The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-06-10
along the river bank parallel to the

along the river bank parallel to the
eDemy's works, followed as he came
opposite each new part of the breast
works with volley after volley.
There seemed no hope for him, and
We watched with intense anxiety, ex-
pecting every moment to see horse and
rider go down. Yet both kept on amid
the storm of lead apparently unhurt.
That something must be done to help
him now was, 1 doubt not, the thought
in every ones mind.
Suddenly. as Ash reached another
part of his rOute, where his view of the
confederate lines was still more extend
ed, he raised his hat and waved it over
his head. 1t was a signal of triumph.
Then occurred a scene which has not
been witnessed since the times of the
Joyous passages of arms" in the age of
chivalry. To our amazement, the con-
fcdcrates. moved by admiration for his
g%allantry, ceased to fire on the intrepid
horscman. Instead, they mounted on
their breastworks rs thick as they could
stand, and, throwing their hats in the
air, cheercd him again and again, max
ing the valley echo with their shouts.
At this. Ash. taking in the situation
at once. refined up his horse, and, turn
ing toward the confederates, raised his
hat and acknowledged their cheers with
n graceful salute repeated several times.
Then he turned and rode leisurely into
our own lines. amid the cheers and ap-
plane Of his comrades-recchoed by
the cOnfederateS.
lie had accomplished the work with
out the loss of a man. and had seen
himself, and displayed to every N
else, a full force of infantry manning
the confederate works.
The whole affair took less time than
it takes tn read this hasty and imperfect
sketch; but | thought. and still think,
that it was the bravest deed on the part
of an individual that | ever witnessed.
Capt Ash. in reporting to me after
ward, stated that his scheme of dcvel-
oping the enemy's force had not &C.
Cured to him until he had reached the
brink of the river. and found that the
enemy held their works in force.
To go on meant certain death to
many of his command. To retreat in
the line of direct fire would be equally
disastrous: and the inspiration to do
what he did, ride rapidly across their
line of aim, and gradually oblique ont
of range. suddenly seized him.
His risk was great and he knew il:
but it was better than any other course
that presented itself to his mind. Men
accomplish in seconds under such cir
cumstanccS the thought of hours, with
conclusions not less correct than those
attending more dclibrration.
True. no one could rave forcsccn that
the excitement and rapid fire of the en-
envy would 50 far disturb their aim as 10
insure that the union officer should es-
cape unhurt: and still less could the eff
feet Of his intrepid conduct on the rnemy
have bccn forctold.
Now, after the lapse of years, the
story of this heroic deed appears almost
fabulous. Then il seemed very real,
and all natural enough.
need scarcely add hat as we united
with the confcderatcs in cheering the
bold rider. our hearts went out tn the
generous foe who So well appreciated a
gallant act. and 50 chivalrously ac-
knowledgcd it. We were then inn
prcssed-and who has not bccn?-with
the fact that. whether wearing the
gray or the blue. the true American sol
der is a worthy descendant of the men
who made glorious the history of chiv-
alry.-Gcn. Wesley Merritt. in Youths
Companion.