Ninth Cavalry
PREFACE.
The papers here collected were read by the Regimental Historian, from timeto time, at Annual Re-unions of the 9th Indiana Cavalry. They are printed at therequest 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 manyskirmishes 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 themost soldierly qualities were often displayed.
The papers were not all prepared by the Historian: with those he did notwrite he has, with the full consent of the respective authors, made such changes ashe 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 byCol. Lilly and Capt. J. B. Harrod, Co. B.
While the writer assisted in making up the detail sent upon that unfortunateexpedition, it was not his fortune to go with it.
The very able and graphic chapter upon the Hood Campaign is from the penof 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 thestatements are made from individual observations, and the shading must be lookedat 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 inthe chapter upon the Hood Campaign. There is no intentional slight in this—afair share of the officers were on hand and did their duty, as is attested by the factthat four of them were killed in action and others wounded during that campaign—butthe fact is that the privates fought the war and the officers got the pay andthe glory. It was a peculiarity found in the volunteer service—found in thearmy 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. Theaccident of rank should not affect the distribution of credit. It is enough to participatein the glory of the boys—too much to claim the lion's share.
D. W. COMSTOCK.
SULPHUR BRANCH TRESTLE.
On the afternoon of the 22d of September, 1864, the 9th was orderedto furnish a force of mounted men to march to Elk River Bridge