A nice account that certainly makes it seem that Rucker was alone. But there are other accounts too:

1) OR 1, Vol. 45, Part 1 - "It was in this melee, amidst intense darkness, that the two regiments of Twelfth Tennessee Cavalry, Federal and Confederate, met and mixed in mad confusion, neither knowing the other save by the usual challenge...Private Berry Watson, Co. G, 12th Tennessee, captured and brought away General Rucker's division flag..." - Datus Coon, 2nd Brigade, 5th Cavalry Division. (Page 592)

Coon's details are supported by the next report in the OR which was filed by Lt. Sidney Roberts (Page 594-595).

Cavalry commander James Wilson's report states the same circumstances. Page 552.

2) OR Supplement, Vol. 65, Part 2. Record of Events for 12th Tennessee cavalry (union). "December 15-16 - On December 16 the regiment made a saber charge about 8 O'clock at night on one of Forrest's Divisions of cavalry, commanded by Brig. Gen. Rucker, capturing the general, the division flag and a number of prisoners."

3) "History of the First Regiment of Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry in the Great War of the Rebellion" by W.R. Carter. "General Rucker was wounded and captured besides several prisoners and a Confederate flag. In this engagement the Twelfth Tennessee, Union, fought the Twelfth Tennessee, Confederate, and in the darkness and during the hand-to-hand fighting the Twelfth Tennessee, Union, succeeded in capturing General Rucker, who was in command of a Tennessee brigade, also his flag." (Page 233)

4) "Coming Like Hell: The Story of the 12th Tennessee Cavalry, Richardson's Brigade, Forrest's Cavalry Corps, Confederate States Army, 1862-1865" by Waldon Loving. "The 12th Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate, found itself in close combat with the 12th Tennessee Cavalry, Federal. The muzzle flashes of rifle and pistol revealed little more than vague outlines of bodies in the mad turmoil, and further complicated the situation with the resulting night blindness from the light. The two regiments were unable to tell who was friend and who was foe. Even responses to challenges were confusing, since all of the replies were, "12th Tennessee." In the hand to hand melee, Colonel Rucker was wounded and captured..."

5) "Homegrown Yankees: Tennessee's Union Cavalry in the Civil War" by James Alex Baggett. "...Rucker erected barricades of fence rails and positioned his troops. Soon he confronted unknown riders, who he thought might be his own stragglers. On his white horse with saber in hand, the colonel edged up to a man shouting orders. He asked, "Who are you?" The man responded, "an officer of the 12th Tennessee." Realizing that he was not among friends, Rucker swung at the rider's head, landing a glancing blow, and lost his balance and his blade. . As the colonel strove to regain his balance, the dazed Union officer, Capt. Joseph C. Boyer, commanding Company L, 12th Tennessee, drew his own sword. But Rucker grasped it from him with his bare hand before regaining control of his saddle and his horse and riding toward the barricade. Mincing no words Boyer shouted, "shoot the man on the white horse!" Rucker galloped only a few yards before a shot shattered his left elbow, his horse threw him, and he became a prisoner of war." (Page 307)

6) "Life On General N.B. Forrest" by John A. Wyeth - "Directing one of his regiments to construct breastworks of rails and brush and logs across and on either side of the pike, Rucker rode a short distance to the left to place the 7th Alabama Cavalry in such a position that he could enfilade the Federals when they should charge upon the breastworks. As Rucker was returning, after having posted this regiment, he rode into and among a body of mounted troops which he had mistaken for his own men. As it was now very dark, the uniforms could not be recognized..." (Page 558 - which goes on to state similar to the above).

"First With The Most" by Ralph Selph Henry adds that the 7th Alabama Cavalry launched a flank attack on Hatch's Union troopers and drove them back but this was after Rucker and the flag were taken. (Page 410)

7) Campaigns Of Lt. General Forrest and Forrest's Cavalry" by Jordan and Pryor (and reviewed by Forrest himself). "Rucker - formed by nature, except perchance in stature, for a cavalry leader - swiftly drew up his dauntless veterans in line across the designated road, and placing Col. Kelly in command, went rearward with his escort a half-mile, there to build some breastworks of rails at the intersection of the road from Brentwood with the Granny White turnpike, and across the latter. But before this could be done, a large;y overwhelming force was upon Kelly, who maintained desperate but unavailing battle as long as possible against odds accumulating upon him. Rucker, meanwhile, working at his breastworks was then joined by the 7th Alabama, which as yet had been rearward; but while throwing it into position well to the leftward, the 12th Tennessee fell back with the ill-tidings that Kelly had been driven from his ground. Colonel White, its commander, was directed to form behind the breastworks, just leftward of the turnpike, and Rucker then repaired in person farther to the left, to dispose the 7th Alabama precisely as he wished. Returning presently to the point he had indicated for the 12th Tennessee, he found himself in the midst of a mounted regiment..." (Page 641)

8) "The Decisive Battle of Nashville" by Stanley Horn. "Colonel Rucker was soon involved in the fray, and a dramatic episode ensued when he encountered a mounted opponent who, in the darkness, identified himself as Colonel George Spalding of the 12th Tennessee (Federal) Cavalry. Rucker grabbed Spalding's bridle rein, crying out, "you are my prisoner for I am Colonel Ed Rucker of the 12th Tennessee Rebel Cavalry." (Page 151) (This story is repeated in James Lee McDonough's book on Nashville).

What I read of this is that Rucker fell back to the Granny White Pike and, along with his escort, began building the barricades. He placed the 7th Alabama on his left flank to enfilade the road. Rucker, alone it seems, then placed the 12th Tennessee Cavalry (CS) after they fell back from their advanced line under Union pressure. As he was moving to where he wanted them he was enveloped by the Union 12th Tennessee Cavalry and captured after a brief fight. Wily Sword's book on Franklin and Nashville then suggests that the flag was captured after Rucker was by a trooper of the 12th Tennessee (US). If Rucker was in front of the barricades where he was placing the 12th Tennessee (CS) when he was overtaken then it seems to me the flag lost was that of the 12th Tennessee Cavalry (CS). His escort was close by and had helped build the barricades but as we know their flag was not taken.

This pretty much sews up what flag was taken that day to me and exactly how Rucker was taken.

Greg Biggs