Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-02-21

I; During the fall of 1864 She
u man had cut loose and starte
from Atlanta to the sea. Hoo
had marched west through AL,
bama, and struck the Tennessee
: river between Florence and d.
. catur and crossed on pontoon.
10 bis Immediate front, just mort
of Shoal Greek, Hatch's division
of cavalry $4,000 men), Capron
brigade (l,20O men), Croxtoui
!. brigade (2,500 men). Lyin,
here, Iloods's movements wer,
watched, and when bis advanc,
was made across the river, which
consisted, among other troops, Of
Ross Texans, all engagement ev
cry day was in ord n, as rule,
resulting In. some hard fighting
As Hood advanced, every STEP
was disputed up to Franklin,
when Thomas gave him his first
check.
Up to this time the cavalry were
constantly engaged with Ross for
two or three days in front. Often
with the skirmish line was a
young fellow who carried the flag
which had the Lone Star. Often
in charging, as they swept down
upon US, he bore his flag near e.
nough to US to distinguish his fea
lures. In appearance he was a.
bout eighteen years of age, blonde
hair, which hung to his sword belt,
a pale, beardless face. Mounted
on a magnificent black horse, he
seemed to be omnipresent. When
the Texans charged fercest, there
the black horse, the long blonde
hair and the Lone Star were sure
tobe. This had gone on SO long that
the entire division knew him, and
common saying was, "It's no
use to shoot at him, for you can't
hit him" Every one had tried it,
but he seemed to lead charmed
life. On our retreat, the day be,
fore we came TO Spring Hill, we
were pressed unusually hard. |
Move as we would, the Texans
seemed to be upon us, and faunt.
ing continuallyin our face was that
flag always borne by the boy on
the blck horse After falling back
from position which had been
holly contested, and retreating,
after repulsiug charge, we had
hardly formed when they came
agaiu-the flag, black horse, aud
boy in front. The remark was
general, "The boy agaiu!" "Look
Mt the bo]!" Don't he ride?"
Just then Sergeant Major Howard.
Of the Eleventh Indiana Cayal.
ry, called to one OF the men and i
said, ed, is your gun loaded?" /
Yes WAS the reply. Give it to
ne." Howard (who was boy {
If seventeen, slim, light, but a !
inc sho) took the gun, dismount.
ID, kneeled down iu the road, and s
ooke1 for The A,g bearer. Abou'
hree hundred yards in froat was
rise 10 the ground that he would c
lave to come up before he would I
,e in sight. Howard waited. All S
ooked on with almost breathless ]
many venturIng 10 re- 7
mark, LIS no use; you cant it !
i'm. " The flag came in view @
Irst. then the man aud then the
orse. lie was leading the brig t
de, bis long hair floating in the 5
Wind as be came forward at a q
weeping gallop. Every few mo I
lents he would give q yell that 5
ould be hear above the roar of
arbines. AS Howard kneeled, S
is carbine came to his shoulder, il
look down the barrel, a momen t
ary pause, a fIsh, a crack, and o
II looked at the Texan. First the I
sg waved and fell from his hand, II
hen the boy reeled and fell from
is horse, which, frightened, tore il
way and ran into our lines S
Toward, pale as sheet, handed b
he gun back, mounted lis horse d
nd Joined his command. All the e.
fternoon he seemed sad, and that Ii
light at the camp fire notice1 ii
i'm writing. After scrIbbling Tor h
time he threw the paper in the ly
re, which | snatched out, and, Iir
n reading it, found the sketch II
'as of our Texan flag-bearer. d