While stationed at Pulaski, Tenn., details from the regiment were
frequently ordered out upon reconnoitering parties, and upon these
occasions generally met Roddy, Duke, Wheeler, or other cavalry
commanders in that department, in skirmishes, which, as a rule, were
bloodless. They were all exciting, however, and accustomed the boys to
the use of their carbines. Of these affairs, what was termed in the
regiment as "The Lynnville Fight," was the most sensational, and
resulted in more racket than was ever raised by the same number of men
in so short a time.
On Sunday, September 2, 1864, at 8 o'clock A. M., pursuant to orders,
the regiment marched out on the Nashville Pike, Companies B and L in the
advance. The movement was occasioned by reports to the effect that
Wheeler with a considerable body was in the neighborhood with the
purpose of destroying the railroad. After advancing about six miles a
message was received by courier from Capt. Owings, of Co. F, occupying
with his company the block house near Lynnville, for the purpose of
protecting the railroad, to the effect that the rebels were in town in
heavy force, and that he would not be able to hold his position long.
Major Lilly was ordered to go to his relief with seventy men of
Companies B and L. Advancing at a gallop, Lieut. Harrod, with sixteen
men of Company B, leading the column, within one-half or three-quarters
of a mile of the town, from a slight elevation, a full view was obtained
of the rebels. Halting for a moment, Major Lilly ordered a charge to be
made with the sabre. Harrod, with his sixteen men in advance, supported
by the fifty-five B and L men, under command of the Major, forming
quickly, were soon observed by the rebels. The advance was formed in
double, the support in single rank. The orders "forward," "trot,"
"gallop," "charge," were given in quick succession, and in a moment all
were hidden in a cloud of dust. The rebels in the town proved to be the
3d and 4th Georgia Cavalry. The attack was a surprise to them. Lieut.
Harrod, being at the front and right of his platoon, had a fair view of
the town and the enemy, and as the charge was made, says the Georgia
boys began to run when our advance was fully a quarter of a mile away,
and when they reached the south side of the town the Johnnies were going
out of the north side in great haste and apparent confusion. For the
next five minutes the race was lively. Our boys returned their sabres to
their scabbards and drawing their carbines and revolvers began firing.
The rebels threw away in their haste guns, blankets, haversacks, muster
rolls, and whatever encumbered them; and between the discharge of
fire-arms, the shouts of our men and the clatter of the horses' hoofs,
the natives were thoroughly aroused. The pursuit was kept up for about
five miles, the fleeing Johnnies making a stand upon coming up to the
main force of Wheeler's rear guard. Two of the enemy were killed and
eight captured. The wounded, if any there were, made their escape.
Corporal George R. Parsons, Co. B, mounted on a fast horse, was said to
have got nearer the body of the enemy's forces than any other man. Capt.
Nation, who was with the regiment without his company, by special
permission, with a blow of his sabre delivered upon the side of the
head, after a command to halt, unseated a Confederate, mounted upon a
large mule. The mule got away. William Johnson was slightly cut by a
ball, and the horse of Sergt. Foster was badly shot. Capts. Wall, Nation
and Moorehouse took part in the charge. The boys, in the presence of
Wheeler's rear guard, and so near his main body of perhaps 8,000 men,
did not care to push matters further, and so quietly withdrew to
Lynnville for refreshments, and to rest their horses.
General Rousseau was near Wheeler's rear and left flank. Wheeler was
between us with only one way open to the South. During the after part of
the night Wheeler moved in the direction of Lawrenceburg, and the 9th
was ordered back to Pulaski. On Monday evening, September 3d, the 9th
was ordered to Lawrenceburg to head off Wheeler if possible. Rousseau
was pressing him with between 2,000 and 4,000 infantry and artillery.
Wheeler's forces were estimated at 8,000--nearly all mounted, with a
battery of light artillery. His artillery was used very little. The 9th
reached Lawrenceburg about 7 o'clock on the morning of the 4th, just in
time to see the 9th Ohio Cavalry assist Wheeler's rear guard out of
town. About 8 o'clock A. M. the 10th Indiana Cavalry was ordered to the
front and became engaged with a strong rear guard of the enemy in a
thick wood. They drove them back two or three miles, when the 10th was
in turn pressed back. Major Lilly, who was with Gen. Granger when it was
reported to him that the 10th Indiana had been driven back, requested of
the general that he be permitted to take his battalion to the front. The
general, who had heard of the efficient manner in which the Lynnville
affair had been conducted, granted the request. Col. Jackson received
permission to lead the remainder of the regiment.
By order the troops on the road for a mile withdrew to the right and
left, and the 9th was given free passage. The position occupied by the
10th Cavalry was soon reached. They were in a narrow valley; the rebels
on the ridge above them--the 9th on the opposite hill. It was fortunate
for the 9th that the rebels made the mistake so often made in
engagements--shot too high--the balls rattling in the tree-tops above
their heads. A rapid fire at will was ordered and the lines were closed.
The 9th advanced steadily, firing over the 10th Indiana, which soon
moved out of the way by the flank, giving the 9th an open field. The
Confederates did not long await the coming of the 9th, but, after a few
volleys, fell back. Again making a stand and forming, the 9th hurries
without a halt or hesitation, steadily presses them hard, beating them
back from occasional stands for a distance of four miles, when Wheeler
corraled his train, threw down the fences and brought his artillery into
position. The boys were hot and tired, and concluded they did not want
to take his artillery and rested. The offer of battle thus made by
Wheeler to Granger was not accepted for reasons not known to the world.
The opportunity was a good one and those generals had been ostensibly
looking for Wheeler. Wheeler had the advantage, to be sure, in numbers,
of perhaps 2,000 men, and these generals did not know at that time the
superior material they had under their command. Wheeler began to move,
and the 10th and 12th Tennessee Cavalry relieved the 9th. After some
desultory firing, Wheeler was permitted without further serious
annoyance to cross the Tennessee River. There is where the Federal
generals desired to drive him, and so the object of the expedition was
successful and Wheeler's attempt to destroy the railroad a failure.
The loss to the enemy was 25 killed and 150 wounded. The 9th lost none
killed and none seriously wounded.
September 5th the regiment reached Athens, Ala. September 6th returned
by Elk River to Mussel Shoals and Shoal Creek, going into camp at night
on the bank of the stream, with the other bank held by a Confederate
force under command of a Col. Anderson. The bridge spanning the stream
being unsafe for horses, on the 7th the regiment crossed by a dangerous
ford, Companies B and L in advance, and soon engaged with Anderson, who
was driven to Florence, Ala., a distance of seven miles, in about four
hours, near which place he succeeded in crossing the Tennessee River.