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wheeling quickly, he charged through it, and plunged headlong into the river, then swollen to a mighty torrent, and amid a shower of bullets, making the water fairly foam, he clambered up the opposite bank. Of the sixty who formed this "forlorn hope," but thirteen escaped, and three of these were badly wounded. His first

tested field, and in his intercourse with all Regardless of his own life,. he quickly those who came near him, with a full lus-gathered some fifty or sixty brave spirits, tre-yet it remained for this occasion to and like a brave "Navarre," hurled him. show to his generals, officers and soldiers, self upon the enemy's flanks, driving them not only that the soul of the patriot beat back into the town in utter confusion, in every movement he made, but that his opening the road for the escape of his generosity and nobleness of character command, and placing the wagon train could only seek the good of his country out of danger. The enemy rallied, when and people, despising self-aggrandisement. he was charged again and again, but the He had been left at Shelbyville to dispose Young Murat met them with, volleys of the cavalry, so as to cover the movement pistol shots and the clatter of sabres, and of the army to Tullahoma. Gen. Martin, repulsed them. The boldness and gallantry with one thousand men, arrived at Shelby-displayed in these charges have not been ville, after a severe march of fifty miles, surpassed in the history of this Revolution, in a drenching rain, which had damaged and counterbalanced his paucity of numhis ammunition, and most of his guns had bers. It was now sundown; everything was become too wet to be fired. On the ap- across Duck River in security, and he was proach of the enemy from Murfreesboro. about to make still another charge, when with 12,000 cavalry, supported by infantry, a staff officer caught him, and pointed to under Generals Stanley and Granger, of his rear, where the enemy had again surwhich movement General Wheeler was rounded him. With another column, fully advised. General Martin moved out and took position at the breastworks. Gen. Wheeler soon joined him, but only in time to hear that two hundred of Martin's men, stationed about one mile to his left, had been run over and captured by a large force of the enemy. He then ordered the withdrawal of the forces to the town, which he determined to hold, notwith-thought, after crossing the river, was to standing the condition of his guns and send to Gen. Forrest, by a circuitous route, ammunition, as above stated, until the ar- and explain how he could move out in rival of General Forrest who was momen-safety. It afterwards proved that General tarily expected. Forrest never came nearer Shelbyville than the breastworks, from which place Three other heavy columns were press- he sent in a scout and awaited its return. ing upon him. One of them had charged On hearing that the enemy were fighting a portion of his forces, and driven them Gen. Martin's command, and thinking he over the Tullahoma Bridge. Finding him- could be of no service, he turned back and self so completely surrounded, this gallant crossed the river some miles below town. officer started the remainder of his com- Gen. Wheeler was dressed in full uniform, mand out of town, and remained with his and citizens and prisoners taken early in escort, and checked one column which the fight so described him that the enemy threatened their destruction. Charge after easily recognized him, and called to their charge is made, and his sabre flashed over men to catch him. They afterward's told the head of many an invader. When en- the citizens of Shelbyville that they "had tirely surrounded, he charged through a whipped him that day, but that he was the a column which held his line of retreat, bravest man in the world." It was a poor and might have himself retired without triumph to attain so small a result, after further danger. He then saw that a por- fighting for four hours, twelve thousand tion of his forces had been cut off, and the against six hundred. But for the desperate enemy held the bridge over Duck River, resistance they met, many of our trains which, if permitted without further resis- would have been lost. The Shelbyville tance, would have enabled them to have troops, having obtained fresh supplies of pursued and overtaken the army trains. ammunition, fully revenged themselves in

the many brilliant and successful fights in, were captured, and the remainder of the which Gen. Wheeler engaged the enemy command completely routed and disin front of Tullahoma, at Alliaonia Bridge, persed, many of whom were picked up on New Church, Elk River Bridge, University the following day. The entire train of Place, and many others, during that hazar-wagons fell into his hands, and the Yankee dous but fortunate retreat. commander escaped with only about After our army had reached Chattanoo, seventy-five men, half of whom were disga, the enemy started a large cavalry raid mounted. During this, and the two preinto Alabama. Gen. Wheeler frustrated vious days' fighting, 18 stands of colors this raid by meeting it at the Tennessee of colors were captured by Gen. Wheeler, River. After many vain attempts to effect The next morning he warmly engaged the a crossing, the enemy was compelled to enemy, and drove him into Chattanooga, abandon the expedition. and the following day, being ordered to drive him from Lookout Mountain, he made a night assault upon the enemy's

army. So worn and jaded were his men and horses that his subordinate commanders gave it as their opinion that it was impracticable to execute the order. The commanders of three brigades entered solemn protests against their commands being further called upon in their unser

When our army retired from Chattanoo. go to engage the vandal hosts in the great victory of Chickamauga, Gen. Wheeler's fortifications, driving him off the precipicommand guarded all the passes of the tous edge of Point Lookout, capturing a mountains, and was successful, after se- considerable amount of equipage and vere fighting, in checking Rosecrans' right clothing. wing, which was endeavoring to penetrete This work accomplished, this energetic to Rome. He, with his command, bore a and indefatigable soldier was ordered te prominent part on the battle field of cross the Tennessee River, and, if possiChickamauga, being hotly engaged during ble, make the circuit of Gen. Rosecrans' bon days of the battle, as well for several days preceding and succeeding that eventful day, making frequent charges upon the enemy's lines with the most telling effect. During the 19th and 20th of September, he captured about 2,000 prisoners, a large train of wagons and ambulances, large supplies of medical stores, and other val-viceable and worn condition. Cavalry uable property. On the morning of the officers of extended experience asserted 21st he moved with a portion of his forces that half of the command would be lost into Chattanooga Valley, behind the ene- from inability to travel, and even predictmy's right flank, and soon found two col-ed the entire command would be sacriumns of cavalry moving upon him. Be-ficed. In the face of these discouraging fore these columns could unite, he vigo- statements and predictions, this young solrously attacked one and drove it back to- dier knew nothing but obedience to his wards Chattanooga. Leaving his escort orders, and the bugle notes to "march" and a regiment to hold that column in were sounded, and by a skillful ruse-decheck, he moved with the remainder of guerre, he boldly crossed the Tennessee his force, then reduced to scarcely a thou River at Cotton Port, in the face of ap sand men, upon the other column, which enemy whose strength was fully equal to proved to be a brigade of five regiments of his own, warmly assailed the enemy, and cavalry, numbering not less than 2000 drove him towards the Cumberland mounmen, guarding a large and rich train of tains, capturing nearly a hundred prisonwagons. He skilfully disposed his troops, ers. At dusk the column was put in moand placing himself at the head of his tion towards Waldron's Ridge, in a drenchcommand, charged with such vigor that ing storm. About 10 o'clock, General their lines were broken, and the whole Wheeler being in advance with his staff mass swept down the valley. Away they and escort, encountered in the extreme went, and our gallant cavalier in hot pur- darkness of the night a regiment of cavalsuit, keeping up a running fight for seven ry, which he charged, driving them into miles, killing and wounding large num-the most perfect confusion, wounding a bere. Four hundred and fifty prisoners few of the enemy, and capturing ten pris

The

by his papers that it numbered 800-six mile Government wagons, loaded with all kinds of quartermaster, commissary, ordnance and medical stores, besides which

oners. With great difficulty the command one person saw the entire train. marched up the mountain, and next day Yankee quartermaster in charge showed reached Sequatchie Valley. By this time the horses were exceedingly worn. He selected about 1300 of the best mounted men, and took the saddle at 2 A. M. on the 2nd of October, to scour the valley in there were a large number of sutlers' wasearch of his prey, while the remainder of gons, and other private vehicles of all the command was ordered to march slow-kinds—probably in all about 1000 wagons. ly over Cumberland mountain towards Many citizens who saw the trains estiMcMinnville. Three hundred of the men mated their number at between 2000 and he started with were uecessarily detailed 3000 wagons. Some of the enemy's newsto guard his rear and flanks. After papers have represented it as the richest marching six miles with his escort and train captured during the war, and inflictadvance guard, he captured 32 wagonsing the heaviest loss of property ever sus200 mules and horses, and a number of tained by them. While withdrawing, he prisoners. These were taken in charge by was attacked by an overwhelming force the 4th Ala. Reg't Cav., and with the re- from two directions, which he resisted as mainder of his command, now less than he fell back, until dark, inflicting upon his 1000 men, he pressed down the valley. pursuers a heavy loss. By 10 A. M. the As jocund day began to stand tip-toe on next day he had traveled forty miles, and the mountain tops on either side, and the was leading the column which had passed sunbeams to cast their golden radiance directly over Cumberland mountains, in upon the fields of that fertile valley, as if an attack upon the fortifications at Meto cheer the weary soldier for the brilliant Minnville. After a short fight the works achievements before him, a column of the were carried, and an immense depot, of enemy was encountered, and no sooner supplies, including quartermaster and ordseen than the notes of the General's bugle nance stores, 250 horses, a train of wagons, sounded the charge, and each horseman, twelve stores well stocked with all kinds instinct with new life, rushed forward and of goods, and 587 prisoners, fell into our dislodged the enemy from each position hands. A large locomotive and train of which he endeavored to hold. On arriving cars were also captured by Gen. Wheeler at Anderson's Roads, upon the level while they were endeavoring to escape. valley as far as the eye could reach, and The remainder of the day and all night all the way up the mountains, nothing but was spent in destroying all property which the white tops of the immense wagon was not appropriated by the command. trains could be seen. This train was The immense bridges over Hurricane guarded by a brigade of cavalry in front, Creek and Collins River were also thoone in rear, and a brigade of infantry sup- roughly destroyed. ported by cavalry was directly opposed to him. For nearly two hours the enemy From McMinnville he moved towards The enemy at resisted stubbornly, but by attacking each the Nashville railroad. column with vigor in detail, before they Murfreesboro' having been strongly reinhad time to concentrate, he succeeded in forced, he deemed it unwise to attack routing them thus capturing the entire them in their fortifications. After capturtrain, with more than a thousand prison- ing a strong stockade, with its garrison, in ers. Eight hours were now consumed in the suburbs, destroying the large railroad selecting and sending to the rear such ar- bridge over Stone River, and tearing up ticles-mules, wagons, &c.-as could be several miles of the track, he moved down carried off, in thoroughly destroying the the railroad to War Trace, capturing two remainder of the wagons, and sabreing or trains with supplies at Christiana and shooting down thousands of mules that Fostersville, tearing up many miles of the were not needed. No accurate estimate of track, burning all the railroad bridges, inthe number of wagons and value of the cluding the large ones near and just below property captured could be made, as no War Trace and over Duck River,and captur

ing the stockades, with the garrisons.) perty and rich stores destroyed, and the Thence he marched on Shelbyville, where great damage done to the railroad, is taken he captured and destroyed a large quan- into consideration, this can but be considtity of stores, the garrison having beat aered by far the most brilliant and successhasty retreat the night previous.. The ful raid of the war. garrison at Columbia also retreated rapidly toward Nashville, after destroying their

stores.

With but little rest, he was ordered into East Tennessee, to co-operate with Gen. Longstreet. By that gallant soldier he was The designs of the expedition having ordered to press towards Knoxville, to been accomplished with far greater success create such a diversion as would hide his than the expectations of the most sanguine, own movements near Loudon. General Gen. Wheeler commenced his return Wheeler pushed boldly over the Tennessee march towards the Tennessee River. River, made a night's march, and attacked Rosecrans' entire cavalry force, not less and captured a Federal cavalry regiment than 13,000 men, had been warmly fight-at Marysville. Just as the regiment suring him in rear and on the flanks for four rendered, Col. Woolford, with his brigade days, being continually repulsed with of cavalry, crossed Little River, to come great loss by our hrave troops. They now to the relief of the party at Marysville. advanced rapidly, after being reinforced Gen. Wheeler charged and drove him by a division of infantry, to attack him. over the river in confusion, capturing one A portion of the command having taken a hundred and ten prisoners, besides killing road different from what they were or-and wounding large numbers. The foldered, were attacked when isolated under lowing morning Gen. Wheeler pushed disadvantageous circumstances. To cor- over Little River and attacked Sander's, rect this error, Gen Wheeler hastens with Shackleford's, Woolford's and Penderhis available troops, numbering about one bicker's brigade's of cavalry, all being thousand men, to their assistance, on the under Gen. Sanders. After a short fight Lewisburg Pike, and places this body of they were driven two miles, when, with a men in position to check the enemy's ad- battery to assist them, they made a stand vance, until the balance of his command in a strong position beyond a creek which and the wagons could be got out of danger. could not be crossed by horses, the enemy The enemy advanced in a bold front, and having destroyed the bridge. General our brave troops met them with grape, Wheeler dismounted half his force, discanister, and the roar of their trusty rifles, lodged the enemy, rebuilt the bridge, and and repulsed each and every charge which charged the enemy.mounted, routing their was made by the enemy. So stunning was great reserves, and sweeping them on tothe blow that the enemy received on that wards Knoxville. The charge was conoccasion, that he advanced no further dur- tinued, and the enemy driven pell-mell ing the day, and was content to retire and towards the city. One hundred and fifty be permitted to bury his dead and care for prisoners are captured, a portion of the his wounded. The loss of the enemy in flying troopers hurl themselves into the this fight, as shown by their own reports, river, and attempt to gain the other bank; was more than four times that of our own. a portion go, at lightning speed over the Gen. Wheeler continued his withdrawal to pontoons, rushing into the city, creating the Tennessee River, and crossed it at Mus- the greatest consternation; a portion escle Shoals, the enemy appearing at the caped by scattering in all directions, and northern bank as he reached the southern the ground for three miles is strewn with When the worn condition of his command, their dead and wounded. Gen. Sanders, which had for forty successive days pre- the Yankee commander, was mortally vious been engaged with the enemy, the wounded, and died two days later. Thus - large concentration of forces which he Burnside's cavalfy, which was the boast was compelled to fight almost continually of the "Army of the Ohio," was in two in front, flanks and rear, his exceedingly days thoroughly beaten, captured, killed, small losses compared with those of the scattered or demoralized, by an inferior enemy, the vast amount of valuable pro- force under the gallant Wheeler, whose

loss in the entire affair was but trifling. | create a diversion, while important moveCitizens who were in Knoxville at this ments were carried on in other localities. time state that nothing could be more com- Operations of this character, which are the plete than the rout and affright of this most difficult the service presents, have panic-stricken body of cavalry, as they been conducted by Gen. Wheeler with rushed into the city, creating the wildest such consummate skill, that not only has confusion-during which the "arch trai-he invariably accomplished the desired tors " Brownlow and Maynard packed up object, but in almost every case inflicted a and started for the North. Many of these loss upon the enemy far heavier than that vandals were drowned in attempting to which he himself sustained. swim the river. The enemy's works: Gen. Wheeler has had five horses killed being too strong for him to attack, he under him, and a great number wounded. moved, in obedience to orders, to join His saddle equipments and clothes have Gen. Longstreet on the other side of the also been frequently struck by the missiles river, and assisted in investing Knoxville. of the enemy. He has himself been three While here, he succeeded in capturing a times slightly wounded, and once painnumber of wagons, a large drove of hogs, fully. He has had sixteen staff officers, or and much other valuable property. For acting staff officers, killed or wounded. In the next eight days he was engaged in the almost every case when his staff officers siege of Knoxville, continually engaging have been wounded, they were immethe enemy. At this time Gen. Grant was diately by his side, as they sank from their making preparations to attack our army in horses to the ground. No officer, since the front of Chattanooga. Gen. Bragg tele- commencement of the war, has been more. graphed for Gen. Wheeler to join him. He starts immediately, travels day and night, and reaches the army just in time to cover the retreat from Missionary Ridge. This he did in his usual able manner. On the third day Gen. Cleburne was ordered to remain in the rear, and fought the enemy at Ringold, Ga., Gen. Wheeler disposing his cavalry on his flanks. During this engagement Gen. Wheeler's hat was struck by a Minie ball, and his foot contused by the fragment of a shell.

exposed to the missiles of death than Gen. Wheeler. That his life has been thus far spared, while so constantly surrounded by carnage and death, his thanks are due to that God who from his infancy he had been taught to reverence.

Gen. Wheeler, although small in stature, is in appearance every inch a soldier," and bears a head which, as termed by the phrenologists, is "admirably fixed.” His eye is the very impersonation of that quick conception, heroic valor and dauntless courage, which has stamped him as one of the great men of this Revolution, and which explains how he manœuvres his command under a hail-storm of the missiles of death, regarding them no more than leaves wafted by the wind-or how he leads his squadrons in the charge, crashing into the enemy's ranks, and perfectly unconscious of the carnage and death by which he is everywhere surrounded. The contour of his face and the expression of his countenance exhibit that cool judgment, calm thoughtfulness and quiet dignity which marks his career as a soldier

Gen. Wheeler bore a prominent part in the great battles of Shiloh, Farmington, the fights around Corinth, Perryville, Mur'freesboro', Chickamauga, the last day at Missionary Ridge, and the first eight days of the seige of Knoxville. Besides this, and being under fire in over five hundred skirmishes, Gen. Wheeler has commanded in 127 battles, many of which, considering the numbers engaged, were the most severe and successful recorded in the history of cavalry. In each case where his strength has been equal, and in many cases where it was far inferior to that by which he was opposed, he has entirely and gentleman. The arduous duties he overrun the enemy, capturing or dispersing has performed, which his large cavalry him. In many cases Gen. Wheeler has been called upon to engage forces many times his superior, in order to retard the enemy, while covering retreats, or to

command devolve upon him, have only strengthened his energy and endurance: His soldiers have learned to love and admire in him all those noble traits, which

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