IjiHf^-'vlM E601 • fxV o M O /'y.^-X c°'.^-.>o ,/\v;^-% . -, on tbp ar iFnr ®l|^ llnton ®i|p Q^Ilto (EommanBiprB IGooal IGeginti At (^Umimh, i§\)\a (irtnbpr 9. 1912 LEWIS M. HOSEA Brevet Maior, U. S. A. Some Side Lights On The War For The Union. Companions and Quests, t^embers of the Lo^al Legion: Father Time has laid his hand not unkindlj- upon us who in the bloom and vigor of early manhood, upheld our Country's flag amid the smoke of battle; yet the accumulating j-ears are fast crowding the stirring scenes of the War for the Union into the obscurity of a remote past. We who yet survive love to assemble, though in ever decreasing numbers, to recall the incidents of that great historic period and renew the comrade- ship that had there its birth. I once saw a picture showing four veterans of the "'Old Guard" of Napoleon at a French cabaret. One of them, grey-haired and decrepit, had risen tottering to his feet with glass in his outstretched hand and face beaming with the ecstasy of enthusiasm, giving a toast. The others, blear-eyed and bent, are trying with difficulty to gain their feet — one with the aid of a crutch — to respond standing to the sentiment "The beloved Emperor." It was a pathetic scene that with but a change of uniforms might stand for a picture of ourselves drinking to the memory of ' 'Phil" Kear- ney, or Sheridan or our noble old "Pap" Thomas; or of our old-time adversaries drinking to "Mas'r Robert" Ivee or "Stonewall" Jackson. Old as we may be or become, our pride in the history we helped to make still lives, and our affection for our leaders and for our comrades living and those who gave to their country the last sacrifice of heroic devotion, still burns an unquenchable flame in our hearts. Our testimony as to the great episodes of campaign and battle has already been given and is of record for the future historian. What remains untold is, for the most part, mere incidental experience that can do no more than throw side-lights on that period of a nation's travail. This I mentioned to our Commander when he detailed me to present a paper; for I felt some embarrassment, growing out of the conditions just mentioned, in being thus compelled to turn to these secondary matters for novelty in a paper before the Commandery on an occasion graced by the distinguished members of the Commandery-in-Chief; but the detail was insisted upon and I have chosen as a topic — Some Side Lights on the War for the Union. While reflecting over the matter, I was reminded of an occasion when I was much more seriously embarrassed in obeying a military order; and, as the incident was in the nature of a flag of truce and involved most unexpected and far-reaching consequences — though personal — it may fairly serve as an introductor}' side-light to the grim business of war. I must mention at the outset that there were ladies in that case, 1 ^ which was of itself a very embarrassing fact to a callow youngster of extreme diffidence and a sensitive temperament, and made more so by circumstances I shall mention later. I proceed then to^ A Social Flag of Truce. Karly in 1864, after undergoing the fatigues and dangers of the pre- ceding fall and winter at Chickamauga and Chattanooga, at Mission Ridge and the long march under Sherman to the relief of Burnside beleagured by L/ongtreet at Knoxville, and including our several fights in the valley of East Tennessee with Wheeler and the final rout of his Cavalry Divi- sion, we returned to Chattanooga and I was soon after detailed, much against my will, to report for duty with General Kenner Garrard com- manding the Second Division of Cavalry then at:Columbia, Tennessee, refitting for the Atlanta campaign. Tired, ragged and dirty, I reported in April with rather ill grace to General Garrard, whose headquarter tents occupied a beautiful grove of stately oaks in the grounds of the Columbia Athenaeum — a famous school for \'oung ladies, the proprietor of which. Rector Smith, was absent as chaplain in the Southern army in which two of his sons were serving. After the official greetings. General Garrard spoke somewhat as follows: "Captain, you've come just at the right time. Here we have been camped for a week on these grounds without a word to the ladies at the Rectory yonder'' — (which stood about a hundred yards distant)-, 'and I feel that we owe it to ourselves as well as to them that we give them assurance of safety and protection, I wish you, therefore, to call upon them this evening and make the prcper e^planations." It is said that the unexpected always happens; but I ask you to put 3'ourselves in my place and say if this was not rather sudden as a first military order from a new commander. Natvirally, I began to protest— "Well, but General, don't you think that in a delicate matter of this kind, }'ou yourself-—" "No," broke in the General with some show of asperity, (which I afterward knew to be nothing but a cover for the extreme diffidence of a , confirmed old bachelor--- "You will go as my representative";— and, with a ghost of a smile intended to sweeten the base flattery --"1 know you will be equal to the occasion. I leave the matter in your hands. Take one of the younger officers with you, if you like, for I understand there is a charming young lady there-— the Rector's daughter"— this last with just a twinkle of the eye. Then with added sternness, he concluded: "That's all. Captain, you have your orders"-— and', waving me aside, went into his tent. I stood paralyzed, almost long enough to take root, in a whirl of per- plexing feelings at the prospect that opened before me. Superadded to my diffidence were certain prior experiences, not uncommon in the West, of the bitter hatred of the Southern women for the "Yanks." What could I say to high-bred laches whose dear ones were absent in arms against us whom they looked upon as invaders of their homes? It is but truth to say I had received and executed many an order involving extreme danger, with far less appalling reluctance. I sent a flag of truce in the shape of a note announcing my orders and asking permission to call and soon received a reply, courteous but guarded, which did not lessen my fears. Night came, and accompanied by Mr. McLeod a young aid-de-camp who kindy consented so laugh at my apprehensions until I was nettled, I ascended the Rectory steps in doleful desperation, and identified myself to a ceremonious and ancient darkey in waiting. Ushered into the pres- ence of an old lady of the Martha Washington type, whose gray hair and perfect repose lent a dignity to the occasion, my discomfiture was com- pleted by her perfectly sensible acquiescence in the demands of military necessity, and her ready perception of the courtesy implied in the visit. While the discharge of my mission was being rendered thus easy, a young lady with dark flashing eyes entered— but, as Rudyard Kipling says, "that is another story"; which— truth compels me to say, -is not yet fin- ished. I came, I saw, I conquered, at least T thought so, but this last has been .^ debatable question unto this day---aud is likely to remain so. As to the succeeding incidents to be narrated. I must mention that my recollection of them had all but faded out, when, a few month's ago in a forgotten nook in my library, there were discovered some old papers to- gether with two much-worn pocket-diaries. One of the latter covered the entire Atlanta campaign of 1864, and the, other a considerable part of the campaign of Wilson's cavalry through Alabama and Georgia early in 1865. These had been lost for about twenty-five years and quite forgotten; but although little marc than a b\re re:ord of marches and distances, they brought back the details with wonderful' vividness. They contain the record of an event mentioned by General Howard at a banquet of the Army of the Tennessee held at the Burnet House many years ago, and which may be regarded as — The Closing Scene of the Atlanta Campaign. The Cavalry, particularly Garrard's Division, played an important part in the flanking movements that compelled Johnson to fall back from one chosen position to another. The bloody experience of Kennesaw Mountain convinced Sherman of the disastrous price of victory by direct assault; and I find here the record of flanking "demonstrations" involv- 3 ing- constant movements up this valley or down that, crossing this moun- tain and fording- that stream, and intermittent clashes with the' enemy, inflicting or suffering losses, but all tending to threaten the railroad upon which Johnson depended for supplies, and to harrass and compel him to detach troops to keep us at bay. Let me give you a sample from the diar\': ( 1864) Sunday, May 8. Left camp (3 miles from Trenton) and went down the valley to Johnston's Creek, passed up the mountain and came down at Stev- ens Gap, and encamped at Bailey "s Cross-roads on Chickamauga Creek. 21 miles. Monday, May 9. (McLemore's Cove) Passed up the valley toward Crawfish Spring and crossed the Pigeon Mountain at Collette's Gap. Wilder's Brigade passing through Dug Gap into Lafayette, Encamped at Lafayette, 12 miles. Tuesday, May 10. On starting out of camp [forVillanow] rec''d orders from Gen I McPherson to remain at Lafayette and await orders. Rec''d orders same day to proceed. One brigade [Minty's] sent forward through Ship's Gap to Villanow in a blinding rain. Wednesday, May 11. Started to-day wtth Wilder's brigade for Villanow and took position protecting the debouch of Snake Creek Gap through which our trains were passing. Thursday, May 12. Headquarters in a church. Gen!s. Sherman and Thomas and staff spent part of the day. Saturday, May 14. Rec'd orders to make a demonstration on Rome, and, if possible cross the Oostenaula, and cut the railroad between Resacca and Kings- ton. Marched out 20 miles and encampsd. Sunday, May 15. Started on; and 8 miles from Rome struck 200 rebels an J after a slight skirmish routed them, killing and wounding some and capturing a few, Wilder's brigade passed to the left toward river, aad Minty's brigade falling back from Rome, the whole command moved back and took position in John's pocket and encamped. Monday, May 16. G?nl. Corse [of Sherman's staff) came to us with orders to cross the river and join McPherson. Started about 4 o'clock, and at 1 A .M. next morning head of column crossed pontoons at Lay's ferry below Resacca and encamped. Tuesday, May 17: In afternoon moved out parallel with McPherson and en- camped at night opposite McGuire's in a church---15 miles---opposite Adtiirs- ville. Wednesday, May 18. Moved out to Hermitage, and at Woodland halted and 4th Michigan sent out to reconnoiter toward Kingston. They were repulsed and pursued to our lines, when the enemy were driven back and Col. Early, 2d Georgia Cavalry was killed. Encamped. Thursday, May 19. Went with 123d Illinois to Rome. Met. Gen. Jeff C. Davis and rejoined the command 5 miles beyond Kingston at F ree Bridge. 4 I am reminded by the entry of May 18th that Col. Early wat a re- markably fine looking man of rather large stature and the sight of him as he lay dead upon the ground in a new and bright uniform, was sadly im- pressive. The incident is connected in my mind with a lordly mansion- house near by, whose situation commanded one of the finest views I have ever seen. It is just possible that this was Col. Early's home and that he was shot thus almost at his own door— -perhaps in taking leave of his family. I pass over the entries to— - Thursday, July 21. This morning rec'd orders from Gen. Sherman to start immediately on a raid to Covington to destroy railroad and bridges in Atlanta and Augusta rds. Moved at 4 P.M. and camped at Rock Bridge, head of column reaching camp at 12 (night]. Friday, July 22. Left camp at daylight and reached Oxford at 12 M. sending two companies to Coynsr's Station, who destroyed bridges and one train of cars and depot. Went on with 98th Ills, to Covington and de- stroyed depot and track: large hospital building beyond town. Captured large amount of commissary stores, tobacco, etc. Long's Brigade sent to Eastward, destroying 2 bridges, R.R. tracks and train at Social Circle. Met at Coving. ton 3 Confederate surgeons, Nichols, Lee and Robinson. Saturday, July 23. Having moved out 8 miles nigtht before and camped, left camp at 4 o'clock, burning cotton and capturing stock, passing through Logans- ville reached camp at Tnckem. Sunday, July 24. Leaving camp at 4 A.M. reached Dscatur, encamped 2 miles to Westward and reported to Sherman. Results of raid: Destroyed two railroad and 2 wagon bridges, and 5 or 6 mil?$ of track, 2 trains and 12 extra cars. Depots at Covington, Coyner's and Social C'rcle. 2000 bales cotton, etc., and captured 800 horses and mules, nearly 200 prisoners, wagons, com'sry stores, tobacco and had only 3 men killed. Tuesday, July 2S. Mjrched 26 miles through Roseville and encamped 3 miles from Mirietta. Comnind went into trenches within >i mile of Decatur. Wednesday, July 27. Moved out with Stoneman into camp near Flat Rock. Thursday, July 23. Fought enemy at Flat Roilcaad moved back to Coving- ton road 6 miles from Flat Rock. Friday, July 29. Rem»ined in camp in Covington road nearly 16 milts from Atlanta. Manday, August 1. Moved to left into entrenchments on left of 23d Corps at 6 P.M. Headquarters 2 miles from Buckhead. Tuesday, August 2. Remained in trenches. Headquarters in ground of Hookers fight on 20th July. Thursday, Aug. 18. At 2 A.M. moved out to Sandtown to join Kilpat- rick. 2 Brigades' 1st and 2nd and 4 pieces. Friday, Aug. 19. Wilder went with Section to Decatur at 2 A.M. Fight of raiders at Jonesboro, struck railroad. 5 . Saturday, Aug. 20. Wilder returned, Big fight at Lovejoy. • t V:- Monday, Aug. 22v Raiders returned. . Loss 22;. Saturday, Aug. 2T. Crosssed Chaftahoochie and encamped few miles from Sandtown. ■ "■ Sunday, Aug. 28. Moved about 4 miles and joined 23rd A. C. Thursday, September 1. Moved to Rough and Ready and encamped about 5 miles from Jonesboro. I4th A. C. charged Hardee's Corps in works and captured 1000 of Claiborne's and Cheatham's Div. Friday, Sept. 2. Carried news to Gen. Sherman of evacuation of Atlanta.- The incident of Sept 2nd I find narrated more at length in a letter to home folks written the next day in our bivouac 22 miles South of Atlanta. I reproduce part of it: ' 'A brief summary of our operations may not be uninteresting. Leav- ing our position in the trenches, on the 26th about 5 P.M. we moved back covering the movement of the infantry columns until they had began to march Southward, when we crossed the Chatta- hoochie and moved rapidly Southward to Sandtown, re-crossing the Chattahoochie at that place, and felt our way up the left of the Army, taking positions to protect their left and the trains in rear- Our operations thus far have kept Gen. Sherman advised of all movements on the part of the enemy. Yesterday we learned of the evacuation of Atlanta, and I was sent to bear the news to Gen. Sherman. In delivering this message I was brought in contact with Sherman and Thomas on the field, while the Army of the Tennessee [Gen.. Howard], was fighting for the possession of Ivovc- joy's station— some six mUeH below Jonesboro. The bearer of good news pro tem. is an enviable person, and so I found it on this occa- sion. The sight was a magnificent one. The infantry columns moving up, deploying and advancing in unbroken lines to the front. The Artillery meanwhile kept up a lively, engagement and the screaming-^fjhells and the rattle of musketry formed an imposing accompaniment to the scene. My own regiment was hotly engaged day before yestexdav and suffered a fearful loss. Thev were com- plimehtedin bfdefs today and their brigade well spoken of. Thev charged Cleburne's Division ot Hardee's Corps, in their works and took them, captiinng some 1200 to 1500 prisoners; and, had the 4tli Corps been prompt in its support, the entire division would have been taken in. . .yi|.iii..!. "The men feel especially proud of this inasmuch as GWtiunre*§*'Dfvi- sion is so highly spoken of by the rebels themselves^and the rebels take much pride to themselves from having been taken bv the I4th Corps of our Army which they always consider the elite of our .•\rmy. 6 "Our position today is East of Jonesboro watching the left flank and the McDonough road. The results have been all that was expected and came near ruining the rebel army here. Tomorrow we move back to Atlanta with the Army of the Cumberland. The campaign is thus naturally ended, and the long looked for and heartily needed period of rest is at length at hand— we hope," The colorless statement that "the bearer of good news is an enviable person"', was the regular army way of stating a fact in an absolutely bare and neutral manner with all the sentiment and local color squeezed out of it. The facts were these: Remember that Sherman's way of flanking Hood out of Atlanta was by taking a brigade or Division at a time from the extreme left and mov- ing it behind out lines to the extreme right, paralleling Hood's railroad at the rear of his army. It is easy to see that Sherman thus gained the full benefit of his larger force by stretching the line of the enemy to the breaking point — and the breaking point was necessarily Atlanta, after we [the cavalry] had destroyed the eastern railroad at Covington and Decatur. Some time after midnight in the early morning of Sept. 2nd, our cavalry scouts and pickets discovered that the works in their front were deserted; and as soon as the full fact was developed by a reconnoisance that Atlanta was evacuated by the enemy, I was at once dispatched with the information to Gen. Sherman, picking my way across country. Of course it was difficult to find a way until after daylight, but I reached Genl. Sherman on the right with Thomas about 9 o'clock at L/Ovejoy station, about 20 miles south of Atlanta. [I had since entirely forgotten that General Howard was there, until he mentioned my bringing the first news of the evacuation, in his Barnet House address years ago.] I delivered my message to Sherman and Thomas while both stood together watching the charge of Howard's battle line and they both gave extravagant vent to the joy of the announcement. After a rapid cross-questioning, and assurance that I had personally seen the inside of the works, they let loose and actually danced and flung up their hats, and embraced each other, while I bore the brunt of hand-shaking that made my arms sore. ' Of course the news spread and with it a chorus of shouting and cheers that finally reached the battle-line in front and spurred on the attack into a successful charge that planted our forces upon the coveted railroad and brought Genl. Howard back post-haste to confirm the news. It was a spectacular ending of the long battle that began at Buzzard's Roost five months before and had continued without cessation. Atlanta was ours and fairly won ! 7 ANOTHER FLAG OF TRUCE. We come now to incidents of the Wilson Cavalry campaign of 1865. Sherman, late in 1864, was on his "March to the Sea" from Atlanta, leaving Thomas to oppose Hood and prevent an invasion of the North across the Ohio. Nashville was to be the point of resist- ance. Unable to prevent Hood's augmented army from crossing the Tennessee, at Decatur, Schofield, aided by Wilson's cavalry which hung upon Hood's flank, neutralizing Forrest, all the way, was com- pelled to fight an unexpected and bloody battle at Franklin late in November — one of the most terrible struggles on record, costing the enemy twelve general officers — and our army was concentrated at Nashville. Thomas, determined upon a finish, delayed only until his frag- mentary army could be collected and made serviceable. Two weeks after Franklin, the battle of Nashville was opened by the cavalry swinging around and doubling yp Hood's left flank, blazing the way for A. J. Smith's attack and driving the enemy from his earth- works into the coverts of the Brentwood hills. On the second day Hood's rout was complete, and the cavalry pressed on in pursuit, notwithstanding Forrest's interposition, until Hood's fugitives were pushed across the Tennessee, broken and disorganized, with a loss of nearly all their artillery and impedimenta. The cavalry then went into cantonments at Gravelly Springs on the north "oank of the Ten- nessee River, to prepare for the "Selma" campaign. About the last of February, Forrest, who was located down in Mississippi near West Point, apparently seeking to learn what the next move was to be, sent up a flag of truce to General Wilson, ostensibly on some legitimate errand, but really to find out all he could about our forces and intentions. Forrest was always ready with a flag of truce when his infor- mation ran short, but Wilson was not to be outdone in politeness, and so Forrest's flag was dismissed, and the answer was taken under our own flag a few days later, by myself with an escort of half a dozen men. In the vicinity of luka, however, we were turned back by what appeared to be a considerable picket post, who, I became satisfied later., were merely guerillas acting in the interest of Forrest, and I then determined to take men enough next time to make it interesting. A short time after this — which ! find from my recently discov- ered diary was on the 20th of February — I had been up to Florence and returned to camp about 8 in the evening, quite weary, having ridden thirty miles during the day. I found General Eli Long at headquarters awaiting my return. About 9 o'clock Colonel Park- hurst, of General Thomas' staff, arrived with requisition for a flag of truce to General Dick Tavlor for certain negotiations, and General 8 Wilron directed me to take charge of the party and carry out the previously intended negotiations with General Forrest. I at once arranged for forty picked men from Wilder's mounted infantry, and. pressing General Long to take my bed for the night, I ordered another horse and started out at 11 o'clock that night to the, landing, five miles below, which, with the aid of lanterns, we reached about 1 o'clock in the morning, and put our horses aboard a steamer in waiting, and at daylight were at Eastport, Miss., and started on our way to the rebel lines, determined to penetrate as far South as we could. A flag of truce expedition illustrates one of the phases of war- fare always of peculiar interest to the participants, because, on those occasions the veil of mvstery separating hostile armies is momentarily drawn aside, and the mortal enemies of yesterday are brought face to face in the interchange of friendly courtesies. I had selected men of fine physique and perfect equipment, armed with sabers and Spen- cer carbines, intended to show the "Johnnies" a fair sample of "them Yanks up thar 't the Springs," and t-o overawe any guerillas that might attempt to stop us. as they had done on the former occasion. Indeed, it was necessary to have a strong escort even on a peaceful mission, for the woods were infested with these "bushwhackers" or "rangers" who could not see a flag of truce the size of a bed quilt unless fastened to a bayonet. A small white handkerchief on the end of a cavalry saber was deemed sufficient on this occasion. Leaving the cottonwood trees of the Tennessee, waving their giant branches over her beautiful bosom, we struck a rapid gait southwestv/ard. determining to keep it up until halted by a regular picket post of the enemv in telegraphic communication with Forrest. Colonel Parkhurst and the lieutenant of the escort and myself whiled away the journey with jokes, which shortened the distance, and fifteen miles' travel over hill and valley brought us to the vicin- ity of luka, where Bragg had been "euchred" by Sherman. There, riding down the same old hillside came two horsemen from a group be>ond, who presently halted and remained motionless as on picket post, with guns lifted. We turned ofl" on the Rienzi road, however, on the right, at some distance short of their position, without giving them the opportunity to contest the advance with uts. "Halt!" came the command, when our movement was perceived. We made no reply, and moved steadily on. "Half halt!" again they cried, as they galloped nearer. The clank of sabers, as our forty veterans moved steadily onward, was the only response. As they came closer we perceived that they were dressed as citi- zens in butternut and gray, and bore none of the usual evidences of the soldier's profession, exc.ept that each was a rather complicated 9 arsenal of military weapons, with pistols in belts, saddle holsters, and even in bootlegs, while rifles slung from their shoulders and across their saddle bows rattled against their rusty sabers. The brave Knight of LaMancha could not have raised a more fear-inspir- ing clatter when valiantly charging down upon those giants whom the envious enchanters had transformed into windmills, than did these valorous sons of Mars coming at full tilt toward our devoted flag of truce. "Halt, or your flag shall not protect you!" cried the foremost of the animated arsenals, as they urged their steeds into closer range. Forty wicked-looking carbines sprang up into the air at con- mand, as the significant acknowledgment of their information. The facetious bushwhackers said something further about their "regi- ment back thar over the hill," and the "peril" of proceeding "further into their lines." This was a little too much. They were promptly informed, in somewhat unvarnished terms, that we proposed to keep going as long as we blame pleased, and they were given just two minutes to get out of sight; and as thev stopped a little dazed, the command was given, "Ready, aim — " and the mxen of ordnance looked into the muzzles of forty carbines, and saw a dangerous light in the eyes behind them. Their crestfallen astonishment was ludicrou'. Turning, they rode away a few rods, and on looking back and see- ing the muzzles of the carbines still pointed in their direction, and the officer looking at his watch, they sprang into a rapid gaPop and wei'e soon out of sight. We took up the line of march with hearty enjoyment of this episode, and saw no more of the enemy that day. We camped that night in the woods, and reached the vicinity of Rienzi late the following afternoon without obstructfon. At a house near the roadside, a mile or two outside of Rienzi, we passed, in a drizzle of rain, a number of horses fastened near a house, whose riders were evidently within. They discovered us after we had parsed and, mounting in hot haste, dashed into the woods like the wicked flea (so the lieutenant said) whom no man pusueth. What came of it we soon ascertained, for, on reaching Rienzi, evidences of a verv hasty departure of the form.er occupants were apparent. The linger- ing smoke of a locomotive still hung over the station, the loose end? of a severed telegraph wire dangled from the post, and the scattered papers in the telegraph OiTice betokened the h?stv exit of the oper- ator. Two or three citizens, decrepit and too feeble to remove them- selves from the anticipated irruption of invaders, tremulously ap- proached, not altogether reassured by the white flag, and began to plead the defenseless condition of their families and to beg protec- tion from the Yankee army, which they imagined was coming right on behind. 10 The pacific character of the expedition explained to them, and their fears aliased, they confessed the fright which had been put uDon them by the roadside party that we had disturbed. The news soon spread, and by 8 o'clock that night the town, which contained about a dozen buildings, once more housed a population including the telegraph operator and, later, a Confederate lieutenant at the head of a dozen or more men, with horses reeking with sweat and strongly resembling those we had passed on the road, came in from the oppo- site direction. The lieutenant stated that he was a commissioned officer of the Confederate forces and in charge of this place as an outpost, and consequently authorized to receive our flag, and by way of lame apology for not being at his post when we arrived, said that he had been out "foraging." It being, therefore, clearly impos- sible to proceed furlher into the bowels of the land without vio- lating the rules of war and setting a dangerous precedent, we, of course, remained. The telegraph operator, having re-established communication with Forrest's headquarters a dispatch was sent to P orrest and to Dick Taj lor requesting a personal interview, and, awaiting replies, we disposed ourselves in the little village, Colonel Parkhurst and I ac- cepting the hospitality' of a citizen who, like the woman of Jericho ihowed us a kindness, doubtless with the hope that when the invaders came into the land, in real earnest, they might likewise show a kind- ness to himself and his house. We soon became quite at home with our entertainers, and seated by a cheerful log fire, the evening soon slipped away until sleep took possession of us and released us for that night of our cares and fatigue. Daylight showed our little hamlet of Rienzi — called a town by courtesy — occupy- ing a site in the woods, elevated very little above a swampy country surrounding, at the intersection of certain im- portant wag'on roads; but in all material respects a most dismal place. Had not the telegraph operator proved a genial fellow (and fond of seven-up), time would have dragged heavily indeed. Alout half-past eight in the evening of the 23d, a rebel soldier came over to Dr. Taylor's, where we were quartered, bringing the compliments of General Forrest, saying that he had arrived and would be happy to see us at Mr. Rowland's, some distance away. We proceeded to the house in Colonel Parkhurst's ambulance, and in a little while we were chatting pleasantly with General Forrest and with Major Anderson and "Judge" Caruthers of his staff. General Dick Taj lor did not come in response to Colonel Parkhurst's request, but had authorized General Forrest to act for him. In a letter to home folks, written at Rienzi on the 26th, I find a word-picture of the great Confederate Murat. I was at the time, and 11 as a matter of first impression, struck by what then seemed the "aristocratic mien" of General Forrest; but a subsequent meeting quite removed this impression. Our present meeting was in the dim light of common tallow candles on a dark, rainy night, in the living room of a somewhat rude country residence, and it is easy now to understand how first impressions were heightened by the peculiar circumstances of the meeting. I quote from the letter: "Forrest is a man fully six feet in height; rather waxen face; handsome; high, full forehead, and with a profusion of light- gray hair thrown back from the forehead and growing down rather to a point in the middle of the same. The lines of thought and care, in an upward curve, receding, are distinctly marked and add much to the dignity of expression. The gen- eral effect is suggestive of notables of the Revolutionary times, with powdered hair as we see them in the portraits of that day; and to our unaccustomed eves the rich gray uniform w'th its embroidered collar (a wreath of gold on black ground en- closing three silver stars) added much to the eii'ect produced." After a short talk of a general nature. Colonel Parkhur^t opened the matter of the proposed exchange of prisoners on which we hxd come, and I had a p,-ood opportunity to study the three Confederate ofl^cers. I could not but observe the quickness of apprehension and decision displaced by Forrest in seizing the entire thought intended to be conve3ed from the introductory expressions. To thnk quickly and concretely, and to decide likewii^^e, stenied to be his mental hai.it. There was about his talk and manner a certain soldierly simplicity and engaging frankness, and I was frequently lost in real admiration. The letter continues: "I could not, in the dim light afforded by tallow candles, observe the color of his eves, Lut the, seemed to me to be brown; pleasant-looking, lit up occasior.all,y by a gleam of sol- dierly bravery. His expression, loth pleasant f.nd striking, is given to his phvsiognom/ by the slightest possible elevat'on of the eyebrovi^s. The latter are black with a dight tinge of gray, and a black moustache and chin v/hiskers, both cut short, add to the militarv bearing of the man. His face is long, and cheeklones rather prominent, eyes large, though not noticeably to, and the head full above the e es and ears. The face indi- cates a decided character; and the contrast of the grav hair and tha waxen face and black whi;k"rs gives a ver - aristo cratic appearance. H"s habituil expression teemed rather sutdued and thoughtful, lut whsn h"s face ^'s lighted up b a smile, wh^'ch ripples all over his feature-, the etTect is reall . charming.'' After Colonel Parkhurst had fini.hed with General Forre.-t, I took up the matter with which Gsneral Wilson had charged me. As I now recall it, this related to a ■()ropo 'ton of Forre; t to establish a neutral zone up to our lines ' outh of the river, m which he could 12 distribute food to the destitute inhabitants, said to have been impov- erished by Hood's retreating: army after the rout at Nashville the preceding December; but of course it was impossible to concede that armies were eleemosynary institutions, and his proposal was declined. After business, and well on toward midnight, we fell into desul- tory conversation one with another. Forrest expressed great admi- ration for roldierly qualities and especially for personal courage, and was evidentlly pleased at our recognition of the fame of his exploits at the head of his cavalry. Upon his inquiry if it was I or another of the name who had given him a little trouble near Columbia, Tenn., in the fall of '64 by a surprise attack upon a portion of his force, to wh'ch I had to p^ead guilty, he at once looked me over with renewed interest, and said some pleasant personal things about it. Let me here finish with the letter: "His language indicates a very limited education, but his im- pressive manner conceals manv otherwise notable defects. The choice of words too plainly evidences early associations, unfortu- nately, and one feels sometimes disappointed at errors palpable to any school^O"". He invariably omits the final 'g' in the termination 'ing,' and many words are inexcusably mispro- nounced; and he alwavs uses the past participle in place of the past tense of such words as 'see' (as *I seen' instead of 'I saw,' and 'holn tote,' meaning to he^p carry), etc. "... In a very short time, however, these pass unnoticed. He spefks of his successes with a soldierly vanitv, and ex- presses the kindest feeling toward prioners and wounded. I told him that I had the honor to present the compliments of mv general, our Cavalry Murat (Wilpon) to him, in the hope of meeting him upon some future occasion. He at once ac- cepted this as a challenge, which the friendly message might be construed to con-'-ev, and with a curl of the lip he said: *Jist tell General Wil'on that I know the nicest little place down be^ow here in the world, and whenever he is ready I will fight him with any number from one to ten thousand cavaln/ and abide the is'^ue. Gin'ral Wilson may pick his men and I'll pick mine. He mav take his sabers and I'll take my six-shooters. I don't want nary a saber in my command — haven't got one.' I replied that I had no doubt General W. would be happy to accommodate him, but that he '.v r ? a West Point officer and believed in the saber. 'Well,' said General F.. 'I ain't no graduate of West Point and never rubbed my back up agin an^' college, but Wilson may take his sabers and I'll u^e my six-shooters and agree to whup the fight with any cavalry he can bring.' 13 He spoke of the capture of guns from a battery of the Fourth Regular Artillery on the 25th of December, near Pulaski, as doing him more good than anything else in the campaign. He said he had 'whupped' the Fourth Regular Cavalry and could do it every time. I remarked my regret at his light opinion of regulars, as he was touching me. He disclaimed any inference, and said he alluded only to that regiment. He endeavored to convince me of the perfection of his system of scouts who, he said, brought him all information of the slightest movement on our part, but I noticed his surprise at being informed that trains were running to Johnsonville and Stevenson. He said that he was afraid of no man with the saber and would fight any individual single-handed and agree to *whup the fight.' * Major Anderson, his A. A. G.. is a man of perhaps thirty years, with florid complexion and j;ellowish hair. His face de- notes rather a preponderance of the animal characteristics, but considerable ability withal. He was formerly from near Murfreesboro, Tenn., and for several \ears between 1841 and 1850 was in business in Cincinnati with Jas. D. Lehmer & Co. He knew me at once from my name, and I conversed with him long concerning old Cincinnati landmarks. He it is who puts the general's briefly expressed ideas in writing, and they are then revised by — Judge Caruthers. formerly a Memphis law er. a tall, spare man, rather resembling General Sherman, high forehead, light, thin hair, mouth and chin concealed partly by close-cut whiskers of sandy gray, giving a rather grim look. He seemed a very gentlemanly companion, and upon inquiry as to his unmilitary title of "Judge," he replied that though upon Gen. For- rest's staff in a military capacity, he was better known by the civil title. We parted from our temporary friends at 4 o'clock in the morning of February 24th, promising to call upon them after breakfast to see them off. At parting we shook hands all round, and just as we were leaving, the general took my hand in his own a second time, and, holding it a cordial grasp, said in a friendly and courteous manner (referring to the Tennessee episode of the preceding fall) : 'Don't get too far away from * our command when you come down into this countrv — some of my ho, s may pick >ou up.' I replied that thev certainl" had not availed themselves of pre- vious opportunities, laughing, and he appreciated the allusion, and rejoined that I might not alwa^ s be so fortunate. We saw them no more, as thev departed before we had finished our breakfast, and we now await tha action of General Dick Tay- low, to be ;ent us by telegraph." The answers came in due time, but the rains which had begun at the time of our arrival and steadily confnued, had converted thp country surrounding Rienzi into a lake, and it was several daj s be- This boast was illfounded. See page 93 of mv "Campain of Selma First Vol." "Sketches of War History'' Ohio Com'dy publication. See also p, 81 for further remarks of Ferrest. 14 . fore we could ^et away. We felt safe enough, however, for the Con- federates did not like too much water in theirs, any more than we did, so we fell back on seven-up and other distractions. Am.ong the latter was one with a sequel. I had, earlier in life, acquired a slight knowledge of the Morse alphabet used in telegraphy, and, perceiving that the operator at Rienzi operated very sowly, was moved to revive my limited knowl- edge and re-accustom my ear to the sound of dots and dashes. This I did in my room, with lead-pencil tapping on a table, and by assidu- ous effort so far recalled my knowledge as to make out a word or two here and there in dispatches passing over the line in the intervals, of seven-up while in the telegraph office. When it came time to leave, I asked the operator to get Judge Caruthers of Forrest's staff, as the one most likely to understand what I wanted to say, and when we got the 0- K. signal, I shoved in and took the key, ver^^ much to the operator's surprise, and spelled oui a line of Virgil in the Latin: "Haec olim meniinisse juvahit, tetigisse dextrano tyranni." — (It will rejoice me hereafter to remember that I have touched the right hand of your leader"), And immediately mounted my horse and rode away, leaving the oper- ator in a state of bewilderment and alarm. I knew he would jump at the > conclusion that he had teen pla.ved upon, and that we had gotten knowedge of evervthing the wires had carried during our stay, but he was mistaken. The only thing I thus learned — and that partly by guessing — was that Charleston had fallen and that Forrest was mustering all his forces to "welcome us with bloody hands to hos- pitable graves" when we shoud come in earnest. Upon the whole I felt that we had absorbed quite a lot of valu- able information, which I know was influential in shaping our sub- sequent campaign to Selma and beyond. Years after I heard of the operator somewhere and sent him a true account of the matter. It seems that he construed the Latin words, which were unintelligible to him, as a cipher code of some sort which might get him into all sorts of trouble; but the end came soon afterward, and no doubt his fears were relieved. I never knew whether the point of my message was comprehended or not. STILL ANOTHER FLAG OF TRUCE. I have remarked that a subsequent interviev/ with Forrest quite removed the favorable first impression. That first meeting occurred during a respite of war, and we saw Forrest at his best, newly shaven, in a new yniform and of tranquil mind. I next saw him in the midst of turmoil and strife, wounded, defeated, savage and un- kempt. Let me turn a sidelight on the intervening conditions, 15 Wilson's troopers had started from the Tennessee River on March 22d, across the rugged highlands of North Alabama, marching from twenty to forty-three miles a day, crossing difficult streams, fighting Forrest daily during the last days in chosen positions and driving him onward, and now, on the 2d of April, reached the edge of the plateau and looked across the wide valley of the Alabama River to the city of Selma, suprrounded by frowning earthworks built with the best military skill for its defense. I here copy from my diary the entry of a day ever memorable in cavalry annals: "April 2. Left camp at Plantersville (twenty miles north of Selma), and reached the vicinity of Selma about 2 p. m., hav- ing met with little or no resistance. I rode on in advance of the general, and made a hasty reconnoisance of the works and their defenders before his arrival. Our two divisions — Upton's in the road to Summerfield and Long's on that to Montevallo — • appeared before the place at nearly the same time. Ihe cavalry and infantry of the enemy were plainly to be seen marching into position behind the works with formidable preparation. A portion of our troops were deployed, and the attention of the enemy occupied by a line of skirmishers. At 4 o'clock the plan of attack had. been determined upon. The right was to make a feint atack and the left to swing into the woi-ks. While riding from left to right in rear with the general, we heard heavy firing from the impetuous Long's gallant "Old Second Division," and galloping to the spot, found the division en- gaged in earnest anO pouring in over the outer works. I was at once dispatched to General Upton on the left to notify him of the changed conditions, and to push forward his attack. Poor Bess carried me like the wind over cornfields and through miry- ground in front of the works, and I reached General Upton just as he was charging into the work.^". Once inside, I saw that support was needed for the few men who hid entered. and galloping to the nearest regiment, ordered a charge for- ward into the town. (I pause to explain that the plan was for General Upton, at his own suggestion, to lead a picked force of about three or five hundred men into the works, at a point close to the river at our extreme left, as soon as the feint attack on the west should have drawn away th? attention of the enemy. Hearing the firing on the right, he charged in at a point near the Range line road, on which his troops were massed. I reached him in the midst of this charge, but as the situ- ation admitted no delay, I could not stop to explain, but immediately Missouri, in the lead.) The diary continues : **The scene of confusion which here ex'rted is not to be de- scribed. The dust and jipproachin"? darkness concealed friend and foe for a time, and ths cries of "Suri'ender, halt!" and th*: irregular musketry fire created a confu-ion of sounds equalled only by Babel. I finill- rode to the right to find General VViison, and can-:e aero, s the Fourth Chio Cavalry in a con 16 fueed crowd and disorganized from the loss of Major Dobbs, their commander. They requested me to take command of them, which I did, and marched them into position further to the right to attack what in the darkness we supposed to be a second line of works. It proved to be only a temporary rally of a few Confederates, however, on a slight elevation of ground, but they soon fled and Selma was won! Leaving the Fourth in position, I rode up into the town, and later the general established his headquarters at the Gee House, as had been agreed upon. It then became our duty to educe some degree of order from the chaos existing everywhere. The soldiers charging over the works into the town became scattered, and in the darkness it was impossible to organize them. Unfor- tunatelv, the negroes turned out «» rnas^e, and some houses were ro'^bed and some buildings set on fire by drunken ruf- fians, ^vhite and Mack. I passed the nieht in arresting negroes and soldiers, destroying liquor and fighting the fires. Paroled several Confederate officers and all the surgeons to the town limits." During the melee. Forrest and a number of his officers escaped in the darkness, and by a detour cro=^sed our line of mfirch in re?'-. Here the" surprised and nistoled a lieutenant, Ro^ce, of the Fourth Regular Cavalry, and thirty-eight men who had been detached in o^^ervqtion towarri the C^hawba River at our right rear. An act so coM-blooded and dartardlv excited throus-hout the command a dan- gerous^lv revengeful feeling that proved difficult to restrain. In the last charfre into the town I overtook and rode down a con- federate ordnance o'^cer whoTi I sent back by a'l orderly while pur- suing another. At th"^ Gee House the same evening he gave me his parole as an officer anH a gentleman to make no attempt to escape. This will explain the following entries of the diary: "Anril 3. I-ieiitenant Philips, C. S. A. — Ordnance officer, whom I had paroled las^t evening, called, and I found him a very en- tertaining and cultivated gentleman. "April 4. To-da-" went with Lieutenant Phillips to the stockade and released on parole Cantain Lewis Bond, of General Jack icon's staff. Captain B. and Lieutenant Phillips dined with me. and several of the officers met in my room and exchanged mutual condolements." (Another captured officer — Major Hascall, assistant adjutant gen eral — proved to have formerlv belonged to the First Uniteci States Infantry. The^e two. Ph'llips and Hascall, were gentlemen of culture, and under their personal paroles I put them on the foot- ing of guests, furnished each with a horse and an attendant, and they rode with us as guests from Selma to Macon, retiring to the rear whenever we engaged an opposing force.) Again quoting from the diary: "Avril .". Started at 1 o'clock p. m. with a flag of truce to Cahawba to arrange concerning the exchange of prisoners, etc. On reaching the Cahawba River I found the town in a state of great alarm at our coming, and the citizens came flocking to the bank with numerous white flags and surrendered the town.* 1 have in my possession the original document of surrender a copy of which is appended to this pape'. 17 After some difficulty, Major Hascall of the A. G. O., C. S. A. (who accompanied me), succeeded in making clear to them the fact that we came on a mission of peace, and th^y sent over canoes, in which we crossed. Mr. Mathews, a gentleman of the old school, invited the major and myself to become his guests, which we did, fortunately. Swam my horses over, crossed the men and equipments in canoes, and "camped" at Mr. Mathews . His wife and daughter (Miss Medora) received us with the greatest courtesy, and we found in their society the most de- lightful gratification of being with persons of education and culture." Mr. Mathews, besides being a highly cultured gentleman, was a most intelligent and' sensible man, and as 1 soon found, had none of the common war prejudice — a liberality of feeling fully shared bv his wife and daughter. Major Hascall, who had teen permitted to accompany me on the expedition, was a cherished friend of the fam- ily, and perhaps he exaggerated to them his ovm grateful feelings in having his captivity put on so novel and courteous a footing with his captors. On the 6th Major Strange arrived from General Forrest, and through him a meeting was arranged between GeneraJ Wilson and General Forrest, which took place on the 8th. My diary simply not-- that Forrest "did not do justice to mv firrt impressions of him, eith-^r in appearance or conversation;" but he had ridden far and was in a common fatigue uniform, much soiled. His hair and beard were scraggly, and he evidently had not yet calmed down from the com- plete and successive defeats at Plantersville. Bog^er's Creek and Selma. All the brutal instincts of the slave driver stood out unconcealed; and to these was added a suHr-" and gu'itv consciousness that we regarded him as the murderer of Ro" ce and his party, and that his lame attempt to excuse it bv putting the Vlame on those who accompanied him, was not believed, in the face of the dving declara- tions of his victims that he himself set the exam.ple to his m^^. The interview wa= short, and the generrls returned, tut Mainr Hascall and I remained.. My diary tells the rest: "April 10. Was awakened about half-pa^t 1 a .m. bv the arrivil of a courier from General Wilson, with instrucfons to return immediately to Selma. Crossing the horses over the Cahiwtn by swimming, and having partaken o!' an elegant breakfast with some Scuppernong wine, we bade our friends adieu, and by daUight had placed several milc" of sandv road between us and them. On the rord we met the prisoners sent by General W. for exchange. Separating them, as per instructions, I sent forty back to Selma. Reaching Selma, found that our troops had crossed and were pushing forward toward Montgomery. I soon overtook them, and we made headquarters at Benton, fif teen miles from Selma. 18 .."April 11. Resumed the march soon after daylight toward Mont- gomery. Sent two of my horses to Major Hascall anG Lieu- tenant Phillips, prisoners of war, and tliey accompanied us on the march. The prisoners were gradually paroled and turned loose at and beyond Montgomery." The later incidents of the cavalry campaign were the capture of Montgomery, of Columbus, Ga. — the scene of a most brilliant night attack led by Emory Upton — and of Macon, where the campaign as such ended. Here we learned of the surrender of Lee, and in that vicinity occurred the final exploit — the capture of Jeff Davis. For me, personally, the culminating experience of the campaign was the ride through Confederate lines to Savannah with reports for Grant and Sherman. I met General Sherman on his dispatch boat on the Savannah River (as he mentions in his memoirs), and reported to General Grant at Washington; but this I have elsewhere narrated in the published records of this commandery. When I look back upon the stir and dash and danger of those years, it all seems so unreal and impossible, I hardly re- alize that such a period actually forms part of the staid and settled routine life now drawing near its close. But, knowing its meaning better now, I thank the good Father who has our country in hl^ keep ing now as then, that it was given me as a high privilege to bear an humble part in the saving of this great nation in its hour of trial. APPENDIX. Cahawba, April, 1865. To Gen. V/ilsoii or Fed. Officer Com'dg — Sir: — We, the '^Intendant & Town Council," of this place, under flag of truce, surrendered it to a raiding party of yours on Monday or Tuesday last, and claintd protection, thereupon, for its citizens and property. This has teen granted so far. It is understood, how- ever, by our people, that the advantages to them of a surrender have been forfeited by the subsequent occupation of the town by the Con- federates under Gen'l Forrest's orders. This propositon may be un- tenable, as we think it is. The civil authorities of a little village, and the people of it. cannot te held responsible for ihe conduct of a military chieftain. They cannot prevent the occupation of the town bv the Confederate or Federal forcer, and when they have "done all they can do," they stand vindicated, and entitled to ail the benefits of a formal surrender. For the people of Cahaba, therefore, we ask the protection due them, and that no raiding parties fhall be allowed to enter it again. Respectfully, J. A.Hawith, Intendant, C. Krout, Clerk, Gen'l Wilson, F. W. Straitman, Selma, Ala. J. W. MoORE,. Co »)(C(7. 19 ■ "oV' ^°-V. V . ^L'^'^ <^. . . > • . 0^ ^:> ,-l<^^ A * ^^^ ^^ ^^^ .-^<^^ -» o '^^-<^ '^'V A^ ,o«o, -V o"^ •^"-' o A c-"^-. <^^ -a? *<> O^ q. " e « o ' . • ^c A A* ^^^4^^ <5v^ .. " " « ■<$> r. ** A^ ^^ '° C ' A O^ * « o ^ .< V^ s» V" ', C\ *'■ .-.; > ^^..A^ ' ^>'^' V ^' .>^^,, ^^ ** ■0,' -<* ^^-■^. 0- > V ,-^ . " c ^' /'"^ ^;^"^^^^ ^^'% \^p.^' /• / .,, "-^ '°-^ ^^ ,-5v" . "oV" 0^ -^^r .\' A ^ \ DOBBS V<^ LiailAIIV BINDINQ IBBS BROS. % MV BINDINO i .0* 'o o « ° ^ ST. AUGUSTINE qV .!•'», '*q m^FLA. ^2084 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 764 349 2