The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-28
MANSIONS NARROW ESCAPE
The Veteran General Tells of His Capture
BY C0nfederates Near Richmond, Ky.
Rendered Stood Him in Good Stead
Heard from After Thirty Years.

Der of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument
Commission. He served with great credit
both In the Mexican and the war of the re-
bellIon. and has now reached the three
score and fifteen period. While in the city
last week, attending both the session Of
the commission and the sitting of the
Grand Lodge of Masons. Of which he is .
member, he received letter recalling o
critical period of his life during the late
war. 1t was from man named Joseph 7.
Ballenfant of Culleoka. Tenn, who. az q
confederate soldier, had captured the Gen.
ersl at the disastrous fight at Richmond.
KY, in the summer of 1862. The receipt of
the letter LED the General to tell the story
TO an interested crowd of listeners of
whom Journal reporter was one.
Our force at Richmond" said he. twas
composed of new troops. about seven thou
sand in number. with General Nelson. who
is now dead. In command. We had been
fighting ell day with tho army of Gen.
Kirby Smith. AID were far outnumbered.
Smiths forces were numerous enough to
cover us front and flank. and by noon il
was clear to me that We ought TO retreat.
General Nelson did not reach the scene of
action until about that time. and L had
been In command. | told him we ought to
fall back TO the town of Richmond. and.
after some parleying he ordered shat this
be done. The retreat became o rout Of our
troops. / told the General that rear
guard ought to be formed. and he put this
III my hands. General Nelson was soon
wounded and was carried from the field.
i finally secured several hundred men in
ran ks and started for Richmond. At one
point We came to corn field. and it seemed
to me that there WAS danger in 1t
ordered that some shells be thrown
into it. but was told that We did not have
o single she'll. l then told the colonel of
the artillery to thro " some solid shot into
IL. but there was no cold shot either. 1t
was only few minutes until heard the
command. Up, take aim. fre.' and there
was a volley of bullets sent into our ranks
that killed great many. both of men and
horses. / was about TO determine to sur
render when saw q rutiian OF o Re bel shoot
will surrender Then ! said to those with
me. All who do not want to be assassi-
mated, follow me- and number of us put
spurs TO our horses and ran right into the
enemy's ranks. Our dash was 60 sudden
that il took the enemy by surprise and we
were about seventy-iive yards out of their
reach before they fired again. Then they
let rs have q volley. l heard some loud
screams and felt my horse jump in q way
that told me be was mortally wounded. /
in doing so my weight pulled him
over Oh me and pinned me fast.
1 have no remembrance of being
wounded and l do not know how long
lay there In that corntield. 1t was dark
when we had made our charge and il was
still dark when recovered consciousness.
remember q sensation as of dream that
/ was dead from q wound received In the
morning tight. L persuaded myself, how
ever. TO try 10 move my foot. aud gradual
v Il W a n "A
that j could stand MP, but for q while
rested sitting on my dead horse. A lady
whom knew In the neigh borhood had
given me bottle of wine some time before
and thought that If ever l needed any
thing TO drink it was then. But the rebels
had taken the wine with the saddle of my
horse. / got mp and walked to the fence,
but there found some rebel troops were
men they had killed in the DAYS fight.
Most every one had killed q general 1t
was only occasionally that any one &C.
knowledged to killing colonel, and mono
killed q soldier Of less rank. 1t was so
dark that bad not been seen. and lay
down along the rail fence very low. l as
sure you. 1 was so exhausted and was suf-
fering 30 from my leg, which found was
badly hurt in the thigh. that l went to
sleep, When l awoke again l thought
Clay. who lived near, and with whose wife
and two daughters / was acquainted. l
knew they would conceal me. / walked
until came to a very dark woods to one
side of the road, and here. with the aid Of
the clear starlight. suddenly saw q white
horse. / looked more closely and
found that there was troop
of thirty or forty soldiers on horses. / saw
them unstrap their guns. and it occurred
to me that it was time to bring the sus-
pense. which was mutual. to an end. So l
cried out in @ loud voice, Who are your
The tone of command seemed to cow them.
and one soldier said in mild tone. We
are confederate soldiers; who are your Il
am federal officer. and wounded | said.
Then the same voice said. two or three
times. DO you surrender Do you sur
renderP Il might as WELL l said. for
everything / had to fight with was lost
several hours ago.
THE soldier with the white horse came
no TO me and led me back to the rest. They
gave me some water to drink and some to
pour upon my leg. which was very hot and
panied meIa great deal The soldier with
the white horse gave me his cedar canteen,
and think / never drank anything that
tasted so good. He pulled off my boot.
which proved to be full Of blood. That
night we slept in q cotton field. and. bein 9
the guest of honor, was given the position
In the center, with the men all around me-
The officer In command gave me his ru bier
blanket. Pretty soon the young man with
the white horse came up to me and said he
had brought rue his knapsack and blanket.
Il
said mast, that he had been detailed to
take care of the horses. and would not
need them. In the morning we went on to
Richmond. and 1 called upon Kirby Smith
He gave me the freedom of the town. While
about his headquarters. noticed that my
young friend of the night before was stand
ing around. and when he had an oppor-
tunity. he said to me:
General Manson. l knew you all the
time
knew me- said, how is that posi-
bleH Where did you ever see meP
Don't you remember he said. when
you were csmped. about Six months ago.
at Spring Hlll2 You placed q guard about
my mothers house and one about our milk
house. We were protected from the sol
diers By you.'
But what are you doing hereP said L.
'You were for the Union then.'
Yes was the reply. but when Mr..
Lincoln freed the slaves we all joined the
confederate army
II have often thought In connection with
this experience" continued the General.
''of the old Scripture truth, Cast thy
bread upon the waters and il shall return
TO you after many days If l had treated
that boys father and the others without
consideration. as had full power to do.
that boy would have killed me when he
found me on that dark night. That boy is
the writer of the letter have Just received
from Culleoka. He has written TO me
after thirty years have passed by"
The letter speaks Of the incident Of the
capture, and asks after the Generals
health. General Manson has dictated Q
letter IN reply in which he reviews the
story somewhat at length. and then con-
cludes with "a postscripr. The reference 70
the bloody shirt" was due to an express
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