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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 375
Readyville to battle against John Morgan's guerrillas. The Third Battalion,
remaining at Muri'reesboro, Avas surrounded by rebels and a
surrender demanded, but Lieutenant Brenard, in command, could not
see it in that light, and at once ordered a saber charge, cutting his way
out and "taking a number of prisoners.
On the general advance of the army from Murfreesboro, in July, the
Third was engaged almost daily. In the Sequatchie Valley the enemy
was encountered, and a running tight of three days' duration ensued.
During the battle at Chickaiuauga the Third occupied the extreme left
of the line, and afterward pursued Wheeler's cavalry through Tennes-
• see, engaging him at McM inn ville and Farmington, and in the latter
battle .secured a large number of prisoners. In November detachments
of the Third scouted through the mountains of East Tennessee, and thus
ended the year's campaign.
While at Pulaski, Tennessee, in January, 1864, the regiment veteranized,
but its ranks were fearfully decimated, the results of its many
engagements. It therefore became necessary to recruit and add to its
effective strength, there being' then but 400 men fit for duty in the
whole command. Through the efforts of Major Skinner and Capt. Elisha
M. (.'lover nearly 1,000 troops were raised in Northern Ohio, and when
the regiment returned to the front, at Nashville, it numbered over 1,300
serviceable men. At Nashville the regiment was re-equipped, armed and
mounted. Much was expected of the command, and .it more than
fulfilled that expectation.
We find them first engaged with Rhoddy's command at Courtland,
Alabama, early in May, 1864, at Avhich fight the rebel loss amounted to
upwards of thirty men in killed and wounded. At Rome the Third was
on the left of Sherman's army, and Avas engaged at Etowah, Kenesaw
Mountain, Noonday Creek, and at the crossing of ithe Chattahoochie
River. It was sent to Roswell, Georgia, to destroy the rebel stores and
factories at that place. In this affair 400 factory girls were captured
and sent through the lines. At McAfee Bridge, on July 9, four companies
of the Third, commanded by Captain Colver, became engaged
with a large force of rebel Texas cavalrymen, in Avhich battle several
rebels were killed and a large number fell into the regiment's hands as
prisoners.
The regiment participated in the battle at Peach Tree Creek, in the
raid upon Covington, Stone Mountain, and in the Stonemah raid, in
each of which engagements it met with severe losses. After the fall of
Atlanta it went in pursuit of Hood's rebel force, and Avas engaged at
the battles of Franklin and Nashville; also in the Wilson raid through
Alabama and Georgia. It was at Selina, Montgomery, Macon and Griffin,
and in the chase after Jefferson Davis, the Confederate president.
Under the orders of General Thomas, the Third Cavalry turned over
to the Government its horses and arms, at Macon, after which it proceeded
to Nashville and was mustered out of service. It Avas then
returned to Camp Chase, where, on the 14th of August, 1865, after a
severe service of almost four years, it was paid off and discharged.