Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-10
A MIXED AFFAIR.
From Captor to Captive in the Civil
War.
From the Detroit Free PrSss.

From the Detr9it Free Prsss.
In August, 1864, when Fitzpatrick struck
the Atlanta and Macon railroad at Jones'
boro and other points, was attached to
Armstrong; brigade Of JacksOn's divis-
ion Of Confederate cavalry. The Federal
raider struck JonesDoro late one after.
noon, drove out the militia stationed there
IN small numbers ana applied the torch
TO fOug-fifths OF the town. Next morning,
10 they came on up to LoveiOy's Station,
our division, which had been widely scat
tered the day before, were massed and
ready Tor fight. Our infantry
had been lighting and falling back
for an hour, when we moved into the
fight, two-thirds of the command being
dismOunted. My own regiment was dis
mounted 70 support one OF our batteries,
and while lying in ravine just behind
the guns we're taken IN flank by O charge
of the Fourth Michigan cavalry. / admit
that we were badly ratified at the outset,
some OF the men breaking for the cover OF
a wood few hundred yards away, and
being sabred as they ran. A cavalryman
rode straight at me, with uplifted ss bre,
and hauled up nay musket to shoot him
of mis- boree. At that time my regiment
was armed with rifles, shOtgnns, car Ines,
reY0lvers, sabres and swords
4 lew men had carbnes and sabres to-
gether; ali others depended on one weapon
alone. Those who had muskets did not
have, except In rare instances, sabres;
those who had sabres had neither muskets
nor rovolvers. Not over one company in
the regiment was as well equipped as
the Federals. had an infantry musket.
baYonst attached, and when l sought to
tre on the cavalryman at close range
the charge would not explode. Then,
as he rode me down, | defended myself
with the bayonet, w0unding him in the
hand and finging his sabre TO the ground.
/ had the advantage, and he saw 1t, and
gracefully surrendered and came down
OF his horse.
During this time there was fighting all
around US. A part Of our men used the
ravine for rife pit, and could not be dis
lodged, and the cavalry were galloping
hither and thither through the smoke. |
asked my prisoner what command he be-
longed to, and he answered the 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. Conied and Iank were
mixed up like beans In a Dag, as far as
could see. L stood holding him by the
arm with one hand and hanging to his
horse win the other, when two Yankee
cavalry men came riding up. NV man APP
peRled to them. and as they raised their
sabres at me, | surrendered as a prisoner
OF war.
"W atch your chance and run him into
our lines" SAID one OF the men 10 my cap
tor, and both rode OF at the call OF a bu-
gle.
The Yankee now had his sabre and my
gun, and as his horse became FESTIVE. be
could give me but little attention. He
asked me what command | belonged To.
how the fight seemed to be going, and
rather depended on my honesty not TO run
OF. He had just suggested moving along
the ravine when a dlsmounted Johnny.
who was lodging 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 sabre aud mounted the
horse and rode away, while got my mus.
ket back.
you'll probably be recsptured AGAIN."
| said to the blue coat as we walked side
by side up the raYlne.
Very likely" be replied, as he walked
on ahead anu ducked every two seconds
for bullet.
We had proceeded not over a hum
dred yards when q crowd Of about
! twenty cavalrymen, nearly evenly
divided as to friend and zoe,
came surging down upon us az
they cut and slashed. We were both
Knocked down in jltIy, and | got & cut
on the mead from y hurse's foot which left
me unconscious for a quarter of an hour.
When | rallied the fight was over, the
{ kederals having flanked us and PASSED
on. As my captOr and prisoner were not
| found on the ground the conclusion was
tnat he escaped to his own lines. | have
always hoped so. for ne seemed 10 be
fairly good fellow.