The National tribune., 1889-04-18
A CAVALRYMAN'S STORY.
A Tight Place and 4 Timely Leap.

"A Ia V Ak 7 M n y - Ok Y
A Tight Place and Timely Leap.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Though differ
ins in power, the amount of endurance pos
sessed by the average man and horse exceeds
belief until severe trial puts it to the test.
In the month of February, 1863 our cavalry
headquarters were in the vicinity of Bell Plain,
Va and from that point details were sent TO
maintain picket-line extending from the left
of the main army before Fredericksburg, down
along the Rappahannock, on the south side of
the Peninsular region lying between this river
and the Potomac. Owing to the high condi-
ton and width of the river the apparent small
force of the enemy below, and the small amount
OF trouble they gave us, our line was light; one
regiment often guarding or watching, by picket
and patrol, the whole extent of country reach
ing from the left of our infantry nearly to the
Chesapeake Bay. During the time this duty
was assigned to our regiment, lasting, as 1t dld,
about three weeks, we saw scarcely any fight
ing but the terrible marching imposed upon
US in patrolling such distance at regular in
| tervals, with the fact that the roads were made
| almost impossible by rain aud mud, told with
destructive effect upon horsefesh and the health
and strength Of the men.
By reference to the map of Virginia, it will be
seen that the distance by an airline from Fall
mouth to the Chesapeake. is about 50 miles. AS
we started from point about half way between
Falmouth and Port Conway, and at the end of
orr march down the Peninsula Tetraced our
steps at q point about 20 miles from the bay,
the distance direct is probably so or 90 miles /;
but rs we were obliged to follow 2 road the
windings of which would be difficult to trace
on paper, the march back and forth must have
compTehendcd a distance of more than 120
miles. We found it next TO impossible to ascer-
| tain distances from citizens and negroes whom
We SAW and questioned; the ideas Of the negroes
in regard TO distances, being, as they expressed
| them, very vague TO US.
On the afternoon of the 9th day of February
! our regiment received orders to relieve another
regiment of the brigade then picketing at King
! George Courthouse; so at 5 o'clock we were on
the march, and reached the reserve at II o'clock
that night We passed three days picketing. At
II o'clock on the night Of the 18th, however, we
were suddenly aroused, the outposts withdrawn,
and were soon on the march. From that time
until we reached our destination we stopped
oHly when it became absolutely necessary.
About noon one day near the last part of our
hard march my horse gave out, and / was
/ obliged to abandon him by the roadside and
untertake the almost hopeless task of keeping
pace with the regiment on foot. To best &C
complish this / left the road and struck of
/ across the country in straight line, through
bTambles Dogs, pine thickets and uncultiyated
| fields, trusting thus to shorten my own walk,
and, if possible, strike the road again. After
/ about three hours scrambiing over this track
less route, was finally favored with the sight
/ OF cluster OF plantation buildings, and upon
reaching il found TO my unspeakable delight a
stable, and in that stable three fne-lookine
horses.
Ny presence brought eoncburse Of woolly
heads about the stable and two white women,
| fairly dressed, who set up terrible cutlery
| when I saddled bay horse and proceeded u
4. l. - "a Al.
| peared, and with menaelng manner com
| manded me to relinquish the horse. / simply
1 tapped the handle Of my revolver and sprang
| into the saddle. He then began TO beg me 60
take the black horse. Just then ] noticed an
| cid darby close by the horse. aud felt by his
actions that he wanted &c say something. bat
was afraid. ! leaned over on his side as though
TO adjust the stirrup-straP, when he hurriedly
whispered:
Don't take de brack horse case be de deb
bells own. Take de bay, and 70 Dc Lords sake
| git out O dis qnck!"
| Strengthening up / glanced at the white
! woman and the the old man, and saw that they
had seemingly lost all interest in the f4ts Of
the bay horse, but were exPecsantly glaheing
in particular direction TO the east BecOm-
ing interested, rode the horse past the corner
of the stable, and. looking in the same direc
| ton, saw what caused me to wheel the horsS
into feld and start him at a rapid gallop il
| an opposite direction. ] had ridden but few
rods when ] heard great uproar in the yicin.
| ity Of the stables, caused by yeils, curses and
the sharp reports Of rifles and reyolyers. Look
| ing back ] saw three ci;izen-dressed hoFsemer
following me into the field. shouting and iirinl
at me. To my right. and near the road, -four
others were urging their horses to head me of
from a gap in the trench and brush fence 81
common in that country.
/ knew well enough that TO fall into thu
1 hands of those men meant certain death. saw
also. that / could not reach the gap in oh,
fence ahead of those who were riding for it
| Nv only alternative was to wheel suddenly {,
the left and ride for the nearest point in tn,
fence, and try the leaping qualities of the hors'
] sode. Touching him with the spur lie bound
ed away with long and strong leaps, and arriv
ing at the fence just gathered himself for al
extra effort and cleared the brush hedge ant
trench with perfect ease. The leap, as ANYONE
acquainted with that style of fence will agree
with me, was one that no other except the hes
Of saddle-horses could accomplish. In the roac
turned to the left, met one Of the guerrillas
exchanged shots with him, swept by him likt
a stornl-driTen cloud, and urged my horse to hi
, swiftest pace, until, distancng my pgrsuers,
could no longer see or hear them. l class thi
escapade as one among the most exciting tina
Inexperienced during the years of active serv
. ice that followed il. ] had been hemIned ant
coruered IN field by at least seven wcll-arnn
ed horsenen; had faced and met one in a mar
{ row road, and had been target for 40 or s
Shots, bat had escaped without scratch.
After distancing the guerrillas / rode on NOR
leisurely, and in few moments met the ad
vance of the regiment hurrying forward to as
, certain the casse Of the firing We saw II
: more OF those who had pursued me. As befor
, stated, we marched until midnight and the
! rested until noon on the following day. Whe
VIC again started we took q short route, an
! reached cur camp after As hours of marchin;
JOEL b. SWEET, Scranton, Pa.
) BUSHWHACKERS.