Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1865-10-25
WHOLE NO. 1850

den by the trees, they were waiting his
coming.
The Union commander broke up his
biyouac at four in the morning and began
to move forward. Reaching the valley
of Middle Creek, he encountered some of
| the enemy's mounted men, and captured
a quantity of stores they were trying to
withdraw from Prestonburg. Skirmish-
ing went on until about noon, when the
rebel pickets were driven back upon their
main body, and then began the battle.
1t Is not my purpose to describe it !; for
that has already been ably done, in thirty
lines, by the man who won it.
1t was wonderful battle. In the his
tory of this war there is not another like
it. Measured by the forces engaged, the
valor displayed, and the results which
followed, it throws into the shade even
the achievements of the mighty hosts
which saved the nation. Eleven hun
dred men, without cannon, charge up
hill, over stumps, over fallen trees, over
high intrenchments, right into the face
of FIVE thousand, and twelve pieces of ar
tillery
For five hours the contest RACES. Now
the Union forces are driven back; then,
charging up the hill, they regain the lost
ground, and from behind rocks and trees
pour in their murderous Volleys. Then
again they are driven back, and again
they charge up the hill, strewing the
ground with ccrpses. So the bloody work
goes on so the battle WaYers, till the set
ting sun, wheeling below the hills, glanees
along the dense lines of rebel steel NOV
ing down to envelop the weary eleven
hundred. 1t is an awful moment-big
with the fate of Kentucky. At its very
crisis two figures stand out against the
fading sky, boldly defined in the fore
ground.
One is in Union blue. With band of
heroes about him, he is posted on a pro-
iecting rock, which is Scared with bull
lets, and in full view of both armies. His
head is uncovered, his hair streaming in
the wind, his face upturned in the dark
ening daylight, and from his soul is going
up prayer prayer for Sheldon and
Cranor He turns his eyes to the north
ward, and his lip tightens, as he throws
off his coat and says to his eleven hun
dred men" Boys, l0s must go at them
The other is in rebel gray. Moving
out to the brow of the opposite hill, and
placing glass to his eye, he, too, takes
long look to the northWaFd. He starts,
for he ses something which the other, on
lower ground, does not distinguish. Soon
he wheels his horse, and the word g Re-
TREAT" echoes along the valley between
them. II is his last word; for six rifles
crack, and the rebel Major lies on the
ground quivering.
The one in blue looks to the north
again, and now floating proudly among
the trees, he sees the starry banner. 1t
is Sheldon and Crsnor The long ride
of the scout is at last doing its work for
the nation. On they come like the rush
ing wind, filling the air with their shout
ing. The rescued eleven hundred take
up the strain, and then, above the swift
pursuit, above the lessening conflict, above
the last boom of the wheeling cannon,
goes up the wild huzZa of Victory. The
gallant Garfield has won the day, and
rolled back the disastrous tide which has
been sweeping on ever since Big Bethel.
In ten days Thomas routs Zollicoffer, and
then we have and hold Kentucky.
Every one remembers a certain artist,
who after painting "neighing steed,"
wrote underneath the picture, " This is
horse" lest it should be mistaken for an
alligator. 1 am tempted to initiate his
example, lest the reader, otherwise, may
not detect the rambling parallel l have
herein drawn between Northern and
Southern "poor white man."
President Lincoln, when he heard o
the battle of Middle Creek, SAID to dis
tinguished officer, who happened to be
with him.
"Why did Garfield in two weeks do
what would have taken one of you Regu
lar folks two months to accomplish "
because he was not educated at West
Point. answered the West Pointer, laugh
ing. |
mo-" replied Mr.. Lincoln. g That
was MT the reason. 1t was because, when
he was a boy, he had TO work for a liv-
ing"
But our good President, for once, was
wrong,-for once, he did not get at the
core of the matter. Jordan, as well as
Garfield. chad, when a boy, to work for
8 living" The two men were, perhaps,
of about equal natural abilities,-both
were born in log huts, both worked their
own way to manhood, and both went into
the war consecrating their lives to their
country: but one came out of it with a
brace of stars on his shoulder, and hon
ored by all the nation; the other never
rose from the ranks, and went to an un-
known grave, mourned only among his
native mountains. Something more than
cork was at the bottom of this contrast in
their lives and their destinies- 1t was
FREE SCHOOLS. which the North gave the
one, and of which the South robbed the
other. Plant a free school at every south
ern cross-road, and every Southern JOr-
dan will become Garfield. Then, and
not till then, will this Union be " recon
strueted"