Omaha daily bee., 1894-01-03

DIhChbJU was soon after assigned lOr
duty in the neighborhood of Memphis,
where he did good work, but nothing, as
he thought, to repair his shattered ropu-
tation. One day, however, the longed-for
opportunity came. At the head of a
skirmishing party he was quietly march
ing down the road when suddenly he
came upon q similar party of cUnfcder-
atos. The unexpected meeting threw
both parties into confusion, and before
either had n chance to form for fight
Brackett ordered his men to remain
quiet and rode forward. 1t was II re-
remarkable course and. | believe, without
a parallel in the history of the war, but
he challenged the commanding officer Of
the robels to a person conflict.
st happened that the rebel officer
was Major Valentine, whose house was in
Memphis. He was one of FORESTS men,
and had Il reputation rs a mar OF agrees
sive personal daring. He was surprised
at the unusual challenge, but he immedi-
ately accepted, and the two officers, in
plain view Of their commands, galloped
toward each other with drawn sabers.
They went at each other like
knights of old and a thrilling
duel followed. Tho horses turned.
derful rapidity. The sabers Kissed vic
iously. Blood was drawn on both sides.
h officers charged again. Bracket
made u savage cut at Valentine, who
lodged. The officers charged again.
The rebel officer made a back WARD 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 ne was dead. The
blow had broken his neck. He had
proven his courage, but he died in the
attempt. They buried him by the road
side, and the two forces withdrew with
out firing a shot. | was with Valentines
force, and / never witnessed a similar
fight and never hope to d oso."
Ate Fishbarl crow.
George Birdsall, Andrew Peasley,
Jack Perry and Peter Larkin consti-
tuted a rough-and-ready quartet, con-
tributing largely to the boisterous ole
ment of life on the ComstOck early in
the Cos They had been New York fire
men, and were prominent in the organi-
zation and management of the volunteer
fire department of Virginia City, says
the San Francisco Call. They were also
connected at intervals with the police
department, and assisted in the develop
ment of many of the wildcat mines in
the neighboorhood. They were cool,
courageous and loyal to their friends,
but abrupt to their enemies, and not al
ways considerate Of the rights of others
when in their humorous or exhilarated
moods. All of them have passed to the
final accounting, Perry, the last of the
four, dying in San Francisco three or
four years e
Birdsall was a large, handsome man,
with a ready and grasping wit and Il
measureless fund of paralyzing invec-
tive at his command. He could almost
stop u clock with profane abuse Of it in
words. At the breaking out of the re-
bellion he and his companions developed
into staunch union men and were danger
ously fncensed at the slurs cast at the
New York fire zouaves by rebel sympa-
thizers after the first battle of Bull Run.
Among the most reckless of the south
erners on the Comstock was Tom An
drews, who openly expressed his graft
tication at the rough handling of the
fire Zouaves by his confederate friends.
One morning Tom strobe maiestically
into a restaurant on Q street, Virginia
City, and discovered Birdsall breakfast
ing on Goldfish balls. With q sheer at
the dish and u remark that no gentle
man would eat the Yankee compound,
Tom seated himself at an adjoining
table and ordered his breakfast. A few
I minutes ldItI llItIStll olNcIcu ullobliSl
plate of Goldfish balls and quietly and
smilingly took a seat at Toms table.
Being served, over the Goldfish Re poured
half q pot of mustard and about the
same quantity of salt and cayenne pep
per, he slowly mixed the mass, while
Tom was buttering his watfles and fur
lively glancing at the strange proceed
ing. Then, with one hand showing the
frey and nauseating mess under Toms
nose across the table, and with the other
drawing u s~iX-shooter. Birdsall CURLY
said: Eat it, Tomm
Tom put his hand behind him.
Don't try to pull your gun, Tom" re-
marked Birdsall in a low voice, levelling
his revolver. ''If you do I'll fill you full
of holes"
"Hou've got the.drop on me, George"
said Tom, withdrawing his hand from
the handle of his pistol.
"You can bet your life / have, and
that | will play it for all it's worth re-
| piled Birdsall, with a look that meant
mischief. ''Ill make you either a corpse
or a Yankee before you get out of your
seat. Eat, and be quick about it,"
but George.'
EAT was the only response.
Tom thought best to comply, and with
tears in his eyes and vows of vengeance
! in his heart proceeded to choke down u
part of the abominaLle mixture.
''Therc, that will do, Tom" said
Birdsall, rising from his sea You
needn't eat any more OF the Goldfish un-
less you have learned TO like it," and he
left the restaurant fully expecting his
victim to follow him, pistol in hand.
But the affair ended without bloodshed.
Tom left Virginia City two days after
for Phoebe and never returned to the
Comstock.
Lew Wallace ON shiloh.
When asked if he saw General Grant
on Sunday night after his arrival at
Pittsburg Landing, General Lew Wal
lace replied; mo, [ had my orders to
take my position on tho right of his
army and did so, The following morn
ing General Grant rode out to ;my divis-
ion and / asked him If he had any spe.
cial orders to give me as to the manner
! in which | should open the fight, and he
said only to move out in that direction
moving his hand toward the rebels, and
to use my own Judgment after that
did he tell You Buell's army had ar
rived and was then on the tield?'
mo, / did not know that Buell. had
arrived until after dinner, when | saw
the troops OF my left wayer as though
they were going TO break and stampede.