Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-19
FRIDAY. OCTOBER Is. see.
For ths Union and Amcricau.l

For ths Union and Americsu.l
BELFAST, TENNESSEE, Oct. Is. 1866
" nen the Etrurian King, PoRsEvNA was
pesieglng Rome, -MUTTUs. a youth of nm.
oaunted courage, resolving to free his conn.
tfy Of her opPressor, entered the cam, IA
the invader disguised as peasant Ms.
taxing the Kings secretary for the King
ne kiiied him on the spot He was ;,ome'
elately arrested and brought before tbe
hlng. PoRsENEA demanded who he was
and The cause ofso heinous an action. Mr.
IiUS, without reserve, told him of his conn
tfy and design, and at the same time thrust
ing ms right hand into fire that was burn-
ing near by: Heu see,D said he. "how
hlsie 1 regard the severest punishment YOU
can lniiici upon me-a Roman knows not only
now TO act but TO suffer" Such an exhi-
Diuoh Of valor on the part Of this Roman
Dey saved his own life, and the city of Rome
was rescued from the wrath Of the conquer
or 1nsenslbly We revert 10 the youth Of
tne South now filling honored but M
marked graves in the valleys and on the
plains Of our own cherished land Of tbe
cypress and myrtle. A recollection of their
oarlng Will be handed down from sire to sor
Tradition will chronicle their heroic conr.
age, though the pen Of the historian NAV
never trace their acts on the lettered scroIi
Ihe sublimity Of their devotion to their
cause will not pale even before that Of tbe
Roman legIOns or Grecian phaianxes in
their palmiest days
II was at BentOnville, North Carolina
the last field Of the "Army Of Tennessee !"
The regiment was dismounted and thrown
forward on the ielt Of our infantry to pro-
teet the flank. On the margin of small
branch fringed by laurel, we were soon en-
gagged IN fearful and bloody fight For
two or three hours VIC maintained our posi-
ton on the bank Of this rivulet. tbouph
several Of our small regiment had fallen.
Our ammunition failing, We slowly retired
from the contested ground. Then two youths.
neither ofwhom exceeded perhaps theage Of
eighteen, refused 70 turn their backs upon
the foe, though their last cartridge had been
expended, and a continuance in their posi-
ton certain death or captivity. Like mar
bic statues they stood with their hands
clasped over the muzzle Of their guns. and
not another man was near them as thew
calmly waited the advancing lines of blue.
/ was directed to return and command them
70. relinquish their post, which finally they
did, though reluctantly, and at the last mo-
ment. A liner exhibition of moral courage
II has never been my lot to witness during
the varying and checkered scenes Of this
fierce struggle. Ross MARLIN and PoNY
lvIE, Of rutherford county, though young
IN years, may vet command the homage of
the brave and fair, whether friend or foe, in
this or any other community.
Later in the day, and not far from the
same place, the Federals had forced back
our left and penetrated entirely to JOHN.
sroNs rear. The bridge was in sight
the rosin was already upon it-that
point gained and it is difficult to see how
that gallant army can be saved. No time
was 20 be lost-l0 time lcds lost. The eighth
Texas cavalry, lead by Col. BAXTER SMITH,
Of Nashville, was the first 10 strike the ad-
vancing column. A more gallant and DASH
ing charge was never probably made since
the day Of Waterloo. The enemy were
pushed back by this charge. The fourth
Tennessee joining in the melee completed
what the eighth had so nobly begun. lust as
CUMMINGS brigade of infantry came upon |
the field andrestored order and dre-established |
our former lines.
have been thus minute that might no. |
tice the daring of young HARDEE, a son Of |
the General. He was a beardless lad. His 1
father had attempted to prevail upon him |
to quit the army on account Of his extreme |
youth. lie could not do so, and finally turn /
ell him over to General WHEELER, who in
turn gave him TO TERRY's Rangers" as a re-
eruit He had just been assigned 10 duty. /
that morning, and in that brilliant charge I
his first and last--Gell painfully wounded,
and died OF his wounds soon after. 'Tis a
sad duty TO record the fall Of such worth, 4
and yet they proclaim to us in such tones
that cannot be mistaken, that their ruins in Z
the veins OF our people, as noble blood as
ever ooursed the veins of Roman or Grecian
knight Ave they are types Of as noble
mon, and children Of as 'glorious God-gif-
ed women as ever appeared in the tide Of
time"
NIRGIEIUs