Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-08-09
CAPT0R AND CAPTIVE,
AN INTERESTING WAR STORY.


Would you like an interesting war
story todayl We have it, and it reads
like a romance. 1t wa related By Mr..
Charles A. Howell. The story begins
with the charge of Wi sons Western
cavalry on the Confederates around
Columbus. Gen. Howell Cobb's com
mand occupied Girard, ju across the
Chattahoochee River, and the news came
tht Wilson's cavalry was bearing
rapidly on the town, and that this DASH
ing troop would reach Girard by about
z o clock in the evening. They came on
time and the Confederate forces, greatly
outnumbercd, and taken on such brief
notics, were at immense disadvantage.
The Federal cavalry had come like a
cyclone, 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 contcst ting forces fought for sup-e-
macy. But it was soon over; the Con
fcdcrates could not hold out against the
heavy odds, and retreat was the only
escape from capture or annihilation.
One after another the lines broke, and
in the darkness of the night the Con-
fcdcratcs found themselves absolutely
dsorganized, companies lost from their
commands, soldiers from their com
P"n'es' ana evcryA man struggling tQ.
keep out of the cncmyS nand. -
ITO the bridgel' was tho cry.
The scattered Confedera;es rushed to
the bridge to escape to the Georgia side
only to find it in flamesl Some had got
ten over in safety and many went though
the best they could, fighting fire and
picking their way through the sputter-
ing timbers.
Among the last to pass the bridge
was Second Lieutenant Charley Howell
of Company G, First Georgia Regiment
"a boy, scarce 18 years of age. He
was lost from his company and found
himself stranger among strangers, but
the gray uniform he wore called a kind
word from strapping Texan who, like
him, was a refugee, but had fortunately
escaped on horseback, and had succeed
cd in bringing another horse with him
which he led.
"Want to ride2" said the Texan, ad-
ding hurricdly, Better git up; we amt
got no time to sparel'
No sooner said than done, and over
the road leading from Columbus toward
Greenville, in Meriweather 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
Lieut.. Howell was on his way home to
Atlanta, and he wantel to get there by
the most direct route, which accoun ted
for his not accepting the generous Offer
of his companion to "keep our horse
and come on with me 10 Macon" They
separated after days ride together,
one continuing north towards Atlanta
and the other leading riderless horse
toward Macon.
On the second day after the fight al
Giiard, Lieut.. Howell found himself
near Wavcrly Hall, In Harris county.
The sun was sinking over the noun.
tains, which rise in that section as if by
some error of nature, and the traveller
almost exhausted, was wondering wher'
lie would rest for tho night. The roao
hugged mountain stream, and bend
brought in full view a mill cozily mes
tied on its banks, while across the roaC
was one of those old-time Southern
mansions, of immaculate white, will
broad piazzas, and possessing an air o
hospitality which seemed to say, "com
in." Several ladies were about tn
yard, two in deep mourning, as soon ap
peared, for husbands who had gone t
the war never to return. The gray Goa
at the gate attracted their eyes am
opened their hearts. ''Come in, the,
said, 1--WE will do the best we can 70
you. You are hungry. We have bu
little left, but what We have we wi.
share.
Soon the travellers story was told
The party were seated on the broa'
pfazzs overlooking the TEiiiis, and tn
chirping of the crickets, the monotonou
hum of the water playing with the mil
wheel, and the noise of gentls wine
toying with the limbs of the towering
oaks, lent an air of solcmnity tothe oc
1 casion.
There are sounds of the pa.tering 0
horses hoofsl
In another minute the bend Is round
ed, and two horsemen, magnificent,