"At the fight on Wilson's Pike, December 1, 1861, Company E was
detailed to check the advancing columns on that road. The company was
stationed in a small yard behind a house. A line of skirmishers was
thrown out consisting of the dismounted fourth man, placed in charge
of a sergeant, with orders to fire once or twice and fall back to
their horses. The advance was very rapid, the firing hot in the region
of the company, and the men who had charge of the horses of the
dismounted men were ordered to the rear. When our men came back from
the skirmish line they were disappointed in not finding their horses,
and were all captured, consisting of nearly twenty-six men of Company
E, who were taken to Cahaba, Alabama, prison. Only about half of them
lived through the five months they were kept there. Capt. Hobson was
left in charge of the rear. He was ordered off the field twice by
orderlies from Gen. Hammond, but failing to obey the order Gen.
Hammond came himself and took the command off. The rebels were so
close to us that I think I would almost know the color-bearer if I
were to see him to-day. Before we left the yard, or just as we were
leaving, Sergt. Helvie, who was sitting at the roots of a sugar tree,
called to me to take his gun, a Henry rifle. I did so, and was so much
excited that I only got two loads off out of the fifteen it contained.
I believe Sergt. Helvie was the only man wounded in the engagement,
although we stayed upon the field until the right and left wings of
the rebel advance were considerably ahead of us, and I pointed the
fact out to Capt. Hobson, but it didn't seem to affect him."
Footnote 2:
It was said that Company F sold this mule in New Orleans several
times. The plan was--as the story was told--to have one of the boys,
in citizen's clothes, sell the animal, and before it could be got away
a squad would come up and arrest the party for having United States
property in possession, compromising for a greater or less amount,
take the mule and release the purchaser. This was said to have been
repeated a number of times. At last the mule was hid and could not be
found, but not before a sum had been raised sufficient to put Company
F in funds.
Footnote 3:
Lieut. Thomas J. Cofer, Co. I.
Footnote 4:
Accounts of the deaths of Capt. Hobson and Lieut. Watts are
conflicting. Capt. Hayden states that Capt. Hobson was killed right at
the fort. The account of Sergt. Holt, Co. E, of the same incident, is
subjoined. Sergt. Holt's candor in relating his experiences is
refreshing and worthy of all praise. Most of us, in relating army
experiences, are apt to forget or omit our fears and remember only
what was heroic. There was in the regiment but one opinion concerning
Capt. Hobson, and that was that he was a brave and capable officer.
Martin Gregg, Co. I, states that he was with Lieut. Watts when shot;
that he was killed by the captain of the battery, who also fired at
him.