Mower County transcript., 1892-07-27

i peilOu. AU I1L1l ClanCellOrSVllle his
beloved commander finished his heroic
career, and John, now hardy veteran,
wearing q majors uniform, asked to
be assigned to regular command. His
request was granted, and he found him
self under that gallant Virginian
whose brilliant career was SO sadly
cut short at Yellow Tavern, Jehs
Stuart Maj. Hewson was in a short
time the most popular officer
in the command. The officers liked the
unassuming, quiet young man who
seemed to have no kin, and no interest
beyond his duty, who never shirked,
never asked for leave OF absence and
was always ready for any extra duty,
however perilous, The men. soon
learned that the major. was the best Off.
Ger IN the regiment on matters of duty,
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 the lives OF
his men. @to@ .% ..: '&-4.> s.sz
After Gettysburg, as Lees army was
slowly dropping back into Virginia,
John found himself in command of the
regiment barely mastering two hun
dred men guarding one of the inter
nlinable wagon trains as they slowly
crawled southwark. 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.
| 0oa hot T,,11 of%orpoo~, oe %lo f4A1,
command stopped to rest under shady
grove on a rounded western Maryland
hill, John climbed up to the highest
point to get a bird's-eye view of the
country, and unslung a field glass
which he constantly carried. He was
startled out of his usual GOODNESS at the
first glance.
| About a mile to the southwest, riding
up a 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, it was evident that their
aim was to strike the wagon train at
the point where the main road crossed
the valley, and where was q small
creek where the teamsters would halt to
! water the teams. Rushing down the
hill, and giving his orders rapidly, In
less time than it takes to write this
sentence his men were in line. Calling
out one OF the men who was a daring
scout and rider he gave him line:
| Col HARD1soN: Train attacked by federal
brigade Of cavalry. Can hold them but few
minutes HEwsoN,
Major 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 reins and was off like an
! arrow. +.
John turned to his men:
'tMen, a federal brigade four or five
times our strength will strike this train
In fifteen minutes They can only have
these wagons after I am dead. What
say you?' The men gave one wild yell,
that was sufficient response, and the
next minute the regiment was riding
pell-meu 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 slkirmishers. 49,. ..
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 II
gave them q few minutes for rest, and
every minute was of priceless value as
John calculated that Col Hardisou
should reach him in thirty minutes.
For fifteen or twenty minutes a desultory
slirmish 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 ia
his effective forces. The federals hav.
ing apparntly concluded that no large
force could be in their front, now raised
q cheer and advanced rapidly, but were
met with such a heavy and well directed
fire 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,
''Chargew Like an avalanche, the Vir'
ginians went down the hill, and the fed
erals, already demoralized by theil
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 q half hours hot pursuit and pick
ing up hundred prisoners, John rode
back up the valley to find Col Hard
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 yon were afraid that WI
would keep yop from your colonelt
commission and hence would not welt
on us"
/ 'eTo tell you tie exact truth, general,
when I wrote that note, was very much
afraid that the only chance you would
1 have to do any thing for me would be "a
bury me"
''Well, Il was q narrow squeak more
/ gravely replied the debonair young gen,
eral However, miss is as good as q
II - u 8 1-Y. u L q