St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-18
THRILLING STORY OF THE WAR.
Daring Young Confederate Whom 6
Companion Would like to Meet.

THRILLING STORY OF THE WAR.
A Daring Young Confederate Whom q
Companion Would Hike to Meet.
'Longstreet has been hammering us all day
long, sending one brigade after another up
against our ine"-so he was reported eleven
years ago by Colonel Frank A. Burr, fwho died
over in Philadelphia few days ago. in an in
terview published in the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Next to the 3Sth Ohio Infantry, my regiment,
the 2lst Ohio Infantry, was the largest in the
army of the Cumberland that day-it was the
Goth day Of September, 1868, and the scene
was Chickamauga. We had 541 men and 16
commissioned officers as very well remem-
Der, for acted as adjutant besides command
ing two companies) for several weeks after
the battle. But on the morning of September
list we could muster on the slopes of Mis-
sionary Ridge near Rossville, only 27O men,
counting those we knew were in hospital, and
commissioned officers
The reason why we were able to hold the
hill against Longstreet's brigades flor we were
detached from our division early in the day
and fought, all alone, without the sight of a
man who ranked our Lieutenant Colonel who
commanded US, till late in the afternoon) was
because seven of our companies were armed
with Colts revolving rifles-each could be
loaded in all its five chambers as quickly as
an Enfeld-while the other three companies
were made up of men quite expert with their
always reliable Enfields
The result was that when Longstreet's men
had received our first volley they always
rushed forward with great accession of
speed and confidence thinking they would be
on to us before we could reload. But they
would scarcely pass ten PAGES before they
would catch another volley and while they
were turning this over in their minds we would
let THEM have third This was felt to be quite
peculiar circumstance, requiring delibera-
ton, better conducted perhaps back in the
rear and out of range-for it generally hap
pened that with the third volley the Johnnies
had come to dead halt and were beginning
to take the back track, which they no longer
hesitated about when they got the fourth and
by the time we sent them the fifth our balls
flew after flying foes.
AS we had peculiar ammunition it hap
pened-it had to happen, being one of those
things that always do nappen-that along
about noon somebody ordered the wagon in
which our cartridges were hauled to the
rear. We found, however that if we kept the
bayonet on the gun to prevent the splitting
of the muzze, we could use the Enfield cart
ridge, even if the ball was little DIT larger
than those made especially for the Colts
rifle.
And 'as fast as men using the revolvers
were disabled or killed some one would swap
his Enfield for the better piece, so that at last
nearly every man in our line was equal to
five, so far at least as his shooting was con-
cerned. Under the circumstances it was not
remarkable that late in the afternoon we ran
out Of ammunition. I don't know how any
body found it out or who it was that gave
the order but about that time two regiments
came up the hill from the rear to relieve US.
We were sent down, just far enough to be out
of range, and lying down to rest began to
reckon up the sad havoc in our ranks. We
had not been at it very long, however, till
word came for US TO gather up those of our
men who still had ammunition and take them
up to The front to fight it out. L had three or
four in my company and went with them.
We had not been there long before we be-
came aware of the DID, familiar spectacle the
long line of Confederates coming up the hill
to the charge. Just as they got to the right
place, in good range of our rifles, all at once
and to come leaping up the hill towards US
swinging his hat over his head as he came
When he got near enough we could hear him
shouting cease firing" while the brigade
followed him with steady step, the men car
rying their pieces at a right shoulder shift.
At last the messenger reached our lines
and was taken to the commanding officer
who he was never learned definitely. Here
he explained his errand. He said that the
Johnnies coming up the hill wanted to sur
render and asked US to cease firing in order
that they might do so. The Colonel ques-
toned him sharply, but at last, satisfied that
he was telling the truth, gave the order and
instantly everything became STILL save for the
distant firing, which by this time had be-
come very irregular off on our left, and the
noise made by the marching Johnnies as they
waded through the thick underbrush. re-
member that the sound was like that of the
wind playing through field of ripe wheat.
Meantime the messenger came or was
brought, don't know which, near to where
Lieutenant Lamb, of my regiment and were,
with our men. He was ataI young fellow, clad
in "butternut % and slim and 1.-THE as a hound
quick and courteous in his movements and
gestures, handsome and of good presence.
He lay down at the foot of a tree, having it,
l observed, between him and his advancing
comrades. His quick eyes darted about con-
stantly, taking in everything that was hap
pening and they glowed with an evident en-
joyment of the situation.
And still the Johnnies came steadily on
with their pieces at a right shoulder shift,
and some one made the remark that if they
wanted to surrender they ought to lay down
their arms. Lamb observed that the thing was
a trick, that the Johnnies didn't intend to sur
render, and turning to his men ordered them
to follow him back to the regiment. Iobserved
the young Johnnie as his piercing gaze rested
for a moment on Lamb with, thought CLEAN
of amusement in his eyes, which forthwith
ahead
Lambs move had upon the rest. But except
that gathered my men together and fol-
lowed Lamb, everybody stood with his mouth
open, stupidity gazing at the oncoming Con-
feds. At last, just as we reached our regi-
ment, some one sang out: If you want to
surrender lay down your arms p and some
body else replied: go to hell, you Yankee
-" yoliey followed, and then another,
crashing and roaring through the wooded
hills, there was the rush and scramble of
many feet, sharp cries, orders, oaths, shrieks
and calls of dismay, and the two regi-
ments came pihng, panic-striken down the
hilli
The chaSrined commander who had been
made the victim of the shallow artifice or
dered our Irish major to charge up the hill
with the 21st and retake it; and we poor
devils, less than 200 in number with only
against that brigade three times, and
reckon would have been at it yet if somebody
hadn't told Micky to stop.
But never heard anything more of the
daring young Confederate. I would like to
meet him, to talk the thing over.
WILSON VANCE.
reward of $500 has been offered for
good national song to take the place of Hail
Columbia, Yankee Doodle and the Star
la5 Ropn Suon