The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-06-29

Halt! Who goes there p shouteda long,
lank Confederate soldier, sitting upon a
Sorrel horse, toying with a double-barreled
shotgun, the f~avorite weapon of the west
ern bushwhacker in the early war time.
He was the picket guarding the camp of
Dick Mccain, one of the most daring of
the confederate cavalrymen. The bivouac
rested in the security of his vigilance in n
piece of woods a mile or so left Of the
turnpike leading from Gallatin, to Nash
vile, Tenn. The picket stood where the
country road which leads past the Nc
Cams camp, made its junction with
the turnpike. He evidently challenged
the cavalry approaching from the direction
OF Gallatin as a matter of form, for rs the
officer approached him in rcpOnse to his
command, Advance and give the counter
sign" 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 road with two
chickens in one hand, the plumber of an
unofficial forage, and an unruly horse in
the other, han he did to the officer respond
ing to his challenge. The Federal soldier
got within a few feet of him before he
seemed to recognize the possibility of an
enemy being nearer than Nashville. The
dress first attracted his attention, for he saw
that it was not that of a confederate, and
hhIAASdig pAAbbAhE hio phNN 6NA ~ 'N'h vi
the officer he commanded:
"Halt! What regiment do you belong tor
ITO the Fourth Michigan cavalry re-
piled the officer.
Covering the officer with his shotgun as
he passed around to surrender himself, the
Confederate again commanded, Give ME
your arms !"
The officer, who wore a heavy overcOat
with n long cape, dropped the reins upon
his horses neck, pushed his hand under his
Oyercoat to unbuckle his sabre and comply
with the demand.
: The Federal soldiers horse being thus
left at liberty crowded against that of the
confederate, and, believing his game was
already in hand, he laid his shotgun down
across his saddle to receive the arms of his
captive. Hardly had he done this before
the Federal soldier saw his opportunity,
and, throwing his left hand quickly under
the cover of his cape struck the muzzle
of the shotgun aud knocked it 10 the
ground and with the same movement
caught the Confederate by his long, flowing
hair pulled his head upon his breast, whip
ped his revolver from its pouch, placed it
against his body and fired. The hammer
of the revolver caught in the fold of the
long cape which hung from the COnfeder-
ate's shoulders and did not explode. He
drew it back, raised the hammer again, and
made another attempt te secure the Con
federate. This time it got between his
body and arm, and although it did not
miss fire, the Confederate was uniniured
and in the tussle escaped. All this was
the work of a minute, for the officer shout
ed to his command, Forward the mo-
ment lie had grappled with one of McCann's
private soldiers. But by the time it had
arrived the soldier was going down the
road at a break-neck speed, while his CON
rade with the two chickens for the morn
ingis breakfast had mounted his horse and
was following hin hurriedlv. The little
command passed on to Nashville as rapidly
as possible, without stopping to do more
than to pick up the soldiers shotgun to
send home as a souvenir of the escapade.-
PHI. Press.