Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-11-02

There were a number of Union
people in the village, but, knowing
50 well the character of the guer-
rillas, with tears in their eyes, be-
sought johnson to beware of his
willy and vengeful foe. They told
him his command was no match for
those terrible revolver fighters, and
that if he persisted in hunting An
derson the lurid morning would be
by more ghastly
afternoon.
Their warnings were unheeded,
and, forming into line, he entered
upon a march which swiftly led him
into the jaws Of death. In the
suburbs Of the village a beautiful
Union girl rushed into the street,
and, seizing his bride reins, with
fearful accents bessught the in
trepid Federal officer to beware of
Anderson and Todd. She told him
she had a presentiment that if he
attempted to find the guerrillas
he would succeed, and that himself
aud all his command would be
killed.
But nothing cOuld defer him from
his course. His blood was on fire,
and nothing but blood would APP
pease him. The trouble with
johnson was he was brave to a
fault, but an inexperienced military
commander, and knew little or
nothing concerning the tactics ne
cessary to adopt in order to success
fully cope with the guerrillas Of the
border. BE moved directly to SIN
gleton's barn, and learned that the
guerrillas had taken dinner there.
A scout went out to reconnoitre, and
returned in short time, reporting
that the enemy was in waiting in
the timber a mile and half
to the southwark. johnson gave
the command of forward" and
very soon the two commands were
IN SIGHT OF EACH OTHER.
George Todd, who had been
placed in command Of the united
forces, sent Thrailkill with several
picked men out as skirmishers. In
this advance were Frank and Jesse
James, AL Sheppard and others, no
less brave and daring. When such
notorious men as these marched out
to meet him, johnson had need to
look well to his laurels. Todd issued
his orders with as much GOODNESS
and dignity as did Richard III OH
Bosworth field.
There were 262 men in his com.
mand, including the commands o.
Thrailkill, Poole and Anderson
He knew the metal of every one O
his men, and knew that the i'm
pending conflict could terminate
only in one way, and that was an
overwhelming disaster to the mill
tia officer and his followers. Thrail
kill, after firing a few random shots
retreated to the main column. In.
experienced johnson, thinking ht
had gained an easy victory, rushed
after the willy sklrmisher in utter
confusion. Arriving in three Of
four hundred yards Of the mair
column he halted his command
formed them into line, and spoke
words Of encouragement to them
concerning the engagement which
was about to follow.
Todd marched ont into an open
field and formed his command into
lines two deep. It was a scene
never to be forgotten by those who
participated in it. 1t was a lovely
evening. The September sun was
sinking fast behind the western
hills, and a mournful stiffness was
in the air like that which is always
felt before the bursting of the merci.
less storm. Now and then sounds
from the distant farmhouse grated
heavily upon the ear, and the rip
pling Of the gentle stream sounded
strangely loud as its waters pur-
sued their uninterrupted course on
to the sea. johnson observed that
the guerrillas were dismounting.
/" What" said he, edo they mean
by that? will they fight on foot?"
All, no, it did not mean that. 1t
meant simply that they were ad-
iusting their saddle-girths, putting
fresh caps on their pistols and pre-
pairing to engage in a conflict
wherein death would hold high car
niyal, and the demeniac shouts Of
maddened men would be heard far
away over the silent prairie.
A black flag floated at the head
of each command. johnson had
discarded the stars and stripes for
the day, but beside Todd's sable
banner floated in graceful abandon
the flag of the South-the stars
and bars. aH
johnson cried out to the guerrilla
chieftain, "Come on, we are ready
to receive you" But it couldn't be
possible that he intended to receive
the terrific charge of the guerrillas
at a halt. Those who know any.
thing of military tactics will readily
understand the folly of such a
course. But Todd did not wait for
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