Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1864-12-08
VOLUME XIV.

periencc, still would the vivid impressions
received in that next half hour, remain en-
| during and indellible.
My horse was very tired, and for a long
time had required much urging. The Lieut..
was mounted on a fine animal, as free as
the air and swift as the whrlwind, 50 that
in spite of all my efforts was falling to the
rear, along with few other stragglers from
"a squadron of cavalry that was moving up
the road ahead.
|. All at once a cavahyman dashed by me
eXclaiming, " See that lot Of Johnnies in
4 the road behind us !" and sure enough, there
was squadron Of them in full charge up
on us not forty rods off Each sorry strag-
. glcr now clapped spurs to his horse and
closed up sooner think than they ever
obeycd an order, but though | dug my poor
! horses llanks with all the energy possible
under the presSuc OF circumstances, he fell
behind and only just cleared his distance
! that is he, Just passed under cover of the
squadron mentioned as the rebS were about
to close on us Not seeing an officer at
/ first | sung out Z. Fall in line " but Lieut.
| TieSton was there, and hastily forming the
men, he furiously charged the rebs in turn,
driving them back i'll disorder upon their
reserve, which now came to their support
"a whole ] egiment Of ofthen-punging up
! on the flank of our little squadron, like a
host OF vultures settling upon their prey
| \ right about, a hasty skedaddlc was all
| that could be expected under such circum-
! stances, and such it was. The fearless
! Lieutenant, further in advance than all on
the charge, was 50 nearly cut off in the re-
treat that in sailing through he knocked
them right and left, but once out, his gay
steed soon out-distanced the swiftest of
them.
Thus they retreated and left Corporal
Parlhurst in the hands Of the enemy" SO
the Lieut. reported when he reached the
| regiment, and so he honestly thought, for
last he saw of me was far in the rear with
the Johnnies dashing up close upon my heels
while the greatest speed | could muster in
my animal was a good sober trot
On coming into camp late at night, |
found quite an earnest conversation going
on with regard to my capture. Approach
ing a squad of comrades gathered around
a fire, | overheard the remark:
|. We'll. they can't keep Parlhurst, he
gave them the slip once and will do it
ton, appeared to their astonishcd vision,
and received their hearty congratulations.
My escape was on this wise: Seeing
the rebs gaining fast upon me- | exerted
my utmost to make my horse feel that it !
was great emergcncy-an urgent case,
but he couid'nt see Il, and not even the
sharp reports coming alarmingly near, nor
the whistling bullets could make him see
it--so seeing but one chance left, with the !
speed Of lightning | seized it, determined to !
escape or die in the attempt Snatching /
my blanket from the saddle in which were
rolled my clothes and other valuables. / I
dismounted, bounded over the stone-wal /
and made the best time possible for the |
nearest woods These Virginia wal-fcnces |
are famous obstacles to cavalry, and while /
my bood-thirsty enemies were finding a
place to get through, was gaining time .
Reaching the wood | skulllcd around the .
edge of the hill, found rock projecting .
from low place, with crevice offering a .
good hiding place, into which | dropped |
painting and out of breath. | was none to .
Soon for in a moment the party passed by |
in full pursuit, surprised no doubt at the /
swiftness Of foot that had enabled me to
get out of sight so soon
When all was quiet, | left my blanket in .
the rock to pick mp some other time and .
with my trusty carbine found the nearest .
point Of our lines as soon as possible.
] blamed the quartcrmaster for getting
me into trouble, for the day before the bat
tie, an order having come to the 22nd to
turn over all the serviceabIe horses to the
lst Vermont, he selected the best for the
teams, among which was my own, giving
me pcor miserable ping in its place.
But the poor quartcrmastcr was himself
captured, 50 I'll withdraw my ccnsure for
he'll suffer enough
Next day we expected to renew the bat
tie, and seeing the whole force Of cavalry
moving out with artillery and everything
fully equipped for the fight, | felt that
could not stay in the rear, so | borrowed
horse and joined the command. When
near my hiding place Of the day before,
made a detour with my chum-Alr. Stone,
and picked up my blanket where had left
it. The enemy had retired beyond Cedar
Creek, 50 there was no engagement.
Next day, the l4th, our best horses were
turned over, and on arriving here the con
dcmned ones were disposed Of but we are
soon to be remountcd on good horses to re-
turn 10 the front in fighting order
lour AEcctionatc Husband,
H. S. PARKHURST,
Co. VI, 22nd n. Y. c.
CAMP NEAR PETERSBURG.