Arizona weekly enterprise., 1882-02-04
4 Desperate Struggle.

Halt Who goes there 2" sho uted long, lank Confederate soldier, sittin upon 8 sorrel horse, toying with double-barreled shotgun, the favorite weapon of the Western bushwbacker in the early war time He was 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 mile or so to the left of the turnpike leading from Gallatin to Nash vile, Tenn. The picket stood where the country road which led past EfcCann's camp made it's junction with the turn pike. He evidently challenged the cav airy approaching from the direction of Gallatin as a matter of form, for as the officer approached him in response to his command Advance and give the coun- tersign," 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 | read with two chickens iu one hand, the plunder of an unofficial forage, and an unruly horse in the other, than he did in the officer responding to his chal- | lenge. Tie Federal soldier got within 1 few feet of him before he seemed to re- cognize the possibility of an enemy be- l ing nearer than Nashville. The dress 1 first attracted his attention, for he saw that it was not that of . Confederate, and, hurriediy bringing his shotgun to bear upon the officer, he commanded:
 Halt! What regiment do you be- long to p
 ''To the Fourth Michigan cavalry" replied the officer.
 Covering the officer with his shotgun Rs he passed around to surrender him. self, the Confederate again commanded, "G.ve me your arms !"
 The officer, who wore a heavy over coat with q long cape, dropped the reins upon his horses neck, pushed his hand under his overcoat to un- buckle his saber and comply with the demand.
 The Federal soldiers horse being thus left at liberty crowded against that of the Confederate, and, believing his 1 game was already in hand, he laid Lis shotsun down across his saddle to re- ceive the arms of his captive. Hardly had he done this before the Federal soldier saw his opportunity, and, throw ing lis left hand quickly under the cover of his cape, struck the muzzle of bis shotgun and knocked it to the ground ant with the same movement caught the Confederate by his long, flowing hair, pulled his head upon his breast, whipped his revolver from its pouch, placed 1t against his body and fired The ham, mer of the revolver caught in the fold of the ng cape which hung from the Con- federate's shoulders and did not explode. He drew it back, raised the hammer again, and made another attempt to Be- cure the Confederate. This time 1t got between his body and arm, and, although it did not miss fire, the Confederate was un injured and in the tussle escaped. All |. was the work of minute, for the
 had shouted to his command,
 ard !" the moment he had grap-
 ,ta one of McCsnn's private SOL 1 But by the time it had arrived
 E. ldier was going down the road at uIrak-leck speed, while his comrade with the two chickens tor the morning S breakfast had mounted his horse and was following him hurriedly. The little command passed on to Nashville as rap idly as possible, without stopping to do more than to pick up the soldiers shot gun to send home as a souvenir of the escap~de.