Telegram-herald., 1891-04-22
BRAVE LIEUT.. DARRELL.
He Performs n Hazardous Trip During
the War.

DrrRofr, Mich. April Is. ISL.
Statement Of IL. l.. Chi pman. late colonel lJ2d
l. : ColOred Troops and bresrt bristdier-
general L. ;. Volunteers. In regard 10 a spr-
eial act Of gailantry performed by First
Lieut.. Charles l. Barfeii. late VI The lU-d
tolored Troops. and breNet captain L. :.
Volunteers:
In April. 1865, was sent in command
OF live companies OF the l02d United
States colored troops, numbering about
two hundred and fifty officers and men,
on march from Charleston, ;. e., TO
JOIN an expedition under the command
of Brig. Gen. T.. r. Potter. United
States volunteers, which started from
Georgetown, ). c., on raid toward
Camden, 5. C.. My orders were to join
his command at Nelson's Ferry, on the
Santee river. On reaching this point |
found that Gen Potter had moved on
IN the direction of Camden, but could
not learn of his whereabouts. | crossed
the river with the command at Wrights
Bluff, and followed on in the direction
Gen. Potter had taken. After crossing
the river wo had to fight our way to-
wards him. / had with me two wagons
loaded with ammunition. The enemy
grew daily stronger In my front.
After fighting several days along the
line of march, and having one man
killed and wounded, who were on the
wagons; the opposition to my advance
continually increasing, and the troops
becoming almost worn out through
fighting and fatigue, incident to tho
long and harrassing march made by
them, l saw that TO save the command
it was absolutely necessary to in some
way open communication with Gen.
Potier's command. l had determined
during the day that as soon as it became
dark, send an officer to try and
accomplish this object. l had be-
come favorably impressed with the
conductsof Lieut.. Charles l.. Darrell.
I02d L. S. c. l., and for this reason l
selected him for this hazardous under
taking. As soon as it became dark
sent FOR HIM and made known my de-
termination. He entered into the plan
with spirit and without hesitation, al
though knowing 1t would be attended
| with great personal risk to himself.
When 1t became fairly dark Lieut.. Bar
reil started on his mission, taking one
man with him-both mounted. He had
not gone far on his way before being
challenged, suddenly, "Who goes
therc?" With great presence of mind,
himself challenged, "Who goes therey"
and at once charged IN the direction
whence the sound came.
Danger of Instant Death.
It was too dark to see who was in his
| front. In this charge Lieut.. Darrell
captured the orderly of rebel colonel.
| The colonel wheeled his own horse
| about and escaped in the darkness.
Lieut.. Barrell told the rebel orderly
whom he had captured. If he did not
guide him through to Gen. Potter S
camp that night, or undertook in any
way TO mislead him, he would shoot
| him, the orderly, on the spot. They
| abandoned their horses. Lieut.. Barrell
| put his own man in front, the rebel
I orderly next, and himself IN the rear,
| holding his pistol At the back of the
rebels head. In this way they marched
all night across the country, through
swamps and woods impossible for
! horses, reaching the camp of General
Potter Just after daylight. Lieut. Bar
rell had been without sleep or rest for
thirtv-six hours before starting on tins
! expedition-having been on picket duty
the night before. On reporting TO Gen,
| Potter be, the General, Immediately
started him back with battalion OF
the Fourth Massachusetts, Cavalry, un
der command of Major Webster, OF
that regiment. TO reinforce my troops
Just in front of my command. as We
were marching along the road, the
cavalry came up IN rear OF an earth
work occupied 10y the enemy.
This work commanded the road or
which my troops were advancing. Il
was at the edge of a stream and swamp
We were about 10 cross, and not III
sight from the road where we were a.
the time. The cavalry charged the
rebel troops from the rear, driving
them out. and Immediately after tbIi
joined my command. Nearly the hrs
person whom | saw among the cavalry
was Lieut. Darrell, TO nv great relief
ss had been fearful that he had been
killed or captured hv the enemy tn,
night before. Lent. Barrell performed
this hazardous duty with great gal
lsntrv and bravery. think for his lis
tinguisaed conduct on this occasion he
is entitled TO medal of honor such a
is authorized by act OF March 81, 1868
II. l.. CHIrMtN,
Late colonel lo2d Z. ;. {. T., Breve
4 Brig Gen T. = Vols