The National tribune., 1882-11-23


fighting dismounted as to find his horse in
danger Of capture. In the race for their pos
session every man had opportunity to notice
his pitiable condition, eucumbered with heavy
cavalry boots. as the nimble-footed infantry
man passed him in the race. When he re-
fected that he was hundred miles in rear of
the enemy's lines, with an immense army in
terpoSed between him and freedom, he wanted
his horse. and many man lost his life in try
ing to get it.
my KyNGDoH FOR A HORSE"
The battle was now over. firing had almost
entirely ceased General Stonemau had sur
rendered. and with him the greater portion Of
U.dlo's command. The remainder was 3 con-
fused mass struggling for possession Of their
horses. and thosr who were successful flying In
a.y direction that offered a chance for safety.
Turning my eyes in the direction of Captain
Lovols picket, saw a confused and continu-
0gs line OF horsemen -ailoping away into the
I'D .aurc. ! had relied upon Captain Loyeis
Ltae command, which had not been engaged
iu the battle, as a nucleus upon which 10 rally
the fugi.i.Cs now scattering in every direction.
This was an the force that ] had mounted and
intact, and it was gone. The sight was morti-
flying, ana 10 some extent paralyzing, and for
an instant ! thought of surrender. But | was
well mounted, and my eyes at that moment fell
upon my youngest son, eighteen years of ago
the Youngest OF three who had taken up arms for
their couutry--a private in the ranks, before
whom, il case of capture, yawned the sepulchre
Of AndersonyiIle As this thought flashed
lr1tiC Mt
taken. ! called 10 him to keep me in sight and
follow me. Drawing around ME about one hun
dred Of the fugitives who had succeeded by q
handto-hand fight in rega,ning their horses we
made a dash for the open field on our right.
As we were the last to leave, the enemy had
time to mount a considerable bedy upon our
horses, who imm E3iately turned their atten-
lion to US. hot pursuit followed, bullets
whizzed thicllly around our heads, but we pre-
ferred the chances Of rebel bullets to rebel
prison pens, and spurred on.
RACE FOR LIFE.
Now commenced one of the most fearful
rides for life ever undertaken in the history Of
the war. Every incident of this battle and re-
treat must remain indelIibly impressed upon
my mind during my life, if it should be ex-
tended to hundred years After leaving tho
battlefield we rode rapidly across fields fur
rowed by deeply-washed channels, encumbered
by briars and brambies, and at last struck the
Edenton road. The enemy followed in con-
stantly-increasing numbers. 1t was out of my
power TO oppose or check them until some
miles out. when several detachments of our
scattered forces joined US, and with them two
companies under Captain Lord and a squad
ron commanded by another son of mine, Lieu
tenant Capron. This acquisition to my lit
tie force enabled me TO throw out a rear
guard and check the pursuit for time
enabling US to halt and rest our nearly ex-
hausted horses. In the struggle to regain pos
session of their horses many Of the men had
lost their arms; some had thrown them away
while on the retreat, others were falling out Of
ranks through wounds OF exhaustion. In
bringing this disorganized body into some
shape for a more orderly retreat, placed those
who retained their arms in front and rear
sections, the best mounted in the rear, as
being better able to recover their positions
in the column when called upon to face
about and check our pursuers. I judged
that by this time l had collected force
Of about three hundred men. Moving on rap
idly, crossing Murder Creek, l bore off towards
Madison, avoiding Edenton, as learned from
fugitive negroes that body was collecting at
that point to intercept and capture us.
Marching all night, leaving Madison TO the
.c1'' oi C''0 ''A' ~, ~
Ni'Joi i'"'!u'On "4'i ii'' u -"
men, "Lo' ~ "i't 10 ii"'' O'o'i uo
tacheu from my ooiiiui"iiu oeIoie we re"cleu
N4acoh' anu ho' having Ooen eHSaseu III VIC
ana hoIseS "eIe coi' Iai"liFeiS liesh' he hi'u
iuiiIlleu III" oiueiS 'ioi anu ues'lo!e eu
an immense quahVlIy oi puDlic property we
hoNeu ioi""iu "iIhoub ieSV' IiIIhS tirouPh
cofh-HeiuS' "hcre the men Pu'leu an ear ior
themselves aiiu d le" 4or 'leiI HoisCS' never
haiIlhg curing Ihls ehVlTe cay Al fohdef
Laril' seven OF elsh' Hiio7 foNh hulieuee'
ADAMS Orlsaue ana d sihall lorce uhoer OoIo-
mel blddie Joihea US. win Ihese additions 10
our lorcc confidence was restored, ana DeIng
the ranking oHlcer al once assumed command
We continued our march, but lndulged occa-
sionalIy IN snort rests, not exceeding Two hours,
when the rear OF the column was not being
assalled.
THE DEVIL TAKE THE HINDMosT.
Our rapid march mad now been continued
through two DAYS ana nlghts. On the I'd OF
August we approached the Oconee River, and
on nearing athens, where there was bridge,
halted the command where road branched off
to supposed passabie ford, some two miles be-
f.tFTF ~ y, fgf 10