The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-01
a WILD MIDNIGHT RIDE.
Captain Motifs Adventure During the
Late UnpleasaDtness.
Aonlh's Companlon

Youths Companion.
Captain Mott, OF the Fifth Iowa cavalry,
in his Sketches of the War; narTGtes a
stirring midnight adventure With a little
detachment OF men he had been off on
some expedition when he found himself
suddenly reset by the enemy. a full thous-
and strong. Retreat was ordered at once,
and the Fsierais went galloping down the
valley with the Confederates in pursuit.
After fearful struggle the Union men had
SO Tar gained upon the enemy as to be out
OF the range of their guns. Captain Mott,
with two other men, Gibbs and Bisehoff.
were at the rear of the retreating column.
Suddenly from the bushes and woods on
the side Of the road there was a fash and
bangl bang came the fire of our hidden
foes. In an instant every horse was at fun
speed. NY own gave a wild bound.
Poor TENNESSEE he had been acting
nobly from the first. and / thought he was
only excited by the firing. Ny attention
was chiefly upon the men, but as | gath
cred up the curb-rein to check him |
noticed that il was gone on the side next
the firing Sill / 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 a moment
he had dragged them half off their sad
dies.
Il told them to let go, and he dashed
forward, striking madly against the horse
in front The concession sent as over to
the ditch. but he did not stop. With his
head down, and running straight as an
arrow, he Jew 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. II
was in vain. / exerted ali my strength; I
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, on at the
same furious pace.
1.-THE road lay through thick woods and
down a series OF steep hills On one OF
these II turned. The horse refused To fol-
low its windings and kept straight on. II
was like a locomotive rushing through the
woods
There were two trees before me clese to-
gether. On he went dashing between them.
He struck against one of them and reeled.
but did not fall. His head was down al
most to bis knees, and knew he could
not see. / made a great, last effort to
raise him. Ii faiIed--the tree seemed under
me-there wss erash--a blow-and lay
on the ground-the horse struggling on
top of me.
al tried to rise and remouut. but my
right arm hung useless, and felt dizzy and
weak. while my good horse still struggled
on the ground Yet the enemy were CON-
ing. / dragged myself quickly down the
bank, at the foot of which ran q little
I haH Il kaa RI =
OF horses on the hill above me.
Ny saberi sud. 1t must not fall
into their hands. nnbuckled it hastily
and gave it last look. 1t was the parting
gift of my best friends, and had been nav
constant companion by day and by nighE.
could not bear to part with il thus. For
an instant hesitated.
"a Perhaps they win not see me, / said:
bat 10. the risk is too great; whatever hap
pens TO me, they shall not have the saber.'
"a log lay across the brook | leaned for
wsrd, and under its shadow threw the
saber in Ii splasbed IL the dark water
and was gene. Shall l throw my pistol
after itg No. il viii be bat pistol more
for the Cenfederacy. Here they comet
stretched myself close beside the hank, and
the party Of horsemen galiopea by"
Alter long and painful wanderings and
many hair-hreadth escapes from capture,
the captain found himself again within the
Union lines. and some time later he revis-
tied the scene Of bis adventure ard reeov-
cred his saber.
Busted and broken and never to be
irawn again" he says, III Is a thousand
times more precious 70 me than when. bur-
mished and bright. frss received IL