Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-06-03


 that on all questions affecting the com fort Of his men he was tireless, that while always In the front rank of battle be was extremely careful of Che lives of his men.
 | After Gettysburg. as Lees army was slowly dropping back into Virginia. John found himself in command of the regiment barely mastering two hun dned men guarding one of the inter minable wagon trains as they slowly crawled southwarc The lieutenant colonel had given his life to his cause and was buried on the Pennsylvania hills The veteran colonel badly wounded was miles ahead in an am bulance
 One hot July afternoon as the little command stopped to rest under a shady grove on a rounded western Maryland hill, John climbed up to the highest point to get . bird's-eye view of the country, and unslung Q field glass which he constantly carried. He was startled out of his usual coolness at the first glance
 About mile to the southwest, riding up deep and narrow valley which ef- fectually concealed them, was federal cavalry force fully one thousand strong. As the direction of the valley was northwest, 1t was evident that their aim was to strike the wagon train at | the point where the main road crossed the valley, and where was a small creek where the teamsters would halt to water the teams, Rushing down the hill, and giving his orders rapidly. in less time than 1t takes to write this sentence his men were in line. Calling out one of thesmen who was daring scout and ridershe gave him line:
 Cor. HARDIsoN: Train attacked by federal brigade of cavalry. Can hold them but few minutes HEwsoN, Malor Commanding. the - Virginia Cavalry. ''Our lives and this wagon train de- pend on you," was his parting word. The gallant private saluted, smiled, gathered up his reinsand was off like an arrow.
 John turned to his men:
 Men, federal brigade four or five times our strength will strike this train in fifteen minutes. They can only have these wagons after am dead. What gay you2" The men gave one wild yell, that was sufficient response, and the next minute the regiment was riding pell-mell towards the point where dan ger threatened. They arrived at the crest of the hill five minutes before the federals reached the road and at once deployed skirmishers-
 The federals. finding an armed force in front where they had expected to make complete surprise, became lit- tie confused and fell back a few hundred yards and seemed uncertain whether to advance or retreat. This respite was | invaluable to the confederates, as it gave them few minutes for rest, and every minute was of priceless value as John calculated that Col Hardison should reach him in thirty minutes For fifteen or twenty minutes a desultory slxirmish was carried on, and John profted by it to halt the wagons and mount a hundred or so of the drivers on wagon horses, which added largely to his effective forces. The federals hay ing apparntly concluded that no large force could be in their front. now raised a cheer and advanced rapidly, but were met with such a heavy and well directed Are that they commenced falling back.
 A half mile away, John saw the men in gray riding rapidly to the rescue, and pointing his saber toward them to en- courage his men, gave the word, ''Chargel'' Like an avalanche, the Vir- \ Rinians went down the hill, and the fed erals, already demoralized by their warm reception where they had counted on easy booty, without waiting to feel \ the full force of the confederate on- slaught broke away in wild retreat, hotly pursued by the now triumphant confederates.
 After a half hours hot pursuit and pick ing up a hundred prisoners, John rode back up the valley to find Col Hardi- sons veterans and Gen. Stuart himself awaiting him at the creek ford
 The general met him banteringly: "Ah, major, you sent us an invitation to fight, and it turns out horse race. really believe you were afraid that we would keep you from your colonel's commission and hence would not wait on us."
 ''To tell you the exact truth, general, when wrote that note, was very much afraid that the only chance you would have to do anything for me would be to bury me-"
 "Well, 1t was a narrow squeak" {" more gravely replied the debonair young gen. eral. However, miss is as good as a mile. Let us ride on, Hardison; this young gentleman is able to take care of himself"