The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1894-06-01
TALES OF THE WAR.
INCIDENT OF CAVALRY CHARGE
ON THE HIAWASSEE.

ON THE HIAWAssEE.
How a Brave Confcderatc's Life was
Saved by the Breaking OF His Saddle
Glrths-What Might have Happened
had There been "Checse Knives" for
Two.
"A cavalry CHARGE said John Sexton, a
well known member of Typographical union,
No. 1, sis more in the nature of personal
duel than anything else. / belonged to the
Fifth Ohio cavalry and have vivid remcm-
brance of charge made at Charleston, East
Tennessee, in the winter Of 1868. The Ohio
cavalry brigade, composed Of the First, Third,
Fourth and Fifth regiments, under command
of Col. Long, were scattered from Chattanoo-
ga to Knoxville, guarding bridges and carry
ing dispatches. -Four or five companies of the
brigade were stationed Mt Charleston, on the
Hiawassee river. guarding the bridge ut that
point. Early one morning the pickets were
driven in by Gen. Wheeler's cavalry, who
had come up during the night from Dalton,
Ga. The object was to capture u wagon train
ON its way to Knoxville. The train was
guarded by thousand or SO of convalescent
soldiers on their way to join their regiments
in Sherman's army.
'The fighting between the Confederates
and our infantry began early and was kept up
until well in the afternoon without decisive
results. Meanwhile the wagon train was
hurried across to the east side of the river as
fast as possible. When the last wagon was
across, the cavalry bugle sounded to form in
colelnn of tours. then knew our trouble
was to commence. The six companies form
ed and proceeded in walk through the town
toward the enemy. Wheeler's command, at
this time, was stretched across the small val
ley, fighting on foot. In cavalry, when fight
ing on foot. every fourth man holds four
horses and they are kept well in the rear AS
we reached our infantry line, it opened and
fell back, thus giving us clear field.
1.-The command then came to DRAW sa- |
bers,' and Immediately after the bugle sound |
ed, Right front into line We came into line
in first class shape. The bugle sounded again |
and commanded 'trot' and shortly afterwards |
'gallop, and we went for the 'rebs' with
cheer. As we Numbered down upon them
their line never wavered, and could hear
their officers crying, STEADY, men; steady
When within 70 or 100 yards, the rebel Off
GERS gave the command, Fire
"When heard that word, shut my eyes,
and when opened them again found was
lnhurt. After firing they rushed back and
mounted their horses. But we were among
hem, and it was every man for himself. |
vas riding spirited little mare and she be-
came so excited that could hardly control
Ter. Right in front of me was tall, lank
Confederate cavalryman, who was doing his
evel best to get to the rear. rode at him
With the exclamation, Surrender, you
'ebel.' For answer he turned in his saddle
md fired small pistol, the bullet from which
did not even hear. During this time we
we're racing side by side. When within strik-
ng distance, raised myself in the stirrups
nd struck il blow at him with my sabre. He
aw it coming, threw himself on the side of
lis horse and thus saved his head from being
pitt open. Being excited, nearly endorsed I
myself by the force of the blow.
II rode again up on his left side and called
n him to surrender. He politely told me to
90 to HI tented at him, down he went I
gain, and as he rose | struck with all my
orce at his head. He saw the blow coming,
brew up his left arm and caught the sabre
troke there. Still he would not surrender.
then made up my mind to kill him. Pac-
Y my sabre ell carte that is, placing the {
lit firmly at my side-I rode at him, with the
ltention of passing it through his body. He
aw his danger, and as the point of the sword
early touched him, he again lodged by going
own the side of his horse. But this time he
yent once too often. The belly band gave
Tay and himself and saddle tumbled into the
lud. AS we were going at racing speed, it
ias some little time before / could stop my
larc. When turned / found him coolly
ting on his saddle, with apparently no
'Ouble on his mind said, you internal
Dol, why didn't you surrender! You came
ear being killed.
We'll, Yank, / didn't care about going to
Yankee prison. But l tell you, If had had I
cheese knife like yours, would have made =
mighty warm for you.' 4
''The bugle sounded the recall. We had
hipped Wheeler badly, taken number of
risoners and four small cannon, besides in
citing heavy loss in killed and wounded. 4
ok my prisoner back to camp, had his =
ound dressed, divided my meat and coffee 4
18th him and then parted forever from one
the bravest men | had ever seen.-Indan- n
,olis journal.