Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-09-27
THE OLD FLAG DID 1T.
fitzpatrick and His Men Saved by Wo-
mans Ready Wit.

fitzpatrick and His Men Saved by . Wo-
mans Ready VIII
Shiloh and other great battles of the;
Civil War have furnished material forl
much heated discussion on the part OF
the general officers who participated In.
them, involving questions of general
ship, obedience of orders, surprise, and
responsibility for defeat.
Many minor engagements, about
which no controversy can arise, and
which do not form a part of the written.
history of the great conflict, are qultel
as interesting. Perhaps one of the1
most complete surprises of the war to.
any considerable body of troops over;
took Kilpatrick's cavalry during Sher-;
mans march into North Carolina in;
1865. Fitzpatrick had encamped for the
night some miles from Fayetteville, andS
had selected a large plantation house as
his headquarters. The usual pickets,
mad been distributed, and the men had
thrown themselves upon their rubber
blankets with every promise of nights
rest, but before the earliest dawn the
Confederate cavalry, under Gen. WadeS
Hampton, succeeded in deceiving and
capturing the pickets on one of the
highways leading into the camp, and
then charged into the very midst of the
Unionists without the discharge of a.
single gun of warning. The sleep of
Kilpatrick's men was broken by an in
discriminate fire upon them as they lay
scattered over the ground. Their own
artillery was being taken and turned
upon them at short range. The pris-:
oners held by them were liberated, and;
they joined in the attack.
The Union men were demoralized,
panic-stricken, without organization
and without leader. For q time it
was every fellow for himself.
| Pretty soon, however, xii" as the
boys called this General, appeared on
the scene, having narrowly escaped in
undress uniform. His presence always
inspired his men and the rallying pro
cess began. 1t was doubtful, uphill
work for time, the men being intent
only on individual escape. At a critical
moment in the encounter the division
colors were seen TO move about in the.
disorganized mass of demoralized men,
and the question was then settled;
| Order came out of chaos. A Formidable
line quickly formed and IL was seen to
advance cautiously at first. but soon
with sweep and hearty yell that reas'
sured every Union heart.
Hampton was forced to withdraw,
leaving the captured artillery behind
him. The story of how the division
colors escaped did not reach the men
for some days, when this fact leaked
out, that woman attached to the head
quarters had torn them from their staff
and concealing them under her skirts
has escaped almost simultaneously with
the General, and through her had found
their way back among the bewildered
soldiers, and just in time to play q most
important part in the then doubtful con-
hict.
Months later, when Gems. Sherman
and Johnston were negotiating for peace
or surrender, Fitzpatrick and Hampton
met, and Hampton cried:
hello, Kill believe the last time 1
had the pleasure of seeing you was at
Fayetteville. Shall I apologize for
arousing you so early?"
"Oh, no." Fitzpatrick answered. i
guess taught you better than to knock
again before entering a gentlemau's
sleeping apartments.