Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-06-30
HAND TO HAND,
An Amusing Incident OF the "Late I'm
plcasantness."

| An Amusing Incident OF the "Late I'm
pleasantness."
One of those personal conflicts be-
tween man and man, of which there are
so many in the course of every war, but
of which so few get into the official re-
ports, and so into history, is quoted by
Col Crowninshield in his "llistory OF
the First Massachusetts Cavalry" The
story was told by one of the combatants,
Lieut.. Gleason, in letter written home,
and is none the less interesting for the
free and easy manner in which II is re-
lated. A fine rail fence was between
him and the enemy, and he felt very
comfortable and safe" lie drew his
Colts revolver, and fired six shots into
or Mt them, then with Smith and
Wesson he began a second round. He
says:
am sure | don't know why didn't
Kill lots of them, as was very cool and
collected, at least / thought so. But
they didn't any of them seem to drop,
and suddenly five of them tore n hole
through the fence and came after me.
My security was at an end, and putting
spurs to my horse headed for home,
over n fence into another field.
Here | was confronted by 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
tommy reached the same pOiht vy .u,-
ting off an angle.
was about ten feet ahead, and had
two shots left ! fired one, the other
missed. My belt was on under nv
overcoat, so that couldn't get at my
saber, and the enemy ordered me in
choice language to surrender, or he
would shoot.
Unconsciously | had allowed my
speed to slaclien, and could see into
the empty barrels of his pistol.
] said, What, with that pistol?"
lie replied Eyes, hang you, it's
loaded"
! laughed, and said, eve got two IN
my holsters in the same condition"
Meanwhile he had ranged alongside
on my left and our horses were crowd
ing each other lie was leaning us 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. lie with his pistol was striking |
blindly for my head, cutting cash over |
both eyes and knocking a finger nail
off.
Our horses were looping toward our
lines. Behind was another Johnny who
could not Seepup Now my horse never
liked to wet his feet; approaching n
large muddy place, while we were
locked in the above loving embrace,
both horses jumped, but not at the same
time. The consequence was both of us
were dismounted,
sat fiat in the mud with heels ele-
waited, 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 COM
pany with two of the enemy.
] lost my temper when lost my
horse, | fear Any way, getting ON my
feet, my sabcr was whera / could get at
Il, and drawing II went for the two men
with rush. In fact, there was too
much rush-my adversary had again
neither horse would al
ow me within ten feet of him.
After few plunges, both of them
.urned and was left alone In the mud.
fear | called them names and used
TINT was not polite ~ long as