Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-11-29
the shcls United States Ia art eul.
ture aud music.
CAVALRY.
SOme Ofthe Unwritten History of
the Late War.
Nashville Banner.

NaeuNAAo RauntAt
During the M~urfreesboro (Stone's
river) tight, General Wheeler and his
cavalry operated in the rear Of the
enemy. At Lavergne he captured 4
long train of wagons belonging to the
enemy, all Of which be burned, after
driving the stock of. An incident Of
the fight is related BY a participant.
A body Of the enemy's infantry &C.
companying the wsgon train seeingthe
approach Of Wheeler's men, hastily
corrAlled the wagons and prepared to
defend them. A detachment Of
Wheeler's cavalry we're ordered to
charge them and capture the wagons.
Accordingly a dash was made straight
at the corral, the boys yelling as they
flew over the intervening ground.
But the blue coats we're not so
easily frightened. They held their
ground and repulsed the charge.
Within thirty PAGES of the enemy Joe
Harper, better known throughout the
command as "Wisham, lost his horse,
a bullet having penetrated bis head,
"Wisham' was in a close place. With
no horse, his comrades in full retreat,
and he within pistol shot of the me
my. Near him stood a small tree,
Just the size Of his body. Placing this
friendly growth between him and
the yanks he began to wrestle with
the problem Of escape. The blue coats
were psppering the tree with bullets
every few seconds, and at each volley
Wisbam expected to bite the dust.
Escape seemed impossible, and he
was iast about to give up in despair
when an old messmate Tom Gan,
~aicknamed Heck" called cut to him
from the Confederate line. The con
versation between them is reported
as follows:
20, Wisham!'
"Hello."
will you meet me if I'll come to
you2"
II will
Without another word Heck struck
spurs to his horse and sped away to
meet his friend. Both sides of the
conflict watched the single horseman
as be few over the ground and to what
seemed his certain death. Wisham saw
him coming aud leaving his tres, start
ed toward him. Wisham ran in a gigZag
manner in order to escape the Yankee
bullets, which were now flying thick
and fast about him. A hundred yards
from the tree Heck came up to
Wisham, and simultaneous With
wheeling his horse, grasped him by the
hand. Wisham, being an active man.
threw himself upon the horse's back
behind his friend and, without halt
ing, ran into their own lines amid the
cheers OF their comrades and the
bullets of their enemies.
When Wisham was safe on another
horse which he had captured, he rode
up alongside Of Heck and said:
Heck, old boy, hat was a close
place"
Yes" said Heck, lit was a close
shave"
Wisham rode on for some time, and
appeared to be lost in deep thought.
Whats the matter, Wisham2' said
Heck.
II was thinking, said Wisham, "of
something that occurred to my mind
while we we're running away from
them yanks on your horse"
What was that, Wisham?" said
Heck.
"Well, | thought, without wishing
you any harm. that | would like
mighty we'll to be in the saddle with
you in my place behind"
Joe Harper and Tom Gan lived near
Rome, in Smith county, Tenn. 1t may
be they live there yet. If So, they
will recall the circumstances related
above.