Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-08-15
CAPTOR AND CAPTIVE.
A Cheerful Story of the Ameni.
ties of War.
The Fight and the Rout-Taken Prisoner
"A Warrior AS Gentle and Honor
ablo as lie Was Brave-After
tho War.

"A Warrior as Gentle and Honor
ablc as lie Was Brave-After
tho War.
Would you like an interesting war
storyp We have it, and it reads like
u romance. The story begins with
tho 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 outnumbered, and
taken on such brief notice. were at
immense disadvantage The Fed
cral cavalry had come like a cy-
clone, and the face OF the earth was
literally dotted with them. They held
every point around the town and ad-
yanced 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 it was soon over; the
Confederatos could not hold out against
the heavy odds, and retreat was the
only escape from capture or annihila-
: ton. 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
hand.
ITO tho bridget was the cry.
The scattered Confederates rushed
to the bridge to 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 to 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 stranger among
strangers, but the gray uniform he
wore called kind word from strap
ping Texan who, like him, was 9
refugee, but had fortunately ESCAPED
on horseback, and had succeeded in
bringing another horse with him
which he led.
want to rider" said the Texan
adding hurriedly: "Better git up
we amt got no time TO spare!'
No sooner said than done, and over
the road leading from Columbus
toward Greenville, in Meriwethel
County, the little Lieutenant and the
sturdy Texan logged along together IL
tho darkness of the night
The Texan was on his way to Macon
where he hoped to join friends, ant
Lieutenant Howell was on his way
home to Atlanta, and he wanted to ge
there by the most direct route, which
accounted Tor his not accepting the
generous offer of his companion tt
'keep your horse and come on witt
me to Macon" They separated aftel
q days ride together, one continuing
north toward Atlanta, and the othel
leading q riderless horse TOWARD
Macon.
On the second day after tho fight a
Girard Lieutenant Howell found him
self near Waverly Hall, in Harris
County.
The sun was sinking over the mount
n,ns. which rise in that section as
bv some error of nature, and the trav
cler. almost exhausted, was wonder
inc whore he would rest for the night
The road Rugged u mountain stream
and bend brought in full view mil
cozily nestled on its banks, Will
ncross the road was one of those old
time Southern mansions, of immacu
late white, with broad piazzas, ant
possessing an air of hospitality whicl
seemed to say, ''come in" Severa
ladies were about the yard, two IL
deep mourning. as soon appeared, 10
husbands who had gone to the wa
never to return. The gray coat at tn
gate attracted their eyes and opene
their hearts. Come in" they said
eve will do the best we can for you
You are hungry. We have but littl
left. but what we have we will share.
Soon the Travellers story was told
The party were seated on the oroa'
piazza overlooking the mill, and tn
chirping of the crickets, the me
notonous hum OF the water playinI
with the mill wheel, and the noise OF
gentle wind toying with the limbs 9
the towering oaks, lent an air Q
solemnity to the occasion.
There are sounds Of the PATTERN
of horses hoofsi
In another minute the bend ]
rounded and two horsemen. magnif
Gently equipped and in full uniiorI