[497]
Colonel Innis, or “we don't surrender much.”
Lavergne, Tennessee, a mere hamlet, but a position of great strategic importance, between Nashville and Murfreesboro, Tennessee, had been garrisoned by a small Union force early in December, 1862. When General Rosecrans commenced his movement from Nashville to Murfreesboro, in the latter part of that month, the movement which culminated in the battle of Stone river, it was absolutely essential that Lavergne should be held, yet the general could spare but a small force for it, and he knew that the rebel cavalry general, Wheeler, would attack it with one greatly superior. In this emergency he knew of no one in whose bravery and unflinching resolution to hold the position against heavy odds he could so fully rely as Colonel William P. Innis of the First Michigan Engineers. Innis's regiment consisted of but three hundred and eight-nine men, and Wheeler would attack with three thousand cavalry and two field pieces, while Innis had no artillery and only some rudely extemporized breastworks. “Edmund Kirke” (Mr. J. R. Gilmore) tells the story of the battle, as he heard it from both sides, as follows:Colonel Innis,said General Rosecrans, “will you hold Lavergne?” “I'll try, general.” “I ask if you will do it!” exclaimed the laconic general. [498] “I will,” quietly responded the colonel, and he kept his word. Just as the New Year's sun was sending its first greeting to the little band that crouched there behind the wagons, the head of the rebel column emerged from the woods which skirt the southern side of the town, and Captain Firman, riding forward to the flimsy breastwork, cried out:
General Wheeler demands an instant and unconditional surrender.“Give General Wheeler my compliments, and tell him we don't surrender much,” came back to him from behind the brush-heaps. Mounting then his Kentucky roan, the heroic colonel rode slowly around the rude intrenchment. “Boys,” he said, “they are three thousand--have you said your prayers?” “We are ready, colonel. Let them come on!” answered the brave Michigan men. And they did come on! “Six times we swept down on them,” said Captain Firman to me,
and six times I rode up with a flag, and summoned them to surrender; but each time Innis sent back the message, varied, now and then, with an adjective, “ We don't surrender much.” He sat his horse during the first charges, as if on dress parade; but at the third fire I saw him go down. I thought we had winged him, but when we charged again, there he sat as cool as if the thermometer had been at zero. One of our men took deliberate aim, and again he went down; but when I rode up the fifth time and shouted, “ We'll not summon you again-surrender at once!” it [499] was Innis who yelled out, “ Pray don't, for we don't surrender much.” At the seventh charge I was wounded, and the general sent another officer with the summons. Your people halted him a few hundred yards from the breastwork, and an officer, in a cavalryman's overcoat, came out to meet him. “They had killed my two horses,” said Colonel Innis to me afterward, “and I was afraid they would singe my uniform — the fire was rather hot-so I covered it.” “What is your rank, sir?” demanded the Union officer. “ Major, sir.” “ Go back and tell General Wheeler that he insults me by sending one of your rank to treat with one of mine. Tell him, too, I have not come here to surrender. I shall fire on the next flag.” It was Innis, and by that ruse he made us believe he had received reinforcements. Thinking it was so, we drew off, and the next day Innis sent Wheeler word by a prisoner, that he had whipped us with three hundred and eighty-nine men!
