The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-09-06
CAPIOR AND CAPTIVE.
A Cheerful Story of the Ameni-
ties of War.
The Fight and the Rout-Taken Prisoner
"A Warrior Gentle and Honor
able He Was Brave-Aner
the War.


the War.
Would you like an interesting war
story? We have it, and ii reads like
n romance. The story begins with
the charge OF Wilson's Western cav
airy on the Confederates around Co
lumbus. General Howell Cobb's COM
mand occupied Girard, just across the
Chattahoochee river, and the news
came that Wilson's cavalry was bear
ing rapidly on the town, and that this
dashing troop would reach Girard by
about seven o'clock in the evening.
They. came on time and the Confeder-
ate forces, greatly outnum bered, and
taken on such brief notice. were at
immense disadvantage. The Fed
eral cavalry had come like cy-
clone, and the face of the earth was
literally dotted with them. They held
every point around the town and ad-
vanced from all directions. Before
night they charged the Confederate
forces, and in few minutes the battle
was on. Fierce was the struggle, as,
locked almost in each others lines,
the two contesting forces fought for
supremacy. But il was soon over; the
Confederates could not hold out against
the heavy odds, and retreat was the
only escape from capture or annihila-
tiOn. One after another the lines
broke. and in the darkness of the night
the Confederates found themselves
absolutely disorganized, companies
lost from their commands, soldiers
from their companies, and every man
struggling to keep out of the enemY's
hand.
TO the BRIDGE" was JIe cry.
The scattered Confedelates rushed
70 the bridge 10 escape TO the Georgia
side only TO find it in flames, Some
had gotten over in safety and many
went through as best they could. fight
ing fire and picking their way through
the sputtering timbers-
Among the last 10 pass the bridge was
Second Lieutenant Charley Howell, of
Company G, First Georgia Regiment
boy, scarce eighteen years of age
He was lost from his company and
found himself a stranger among
strangers, but the gray uniform he
wore called a kind word from a strap
ping Texan who, like him, was a
refugee, but had fortunately escaped
on horseback, and had succeeded in
bringing another horse with him,
which he led.
Want to ride?'' said the Texan,
adding hurriedly: Better git up;
we amt got no time to sparer'
No sooner said than done. and over
the road leading from Columbus
toward Greeuville, in Meriwethar
County, the little Lieutenant and the
sturdy Texan logged along together in
the darkness of the night
The Texan was on his way to Macon,
where he hoped to join friends. and
Lieutenant Howell was on his way
home to Atlanta, and he wanted to get
there by the most direct route, which
accounted tor his not accepting the
generous offer of his companion to
keep your horse and come on with
me TO Macon" They separated after
a days ride together, one continuing
north toward Atlanta, and the other
leading a riderless horse toward
Macon
On the second day after the fight at
Girard Lieutenant Howell found him
self near Waverly Hall. in Harris
County,
The sun was sinking over the mount
aims, which rise in that section as if
by some error of nature. and the trav-
eler, almost exhausted, was wonder
ing where he would rest for the night.
The road hugged mountain stream,
and bend brought in full view mill
cozily nestled on its banks, while
across the road was one OF those old
time Southern mansions, of immacu-
late white, with broad piazzas, and
possessing an air of hospitality which
seemed to say, 'come i'm Several
ladies were about the yard, two in
deep mourning, as soon appeared, for
husbands who had gone to the war
never to return The gray coat at the
gate attracted their eyes and opened
their hearts. Come in" thev said.
1--WE will do the best we can for YOU.
You are hungry. We have but little
left, but what We have we will share" "
Soon the travellers story was told.
The party were seated on the broad
piazza overlooking the mill, and the
chirping of the crickets, the mo-
notonous hum of the water PLAYING
with the mill-wheel, and the noise of a
gentle wind toying with the limbs of
the towering oaks, lent an air of
solemnity to the occasion.
There are sounds of the pattering
of horses hoofsi
In another minute the bend is
rounded and two horsemen, magnif-
Gently equipped and in full uniform
of Federal cavalry, hastily dismounted
at the gate of the mansioni
The YankeesI The Yankeesr'
screamed the ladies, in CONSERVATION.
The riders had promptly covered
the young officer with their revolvers.
and, advancing toward the house, one
of them in Captains uniform, said:
Have no fear, ladies; we will not
harm you" Then, turning TO Lieut.
enant Howell, the speaker continued:
''You surrender"
Unjust; l am unarmed."
''You are a rebel?"
I'm not called such our way, but if
the term suits you, all right" ,.4.e.-
you wear Lieutenant 5 stripes,
see-they take EN- young down here "
Not too young to fight
w oh, come ON, we Will have TO
take YOU in CHARGE and the three
left the yard, the cavalrymen mount
ing and the prisoner following on foo-
In this way they left the old man
sion, turning southwark. Soon the
Captain turned to his prisoner with
the remark: You will find it hard
work to keep up with US on foot;
hadn't you better get up behind
Johne" motioning 70 his attendant.
And get up behind John he did, and in