cavalry early in December, and
at once assumed command.
Gen. Stanley graduated at West Peint, in the
class of 1852, and was assigned to the Second
Dragoons with the rank of second lieutenant.
After three years' service on the plains he was
transferred to the First Cavalry as first lieuten
ant, then under command of Colonel E. V. Sumner.
Joe Johnston was lieutenant-colonel, and John
Sedgwick and Wm. H. Emory majors. In 1857
he accompanied Colonel Sumner on an expedition
against the Cheyenne Indians, in which he was
engaged in a sharp fight on Solomon's Fork of the
Kansas River, in which the Indians were defeated.
In 1858 he was engaged in the Utah Expedition,
and in the same year he crossed the plains to the
northern boundary of Texas. In a sharp and
decisive battle with the Comanches Lieutenant
Stanley displayed such courage and skill in
handling his command as to receive the compli
mentary orders of General Scott. The opening
of the rebellion found him stationed at Fort Scott,
Arkansas, where, in March, he recevied his
commission as captain in the Fourth Cavalry.
His command' was included in the surrender
made by General Twiggs, but the heart of the
brave officer beat loyal to the flag of his country,
and he resolved upon a march northward to
Kansas City, Mo. Uniting his force with that
at Fort Smith, the column moved through the
Indian country. A confederate force sent against
them was on the 8th of May captured and
paroled. On the 15th of June they occupied
Kansas City, and marched at once upon Inde
pendence, where Captain Stanley was fired upon
while carrying a flag of truce. He joined General
Lyon in his expedition against Springfield,
which was occupied July 12th. He participated
in the various engagements in Missouri during
the summer of 1861, displaying in an eminent
degree the dash and conspicuous courage which
so distinguished him in his subsequent career,
and in September he reported with his regiment
to General Fremont at St. Louis. He marched
against Price from Syracuse, and in November
moved against Springfield. Captain Stanley was
appointed brigadier-general in November, 1861,
and in March, 1862, was assigned to the com
mand of the Second division of Pope's army in
the expedition against New Madrid and Island
No. 10, the Fort Pillow expedition, and in the
siege of Corinth. Here his acquaintance with
General Rosecrans began, ripening into sincere
attachment under the fire of Price's guns at
Iuka, and the yet fiercer blaze of Van Dorn's
hard-fighting battalions at Corinth in October.
His conspicuous gallantry on this occasion added
a second star to the insignia of his rank and
caused him to be selected by his old commander
in arms to organize and lead the cavalry of his
new command. In person General Stanley was
tall and erect. A handsome face and long flow
ing beard, slightly silvered, engaging in manner,
and full of enthusiasm for the success of the
cause in which he held his own life as nothing
in comparison, he soon impressed his personality
npon the cavalry of the Army of the Cumber
land and made it a reliable branch of the service.
When he assumed command it was composed of
the following regiments:
Colonel John Kennett, commanding First Cav
alry Division.
Colonel Ed. McCook, commanding First Brig
ade : Third Kentucky, Colonel Eli H. Murray ;
Seventh Pennsylvania, Major Wynkoop; Second
Indiana, Major Hill; Fourth Michigan, Colonel
Minty; Fourth Kentucky, Lieutenant-Colonel
Buchstahl.
Colonel L. Zahm, commanding Second Brigade:
First Ohio, Lieutenant-Colonel Milliken ; Fourth
Ohio, Major Pugh ; Fifth Kentucky, Lieutenant
Colonel Scott; Third Ohio, Lieutenant-Colonel
Murray ; Artillery, Lieutenant Newell.
Making a total of 3,828 men.
General Stanley's first anxiety was to arm this
little force with repeating rifles, and to increase
it by the addition of several new regiments as
early as possible.
On the 11th of December he determined to try
their metal in an engagement, and to this end
moved upon Franklin. Colonel Ed. McCook, with
the Third Kentucky, Seventh Pennsylvania, and
Fourth Michigan, took the lead. The advance
guard, two companies of the Seventh Pennsylva
nia, attacked the enemy's pickets six miles south
of Brentwood, and drove them upon the main
picket, about fifty in number, who retired after
a brief skirmish.
The command now turned off on a by-road and
bivouacked for the night. In the morning the
march was resumed, and within two miles of the
town the advance again struck the confederate
pickets, who ran away and joined the main body,
which was formed in line of battle to the left of
a mill near the creek. General Stanley at once
ordered McCook to form two of his regiments to
the left near the road. Major Wyncoop attacked
with fifty men, and the enemy made a stout re
sistance, but at length fell back through the town
hotly pursued by the Union cavalry, who killed
five men, including a lieutenant, captured twelve
men and a large number of horses. The mill
and other property valuable to the confederates
was destroyed, and the cavalry returned to camp
on the 13th well pleased with their new revolving
rifles,
ANECDOTE OF GENERAL ROSECRANS.
During the war a Nashville lady called upon
General Rosecrans for the purpose of procuring
a pass to visit relations. The request was de
nied, and thereupon, with tears in her eyes, she
stated that her uncle was very ill and might not
recover. " Very sorry, indeed, madam," replied
the General. My uncle has been indisposed for
some time. As soon as Uncle Sam recovers a
little, you shall have a pass to go where you
please."
