The National tribune., 1893-08-24
GEN. CRAwFORD'S ESCORT.
Comrade Watson Tells About the Taking
of Orange Courthouse.

~
& out brigade of cavalry for re-
~ conao sac &c, and took the road 10
Orange Courthouse. We had a
pleasant day. and the road led through a
pretty ir country. The General rode at
the head of the column out of the dust, a
company of the oh n. Y. Cav. hundred
yards or so ahead OF him for an advances
guard. his staff and escort at his heels, a
part OF the 9Th y. Y. behind us, followed by
several companies OF the 1st Mich. Cav.
under Mi. Way; there was another regi-
ment or TWO, or part OF regiments, IN rear
Of them; | am not positive 1t this date
whether il was the 1st VI, Isl Me, ID n. Y,
or all three OF hem, but this | 90 remember,
we made very gorgeous military process
sion, and must have impressed the natives
greatly with our clean uniforms, bright
arms and proud appearance.
/ don't know about The feeling OF the rest
of the crowd, hut | felt that we were having
a sort Of picnic, and enjoyed the ride exceed
ingly. On entering The village of Orange
Courthouse we s,raightened our ranks,
stiffened our backs, ard made ourselves look
as soldierlike as we could, and displayed all
our gorgeOusness before tie admiring eyes
of the Southern ladies.
There was a singular absence of men in
the streets aud on the pOrches, but of women
and children there was quite number visi-
BILE
We rode up through the long, single
street about two-thirds through the town,
and was about TO turn the corner to the left
past good-sized brick hotel, around which
the advance guard had ridden just a mo-
ment previous, when like clap Of thunder
from a clear sky came the crash of a vOlley
of mn OF nd haaly ha front
flying what was left of the advance-guard.
Around the corner they came like a whirl-
wind, yelling like Indians, The rebs are
coming! The rebs are coming! Thousands
of 'em," and from the continuous firing and
yelling Of the enemy we hadn't doubt that
they were there.
The General and staff rode their horses
right across the sidewalk and struggled up
close to the glass front of the hotel to escape
the storm Of lead that came flying up the
street from the south. The escort followed
their illustriOus example and found places
on the sidewalk, leaving the road clear for
the 9Th \. Y, who advanced up the road
nearly to the corner, headed by their Colonel.
/ was in the rear file of our escort that
day, and when / rode on the sidewalk to hug
the shelter of the house congratulated my
self that the building was large enough to
cover US, which it just barely did, and by
leaning back in my saddle l could look
around the corner of the building into the
garden alongside the house and back of it to
the woods beyond, out of which the enemy
were swarming and advancing to attack our
column In flank away back as far as l could
Sc to the rear.
Already they were climbing the fence at
the back of the hotel garden; across the
shTubbery bullets were flying aimed at our
men halted in the main street. ] could see
horses and men going down. Just then
bullets began TO come down the street straight
ahead, and then we had it from three sides
at once.
How the rebels yelled as they plugged it
to Us. The General didn't seem very much
ratified. He ordered the 9Th n. Y. to charge
up the road aud clear out that rabble.
j ran my eye over the ranks of the COM
pany in front, aud was good deal surprised
to discover the material that company was
made -middle-aged Irishmen, with regu-
lar Hibernian countenances they only needed
a hod on their shoulders and short, black
pipes TO make them familiar objects around
every large building being erected in any of
our large cities. 1t was unfortunate for the
early reputation of that regiment that this
particular company happened to be at their
head on this occasion, for in answer to their
Colonefs repeated orders to charge, they
made not the slightest effort to advance, but
covered in their saddles under a shower of
bullets.
While was wondering what the upshot
Of the affair would be / heard the bullets
whizzing past my corner from the garden.
! leaned back slightly and looked around
the corner. There, within so feet of me,
was group of rebs banging away at our
men in the street. Out came my revolver
from its holster, and by steadying the bar
rel against the corner Of the house / drew a
bead on the thickest part Of the crowd and
banged away.
Oar doughty Captain sang out promptly
What the blue blazes are you at there ?
You viii have them all shooting at us in a
minute"
At the same time the General shouted:
That's right, boy; give 'em -"
These were conflicting orders in breath.
and as the Generals orders chimed in with
my own views about then, l leaned back
and devoted the next few moments to de-
hberately emptying my revolver into the
crowd in the garden. All this had occurred
in few minutes since the attack
Ny ammunition all expended, straight
entu IN StI ID the baQuIc an looked around
for the approval Of my General, when what
was my amazement TO discover that was
alone! But about half block to the rear
l caught sight OF crowd of frightened blue
coats trying TO get through narrow alley.
didn't like 10 try forcing narrow pas
sage along with that mob, so ran my eve
along up the opposite side Of the street for
an opening TO get through into the fields be.
yond but The street was closed with houses
and fences on that side, until about block
ahead l discovered a small alley leading to
the right, and by the whisk Of a horses tail
as it disappeared around the corner saw at
once how the General and escort had disap-
peared.
Immediately dashed the spurs into nv
horse and made a rush for the opening. but
before my horse had made five Jumps saw
that the road ahead Of me was full of mount
ed rebs advancing toward me.
"Go it, old fellow" said to my horse, as
j bent over his neck to escape the bullets
/ believe we are going to get there first,n
says /, as ! saw several of the rebs ride out
ahead Of their ranks to cut me off when they
saw where | was making for.
Halt, you - Yank !-haltl haiti" l
could hear from dozen voices. "Surren-
der, or we viii blow you up"
Not if ] know it," said !, through my
clenched teeth, and an instant later l swept
around the corner, with a yell. amid storm
of bullets one Of which caught my horse Oh
his shoulder and caused him TO make such a