The palmetto herald. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1864-1864, 1864-06-09
LOVE AND ENTERPRISE.

(.
LOVE AND ENTERPRISE.
So small a thing as the scratch of a nail
sometimes affects the history of life
time.
We had ridden all day at smart pace,
pausing only now and then in the shade
Of wayside forest stretches to breathe our
horses, iaded and worn by long travel.
We had set out, with high hopes and re-
solute purpose, to infiict q blow at the
yery yitals of the Confederacy; and un-
der Grierson's gallant lead we had, so
far. swept everything before us scatter
ing In dismay the bands of rebel TROOPERS
marshaled to resist our progress, and leay-
ing on every side the evidences of our
ayenging presence. Inspired by success,
running over with the love OF adventure,
we dashed. along-past thrifty field, past
scattered houses with affrighted inmates
peering from door and window, past vii
iages too contemptibie for our notice
singing, laughing as we rode, careless of
present danger, Indifferent altogether to
The probable hazards Of the future.
While, however, we had so far been
successful at all points, we had not es-
caped conflict and slight loss. At several
points in our excursion we had been
sharply engaged; and while many of the
enemy had bee,l made to bite the dust, a
few of our own gallant riders had been
left to keep them company on the field.
But Notwithstanding all this we swept
payly forward, spreading terror every
where, even with smiles on our faces and
laughter on our tongues.
We had ridden smartly all day, and
now in the twilight a detachment OF US
were sweeping into Enterprise, Mississip-
ri, to the left of the route pursued by the
main column. We knew the enemy had
concentrated there in some force; but
that only heightened our interest In the
place, and with firm and steady columns
we charged straight into the town. Be
fore the stars had come out we had fought
and yanouished the rebels, and, with our
horses picketed in the streets, were for
aging for such cheer as We could obtain
from the inhabitants. In the main, they
were by no means the hospitable people
we had expected to find them; but we
managed, Notwithstanding their GOODNESS,
to make ourselves very comfortable, tax
ing some liberties, 1t must be confessed,
which probably strict construction OF
army regulations would hardly have per-
mitted.
But we could not loiter long-it was a
long way yet to Baton Rouge-so, after
resting on our horses and refreshing our
selves, we prepared to mount and be of.
i had taken supper just on the edge of
the town, with an old man and his
daughter, occupying neat little house,
and had been treated with great kindness.
said my adieux, therefore, in my very
politest style, and started for my horse,
most of my comrades having already
mounted. But l was TO ride no more,
that time, under Grierson's brave lead.
As leaped toward my horse, in my
haste to join my comrades a nail project
ing from the side of the gate caught my
coat. STOPPING hurriedly and with a
sort of blind impatience to extricate my
self from the annoying duress another
sharp point struck me straight under the
eve, and with howl of pain fell back
stunned and bleeding, being blind indeed,
for the moment, from the agony OF my
hurt.