The papers here collected were read by the Regimental Historian, from
time to time, at Annual Re-unions of the 9th Indiana Cavalry. They are
printed at the request of the boys of the regiment, and are for their
benefit.
Combined, they give, as seen from the standpoint of the individual who
narrates, the principal events in which the regiment took part, but do
not even refer to many skirmishes in which it participated with the
forces of Wheeler, Forrest, Rhoddy, and other Confederate Cavalry
leaders, in the Department of the Cumberland, and "brushes" with
guerrillas in the Military Division of the Mississippi,--"affairs"
unimportant from the insignificance of the numbers engaged, but in which
the most soldierly qualities were often displayed.
The papers were not all prepared by the Historian: with those he did not
write he has, with the full consent of the respective authors, made such
changes as he thought proper.
The paper by J. A. Brown, corporal Co. L, on "Sulphur Branch Trestle,"
appears as written by him, without a verbal change.
The other paper upon the same subject is made up of accounts furnished
by Col. Lilly and Capt. J. B. Harrod, Co. B.
While the writer assisted in making up the detail sent upon that
unfortunate expedition, it was not his fortune to go with it.
The very able and graphic chapter upon the Hood Campaign is from the pen
of Capt. O. B. Hayden, Co. D.
The account of the Lynnville fight appears substantially as given by
Capt. Harrod.
If in these sketches it appears that too much stress is put on minor
matters, and things of importance but lightly stated, it should be
remembered that the statements are made from individual observations,
and the shading must be looked at from the observer's angle of
observation.
Hereafter, if the boys desire, the story of the regiment may be further
told.
It will be noticed that but brief mention is made of the officers,
especially in the chapter upon the Hood Campaign. There is no
intentional slight in this--a fair share of the officers were on hand
and did their duty, as is attested by the fact that four of them were
killed in action and others wounded during that campaign--but the fact
is that the privates fought the war and the officers got the pay and the
glory. It was a peculiarity found in the volunteer service--found in the
army of no other Nation--that however brave and capable the officers of
the line, a dozen privates in each company were found equally brave and
capable. The accident of rank should not affect the distribution of
credit. It is enough to participate in the glory of the boys--too much
to claim the lion's share.