Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-01
A WILD RIDE.
Captain Motifs Midnight Adventure Dur
ing the Late Unpleasantuess.

] Captain Mott, Of the 5th Iowa Cavalry,
in his "Sketches of the War;" narrates a
stirring midnight adventure. With lit
tie detachment of men he had been off on
some expedition, when he found himself
suddenly beSet by the enemy, a full thou
sand strong. Retreat was ordered at once
and the Federals went galloping down the
valley with the Confederates in pursuit.
After fearful struggle the Union men
had so far gained upon the enemy as to be
out of range of their guns. Captain Mott,
with two other men, Gibbs and Bischoff
were at the rear of the retreating column
Suddenly from the bushes and woods
on the side of the road there was flash
and bang bang came the fire of our hid
den foes. In an instant every horse was
at full speed. My own gave wild bound
| "Poor TENNESSEE he had been acting
nobly from the first, and thought he was
only excited by the firing. My attention
was chiefly upon the men, but as gathered
up the curb-rein to check him | noticed
that it was gone on the side next the
firing. Still did not think he had been
hit. He put his head down and rushed
between Gibbs and Bischof. They caught
him by the bride, but in moment he had
dragged them half off their saddles.
81 told them to let go, and he dashed
forward, striking madly against the horse
in front. The conclusion sent us over TO
the ditch, but he did not stop. With his
head down, and running straight as an
arrow, he flew by the entire column.
81 returned my saber to the scabbard,
and winding the bridle-rein round my
wrists made every effort to stop him. 1t
was in vain. l exerted all my strength;
used all the art | was master Of, or that
Mr. Rarey had taught; | drew his head
from side to side till his mouth touched
the stirrups; but he went on, on, at the
same furious pace.
"The road lay through thick woods and
down a series Of steep hills. On one of
these it turned. The horse refused to fol-
low its windings and kept straight on 1t
was like locomotive rushing through the
woods.
"There were two trees before me close
together. On he went, dashing between
them. He struck against one and reeled,
but did not fall. His head was down al
most to his knees, and knew he could not
see. l made great, a last effort to raise
him. 1t failed-the tree seemed under me
there was crash-a blow-and lay on
the ground-the horse struggling ON top of
me.
81 tried to rise and remount; but my
right arm hung useless, and l felt dizzy
and weak, while my good horse still
struggled on the ground. Yet the enemy
were coming. l dragged myself quickly
down the bank, at the foot of which ran a
little stream. As l reached it l heard the
gallop of horses on the hill above me.
"'My saber l said, st must not fall into
their hands unbuckled it hastily and
gave it a last look. 1t was the parting gift
of my best friends, and had been my con-
slant companion by day and by night. 1
could not bear to part with 1t thus. For
an instant 1 hesitated.
"'Perhaps they will not see me- said
but no, the risk is too great; whatever
happens to me, they shall not have the
saber:'
"A log lay across the brook; l leaned
forward, and under its shadow threw the
saber in. 1t splashed in the dark water
and was gone. Shall l throw my pistol
after it? No! 1t will be but pistol
more for the Confederacy. Here they
come 1 stretched myself close beside
the bank, and the party of horsemen gal
Hoped by"
After long and painful wanderings and
many hair-breadth escapes from capture,
the Captain found himself again within
the Union lines, and some time later he
revisited the scene of his adventure and
recovered his saber
"Rusted and broken and never to be
drawn again." he says, at is thousand
times more precious to me than when, bur-
nished and bright, first received it,"