Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-23
PROVED HIS COURAGE.
The Remarkable Act of a Federal
Omcer Accused of Cowardfce.

rhe remarkable Act of a Federal
Omcer Accused of Cewardice.
From the Bowling Green Democrat.
War times and adventures was the bur-
oen OF the conversation among a half dozen
veterans OF the civil war the other day.
war stories are always entertaining, and
each one or this party was ready with some
recital Of a deed of daring. a clever nice.
OF strategy, tough-luck experiences. or the
grimly humorous side of some dangerous
predicament.
u have read many stories" said one of
the old soldiers. ''of individual exhibitions
OF bravery during the war. but witnessed
a duel between two officers or high rank
that had read IL would have believed a.
the product Of Imagination"
Tie veteran was a great story teller. and
the party into which the reporter had in
truded settled down prepared for something
interesting.
During the early days OF the war" said
the old warrior. the federals, who had al
ready driven the rebels from southern Ken
lucky, were much troubled down IN Chris
tan county by a Col Woodward. who. I
oeneye, lived near Lafayette, in that conn
". de was In the habit Of visiting his
nome with a small party of skirmishers.
anu ne always carried away with him a
lumber a,aun OF horses and supplies. The raids
Il
euoacity, and Woodward was = thorn In
the SIDE OF the Union forces In charge of
o enat territory. number OF northern off,
GERS, noted for their sagacity and COURAGE.
were Entrusted with the task OF canturin9
or kliing Woodward, but he was too much
LoI tnen- Inc southern sympathizers of
s mnen mere Were many in the vicinity.
ereatiy enjoyed all these fruitless efrorts
70 enc the career of the audacIous rebel
ana the Union officers were exasperated
ns,.h the sm-coneeaied amusement of tho
Finally a Major Brackett-r tb,,t n.
was from northern Ohio-volunteered 10 nut
an END TO the depredations of Woodwsrd
~ some means he learned that the confed-
crate, with small force. would visit La
iayette one night. and an elaborate plan for
ms capture was arranged Soon enough
sne raider put In an appearance, as had
been expected, and Major Brackett thourht
his game was at last corraled. waoSwsre
was at last surrounded. as Major Brack-
EFT thought. and the signal was given 10
tne Union men to close in. They did so,
but just as they thought the game was up
for the rebel they were suddenly attacked
from several quarters simultaneously and
REORGANIZATION ensued- Major Brackett
swore and fumed. and the whole force ned
peiimen. carrying the commanding officer
with them They went at wild mace
through Lafayette. followed by the jeertng
taunts OF the southern sympathizers
O, !, lnSuen no one had the temerity TO say
IL 70 his face, Major Bracket felt that he
was regarded as a coward. and he was
naturally exasperated. 1t developed later
mat Woodward's force had been greatly In
Lerlor, numerically. to that of Brackett,s
Consequently he had to submit to a deal OF
chaffing from his brother officers and be-
ing OF a sensitive nature, II hurt him more
man ne would acknowledge. He seemed
70 think that his reputation for personal
courage had suffered. and he was ali but
frantic for an opportunity to prove that he
was no coward Bracket was soon after
assigned for duty In the neiehborhood Of
Memphis. where he did good work. but moth
ing. as he thought to repair his shattered
lone day, however. the ionged-ror oppor-
| tunity came. At the head Of q skirmishine
party he was quietly marching down the
road when suddenly he came upon a similar
party or confederates. The unexpected
meeting threw both parties into confusion.
and before either had chance to form for
a tight Bracket ordered his men to re-
main quiet and rode forward It was a re-
markable course and I believe. without q
challenged the commanding oficer Of the
rebels to a personal conflict
TT happened that the rebel officer was
| Major Valentine. whose home was in Men,
phis He was one Of Forests men, and
had a reputation as q man of aggressive
personal daring He was surprised at the
unusual challenge. but he immediately ac-
Of their c comm n awo oSeps; N pain sieS
other with drawn sabers. They went az
each other like knights of old. and q thrill
ing ing duel followed. The horses turned.
fly. The sabers Kissed viciously. Blood was
drawn on both sides. The officers charged
again. Bracket made q savage cut at VAL
entine. who lodged. The oficers charged
again. The rebel officer made a backward
cut as he passed. and the blade struck
Bracket square across the back Of the
neck. His head dropped to one side he
reeled and fell from his horse. They picked
him up. but he was dead. The blow had
| broken his neck. He had proved his cour-
| age, but he died in the attempt. They bur-
| led him by the roadside. and the two forces
| withdrew without firing a shot. 1 was with
| Valentines force. and / never witnessed q
| similar fight and never hope 70 do So"