The National tribune., 1893-07-13
A TRYING SITUATION.
Signaling the Presence of Forrest in the Fac
of Almost Sure Death,

of Almost Sure Death.
A T q meeting of III. p. Merrill Post,
| IA 419, Department OF Michigan, Bay
AA City, Mich, Comrade George w.
Butterfeld, Co. B, 22d Mich, re-
| lated an incident of more than usual inter-
est which happened jane A, 1868, about 4
o'clock p. m. He was attached to the Signal
Corps, and stationed about 1S miles south
| from Nashville, near Franklin, Tenn, on the
| Harpeth River.
The point was occupied by small force
of observation distributed along the bank
of the river, and commanded by Col. Baird.
Pickets were posted at the end of the bridge
| on the opposite side of the stream, and the
signal station was an elevated platform in
full view of the river and in communication
with another signal station three miles dis
tant, toward Nashville, where there was a
considerably larger Union force.
The rebels occupied Columbia, a short dis
lance away, with strong force. About A
o'clock in the afternoon the picket-post, sta
toned at the end of the bridge across the
river, was attacked and retired, bringing
with them prisoner, who reported Forrest
preparing to attack with 900 men.
After exchanging a few shots with the
enemy Col. Baird rode up and directed
Lieut.. Howgate to signal the next station
the presence of the enemy in force and ask
for reinforcement.
Lieut.. Howgate, after preparing the mes
sage, called for a volunteer to signal the
message. Private Johnson volunteered, and
Selling the flag mounted the platform, but
before he had attained standing position
the rebels fred full volley and johnson
fell, pierced with six bullets.
Another call was made for volunteer to
take his place. But the exposed position,
the force of the enemy, and their evident
purpose to prevent the signaling, made the
attempt hopeless, and certain death to the
man attempting it.
A private then suggested to Col. Baird,
who was standing by, that it was but
three miles to the next signal station, and
man might ride there with message in
10 minutes. Col. Baird accepted the sug-
gestion and dispatched mounted man with
the message at once After about Is minutes
the messenger returned, hatless, his horse in
a foam, and reported strong force of the
enemy between the stations, and he was
unable to deliver his message
Col. Baird then said the signal must be
delivered. Lieut.. Howgste then directed
the FIVE men of his station to draw cuts,
and marked figures to on slips of paper.
No. l to flag the signals. No. was drawn
first, then No. 2, and then Comrade Butter
field drew No. 1. 1t was nearly the first
time he had heard the whistle of bullet,
being new in the field. The next day he
would be 20 years Of age, and what seemed
to him the certainty of death made the
situation trying one, and, for the moment,
unnerved him and made him speechless
But after moment he recovered himself
and signified his determination to make the
effort. Taking off his coat and Selling the
flag, he mounted the platform and was
greeted with storm of lead. But he waved
his flag and signaled the message, though
before it's conclusion battery had Joined
the musketry-fre and was hurting shells
at the operator. AS the last word was
delivered by the waving flag, Butterfeld
fell in faint from the platform, and was
picked up by his comrades as dead. An
examination showed, however, that his body
was unscathed. Four bullets had passed
through bis trousers, two through his sleeve,
the top of his cap was shot away, and the
flag was struck by 142 bullets. 1t was more
than q week before Comrads Butterfield
recovered from the nervous shock he had
sustained, but he was consoled with the fact
that he had delivered the message without
single mistake, and that timely help ar
rived and drove Forrest from the field
NJ. M. ANDREWS, Adjutant, Merrill Post,
Bay City, Mich.