Did you know your hero's cavalry unit was mauled Nathan Bedford Forrest?
Forrest had no military training or experience but was a natural leader and tactician. He was made a Lt Colonel and given command of a cavalry regiment.
Ingersoll was a colonel, one of many "political" officers in the war. When Ingersoll and Forrest met, it was tragic for Ingersoll's men.
" The winter of '62 and '63 the Regiment was stationed at Jackson, Tenn., and met Forrest's advance at Lexington on Dec. 18, '62. In this engagement Col. R.G. Ingersoll, Maj. Kerr, Capt. Shepard, Capt. O'Harra, Lieut. Wagoner, Lieut. Cornell, and Lieut. Slater were captured. The loss in killed and wounded was severe and about 100 men were taken prisoners; the officers and men were paroled by Gen. Forrest the next day. The remainder of the Regiment was in the fight the next day, Dec. 19, at Jackson, the 20th at Humboldt, the 31st at Parker's Cross Roads, and followed Forrest to the Tennessee River at Clifton. The Regiment at this time was reduced to less than 300 effective men, and 200 horses, fit for service."
civilwar.ilgenweb.net
Severe losses in killed and wounded but the officers seem to have known when to fly the white flag. |
