Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-12-08

Eighteen years ago one Of the most
dramatic incidents Of the late war
called late because, let it be hoped. all
ct its issues are dead--ocCurred aa
Fourche Dam. . few miles below this
city. Gen. Price and his army occu-
pied this city. Gen. Steele was ad-
vancinR The whole country was in
. terrible state Of excitement. A bat
tie was expected. Every one had con-
| 6dence in the bravery and military
skill Of Gen. Price. His achievements
zero heralded. bis praises sung.
Une Ils8ht. before the dawninq 0l
| tie 10th Of September, 1888, Con-
federate officer. on duty with his men
at an outpost. having received direct
information from q man who had been
in the enemy's camp. lay down BY q
Are. and on Q leaf torn from an old
account book, wrote a dispatch to a
senior officer. beginning, THE ball
opens Tomorrow" and giving state
ment as to the number Of men in the
eneuay's ranks. showing that his force
was inferior to Prices army. The Of
ficer wrote respectfully forwarded
on the paper, and dispatched man
to Little Rock with instructions to
deliver the communication to General
Price.
The general could not be found.
BE was playing cards at q private res
idence, and only became aware that
the time for action had come when
the booming of cannon, Just at day
light, aro1ed him. The soldiers down
the river fought desperately. They
were compelled to retreat. Falling
back to Fourche Dam, it was deter
mined that final resistance should be
made. Gen. Newton, who had been
sent back to form the men as they ar
rived, was executing that order when
Gen. Marmaduke, who had been ar
rested for killing Gen. Walker, and
who had just been released, dashed
up and exclaimed
I'VE must make q fight here to COW
er Prices retreat"
Cover Prices retreatr' replied
Newton, in surprise.
"Yes; for his army is in full retreat. ''
Nothing but fight was left. The en-
emy charged, but was repulsed. JEFF
fries was ordered to take his Missouri
brigade, cross the creek, and feel
the enemy. He crossed, and not only
felt the enemy, but, following the
promptings Of an impulsive nature,
charged the section Of battery, sup
ported by cavalry. The cavalry, from
the suddenness of the attack, was
thrown into coafusion, and retreated,
leaving the guns unsupported.
The captain of the battery, young
man from Chicago. stood by one of the
guns, with a revolver in each hand,
firing rapidly. He was completely
surrounded, but refused to surrender.
The Confederates, in admiration of
his bravery, stopped firing, and cheer
ed him. He was repeatedly told to
surrender, and as often refused. He
continued to fire, and had wounded
several men.
"This thing is gettin' tiresome,
cap'n, yelled lank Missourian, "an'
if you dent behave yourself an quit
skylarkin,' you'll git hurt"
The brave fellow, with disdainful
gesture, replied:
Il told the people of Chicago that
| would never surrender this battery,
and, by all the demons in hell, I'll
keep my word T. and he leveled his
pistol at the Missourian. But the
lank msn was too quick for him, and,
throwing up his pistol, he fired. Cap
tain Reed fell across his gun, shot
through the heart.
Brave man." said the boys, as they
laid him on the ground preparatory
to removing the gun. Brave man.
1t is pity we had to kill him
The gun, with its death-mark of
life's blood, was drawn away by the
Confederates and used in q dozen diff
ferent battles, but no one ever washed
off the blood. Once, when an officer
asked one of the men why he did not
wash his gun, the soldier related the
circumstances Of Reeds death.
Let the blood remain. It is q
mark of respect to the memory Of a
brave man.
Just before the close Of the war,
Captain Reed-the name applied to
the gun---was dismounted by q can
non ball. After the battle, the SOL
diers tenderly buried the heavy iron.
The rains Of heaven nor the hands of
man had not washed off the blood
LffkIe Roek Gazskse