The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-04-28
MADE. a DASH FOR LIFE.
THE LITTLE MANS STORY OF a
BOLD CAVALRY CHARGE.
Won Majors Commission, but Nearly
Lost His Life-Didnt Look Like
Fighter, But Had Had
Little Experience.

There were four men in the smok-
ing compartment Of the Pullman car
on the Flying Yankee train coming
down from Portland the other even
ing says the Boston Herald. Three
were drummers and the fourth was a
reporter. One of the drummers had
the reputation of being the heaviest
commercial traveller in Boston, weigh
ing in the neighborhood of 800
pounds. He talked with little man
who also sold goods &
Now, this little man didn't weigh
over ITO pounds. he wasn't over five
feet in height and he had one of the
most genial faces imaginable, notwith-
standing sharp. piercing eye. The
Dig man sported three badges one of
which-and perhaps the others as
well-told that he was member OF
the Grand Army of the Republic.
The little man wore nothing in that
line and he didn't look like fighter
4 The conversation turned on street.
car Incidents. and each one related a
story of trouble with drunken passen-
gers. Then the little man said: Il
don't like to fight and I don't look
like a fighter but I had a good one
once-I'll never forget it. Feel thatr'
He had barred his head. and. taking
each man by the hand, Indicated a
deep lndentation in his scalp about
two and half inches long, just over
his right temple.
That nearly cost me my life but
it won me majors commission. ne
said. The members of the party
looked aghast as the little man went
on.
1T was when Grant was anxious to-
get into Richmond. I was captain of
troop of cavalry. When the war
commenced was a second lieutenant
IN the regular army, and managed to
reach captaincy during the struggle.
LAT the time speak of l had been
sent out early one morning with two
companies, comprising: all told about
eighty men. to tear up a few rails on
the Weldon railroad We spent the
day industriously, and it would have
been hard on any train that attempted
to get over the place where we had
been at work when We finished.
ut was about o'clock in the AFTER
noon when we heard the clatter of
horses hoofs and we had just time
to get together before four companies
of cavalry were on us.
1t was a trying moment I tell you.
There were about 1870 men to nv
eighty. I surely thought we were
caught in trap, but I wouldn't give
up without trying once, and we went
to work. There was one point in our
favor. The rebels were as much sur
prised to come across us as we were
to have them.
Our bugler sounded the order to
= charge. And charge we did Idoubt
if eighty men ever went to work with
moro determination. We rode at the
oncoming horsemen as Sheridan rode
to Winchester and with cries that
rivaled in sound the noise of a thou
sand Indians we went through the,
ranks of the gray-uniformed men.
One hundred feet beyond them the.
buglers sounded the order to turn,
and we turned in a trice. Back we.
went through their ranks and when
we reached the spot where we had
first started we turned again. Back
through those ranks, with. the blood
curdling yells, we drove. and with
scarcely the swing of saber on the;
second trip our victory was won.
The rebels thought there were a
dozen companies instead of two, 500
men instead of eighty and they dis
persed and fed. They could not stand
such an onslaught and since then, in
thinking it over don't know as +
blame them. We made a dash to
save our lives and we succeeded.
How did think of making such a
move? Why. had no time to think.
We had 'forlorn hope that was ALL
I knew that d simple charge against
such odds as were against us would
have been supine, altogether too slow,
and in the excitement of the moment
/ did what came to my mind at first.
Eyes. l won majors commission
by it; but wouldn't take another
scratch like the one in my head or
spend another half hour like that one
to be a general"
AS the little man stepped from the
car in the Boston depot two men on
the platform met him with. Colonel,
how are your"
The little man won that title later.
He lives out in Michigan now, but
many Bostonians know him, and they
also know that this story is true one.
49, A Negroes Strata.em