Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-10-22
SOLDIERS DEPARTMENT.
a MIXED AFFAIR,
An Ex-Confedcrate Tells n Story About n
Troublesome 'prisoner."

Troublesome 'Prisoner."
In August, 1864, when Fitzpatrick
struck the Atlantic & Macon railroad at
Joncsboro, and other points was at
tachod to Armstrong; brigade, of Jack
sons division of Confederate cavalry.
The Federal raider struck Jones'
boro' late ono afternoon, drove out the
militia stationed there in small numbers
and applied tho torch to four-fifths of
the town. Next morning, as they came
nup to Lovejoy's station, our division,
which had been widely scattered the
day before, were massod and ready for
fight. Our infantry had been fighting
and falling back for an hour, when we
moved into the fight two-thirds of tho
command being dismounted. My own
regiment was dismounted to support one
of our batteries, and while lying in ra-
vine just behind the guns were taken in
flank by charge of the Fourth Michi-
gan Cavalry. l admit that we were
badly ratified at the onset, some of the
men breaking for the cover of n wood a
few hundred yards away, and being sa-
bcrcd as they ran. A cavalryman rode
straight at me with uplfted sabcr, and
| hauled up my musket to shoot him off
his horse, At that time my regiment
was armed with rifles, shot-guns, car.
bines, revolvers, sabcrs and swords. A
few men had carbincs and sabers to-
gother; all Others depended on ono
weapon alone. Those who had muskcts
did not have, except in rare instances,
sabcrs; those who had sabcrs had neither
muskots nor revolvers. Not over one
company in the regiment was rs well
equipped as the Fcdcrals. l had an in
fantry musket with bayonet attached,
and when | sought to fire on the caval-
ryman mt close range the charge would
not explode. Then, as he rode me down,
| defended myself with the bayonet,
wounding him in the hand and flinging
his saber to the ground. l had the adj
advantage and he saw it and gracefully
surrendered and came down off his
horse.
During this time there was fighting
all around us. A part of our men used
the ravine for a ritle-pit and couldnot
be dislodgcd, and the cavalry were gal
Looping hither and thithcr through the
smoke. | asked my prisoner what
command he belonged to, and he an
swcrcd Fourth Michigan. Bullets were
tipping about us like angry bees, but /
could not take him to the rear for the
simple reason that there was no rear.
Rebel and Yank were mixed up like
beans in bag rs far as could see.
stood holding him by the arm with
one hand and hanging to his horse with
the other, when two Yankee cavalrymen
came riding up. My man appealed to
them, and rs they raised their sabers at
me surrendered as prisoner of war.
"Watch your chance and run him in
to our lines" said one of the men to
my captor, and both rode off at the call
of n bugle.
The Yankee now had his saber and
my gun, and as his horse became very
rcstive he could give me but little at
tention. He asked me what command
| belonged to, how the fight seemed to
be going, and rather depended on my
honesty not to run off, He had Just
suggested moving along the ravine
when q dismountcd Johnny, who was
bodding about in the smoke, came upon
us. He took in the situation at glance,
and inside of minute Fourth Michigan
was again my prisoner. My friend
took the saber and mounted the horse
and rode away, while l got my musket
back.
You'll probably be recaptured
again" | said 10 the blue-coat as we
walked side by side up the ravine.
VERY likely" he replied, as he
walked on ahead and ducked every two
seconds for bullet.
We had proceeded not over hum
drcd yards when crowd of about
twenty cavalrymen, nearly evenly di-
vidcd as to friend and foe, came surging
down upon us as they cut and slashed.
We were both knocked down in jiffy,
and got cut on the head from
horse's foot which left me unconscious
for quarter of an hour.
When rallied the fight was over, the
Federals having ilanked us and passed
on. As my captor and prisoner was
not found on the ground the conclusion
was that he escaped to his own lines.
have always hoped so, for he seemed
to be good fellow.-Detrot Free
Prose