, 1890-11-08
W WAR STORIES.
Stephen w. Downey not Always
Mild hammered.
He Dstied His General in Refusing
to Retreat.
A Dramatic Incident at the Battle
of Sparta.

Stephen w. Downey OF Laramie has
represented Wyoming in congress; he
presented a poem that made him famous
as a man Of letters; he las been in the
legislature half a dozen times. last year
was speaker of the house; he is untiring
in well directed effort to interest capital
lists in Wyoming; he has been a public
man here for years; he has bad full a
measure of advertising as the next citi-
zen. But in one direction Mr.. Downey
has never been developed. He modestly
wears the badge of the G. A. R., but
never talks war or lost cause or bloody
shirt further than to swap warns with
comrades at a post camp fire. His army
career was remarkable, as the writer
learned from one knows him intimately.
At the capitol yesterday someone men
toned that in facial contour Col. Downey
aud H. A. Ooffeen wers not unlike.
Then another commented on the usual
mild manner Of the Laramie man. Hes
quiet enough ordinarily" said Secretary
Meidrum, but once aroused he's mad
through and through and his good
temper is banished till he is
rightly appeased. In a historical
instance Stephen W. wholly disregarded
the biblical advice on sunset and wrath.
AT Harper's ferry he was in command of
a considerable egmen of Miles force.
The army. by virture of its position had
the day won, bat Miles, who was alter
wards accused of treacherY, ordered a
retreat very early in the battle. His
Instructions were carried to Col. Downey,
who fatty refused to comply. Next the
aide came with peremptory instructions
to fall back. Downey sent his compll-
ments to his commander with the
announcement hat he would move only
on receipt OF a written order. The
written order was sent and is in possession
of Col Downey today. Miles surrendered
nearly all his force. Those escaping re-
treated in disorder. In leaving the field
Col. Downey was chopped with a saber.
Miles was courtmartailed and dismissed
the service. DowneY was carried into
the trial room on a stretcher and he's
probably mad at Miles yet today"
This story brought another, which was
told the man who repeated it at the capitol
by Il. L. Anderson, chief clerk of the
Wyoming division, he having heard it
while at Richmond, Va, once. Gen.
Forrest was fighting against numbers at
Sparta, Ala. He gave personal attention
TO his artillery and after placing the men
told them there was a bloody time ahead
and sand he would himself shoot the first
man who made a motion to leave his post
or who failed to obey to the letter. At
one of the uns was a boy OF 10. I'm
known to Forrest and to the lad himself,
the young soldiers parents, an aged
couple, had been following the command
three months in the hope of seeing their
son, who could get no leave. They caught
up that daY. Early in the firing the boy,
happened to look around and saw his
his father and mother not 500 yards away.
He Involuntary started toward them.
Forrest drew his six-shooter and killed
the lad before he had taken ten steps.
The father and mother came up. Said
the old man: Gen. Forrest, if 1 didn't
love the Southern Confederacy more than
l did my son, I'd kill you, but you are too
valuable a man TO lose now. After the
war is over the same sun can't shine on
you and l." Father and mother grieved
themselves 10 death in a month.
In speaking of the dramatic incident
Forrest once used these words: IF L
knew 1 had but ten years to live I'd give
nine years, 1854 days, twenty-thrse hours
and fty-nine minutes to have not killed
that boy"