The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-10-31

i was orderly-Sergeant OF Com
pany h. Third Ohio cavalry. and was
In command OF the company In the
absence OF the captain. who was sick
Whom Fitzpatrick found that We we're
su rounded. he sent his aid around 10
tell Ms that we were surrounded
and must cnt our way out and
save ourselves rs best we could.
The brigade was hastily formed.
Col. Eli Long leading. and followed.
as we had no time for consultation.
that Company a might take its proper
place. We were ordered to charge
in column OF TOURS on their artillery.
which was In position and supported
by cavalry. IA We neared the cannon
the enemy broke and ran. except one
officer. who foolishiy refused 10 sur
render and therefore was cut down.
After passing the cannon the com
mand broke. the one idea OF
each man being 10 save himself.
While running after the Johnnies,
most OF whom were dismounted and
unarmed. when we came up to them
they would call out. II surrender;
don't shoot me-" had just emerged
from the wood and struck the road
with two OF my command when Col.
Minty. commander OF tho FIRST Bri.
gade came up with two Of his aids smd
said 10 me. Orderly. where do you
belong?" To which replied, 10
the Second Brigade. Second Division.
lie then asked. Where Is the rest oil
your commando" replied, This Is
all know anything about. Where Is
the First Brigade?" llc smiled and
and said. This Is all OF the First Bril-
gade that know anything about"
As tho men emerged from the
woods we reformed. and | was placed
in command OF Companies Is and ID.
and ordered 10 hold the ridge until
the command moved out OF sight.
they taking our horses with them
then we were TO follow up. We took
our position behind couple OF log
houses and some apple trees, and
held II until the enemy drove
us away. While running We
fired TO the rear, making all the
noise we could The regiment hear.
ing the racket. formed their line In d
cleared field. AZ we ran we came Ia
what appeared TO be small stream.
but, owing TO tho recent rain. haj
, greatly swollen. Thinking " was
shallow we stepped in and down W.
we went. head first. but managed 1,
get across. We spied our horses at d
distance; we did not stop TO pull OF
our boots to empty the water out but
held mp our feet so that IL would run
out. and then hastened 10 our horse.
and mounted.
The rebs came 10 the edge OF the
woods and gave battle. and our regi-
ment lost more men here than at any
one other time during the four years
service. Our brigade commander.
Col. Long, was wounded three times.
After the battle we marched until
o'clock In the morning. when we
stopped TO feed. A fearful storm
ragged all night Al daybreak We
crossed stream swollen aud running
SO rapidly that we could not 70
straight across. but would start Ia
above the ford in order 10 come out al
the proper landing IL was reported
that there were several hoi SEES carried
down this stream and lost. When We
came to the landing there we found
Gen. Fitzpatrick standing waist deep
in the water taking the horses by the
bride and leading them out
Moving on we came TO grist mill.
with mountain opposite. AZ tn,
head of the column neared It n fr,
broke out In the mill, supposed u
have been klndled by the enemy I,
prevent our going through IL was
pretty hot passing IL, but our clothe,
needed drying. as they had been wei
for twenty-four hours, but we hur.
riod by and in n few days reached oul
old camping ground NJ Buckhead.