Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-11-25
Standing by His Gun.

Eighteen years ago, says the Little Rock
(Ark.) ssGazette,'' one of the most dra-
matte incidents of the late war, called late
because. let it be hoped, all its issues are
dead, occurred at Fourche Dam, few
miles below this city. General Price and
his army were occupying this city. Gen.
eral Steele was advancing. The whole
country was in terrible state of excite
ment. A battle was expectrd. Everyone
had confidence In the bravery and military
skill of Gen. Price. His achievements
were heralded, his praises sung.
One night. before the dawning of the
10th of September, 1868, Confederate
officel, on duty with his men at an out
pest, having received direct information
from a man who had been in the enemy 8
camp lay down by a fire, and on a leaf torn
from an old account book. wrote q dis
patch to a senior officer beginning: 1.-The
ball opens to morrow, y and giving state
ment as to the number of men In the ene-
my's rank. showing that his force was in
ferior to PRICES army. The officer 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. He
WAS playing cards at private residence.
and only became aware that the time for
action had come when the booming of
cannon, just at daylight, aroused him.
~ - 1or
iperately. They were compelled to retreat.
| Falling back to Fonrche Dam, it was de-
termined that final resistance should be
made. General Newton, who had been
sent back to form the men as they arrived
was executing that order when General
Marmaduke, who had been arrested for
killing General Walker, and who lad just
been released, dashed up and exclaimed:
I'VE must make fight here to cover
Prices retreat
''Cover Prices retreat ?'' replied New
ton, in surprise.
Eyes; for his army is in full retreat"
Nothing but fight was left. The enemy
charged, but was repulsed. Jeffres was
ordered to take his Missouri Brigade, cross
the creek and feel Of the enemy. He cross
ed, and not only felt of the enemy. but fol-
lowing the promptings of an impulsive ma
ture, charged the section Of battery, sup
ported by cavalry. The cavalry, from the
sudd ,nnsss of the attack. was thrown into
confusion and retreated, leaving the guns
unsupported. Tue captain of the battery,
uourrv M frnp, Ghioano eto,d hu ono
of the guns, with revolver in each hand,
firing rapidly. He was completely sur
rounded, but refused to surrender. The
Confederate, in admiration of his brave
ry, stopped firing and cheered 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 Mlssourian, IAN if you do.l't
behave yourself an quit your skylarkin'
you'll get hurt"
The brave fellow, with disdainful ges
tn Q, exclaimed:
II told the people OF Chicago that /
would never surrender this battery, and by
all the demons in hell I'll keep my word, y
and be leyeled his pistol at the Mlssourian.
But the lank man was too quick for him.
and THROWN 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 remov-
ing the gun. brave man; it is pity we
had to kill him.
/ The gun, with its death-mark of life's
blood, was drawn away by the Confeder-
ates, and used in dozen different 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 Reed S death.
'!Let the blood remain; it is a mark Of re-
spect to the memory of the brave man."
Just before the close Of the war Captain
Reed, the name applied to the gun, was
dlsmounted by a cannon ball. After the
battle the soldiers tenderly buried the
heavy iron. The rains of heaven or the
hands of man had not washed off the
blood.
| The value of medical services has in
creased somewhat since the commence
ment of the century, il a record of the
year 1900 is to be believed, when DR.. King,
who practiced in landlord, Mass, was
called to attend patient in the neighbor-
| ing village of Russell. After driving sew