The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-03

i belonged 10 JOhu morgan = cohlntllu,
and | am willing to bear the charge of vanity
il may bring on mo, by asserting that in no
place and in no army We're there soldiers
who were kept more continually on the move
or who did more promiscuous hustling than
ourselves.
Now that my memory is stirred to retro
spection, believe | could tlll a 'good-si2ed
book with the "reminiscences of individual
deeds Of daring that came under my own
notice, during four years of lighting; nor
would these descriptions be confined to the
men who, like myself, wore the grey and
gave their last efforts to The establishment Of
u Southern republic.
In the spring of 1862, We were in central
Tennessee. doing our level best to keep the
railroads, leading north, in need OF repair,
and making it unsafe if not impossible to
navigate the Cumberland when we were
Joined by Captain George ST. Leger Grentei.
Grenfel was an Englshman who had read
in his owp. country of Morgan's exploits, and
who determined to come out and join fortunes
with him.
was still in my teens, but never before or
sinuc have met more picturesque, daring,
or ideal soldier Of fortune than this same
George St. Legcr Grenfel. He had been in
the English, Turkish and Chinese service,
and short time before joining us, he had
served in South Africa, in the Cape Mounted
Rifles. He was captured on our raid into
Ohio, got mixed up in the Sort Douglas con
spirucy- ut Chicago, in 1864, was tried, and
sentenced to the Dry Tortugas for life, and
was drowned while trying to escape afterthe
war.
Being trained soldier, in the prime Of
life. about forty, and full of dash and energy
General. Morgan-then a colonel command
briaade-Was glad to meet him. andlap-
pointed. himahis acknowledgement. With'a
fullbearti, of mediumheight, raw -bonedsgrey-
Eeyed, strong as Il bull and alert as atiger,
Colonel Grenfel soon made his presence felt in
our brigade. His conspicuous courage and
seeming indifference to danger smade him u
tayorite with the troopers of the Blue Grass
Country, who at first did not take kindly to
the rigid discipline he sought in vain to en-
force. or to the arrogant bearing, that might
have passed with ordinary enlisted men, but
which would not down with young gentlemen,
who outside of matters military, regarded
themselves as the'peers of his MASTER the
Prince of Wales.
In August, September and October, 1862, we
wers'ba with Bragg in Kentucky, where we
hoped VIC should remain, ,but found ittOo'hot
to do so. We Kentuckians were sent here
there and everywhere, so that some did not
have a chance tovisittheir' friends. In early
Saptember we were ordered north to threaten
Covington, and make things as unpleasant as
possiblefor notwithstanding the'Ohio.
On the way, we struck .Cynthiana, between
! Lexington and Covington and here, to our
surprise, we backed up against a lot of Union
Kentucldans, under the command of General
Landrum.
Welsupposede there, were only a. few COM
panies present and that We couldride'oVer
! them rough shod, but they turned out to be
quiteas many as ourselves and just as eager
! for fight.
| The rattle Of mnsketry always transformed
i the impassive Colonel into demon, and the
roar Of artillery intoxicated him, buthe never
! lost his head. was standing bride in hand
near the Colonel, when our advance, came
Gathering back reporting Yankees in, front
/ tillyou can't rostl" On the instant, Colone
Grenfel ieaped into the saddle, and shouted
Mount men, and follow me!'
obeyed him, supposing tho hundreds o.
4 men about would follow our example, but &
backward glance, as we neared tho enemy'f
/ rifle pits, showed there were less than fifty
riders in the charge. We jumped tho pitt
! and broke upthemen in blue, but they quickly
! rallied and formed behind us. We DASHED
on, bat it was to lind stronger line in re-
serve, and artillery to the left.
Tho enemy was shouting Surrender +
! with uncomplimentary remarks as to oui
ancestry added, and the only possible ayenu'
4 Of escape was over high rail fence to til,
fright.
Again shouting" =" Follow me !" 'Grenfel leC
/ his horse at the fence, but it was too highftc
| lcap. Quicl, rs fash and.under terrtfl,
fire, no Hang himself from the saddle tori
down pannel, and called to us to go through
4 We we're quick to obey and make for our owl
/ lines. The ColoDers horse was killed bu
when no joined us, he wiped his bald brow
and said coolly; "Ah, my lads, that was {
deeyilish nawsty placoi"