Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-09-06

tllat seemed oil around us, we thought
1t best to turn back, and as we reached
the road-where l said to Rogers 1--WE
will 90 through that piece of woods te
our right and save a miles travel on
our return'-we saw at q glance that
during our absence the rail fence on
either side of the road had been taken
down and thrown crosswise into the
road In such manner as to prevent ar.
tillery from coming up this road.
The ROAD up the hill was very ir.
regular, being for the most part
Of the way comprised Of slate
rock which was quite rough.
Rogers said to me as we crossed
the road: "There is q nice blanket on
the other side"-some one had stolen
my blanket off my pack mule the
night beforehand as ! supposed the
battle would soon be over and we re-
turn to our camping ground, ! rode
back, reached down from my horse,
picked up tho blanket and rode across
the road to where Rogers was await
ing me- Ny horse had just come
abreast with his when from the woods
to our left and not five hundred yards
away came volley Of bullets. A COM
pany OF confederates were behind an
old fence in the woods, and they emp
tied their guns at us-thc bullets came
thick. My horse at the time seemed to
have more good sense than |, for in
stantly he wheeled and started on
dead run down the road. Just then
another shower of bullets came.
threw myself lengthwise on my horse,
my right arm over my horses neck
while he plunged down that ledgy
road over those rails, We were under
fire Of the confederates, who seeing
that the first volley did not stop us
continued to pour into US. The dis
lance Of that opening in the woods
was about an eighth Of q mile that we
had to ride, My horse was running
with all his might while the bullets
went under and over him--I expected
every moment he or would be shot
and equally did | expect every mo-
ment that he would be tangled in the
fence rails and thrown. We had COW
cred about one-half the distance in the
opening when | heard Rogers hello
behind me and expected he was shot.
Looking back over my horses name
| saw his horse coming with all
his might and Rogers clinging
to him. felt II he could only hang
on to his horse he would bring him
through My horse was going at such
speed down that ledgy road and over
those rails it would have been an i'm
possibility for me to have stopped him.
lle seemed maddened by the zip, zip Of
the bullets rs they came under and
over us. The road, do not think, had
over been Travelled much, IT seemed
more Of wood road, seldom used. At
any rata, there was o big cottonwood
tree just in the edge Of the woods,
about three feet in diameter, and To-
Gated, 1t seemed to me, right In the
middle Of the road. My horse was 60
Ing with such speed 1t seemed to Inc
that he surely must dash his brains out
against the tree, but as we reached 1t
he veered little to one side. l threw
my right leg on top Of his back, anl
his side just grazcd If as we went Oh
On reaching the cover of the wood,
my horse seemed TO understand and
slackened his speed. threw myself
into the saddle and refined him In. !
saw In the woods a number of our In
fantry sitting down by the trees eat
Ing hard.tacl, sung out to them
"Boys, get out Of here The Johnniei
are right onto youp'--and you ought
to have seen those boys get up and
get. Just then we came through the
woods where I met an officer with
squad OF men, lie called us 1 came out
of the woods and asked: "What is the
meaning Of all this firing?" replied
to him that the Johnnes were right
on to us. lie said why | have or.
dcrs to take a dispatch to the left, can
! get through" said mo, unless you
want to be killed or captured. lie re.
piled, Il dare not go back, must obey
orders" l told him to send one OF his
men with me and that | would take
him to Col. Smith for orders But now
comes the curious part of this fearful
ride-a ride which | shall never forget
rs long as life lasts, and ride the
like Of which would not take again
Tor all the inducements man could offer.
attribute the saving Of my life to my
stopping to pick up that blanket, had
not stopped for that we should have
rode directly into the enemy's lines,
Tor they, as ! learned after, occupied
The woods through, which | had in.
ended to pass; and further, when the
tide was over md had raised into my
saddle, ! found .hc blanket was In my
light hand and that had held on To 1t
through all that desperate ride.
hen threw II down On reaching our
'ayalry saw the Johnnies come out
VI the woods and plant their colors in
he open field Just taen Cen Gregg
,rcncd his batteries On them and they
disappeared under cover of the woods
M n " KAUFMAN In Iowa Stafa