The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-16

Torbett, OF you cavalry, wal in the par
lor drinking wine with my father and T0r
bett knew that l was there and did no
molest me. II I let you go my men wouit
carry the story in our camp, and it wouit
only be- shifting the ruin from your should
ers on to mine, ard that l have neither tn
right nor the disposition todo; and, gentle
men, il you please We will say no NOR
about it." It was alast, desperate chance
Benton had tried it and-had lost.
We were now nearing the position whert
we knew their picket reserve was probably
stationed. and were in momentary expecta
tion ola challenge. We had reached a point
where the ~road-which, for the last hal
mile, had passed through a ~growtho vi young
pi~nes-ascended q slight elevation. and en-
tered the timber, when the sharp call vi the
sentry broke the silence. The lieutenant
halted his party at the command at a dis,
lance OF some sixty yards. dismounted ana
went forward to give the word. In the
meantime we could hear the officer OF the
| picket forming up his party. When our
captor had got to a point abont1'ur PAGES
| from the sentry, the latter. either by accl
| lent or through nervousness, discharged his
, cal bine, and the shot passed through
the body of the young officer, and ne
fell to the ground dead. Every old soldier
knows what dire consequences Will some
times follow the firing vi a single shot, es-
p~ecially atnight. Instantly thirty or forty
shots were exchanged. Our party broke to
the right and left to gain the shelter OF the
mines. every man for himself. Like a flash
of lightning the thought OF escape came TO
US all. Benton, assuming the leadership.
shouted. "FOlI0w mel" And we dashed
through the pines in the direction whence
we had come. We ~regained the road in
L-.A Ar> L,rluJ xynVIo h. CInO IN fine
meantime dropped our stirrups and got
our feet into them, and thrown off our
overcoats, and were laundering down the
road, urging our horses with voice and heel
to their utmost speed we knew we would
be pursued, and determined to gain as good
a lead as possible before the enemy should
regain their colnposure. Arriving at the
place wherein we had passed their vidette, we
rushed past him like a whirlwind, shouting
like demons, but as We passed he fired, and
a sharp, s~tinging sensation in my left fore
arm told me that l had been hit. Quickly
gathering the reins in my right hand
rode on. The pace was beginning to tell
on our horses, and in order to breathe
them, as well as to learn 1t we were
pursued, we turned off the road into the
woods a short distance. but where we could
see the road, and be ourselves unseen, and
and d%ismounted. Benton examined my
arm, from which the blood was slowly
flowing, and found that the ball had broken
the small bone; he quickly bandaged it to
stop the How OF blood In the meantime,
Grey had frightened the girths OF our
horses and had cut a switch for each of us
to use as a riding whip. We soon heard
the enemy coming. We decided to allow
them to pass ahead, and then to follow
them at a SLOW gait, SO that we would ave
our horses in good wind in case we came
upon them again, III which event We decided
to take to the woods once more. fighting
being out of the question, as we were un-
good our escape unless we should happen
to stumble onto them before we would have
time to regain the woods. At the worst,
we had only to abandon our horses, when
our escape through the forest on foot be.
came almost a moral certainty. That,
however, should be a last resort.
We followed the enemy's party at a slow
trot, drawing rein occasionally to learn if
they we're coming back, and finally we
heard them coming and close upon us.
Quickly wheeling to the left we dashed into
the woods, and, unseen, we watched them
pass, and counting them as they went, saw
they were but four in number. This told
US that they had probably divided into
three OF four small parties and put a new
face on the matter. After a few minutes
consideration we concluded that our best
plan would be to separate and then, il one
OF us should be captured, the other two
would still have a chance OF escape. Ac-
cordinsly Benton took to the woods on the
right-hand side of the road, Grey struck
far into the left of it, while / decided to
keep to the road as much as possible, tax
ing to the woods when it became necessary.
l chose this route because in riding through
the woods my arm, which was extremely
painful, was made much more SO by com
ing in contact with the trees, and for that
| reason [ decided to take the risks Of the
more open portions OF the country. lhad
ridden about two miles and was about the
same distance from our picket line, when ]
came to a point where the road
passed through a small clearing OF
seven or eight acres in extent. l halted
here to listen, and, hearing nothing,
decided to, keep to the road, instead Of
taking the safer route through the woods
around the opening. I got three-quarters
of the way across, and was beginning to
breathe freely when, with a yell hat sent
the blood back frozen to my heart, four OF
the enemy dashed out Of the woods which
l was approaching and came for me on the
run. I quickly wheeled my horse to the
left, lifted him over the low fence, and
flashing him with all my strength l struck
out for the woods at the end Of the clear.
ing. The distance was about three hundred
yards. The enemy gained upon me fast
l thought if l could gain the woods with
eighty or one hundred yards start would
then abandon my horse, as l saw that
conld not out-ride them, and neither could
1 throw them off the track. as the noise Of
my horse would betray me. When within
fifty yards of the woods they fired two
shots at me, neither of which took effect.
A few more leaps carried me across the
field, and giving my horse another cut
across the flank ] bounded into the
woods.
l knew no time was to be lost. The
enemy were close upon me.
I was in the act OF ~dismounting to aban-
don my horse when a shot from the enemy
struck him somewhere abou the head. He
| gave one great leap into the air and We
came to the ground in a heap together. In
an instant l had disengaged myselffrom the
dying animal. It was now or never-escape
or cashiering. l took q course in the direc'
ton Of our camp and ran as only a hunted
man can un, for perhaps a hundred yards,
and then fell to the ground in a thicket o.
young pines, for the time completely ex,
hausted and in an agony of pain. How
long l IHlu UueFe l 40 uOU KNOW 1 was no
unconscious. l heard the conversation Of
the enemy when they came up to the body
of the fallen horse. They realized the fulfil
ity Of further pursuit Inc then, after firing
II couple Of shots in my direction, they re
moved saddle and brill and gave up the
chase. After resting l arose, and taking al
rapid a pace at l was capable OF, and avoid
ing the road and the open spaces. l soon
passed through our picket line, and in due
time arrived at camp, gave the counter
sign to the sentry, who looked with aston
ishlnent at my bandaged and bloody arm
and got to my tent just as the buglers wert
turning out to SOUND the ~reveille. Quickly
changing my clothing and removing or GOV
ering the traces of blood l hooked on my
saber and walked out to morning roll call
To my surprise there stood Benton, at thu
head OF his company street, watching hit
men form in line. He had got into camp
without mishap, about half an hour before
me, but hastily shaved himself and changed
his clothes, and looked as good as new. Az
! passed him he put bis finger to his lip.
and gave me a very impressive wink, but
there was no'need OF it. Grey got in a few
minutes after roll call.
OF our party OF three Benton and l ar,
one the retired list. In 1866 Grey married
the young lady he was so smitten with al
the time OF our capture, and was killed
while at the head OF his troop in an Indiar
fight in 1869. His widow now resides al
Warrenton, at which beautiful town I hao