The National tribune., 1893-11-16
ALMOST KEN IN.
Two Narrow Escapes of Cavalry Compa
in One Day.

Two Narrow Escapes of Cavalry Company
in One Day.
FDTToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: A few
days before the battle Of South Mountain,
our brigade Second Brigade, Second Divis-
| ion, Cavalry Corps was on picket along
the north bank of the Rapidan, in Virginia,
near White Sulphur Springs.
do not remember who at that time COM
manded the brigade, but Col Childs COM
manded the 4th Pa. Cav. / remember one
| evening three OF four of our companies were
| sent out to relieve like number of the Sd
| Pa Cav. About the time we arrived, or a
| short time afterward, our pickets were driven
| in or captured On every side of u.s. We
speedily found il was too dangerous every
| where. But we did not forget TO throw ont
| a small safeguard and the rest got down tp
inspect the commissary stores on hand,
after which we sought some repOse until
! morning.
When we awoke il was easy to see that
the Johnnies had the best end of the game,
and that they had us bagged like lot of
snipes.
Fer over au hour we watched the passing of
rebel artillery, cavalry, and infantry on the
other side Of the river about a stones throw
from us We were on a high bank, and
west of u.s. or nearly so, was a small river
bottom. A crossing had been made by
regiment or brigade of rebel cavalry.
Our force consisted of three companies of
the Sd Pa Cav, and three of our regiment,
all told about 500 men. very small man,
Major of the Sd. having very fine, femi-
nine voice in a high key, now took charge of
us, and said he guessed we were able for the
whole business.
He commanded us p. march frnnt fAaA
single line to the brow of the hill, and show
ourselves to the aforesaid rebels. There
was no firing by either party, and we for
about Is minutes had good view of the
Southrons.
They were soon in consultation-I mean
the Officers-as to the best method Of getting
our sorry squad. They saw our long front
line bristliDg with sabers, and they did not
know the number there might be behind
this body of horssmen.
In the meantime our little squeakiDg Ma
ior said he believed he had formulated
plan that would see us safely out of the
whole business for that time, SO we told
him to 20 ahead, as we were not, any of us,
quite ready yet to go to Libby. So he gave
command in whisper to right-face. for
ward mareh-which we did in close order.
After going about mile through the
brush and timber the column suddenly
halted. In front was one of those primitive
log houses and butternut of about 60 years
of age. The Major says:
"Old man, just get ON this horse and take
us cut of this tangle, for the rebels have us
surrounded. If you run us in among the
rebels / have ordered these two Sergeants 10
shoot you the first man. Now, Forward
March,"
have seen men scared in my day, Int
none worse than that old butternut. Even
his voice failed.
On we went, but took notice he guided
his horse certain direction and kept it mp
for about four miles, when our Major kindly
told the old gentleman he was at liberty to
return home; that he might sing or whistle
on his return, and if anyone questioned him
as to where he had been, to say he was hunt
ing up some lost cattle.
have often wished | knew the name of
that Major. Are not some of the boys now
living who could tell? / am sure he saved
us a trip to Libby.
After reporting to the reserve we were
ordered to station ourselves west of GER
tain read which ran north, and when we
heard firing to the south to recross the road
and make for the reserve as fast as Uncle
Sans horses could take US.
We reached the picket-line and staid
probably 10 minutes, when we heard the
firing, and knew we had to 90, and at no
snail's pace. When We reached the road
sight never TO be forgotten met our eyes.
Not 20 rods from us was the van of Lees
whole army. The road was full of rebels as
far as we could see, all shouting, yelling, and
cursing, and hallooing, Surrender, you
Yankee i"
We crossed the road amid a shower of bull
lets. The road ran down steep hill and
we went pell-mell to the bottom, the rebels
at our heels. Two of our men were left be-
bind. As we came TO the road one of our
boys stopped TO empty his carbine at the
rebels. In doing so lie was captured and
taken TO Libby sure enough, but he was
more lucky than most OF the poor fellows
who went there. After his return he said
they were marching along the wharf toward
Libby, and he saw one of onr exchange boats,
and he stepped right on with others who
were being exchanged. The second day
after he WAS in Washington, ID. c., and
ready to join the regiment again. This young
man lived near Franklin, Pa, and belonged
to Co. K, 4th Pa Cav. Can some comrade
tell his name2 1t was a bold manuver all
through.
The other man was A. Shuler, Co. X, 4th
Pa Cav. His horse fell near the foot of the
hill, and by great presence of mind he
jumped over the stone fence, lay close to the
other side, and the rebels failed to see him.
The rebels followed us until we reached
the reserve, which gave them few volleys
from their carbines that made them quite
sick, and they returned even a little faster
than they came.
There were IL Of us who made the race.
All this happened in one day. I was sure
several times we would be guests of Libby
Hotel.-W. q. YARD, Co. K, 4th Pa. Cav.