The National tribune., 1881-09-03
A CLOSE SHAVE

From the Philadelphia Press.
Halt. Who goes there?" shouted a long lank
Confederate soldier, sitting a sorrel horse toy
ing with ube-barreled shot gun, the favOrite
weapon Of the Western bushwhacker in the early
war time. He the picket guarding the camp
of Dick McCann, one of the most daring Of the
Confederate cavalrymen. The bivOuac rested in
the security of his vigilance in piece of woods a
mile Or so to the left of the turnpike leading from
Galatin to Nashville, Tenn The picket stood
where the country road which led past McCanns
camp made its junction with the turnpike He
evidently challenged the cavalry approaching from
the direction of Gallatin as a matter of f0rm
for as the officer approached him, in response to
his command, Advance and give the cOuntersign." ;"
his shotgun lay upon his lap, across the pOmmel
of his saddle, while he was paying more attention
to his cOmrade, who was coming up the wagon
road with two chickens in one hand, the plunder
of unofficial forage, and an unruly horse in the
other, than he did in the officer responding to his
challenge The Federal Soldier got within few
feet of him before he seemed to recognize the pos
sibility of an enemy being nearer than Nashville.
The dress first attracted his attention. for he saw
that it was not that of Confederate, and hur-
Ger, he cOmmanded:-
Halt, What regiment do you belong tO?"
''To the Fourth Michigan Cavalry replied the
officer.
Covering the officer with his shotgun as he
passed around to surrender himself, the Con-
tederate again commanded, Give me your arms, :"
The officer, who wore heavy overcoat with a
Onge cape dropped the reins upon his horses neck,
pushed his hand under his OvercOat to unbuckle
his sabre and comply with the demand
The Federal soldiers horse being thus left at
liberty crowded against that of the Confederate,
and, believing his game was already in hand, he
laid his shotgun down across his saddle to receive
the arms of his captive. Hardly had he done this
before the Federal soldier saw his opportunity, and
throwing his left hand quickly under the cover of
his cape, struck the muzzle of his shotgun and
knocked it to the ground and with the same NOV
ment caught the Confederate by his long, flowing
hair pulled his head upon his breast, whipped his
revolver from its pouch placed it against his body
and fired. The hammer af the revolver caught
in the fold OF the long cape which hung from the
Confederates shoulders and did not explode.
He drew it back, raised the hammer again. and
made another attempt to secure the Confederate
This time it got between his body and arm, and
although it did not miss fire, the Confederate was
uninjured, and in the tussel escaped. All this
was the work of a minute, for the officer had
shouted to his command Forward" the mo-
ment he had grappled with one of McCann's pri-
vate soldiers. But by the time it had arrived the
soldier going down the road at break neck
speed, while his comrade with the two chickens
for the mornings breakfast had mounted his horse
and was following him hurriedly. The little
command passed on to Nashville as rapidly as
possible, without stopping to do more than to
pick up the soldiers shotgun to send home as a
souvenir of the escapade