The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1889-08-03
CAPTOR AND CAPTIVE.
A Cheerful Story of tho Ameni-
ties Of War.

"A Cheer1ul Story OF the Amenl-
ties Of War.
The Fight and the Rout-Taken Prisone,
"A Warrior as Gentle and Honor
able as He Was Israve-After
the War.
Would you like an interesting wal
story? We have it, and it reads like
a 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 outnumbered, and
taken on such brief notice. were at
immense disadvantage. The Fed
oral cavalry had como like a 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 a 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
Confederates 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 s
hand.
''To the bridge?' 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 q stranger among
strangers, but the gray uniform he
wore called 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 rider" said the Texan,
adding hurriedly: ''Better git up
we amt got no time to spared"
No sooner said than done, and over
tho road leading from Columbus
toward Greenville, in Meriwether
County, the little Lieutenant and the
sturdy Texan logged along together in
tho darkness of the night
The Texan was on his way to Macon,
where he hoped to join friends, and
Lieutenant Howell was on his wav
homo 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
days ride together one continuing
north toward Atlanta, and the other
leading u rider2ess 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 tray
eler, almost exhausted, was wonder
ing whore he would rest for the night.
The road Rugged II mountain stream,
and bond brought in full view a mill
cozily nestled on its banks, while
across tho road was one of those old
time Southern mansions, OF immacu-
late white, with broad piazzas, and
possessing au air of hospitality which
seemed to say, ''comc in.' Several
ladies were about tho yard, two in
deep mourning, as soon appeared, for
husbands who had gone to the war
never to return. The, gray coat at the
cato attracted their eyes and opened
their hearts. tGome in,'' they said,
'''wc will do the best we can for YOU.
You are hungry. We have but little
left, but what VIC havewo will share"
Soon the travellers story was told.
The party were seated on the broad
piazza overlooking the mill, and the
'chirping Of the erickets, the mo-
notonous hum OF THE water playing
with tho mill-wheel, and the noise of a
gentle wind toying with the limbs of
tho towering oaks, lent an air of
solelnnity to the occasion.
There are sounds of the pa ttering
of horses hoofs! -. .. -
In another minute the bend is
rounded and two >horsemen, magnifi-
Gently equipped and in full uniform
OF Federal cavalry, hastily dismounted
Attl.e cato OF the mansion!
1.-THE Yankees! The 'Yankees!''
screamed the ladies, in Consideration.
The riders had promptly covered
the young officer with their reyolvers.
and, advancing toward the house, one
OF them in Captains uniform, said:
Have no fear, ladies; we will cot
hahn yor." Then, turning to Lieut.
eaant Howell. the speaker continued:
You surrender?''