Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-27
ritten for THE EVENING STAR.
A CAVALRY EPISODE.
"Reminiscences Of the Late
Civil War.
CCopyright 1851

Ills aoNduCc cnCOunteTeQ u DreaStwOrk OF rails.
behind which the enemy were endeavorins 10
rally their broken battalions. Without a mo-
ment's hesitation Hatch ordered q mounted
change, and the horses literally tore the barri-
cade to kindling wood and soon Union and con-
federate troopers were mingled together in dire
confusion. Like Donnybrook fair. the men
struck at q head where 1t could be seen, while
the officers were vainly trying TO rally their
COMMUNICATION officers installing confede-
rates Tor their own men, confederate officers
ride close up and In laconic but pungent saxon
inquire, "Who the sheol are you, any how" and
then would follow breastthrust or pistol-shot
ana renewed tumult and confusion.
A HANS TO HAND STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
In the midst OF this maddening struggle a
Union onicer, whose name has escaped the
writer, who otherwise would gladly add q
laurel to his chaplet Of honor. encountered Con-
Tolerate Gen. Rucker, and there at once ensued
duei on horseback, such as perhaps was never
seen before The two powerful men closed In
deadly conflict, striking, thrusting, parrying
Sa 1n Tue s raIidity Of tightening UTgng their
swords with the disengaged hand, and Wrestling
from the other his weapon. they renewed the
own captured blade. 1t is difficult to say who
would have conquered In this peculiar combat
nad not Union trooper shot the gallant
fsucker through the arm, and, disabling him.
forced his surrender. Rukcer spent the night
at Gen. j. H. Wilson's quarters, where he re.
morning to a hospital in Nashville. He was a
courteous gentleman, and won the respect of
out.
THE ROCK OF cHrcAMAuaA.
Who OF those that fought there will ever for.
get Nashville" which made practicable the
perfect success Of Sherman's march to the scar
w no can forget our glorious leader, George H.
Thomas, "the Rock OF Chickamauga," SO be-
sacred to them, but whose fame has been as
sailed BY pigmies with carping criticism, and
whose last days were embittered by the con.
seriousness That his title TO consideration and
rreferment were contempiuously ignored.
Night fell on the second days battle, which
found Hoods army shattered SO badly that only
fear of capture kept his men with their colors.
The skies which had been frowning all day,
opened their gates, and down-pour Of rain
sions, for many days, and converted the country
into sea OF mud. The complete success which
had crowned our arms, however, inspired the
Union troops with double visor, and they hung
on to Hoods retreating columns like famished
wolves upon buffalo herd. Like Gen. Greene's
celebrated retreat through the Caroinas dur.
ing the Revolution, the elements conspired to
save the pursued, stream after stream becom-
ing unfordable the moment they were safe on
must hunt for crossings or try TO fmprovise
bridges, structures often which would cause the
quiet citizens blood to CONCEAL with horror al
the thought of trusting himself over the raging
torrent on SO frail continuance.
DAsHING CAVALRY LEADER.
On! on! however, was Wilson's ceaseess cry,
and somehow all obstacles would be overcome,
and we would again lock- horns with Hood is
faithful, self-sacrificing rear-guard, which,
though worn with frightful marching, be-
numbed with cold and famished for want of
food, never failed to interpose themselves to
save their comrades. How they lived through
Nashville both he and Schofeld must have
taken everything eatable in the country. AT a
turnpike, where stafiofficer stopped q few
moments to write dispatch, the good woman
OF the house said, major, am a Union woman
and love the dear old flag, but cried TO see
those poor. ragged barefooted soldiers march:
Ing and suffering in the pitiless Storm" All
honor to her kind heart.
During the 18th of December Wilson's cav.
airy was below Franklin on the Columbia pike
diminishing from wood to wood, hilltop to hill
top, slowly pushing the enemy, for the weather
aud ground permitted no headlong rushes even
lance. To the right and left of the pike the
Union cavalrys dismounted skirmishers had
assembled acrescent-shaped ridge, with its con-
sion in which ran the Columbia pike on the
pike in the woods on both sides our men were
pushing forward, watching the road and the
little valley as well as the mist which rose and
tell, sometimes disclosing a short vista, and
again yelling all in gloom, permitted. Descend
ing from the crescent ridge, a short distance in
advance, near a farmhouse, was deserted "A
dark line, but SO indstinct to be unrecog.
nizable. General, said an officer, .can that
enemy, but we will soon find out Order the
Atm cavalry to hold themselves ready to
charge. The tantalizing fog would rise and
fall SO that it was impossible to see anything
although the distance was but three or four hun.
dred yards. To the right of the road, across q
narrow field, could be seen some of our led
hoi ses which were being mounted by our Skin
mishers, and Wilson sent word TO these troops
TO move in the timber until they could charge
the enemy in flank the moment the regulars
on the pike were launched at the center.
A CHARGE AND A RACE.
Danger and battle have q great tendency to
make men and officers punctiliously polite and
the exaggerated courtesy which was evolved
after the staff officer had delivered his order to
Gen. Y. would have been highly amusing II II
had not taken too much time. 'Gen. "" said
Gen. X, "you will take your command and
Gear x9 Fl say charge, Gen You ss ca Then
Gen. X, 1 will charge, STRIP And although this
stiited conversation was enough to paralyze
will, like gallant men as they were. BY the
time this coll0Quy was over q wild yell and
hurrah shook the vale to the echo. Down
the pike sped the fourth regulars, led by brave
Lieut.. Jos. Hedges, and next moment three guns
opened on the column OF tours, making sickening
Unseen wash across The road threw men i and nd
horses into confusion. But Hedges with some
forty of his best mounted and bravest troopers,
rode right into the battery, sabreing right and
left, and but for the disruption u the charge by
the gully, the battery had been captured then.
Seeing SO small body, the infantry supports
dispersed the few troopers, but the guns linn
bered up and rapidly withdrew. Almost at the
same moment the troops in the woods struck
Tue leIt % Tie eucIuy line ana broke IL To
pieces Hedges was captured but not DIS
mounted, and taking of his hat yelled, ''The
Yanks are coming! The Yanks are comingr'
escaped in the confusion, for his captors had
only time to seek their own safety, as Hatch
men were swarming along the lett OF the road.
And now commenced
A RACE AFTER THE GUNS,
which could be heard tearing up the earth as
they Numbered down the pike In their head
long flight. Hedges, with his small battalion
(the regiment had only about $50 men all told,
followed at the full run until a narrow bridge
checked the column. Beyond the bridge was
open ground for $50 yards or more, surrounded
by a segment OF woods which terminated on
ing night and lowering OF the timber, together
with the ever-shiIting fog, prevented any clear
view, but q shadOwy moving something ap-
peared in front on the road. Gen. Wilson or
dered Hedges TO send q squadron across the
bridge to find out what was In front, and as the
small companies OF not over twenty men each
moved out OF the column, q staff officer turned
in his saddle, and calling out, "Come on, Bay
ard, trotted rapidly across the bridge, followed
by single orderly. Hardly two minutes elapsed
before this officer passed an abandoned gun,
then another, and another, and a moment later
was close on the heels Of the artillery horses
which had just left the guns. Turning around
sight, he found soldier leading the highest
horse he ever saw before or since, and ordered
q halt. Upon being asked what command he
belonged 70 the soldier answered "Texas Bat
terry" The orderly was directed TO take charge
OF this prisoner, when a horseman came
what was the matter, but without waiting
for reply fred At the stan officer, who
as quick as thought drew his revolver and re-
turned the fire with two shots. His antagonist