Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-08-17
A WAR DUEL.

horses on the extreme left Of the Confed-
crate battle line at Gettysburg. The field
in their front was curtained with heavy
mist as If kindly nature had sought to
veil the appalling traces of the tragedy
there enacted. 1t had been sown with shot
and bladed thick with steel on the previ-
GUS afternoon, and the harvest of death
was ungathered lying in windows along
the chastity burrows that had been cut by
the red plowshare of war. The infantry
line stretched far away to the right, and
their gray uniforms blending with the
hazy atmosphere gave them very shad-
oTy appearance. Many Of the regiments
were indeed but shadows of what they had
been at noon on the preceding day. Some
were in line without even one commits
stoned officer, and others with but the nor
NAL strength of single company. For
example, as attested by the official record,
the Twenty sixth North Carolina entered
the battle with 800 rank and file, and, al
though none was captured, but 80 an
swered to their names at the close Of the
day. Colonel Henry r. Burgwyn, Jr.,
who commanded it, and all the field Off
GERS were killed. Captain H. G. Albright,
who had command of it after the battle,
was its only commissioned officer left I'M
wounded Company II Of the same regi-
ment went in with "a men and three OIL
GERS and came out with but one man
standing upon his feet, all the others hav-
ing been killed or wounded. knew the
sole unstricken survivor well. He was
Private John Secrest, robust young farm
er of Mecklenburgh county, n. G., and
1 regret to state that instead of being
grateful to Providence for having plucked
him as brand from the burning he
grumbled loudly over the loss Of one OF his
shoes, torn from his foot by grapeshot
that struck the heel while he was falling
back in good order.
The so squadrons Of borSo that were
awaiting orders in Q dreamy half sleep
were commanded by BrlEadtr General
Wade Hampton. He was tho beau ideal
of cavalry commands, Of tall, heroic
form, a superb horseman, brave and en-
terprising without being rash, and with
daring always tempered by sound Judg-
ment. He was unquestionably the strong
est man in the Confederate service and
the only one in either army who, enlisting
as a private soldier, rose to the rank of lieu
tenant general. But, although judi
cious commander, he was possessed OF
knightly spirit of adventure, and as adven-
lures come to the adventurous his bril-
liant military career was marked by many
thrilling personal experiences.
But brave heart is no buckler against
a steel blade, as General Hampton real
lied that morning Hearing bullet hiss
Just over his head, he turned his face to-
ward the belt of open woods on his left in
time to see the flash Of gun at point
about 300 yards away, and then he heard
another leaden messenger cut the air near
him. He at once rode at brisk trot in
the direction of the timber to find out the
early bird of a sharpshooter who thus
broke upon the quiet of the morning with
his shrill note of battle. When he had
ridden about 175 yards at right oblique,
he came to high stake and rider rail
fence Looking to the front he saw,
standing on large stump, some or D
feet in height, a soldier whose blue coat,
bound with orange colored braid, and pam
falcons with stripes of the same color on
the outer seams, indicated that he was a
United States cavalryman. He seemed to
be what the Scots term "braw lad, " and
although not engaged in a political CAM
DdlRu lltlNl JtlhIll OliO oObAAp1 NONDNANSH
that he might get better view of the Con-
federate troops on the elevated plateau
south of the woods.
The contour of the ground hid General
Hampton from his command when he
halted at the fence. AS he drew his pis-
tol the quick eyed skirmisher saw him, and
they both fired at the same instant The
ball from the soldiers ritled carbine splin-
tered rail near the horses head, and that
from Wade Hampton's A caliber revolver
made the bark fly from the stump. The
duel was clearly irregular, as there were
no seconds, and the principals were about
125 yards apart instead of 10 or 20 PAGES,
as prescribed by the code Of honor, and
| they were unequally armed, although each
was within far range of the others weap-
on. Hampton held his pistol muzzle up,
at a ready and courteously waited on his
antagonist, who threw back the lever OF
his carbine, and hinging out the empty
shell put in fresh cartridge.
Again the reports of the carbine and PTS
toll blended, and bullet passed through
Hampton's gray cavalry cape, grazing his
right breast.
The soldier then inserted third car
fridge, but could not close the breach OF
his rifle, the trouble evidently being that
the gun was foul, and hence the butt OF
the metallic case did not go in flush with
the socket He raised his right hand with
the palm to the front, as if to say to his
adversary, wait bit, I'll soon be with
you," and then drew his wiping rod, and
after driving out the stuck cartridge took
piece of rag from his pocket, and, wet
ting it with his tongue, attached 1t to the
slit in the rod and deliberately cleaned
out his carbine The delay sorely taxed
the patience of Hampton, as it would thai
of any gentleman who was kept waiting
to be shot at But he was as incapable Of
taking an unfair advantage OF his enemy
then as he was at Brandy Station, where
during the fiercest cavalry engagement o.
the war, he dashed up to Federal colone
to cut him down, but seeing that hi
sword arm was disabled saluted him in
ltead and passed on to seek another foe.
The high roosting cock Of the woods
soon relieved him by again opening fire
but at Hampton's return shot the carbint
fell from his grasp and he jumped down
and after picking it up with his left hanC
retired to the rear.
At that moment General Hampton re
ceived a blow on the back of his head tina
would have endorsed q less stalwart rider
He turned upon his assailant, who in
stantly wheeled his horse and fled at full
speed. Hampton followed quickly in pur
suit, his thoroughbred mare springing for
.r,ord ~ tho to,,oh Of tho cuI1r The flee