The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1892-05-06

story was told BY one Of the combatantss
Lieutenant Gleason, in letter written 1l
home. and is none the less interesting tor
the free and easy manner in which it
related. Aine rail fence was between
him and the enemy, and be felt Every
comfortable and safe.' He drew his
Colts revolver, and fred six shots into or
IL them. then with Smith and Wesson
she began his second round. He says:
lam sure don't know why didn't kill
lots of them, as I was very cool and col
lected, at least thought so. But they
didn't any of them seem to drop, and sud
denly FIVE of them tore a hole through the
fence and came after me. My security
was at an end, and putting spurs to my
horse I headed for home, over fence into
another field. :,
Here I was confronted by a deep gully
right across my path, and the two John
MES were close at my heels. turned to
the right, gave my horse full speed, and
came to the end of the gully as one john
nv reached the same point by cutting OFT
an angle:
was about ten feet ahead, and had two
shots left. l fired one, the other missed.
NV belt was on under my overcoat, SO that
| couldn't get at my sabre, and the enemy
ordered me in choice language to surren-
der, or he would shoot.
Unconsciously had allowed my speed
to slacken, and l could see into the empty
barrels Of his pistol.
I said, "What, with that pistol?"
He replied, ayes, hang you, it's loaded. "
laughed, and said, "I've got two in
nv holsters in the same condition"
Meanwhile he had ranged alongside on
nv left, and our horses were crowding
each other. He was leaning as far as he
could one way, and the opposite. Then
we clutched at each other.
got his head across my breast, with my
left arm under his chin, and with my right
fist pounded him for all was worth. He
with his pistol was striking blindly for
my head, cutting q cash over both eyes
and knocking a fnger-nail off.
Our horses were looping toward ourlines.
Behind was another Johnny who could
not keep up. Now my horse never liked
to wet his feet; approaching large mnd-
DIV place, while we were locked i'll the
above loving embrace, both horses Jumped
but not at the same time. The conse-
ouence was, both of us were dismounted.
| sat fat in the mud with heels elevated,
while johnny landed On the back of his
head and shoulders. His horse stood still,
mine ran away, and here | was sitting in
the mud, in company with two OF the enc
my.
l lost my temper when lost my horse,
| fear. Anyway, getting on my feet, my
sabre was where could get at it, and
drawing il I went for the two men with
rush. In fact there was too much rush,
my adversary had again mounted ,-and
neither horse would allow me within ten
feet Of him.
After few plunges, both of them turn
ed and l was left alone in the mud. fear
called them names and used language
that was not polite as long as they we're
in sight. Then ! ran for dear life, got
over fence, and sat down on rock to
collect my thoughts.
But saw my man again the same af-
ternoon-a prisoner. His eyes and face
were black and blue, and he looked as if
he had been through powder mill explo-
sion. made him as comfortable as |
could and left him.
He was a second lieutenant in the 9th
Virginia Cavalry, and we both laughed
when we compared our emotions and i'm
pulses. Neither of us had ever possessed
great skill rs boxer, and neither was
very proud of the result, During the fight
he dropped his pistol, and We met on equal
footing. I have;the pistol now, and us |
look at it can see the whole scene move
before me like a panorama.