The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-06

silent, denuded and stained by win.
ter OF thawing and freezing, seemed de
serted Now the few mounted men
thrown to the front of the advance
guard were entering the ford.
Trot, march, was the command, as
Ash hurried his squadron forward to
share the shock with his leading men.
Many strong man in our command
prayed at thatmonent for Ash and his
| men. He had now gained q vantage
| position where, because of a turn in
the river above, he commanded view
of the interior of the confederate
breastworks. What he saw 10 one
could tell
But just then the enemy opened with
few scattering shots. and a whitening
volley followed. By motion rather
than command, Ash intimated to his
| squadron to seek cover, while he, bend
| ing forward on his horses neck, turned
| to the right and rode at a rapid gallop
along the river bank parallel to the
enemy's works, followed as he came
opposite each new part of the breast
works with volley after volley.
There seemed no hope Tor him, and
we watched with intense anxiety, ex-
I pectiug every moment to see horse and
rider go down. Yet both kept on amid
the storm of lead apparently unhurt-
That something must be done to help
him now was, L doubt not, the thought
in every ones mind.
Suddenly, as Ash reached another
part of his route, where his view of the
confederate lines was still more extend
ed, he raised his bat and waved it over
his head. 1t was signal of triumph.
Then occurred a scene which has not
been witnessed since the times of the
Joyous passages of arms in the age of
chivalry. To our amazement, the con-
gaIlantry, ceased to FIRE on the intrepid
horseman. Instead, they mounted on
their breastworks as thicEas they could
stand, and, throwing their hats in the
air, cheered him again and again, max
ing the valley echo with their shouts.
At this, Ash, taking in the situation
at once, refined up his horse, and, turn
ing toward the confedeTates. raised his
hat AID acknowledged their cheers with
a graceful salute repeated several times.
Then he turned and rode. leisurely into
our own lines, amid the cheers and APP
plause of his comrades-reechoed by
IL" confederates.
He had accomplished the work with
out II" .oss Of a man, and had seen
himself IA displayed 70 every one
else, fC! :arca E infantry manning
The coni~cA".s 7voE.as.
The whole a. air & < less time than
it takes t. reaa tnis h.l,v and i'm perfect
sketch; but thongi:t, G1I still think,
that II ,:a> he 'l-.vest ,:,ss,t,on the part
Of sn il.2ividuat that / witnessed.
Capt. Ash. 20 reporting ~ rue after
ward. stated rlAr hi> scheme of devel-
opiur *3e e1euY's Git.@ce Lad not oc-
CURED 70 him until he had reached the
brink Of the river. and found that the
enemy held 5heir works in force.
To 60 on meant certain death to
many Of his command To retreat in
the line OF direct fire would be equally
disastrous and the Inspiration to do
what he did, ride rarGly across their
line Of aim, and gradually obliquc out
of range suddenly seized him.
His risk was great and he knew it;
but it YVES better than anysother course
that presented itself TO his.mind. Men
u seconds under such cir
cumstaneeS th".:hought of hours, with
conclusion, notices. correctsshan those
attending more del Iteration.
True. 10 enc could have foreseen that
the excitement and rapid fire of the en-
envy would 50 far disturb their aim as to |
IL sure that the union officer should es-
-ag- urhurt: and still less could the eff !,
'a,:t q his intrepid conduct on the enemy |
ave been foretold.
Now. after the lapse of years, the |
'tr-y If this heroic deed appears almost |
fabulous. Then it seemed very real,
and all natural enough.
l need scarcely add that as we united |
with the confederates in cheering the
bold rider, our hearts went out to the
generous toe who so we'll appreciated a
gallant act, and so chivalrohsly &C
it We were then i'm
who has not beeno-with
he fact that, whether wearing the
yray or the blue. the true American sol
iier is worthy descendant OF the men
who made glorious the historysof chiv-
.lry.-Gen. Wesley Merritt, in Youths