The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-11
STORIES LONG AND SHORT
Tales and Incidents Picked Up in the
Byways of Indianapolis.
John Sections Experience-Ruination Of q
Flattering Social Impression-Peril Of
the Horseradish- Machine.

"a cavalry charge" said John Sexton, q
well-known member of Typographical
Union, No. /, lis more in the nature of a
personal duel than anything else. / be-
longed to the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, and
have . vivid remembrance OF q charge
made st Charleston. East Tennessee, in
the winter of 1865. The Ohio cavalry
brigade, composed of the First, Third.
Fourth and Fifth Regiments. under Com
mand of Colonel Long, were scattered
from Chattanooga to Knoxville, guarding
bridges and carrying dispatches. Four or
five companies of the brigade were sta
toned at Charleston, on the Hiawassee
river. guarding the bridge at that point.
Early one morning the pickets were driven
In by General Wheeler's cavalry, who had
come uD during the night from Dalton.
ca The object was 60 capture q wagon
tram on Its way TO Knoxville. The train
was guarded by q thousand or so OF con-
vaiescent soldiers on their way to join
their regiments in Sherman's army
The nghting between the confederates
and our infantry began early, and Was
kept up until we'll In the afternoon with
wagon train was hurried across to the east
side OF the river as fast as possible. When
the last wagon was across, the cavalry bu-
gle n TO form In column of fours. !
then know onr trouble WAS to commence.
The SIX companies formed and proceeded
IN O walk through the town toward the
enemy. Wheelers command. at this time,
was stretched across the small valley,
fighting on foot. In cavalry, when fight
ing on foot, every fourth man holds four
horses. and they are kept we'll In the rear.
As we reached our infantry line, 1t opened
and fell back. thus giving us a clear field.
The then came TO Draw sabresi'
and Tmurodr4 falu altar tho NIL CtrpAn
Right front into line.' We came into line
IN rrstzclass shape. The bugle sound
ed again the command .%'trot,' and
shortly. afterward ..gallop.' and we
went fer the 'rebs' with q cheer. As We
Numbered down upon them their linz new
er wayered, and i could hear their Ulcers
crying, Steady. men; ste&dylv When with
IN seventy-hye or one hundred yards the
rebel officers gave the command, Fire.
When l hear that word l shut my epes. and
when opened them again / found i was
unhu-t. After firing they rushed back and
mounted their horses. But we were among
was riding q spirited little mare. and she
became so excIted that / could hardly con-
troll her. Right In front of me was q tall,
lank confederate cavalryDan. who was do
Ing his level best to get TO the rear. Irode at
him, with the exclamation. Surrender. you
---.' For answer he turned in
his saddied and fired o small pistol. the
bullet from which did not even hear.
during this time we were racing side by
aide. When within striking distance /
raised myself IN the etirrups and struck q
blow at him with my sabre. He saw
lt coming. threw himself on the
side OF his horse, and thus saved his head
from being split open. Being excited. /
blow. / rode again up on his left side. and
called on him to surrender. He politely
told me TO go to HI Tented ut him,
down he went again. and as he rose l
afrupk with all my forra nj his head Ha
saw the blow coming. threw M his left
ARM. and caught the sabre stroke there.
Still he would not surrender. then made
up my mind to kill him. Placing nv sabre
en- carte. that -. placing the hilt firmly at
my side. / rode at him with the intention
of PASSING It through his body. He saw
his danger. and as the point of the sword
nearly touched him. he again lodged by
this time he went once too often.
The b~eliy-band gave way and
himself aud saddle tumbled into the mud.
AS We were going at racing speed it was
some little time before | could stop my
mare. When I turned / found him very
coolly sitting on his saddle. with. apparent
ly, no trouble on his mind. / said: 'You
Internal fool. why didn's you surrender!
You came near being killed.
We'll, Yank, / didn't care about going to
aYankee prison. But tell you. if l had
had q ch~ecse-knife like yours would have
made it mighty warm for you
The bugle sounded the recall We had
whipped Wheeler badly. taken a nun Der
Of prisoners and four email cannon. besides
inficting a heavy loss in killed and
wounded. l took my prisoner back to
camp, had his wound dressed. divided my
meat and cofFee with him. and then parted
forever from one of the bravest men l have
ever SEEM" +
Fred Emerson Brooke. the California
poet and funny man. giyesh his second read
ing at the Y. NJ. G. A. Hall next Tuesday
night. Last winter Mr.. Brooks received
the associations vote as having given the
most popular entertainment of the seasons
twelve attractions. and his coming
reminds the writer of O little incident
which happened in San Francisco four
years ago last Thanksgiving day. The