With Sabers Drawn

An engagement in Madison County, Alabama, the Affair at Indian Creek Ford on December 23^rd 1864, was a small cavalry tousle.

Parts of the Union 10^th and 13^th Indiana Cavalry and the 2^nd Tennessee Cavalry under the command of Lieutenant Colonel W F Prosser were in Madison County, Alabama on a very cold December 23^rd 1864.  They found and attacked a Confederate force of about 300 dismounted cavalry under the command of Colonel J R B Burtwell.  The Union troopers charged the Confederates with sabers drawn.  Burtwell and his men made a disorganized retreat.

Prosser lost 4 men, 1 killed and 3 wounded.  The Confederates had 54 wounded and captured, and unknown number of fatalities.

A Druggist, A Soldier

Union General Mahlon Dickerson Manson died February 4th 1895.

Mahlon Dickerson Manson was born February 20th 1820 the son of Davis and Sarah [Cornwall] Manson Jr in Piqua, Ohio. Manson taught school in Montgomery County Indiana, and studied medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio. He served with the 5th Indiana Volunteer during the Mexican - American War. Following that war Manson worked as a druggist in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

When the Civil War started Manson was appointed Captain of the 10th Indiana Infantry. He commanded a brigade at the Battle of Mill Springs in 1862. Because of his actions during that battle Manson was promoted to Brigadier General on March 24th 1862. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of Richmond, but was back in action in time to fight Confederate John Hunt Morgan on his raid into Ohio. Manson led the XXIII Corps during the Knoxville Campaign. He returned to Brigade command in the Army of the Ohio during the Atlanta Campaign. Manson was wounded again during the Battle of Resaca. Do to this wound he resigned from the army in December 1864.

Following the war Manson ran as a Democrat and was elected to the United State House of Representatives in 1871. He was also the 20th Lieutenant Governor of Indiana, as well as the State Auditor. Manson died February 4th 1895 in Frankfort, Indiana. He is buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Crawfordsville, Indiana.