San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-12-23
BEFORE THE SKIRMISH.
EXPERIENCE OF TWO BRAVE CAV
ALRYMEN AT MUD CREEK.
Discussing a Recent Battle-One Praised
the Other for His Bravery, Forgetting
That He Himself Had Saved HIS
Friends Life.


That He Himself Had Saved HIS
Friends Life.
1t was a bright September day in 1862
that two friends-Jiin Dodd and Bob Sykes,
of Company c, of the til Onio cavalry
sat on the field of Chantilly Jim raised
his head and said:
THAT was a narrow escape you made
t'other day. thought those fellows had
you sure cannot understand how you
managed to get out or how you captured
that officer. How did you do it?"*
You're a case laughed Bob. IL could
no more have gotten away from those fell
lows than could fly but for you. The Off
Ger captured himself; he ran right into me.
Don't you remember that battery which
stood on the hill over yonder? When we
charged it the line gave way before the
guns, and we broke and skedaddled. Don't
you remember my horse becoming un-
manageable from a shell wound in his
neck and carrying me straight ahead after
the line had broken? Didn't dash right
straight into the middle of the batterys
Well, did anybody follow me? Nobody
but yourself would or did, and if the artil-
lerymen had had so much as a scythe they
could have cut me all to pieces. You were
the man that helped me then, and if you
don't know how I'll tell you that"
Il really can't see how | did more than
my duty" replied his friend
IL want you to understand that it isn't
your duty to get killed for anybody; it is
bad enough TO get the dose for yourself,
but there is no sense in running into a
danger when it can be just as well avoided.
A man hasn't good sense who does it,"
Thanks" was Jim's interiection.
II could have easily been overpowered
while was in that battery" Bob went on,
land | would have been no doubt had it
not been for you. You caught my horse
when he had thrown me; your saber pro-
tected me until mounted; you rode like
the devil and braved the canister which
they showered on the line when it fell
back. In brief You saved my life, but at
the risk Of your own"
THOUGHTFUL JIM.
"That's all right" laughed Jim again,
81 didn't lose my precious carcass and
didn't mean to. When the line broke we
were within 100 yards of 'em; the guns
were firing at point blank range, and |
was in that little cut there had no idea
where you were until | saw you galloping
like a mailman to their lines | knew it
meant something but by the time got
around the line had melted away and was
1000 yards to the rear. knew that the
caunoneers woUn. elevate their pieces SO
started for the ls;tery and got there Just
in time There was 10 trouble about it,"
"Well, upon my word, .Jiml you look at
this affair as If i; was tie most com,non-
place incident in the world can tell YOU
that the captain is going to report you at
headquarters"
"No, he won't" remarked Jim decidedly.
81 asked him not TO-"
The two friends sat a few minutes in 81
lence; then Fob spoke.
Jim, you are the most bull headed man
ever saw"
Look a-here, Bob" said Jim. Il only
want to say this; Suppose it had been
mentioned 1T headquarters, and suppose it
had come out in general orders, and sup
pose the folks at home would have heard
of it--as they undoubtedly would-how
would mother and the girls feel? They'd
have gone crazy
The affair seemed To strike Bob in "A new
light. BY thunder" he said slowly,
that's SO If the women folk were to
know every fool trick we PLAYED there'd be
Con inued on third page.