Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-01-11
HAND TO HAND.

A spirited narrative OF duel between TWO IL
val lieutenauts of the opposite armies during the
late war; that has been going the press rounds,
brings me to the recollection and recording of
hand to hand encounter that occurred at
Warrentou, Va, iu the last year of the strug
gle, between q very near aud dear friend OF
mine and an opponent, 10 which, by the fate
of war and the good luck of my friend, a brave
soldier lost mis- life, coming within an ace OF
putting OUT the light Of another.
1t was Christmas Eve, 1864, party OF the
Black Horse cavalry, of Virginia, we're recon.
notcrinp about Warrenton pretty little
village within forty miles due west of Wash
inctou. My friend vas, on account OF birth
and associations, iu the Confederate army, and
his name to this day is known throughout east
ern Virginia as identified with deeds OF daring
and bravery. This command Of Black-borse
was composed almost entirely of the youog
planters and gentlemen of Virginia, men who
were born, so to speak, on horseback, and
ready to ride to Old Nick at any moment. lu
deed, one o! the prime causes OF the South 8
holding OUT was due to the fact that there is a
military spirit existent among It's people to be
found nowhere else. 1t arose from the lido
lence of wealth and the Incidence OF poverty,
combined with the sparse population over u
large territory, which causes men to be about
in open.air pursuits aod in all physlca! opera.
.ious lett on their own seli-rellance aimnst alto
gether. The same spirit that made the Moss
troopers of England and Scotlaod all that they
were 10 old days was natural among the men
of the south and instructive. They were not
mt to the necessity OF induiglng 10 it by new
experience. The style OF fighting OF the Black
horse was very much in the same line as that
cf the old troopers-of dashes saliles and
soray5.
Cnasseur, call him 50, for he is journalist
now, and usually writes over that synooyme,
was soldier 10 the Black horse. He Is sort
of man designed by nature for military life and
wears the look of soldier 10 his face. fallish,
spare, broad Eculdered, and muscularly Wiry
rather than athletic his prominent, clcau-cu
features devoid of beard as Womaa's, and his
long, dark hair, evidence that years OF Ameri.
can generations have given the original Scot
rsh source of his blood an Iodiau tinge and io
him We see, as among the descendants OF the
first Northern pilgrims, unmstakable proof
that the iufue9ce OF our climate gradually tends
to aborigiulze our features.
A body OF the Black horse was sent out to
reconnoiter about Warreulon. 1t was on
Christmas eve, and Chasseur, in search of
Christmas festivities, had been separated from
his party and entered farmhouse off the
main road bit, leaving his horse tied near
the fence. He was dressed in Confederate
gray, concealed by large United States army
blue ulster, with which great portion of the
Southern cavalry bad furnished themselves for
the sake OF disguise, at times, and principally
because they hadn't, for the greater part, any
overcoats of their own.
He had not been 10 the house but few
minutes when one of the youug ladies rushed in
with terror on her face and curled paper IN her
hair:
Il don't know whether you are North or
South" she cried, 'but if you are a Ccnfede-
rate for Gods sake fly, for company of Yam
KEGS arc riding toward the house.
He looked from the window and saw nine
blue coats on horses coming by side cut to-
ward the house. There was no place of C mccall
meut 10 the domestic mansion, so he had
nothing to do but to run for it. The woods
were about hundred yards in front Of
the establishment with two fences in-
tervening. His horse was out Of the question,
inasnuch as to attempt to get at it was to be
shot. So trusting to luck and his legs Chas-
seur rushed for the woods. The first thing he
did was to cross one fence; the second was to
fall into blind ditch, nearly breaking his neck
10 the last operation, aud rising to escape mar
rowy being shot by the cavalry, who were now
about the house, aud some of them endcavor-
log to cover him with their carbines AS he
neared the Secoud fence he saw on the other
side of it, piece to his right, one of the Union
soldiers on horseback riding to cut him off,
either suppoSng him to be unarmed, and as
he was to all appearances, the newcomers hav
ing fouod his pistols and carbine on his horse
near the gate, or else moved by the soldicrly
spirit of letting the best man wln, the cavalry
men held back and lett the TWO to settle the
subject OF capture or escape betw cen theuasel-
yes. ln moment the rail fence alone sepa-
rated the two men. The cavalryuau steadied
his horse, raised his carbioc and pointed it to-
ward the Confederate 5 breast, demanding him
to surrender. He was tall, handsome fellow,
with ruddy cheeks and long, dark musache,
that gave him an air Of fierce comchness that
was striking as it was military
Chasseur gasped cut defiance as he tugged
at his revolver at his hip.
Kill the dashed rebel and come along,
Rowsay; we've got no time to spare" cried
the cavalrymen.
The thin lips of the carbine seemed to grow
as wide-mouthed as the bore Of canuou as it
glared murderously at Chasseur, who Just tore
out his revolver as the cayalryman pulled the
trigger Of his weapon. 1t seemed century
between the crook of his 6ugcr and the fall of
his hammer. The sky and the winter fields,
made dank and oczy by recent rains, appeared
rushing together to aid the bullet, aod crush
out the lite OF the Virginian, but the same rain
that had sponged the ground had dampeucd
the cap OF the carbine and when the hammer
fell II was with clear, spring.like click that
told the danger was over.
with one hand reached out on the horse S
rein, and his revolver pointed at the Uniopist 5
breast, Chasseur called to him to surrender and
dismount or he would fire.
Fire and b-d T. shouted the cavalry
man, slipping off the horse and graphing at
the confederate.
Several of the cavalrymeu were DOW halted
at the further fence with their carbines 10 their
hands but feared to fire, as their comrade was
as much target as their enemy. Chasseur
with touoh-aud, 30 for life and death before him,
fired. The tall ncrtherner opened and closed