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Incidents of the Munfordtville Fiflht.The Louisville correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette gives some incidents of the surrender of Munfordville not generally known. He says that Bragg’s army was before the place and had seventy-two pieces of cannon in position to rake the works.’ Col. Wilder was permitted to see and to count the cafanon. The place, under these circumstances* was a mere slaughter pen, and it would have b ?en murderous to havu aesistcd longer. He gives the following among other incidents;Company K. of the 74th Indiana, had been in the field such a short time that it knew little else than the manual of arms. The Major in command of the pickets, of which company K was a part, finding himself about to be surrounded, ordered a retreat, but company K did not understand and remaineu fighting. The danger Was imminent and the Major commanding them had to go through the manual with company K lefore it could be marched oft. The company came to a shoulder arms! about face! forward! double-quick! and then left the field in good order!Major Abbott, 57th Indiana, Was killed while standing on the breastworks cheering hi.s men. The flag under which ho stood was cut down, having lit) bullet holes through it.A man detailed from the 67th Indiana acted as Xu 2 of a gun of the 12th Indianabattery. While engaged in putting the rammer to the muzzle of the guu he was shot through the mouth, his teeth and a part of hi.s tongue being cut away, ile looked in the direction from which the shot came, then rammed the charge home, stood to see the effects of the shot, gave his rummer to another gunner and retired. Colo-* net Wilder met him again at Munfordville, when Buell passed through, and the men ran out to meet him. The absence of a part of his tongue rendered it difficult for No. 2 to speak, but be managed to say,‘‘Colonel, 1 can t do much talking, but I can fight like h—1, and the doctor says I can go at it again soon. I want you to have me with you.” I am sorry I cannot get the man's name.Another, who lost his arm, begged the Colonel to have him detailed as his orderly, saying he couldn't leave the service.Private Pctcrmam, ft printer, 17th Indiana, a jei‘fectly Vaw recruit, sat in an embrasure ami fired over live hundred shots. He kept up all the time n continuous laugh in the ranks about him by his witty and humorous remarks. The men below loaded for him, and he fired rapidly and with splendid effect. lie managed to escapo without being paroled.Lieut. Mason, commanding 13th Indiana battery, is reported by Col. Wilder to have been tbe coolest man on the fit*!d. Ho would not fire till the enemy was right upon bis ranks; and on their second charge they came within one hundred feet before lie fired* They supposed he .bad been silenced and were cheering for joy, when he opened them with canister* The destruction was awful.Corporal Springer, 13th Indiana artillery, is the best soldier Col. Wilder ever saw. He had charge of the rifled]gun near the stockade. He would jump on the parapet to see the effect of his shot amidst a hailstorm of bulla. -Ho saw Bragg and Buckner and staffs riding a mile distant and fired at them. Buckner afterward Inquired after Springer, and stated that the firstof his two shells struck within thirty feet and the second passed within four feet of his head without exploding.
Newspaper Details
Goshen Democrat
Goshen, Indiana, US
Wed, Oct 08, 1862
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Howard M.
NA, 22 Aug 2019
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