The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-06-14

intent on keeping US in ignorance of
their numbers, and determined to make
us pay heavily for information.
The anxiety was intense. We knew
when the enemy opened fire at short
range that the loss would be great, and
all felt that the advance guard must be
the first and greatest sufferers.
Ash with his small command moved
on. The works in front, gloomy and
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 GU" command
prayed at that moment for Ash and his
men. He had now gained vantage
position where, because of Il turn in
the river above, he commanded view
of the interior of the confederate
breastworks. What he saw no one
could tell.
But just then the enemy opened with
a few scattering shots. and 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 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 for him, and
we watched with intense anxiety, eX-
pecting every moment to see horse and
rider go down. Yet both kept on amid
the storm of lead apparently unllurt.
That something must be done to help
him now was, / 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 hat and waved it over
his head. 1t was signal of triumph.
Then occurred 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-
federates, moved by admiration for his
gallantry, ceased to fire on the intrepid
horseman. Instead, they mounted on
their breastworks as thick as 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 confederates raised his
hat and acknowledged their cheers with
a graceful salute repeated several times.
Then he turned and rode leisurely into
our own lines, amid the cheers and ap'
plause of his comrades-reechoed by
the confederates,
He had accomplished the work with
out the loss of man, and had seen
! himself, and displayed to every one
else, a full force of infantry manning
the confederate works.
! The whole affair took less time than
! IL JtlhtS w INdll lillS lltioll anu
sketch; but thought, and still think
| that it was the bravest deed on the part
! of an individual that / ever witnessed
Capt. Ash, in reporting to me after.
ward, stated that his scheme of devel
oping the enemy's force had not oc'
Cured to him until he had reached the
brink of the river, and found that the
enemy held their works in force.
To 60 on meant certain death tc
many of his command. To retreat IL
the line of direct fire would be equally
disastrous; and the inspiration to dc
what he did, ride rapidly across theil
line of aim, and gradually oblique on
of range, suddenly seized him.
His risk was great and he knew it
bat it was better than any other course
that presented itself to his mind. Mer
accomplish in seconds under such cir
cumstances the thought of hours, will
conclusions not less correct than thos
attending more deliberation.
True, no one could have foreseen tia
the excitement and rapid fire of the en-
envy would so far disturb their aim as Il
insure that the union officer should es
cape unhurt; and still less could the eli
feet of his intrepid conduct on the enem.
have been foretold.
Now, after the lapse of years, tn
story of this heroic deed appears almos
fabulous. Then it seemed very real
and all natural enough.
need scarcely add that as we unite
with the confederates in cheering tn
bold rider, our hearts went out to tn
generous foe who SO well appreciated
, gallant act, and so chivalrously az
knowledged it: We were then in
pressed-and who has not been?-wit
, the fact that, whether wearing tn
gray or the blue, the true American so
der is worthy descendant of the me
who made glorious the history of chiV
alry.-Gen. Wesley Merritt, in Youth
| Companion.
, Insuring Cool Summer.
He had been seeking Office, but W;