Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-06-04

at which point he heard the Lieuten-
ant in command sing out: y guess
as we have to halt everyone that
passes, you had best get down.
emphasizing the order with navy
at full cock. A halt was Of course
made, but the noble animal which he
rode seemed to snuff an enemy, for he
reared and plunged, became fractions
and hard to manage, "Get down, |
say reiterated the officer. "You see
my horse is wild, and hard to hold,'
replied our friend, who was, during
the squirting operation, working his
revolver to hand.
The by-play was good. With pistol
presented, backed by his troops,
stood the Lieutenant, while itseemed
as if the rider would be literally
thrown into the arms Of his would-be
captors, by his FESTIVE, unruly animal.
A spring Of the thoroughbred towards
the troops would be followed by
rear and plunge aside, then-a shot
rang clear and defiant on the crisp
night air, and with laundering hoofs
the horse was madly chasing the
wind, neck-and-neck, as it were,
bearing away his rider to safety from
the Queens men, shot after shot fol-
lowing the gallant steed and rider,
but to no purpose.
The Lieutenant was dumb from
establishment, and as silent as the
form ofhim lying on the greensward,
who never again would answer to
roll-call, and was only brought to re-
alize his position on hearing the harsh
stern voice Of Capt. Elliott, his COM
mander, saying, "You have played
! Didn't you know that was the
id rebel, Col. York, we were after p
But it was too late, and curses
would not turn the Colonel from the
Virginia trail, which he asfollowing
as ardently as if he were to keep
tryst with his lady--love.
Back to his old scenes again the
days flew rapidly until the curtain
was to be drawn upon the drama at
Appomatox, when he was ordered by
Gen. Lee, to North Carolina, at a
point on the Yankton river, with in
structions tolhold bridge until the
passage Of President Davis was safely
made. How we'll the behest was
followed, the Federal General Stone
man, supported by AGO men and Z
guns, can tell. An unconditional
surrender of the bridge, troops, etc.
was demanded, and the laconic an.
swer "come and take it, given. Fo1
days skirmishing with the enemy II
front and then retreating through thu
covered bridge, drawing Stonemal
ON, and repulsing his charges time
and time again, the position Val
successfully held, until Johnston
drove the enemy to the mountains
and the President with his staff ant
escort made the crossing. How fear
full the destruction made by the littl'
; band of 400 fighting men and fiv
pieces Of artillery, under our Vidali
Colonel-(now a Brigadier) can b
imagined from the language of Gen
StOneman.
Gen. York had fulfilled Gen. Lee
instructions to the letter, and wa
making his way to the trans-Missis
sippi Department, where it was in
tended by the Confederate govern
ment head to make another stand
but ran into the lines of Stoneman
whom he had so soundly thrashe'
! shortly before, and was made prise
ner. Referring to the repulse a
Yankton river, Gen. StOneman aske'
his former adversary, the strength q
his forces at the bridge. "Four hun
dred effective men and five pieces q
|, artillery" was the reply. The Fed
! eral General was surprised; musin
a while, he said: Icould have take
> your position, General, but at grea
er sacrifice than experienced.
! "Never, sir" was the warm reply
e "The bridge of Lodi was nothing t
what the YanktOn river bridge woul
have been. Your whole force woul
have been decimated. You coul