New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1894-02-14

tucky, which I think the most thrilling
ly daring incident of the war, and I am
glad of the opportunity to keep it from
sinking into oblivion.
In November, 1868, two divisions of
the Ninth corps We're besieged in Knox
vile, East Tennessee, by Gen. Longstreet.
I was in the besieged city at the time
with a company of thsmounted cavalry.
The weather was bitterly cold, rations
were reduced and uncertain, and there
was pretty general feeling that if relief
did not soon reach us from Chattanooga,
we would be starved into a surrender.
It will BE remembered that Immediate
ly after the battle of Missionary Ridge
Gen. Sherman was ordered to march north
with all speed and relieve Burnside, and
it was all important that Burnside should
know that relief was coming. After
much searching a man was found who
knew the country as we'll as if he had
built it. and who was ready to carry the
news of coming help to the beleaguered
garrison.
A brave heart, a good horse and fine
roads we're desirable, but the first of
these Was the only necessity Sergeant
James Owens, Of theFirst Kentucky, had.
All the horses were reduced to skeletons,
and the roads were frightful. In addi-
ton to these drawbacks, the scout must
travel in disguise, for to venture outside
the Union lines in the regular uniform
would have been sort of suicide. Owens
must 60 as Confederate. He was as
intelligent as he. was brave, and so knew
that this was an undertaking on which
even the commander-ln- chief himself
could not order him; yet, for the good
of the cause. he volunteered promptly,
as soon as he learned what was needed.
Wheeler's, Wharton's and Moryan's
Confederate cavalry swarmed in the
country over which Owens must ride.
Gle dove in without a moments hesita-
ton" alone,a land after this was successful
ly done, there were the well-guarded
lines of Longstrect, which must be passed
hofnpo l. ic
Once outside the Union lines, the SER
geant was Confederate in appearance,
but spy, with halter awaiting him if
detected.
He kept away from the direct roads,
representing to the casual bands he met
up with that he was on his way to Join
Longstreet. After travelling constantly
for thirty hours his horse dropped under
him, and he shot the poor creature to
put out him of misery: then he resumed
his journey on foot.
Just at daybreak on the morning of
Nov.2S was in command of the pickets
along the Holston river, when I was
startled by hearing yells and shots on
the other side where the enemy's pickets
had been ve,y quiet. While I was wond-
ering what the uproar meant I could see
in the instinct light man running like
a deer for the river, while lot of other
men on foot, and few mounted, were
speeding after him, and firing as they ran.
Ny first impression was that the fugi-
tive was one of the enemy who had been
in the act of deserting
to our lines. But be that as it might
the fact that they were trying to
kill him was to US sufficient reas-
on for trying to save him, and, on the
instant, we opened fire OF the pursuers.
Straight for the river the man
headed, the shouts and the shots in
creasing. He reached the bank, but un-
heading the swollen, ice-covered current,
he dove in without an instant's hesitation.
BY this time our firing had called out
the nearest regiment, and over the head
of the daring swimmer our rifles opened
on the. enemy, who, instead Of returning
our fire, still directed their attention to
fugitive. H.. s...'..
The bullets cut, and splashed, and
ricocheted about him, and it seemed that
he must be killed before he reached our
side. He was about a hundred feet from
the bank when he slddenly stopped and
threw up one hand. On the instant two
men leaped in and hurried to his aid.
They brought him to the shore with
his left arm broken. He was carried out
Of fire, looking like a dying man, but in
spired by his purpose Owens, before he
tainted, had the strength to reveal h1m-
self, and to cheer the troops atKnoxville