The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-17
A RACE FOR LIFE.
Crossing Bridge in the Face OF the Enc

"
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: While our
regiment was In camp near BTashear City, La,
at the commencement of Gen. Banks's Red
River campaign, tabout April 10, 1862 four OF
us-J. A. Gilmore, Iinzen Barnar, and n MEN,
Der of the Wisconsin Cav. and myself-were
very suddenly placed in o peculiar aud danger
Gus situation about five miles east of that town.
Like all troops we became uneasy and restless
from our inactivity. So we took IA scout on our
own account; as was the best mounted, was
chosen leader. We had strict orders not TO 20
beyond the picket line, as that part of the coun-
try was infested with guerrllas, who took no
prisoners, but shot men down without remorse.
To accomplish our intent we cvaded the pickets
aud went north toward Red River until we
struck a corduroy road which ran parallel
with tho river, crossing swamp and bayou.
When we reached this road we observed that
q large force OF cavalry had recently passed
over it. going east Tho tracks were fresh. 1t
Is very natural to shrink from n mysterious
danger, hence We concluded TO turn back, 90
west cross the swamp and return by another
road, since we knew that no horses tracks in
that vicinity could have been made by the
horses OF our boys.
We rode up to within 200 yards of the bridge.
| when we saw four mounted rebs on picket at
the farther end. They had not seen US, and as
| we were not in search of either gore or glory,
we concluded to retrace our steps TO camp.
/ But Just as We had come back TO the edge Of
the swamp. We saw approaching, at some dis
| tance, a large force OF either rebel cavalry or
| guerrillas, who saw as at the same time. Then
came the RIB. We were between two mill
stones but happily one stone was smaller than
| the other; yet they were both stones, and were
rapidly coming together to crush US. TO say
! the least, we were in sorry plight Water
| aud swamp on each side of US, guerrllas and
| rebel cavalry at each end of u.s. while acten
on our part must be immediate and certain.
AS | held the command, OF course the boys
looked TO me for direction.
| "Of two evils, choose the least" This flashed
across my mind. Four rebel cavalry were less
than over 800 guerrilas, so we wheeled around
again, put spurs to our horses. and dashed for
/ ward over the corduroy road for the four pick
cts at the other end of the bridge. The chances
were desperate, but when men become desper-
ate, chances soon yield to the superior force.
On we went with the momentum of a whole
regmcnt The pickets at the end of the bridge
saw US coming aud also saw US followed by the
300 other horsemen, whom they naturally
concluded We're our allies, Judging from the
bold front which we presented. We took adj
| vantage of this and felt, indeed, that fortune
| fayors the brave"
We dashed forward, revolvers in hand ready
for use, with yell that echoed far up aud down
the cypress swamp. The terror we inspired by
the rapidty OF our motion aud the fierce de-
termination which we carried with us needed
no additional elements TO convince the piciets
that we were just exactly what we appeared to
be-four desperate men supported by nearly
800 OF tho'enemy.
The pickets were fierce looking fellows, how
ever they may have felt and they seemed to
have no idea of being inundated; so immedi-
ately upon discovering US. which occurred
when we were within about 200 yards of them,
they formed in line to resist our progress, aud
suddenly presented four of the uglest double
| httr hot gkuf
After this achievement any preference of the
aforementioned evils Immediately vanished.
Now it was Take the one evil or be taken by
It," "Boys. spur up" / said ; we must go right
through em or they'll go through u.s." ION
we CO. shouted Gilmore, aud forward we went
with dash, a splitter and n splash. Our
horses, for was splendidly mounted ON our
Foragemaster's bay mare,) trusty fellows,
| seemed TO catch the spirit of tho occasion, aud
ms we glided along my voice seemed 10 become
all-powerful as | gave out the solid command
} Surrender you black miscreauts!" We
were then at ono end of the long bridge while
they wore at the other, raising their guns Ia
fire. But our speed was unchecked, and on we
went When we had half crossed the bridge
We AoHrished our revolvers and yelled again
down with your guns" and they obeyed
Into the river with them," | ordered, and this
was Obeyed. What relief it was to us us we
saw those guns pitched into the water, and
}
most welcome sound ever heard There was
no time to lose however, and since they were
: all mounted we ordered them to wheel about
> and put spurs to their horses. Two of oul
party followed close behind them covering
them with revolvers while the other two rode
. among them aud disarmed them of their saber
D and reyolvers. About the time we had taken
the last revolver, the guerrillas behind III
opened fire on us ut long range. Then for The
: first time our captiyes realized that they ha(
L succumbed to grand successful piece o
: strategy, and began to curse themselves 70
! surrendering.
: After crossing the swamp we returned q
Q camp with our prisoners by another road. ant
: the rebs followed US hotly right up to on
t picket, line keeping q constant fire in our rear
o but doing no damage; and we returned thei
; fire with abont the same effect. When w
t arrived in camp we turned our prisoners owe
1 to tho Provost Marshal and the next day starte
: for the Red River to capture Fort Burton, a
s Butte-la- Rose, Lar. w. ALLEN, Co. d., lot
/, N. H. Detroit, Mich.
q Do you ,pGnt an increase Of peRsiOnS Sc
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