Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1896-09-18

I
Unable, from the character OF the
ground and the check sustained, to
form line aud advance, Col. Wi
Adams cody sat on his horse, sent the
captured guns to the rear drawn of by
his dismounted men, instructed as to
the disposition of the dead and wound
ed, and withdrew his command, leav-
ing the enemy in possession of the
road.
The Federal forces remained In
their position, doubtless satisfied With
checking the advance. po sibly not
strong enough TO pursue those in re-
treat. Their loss must have been
slight. Sabres were not crossed and
but few of the enemy seen during the
charge to fire upon with pistol or gun.
1t was hot place, and the position
or character of attack unknown to all
the participants, both rank and file,
who were hurried from the rear to the
front and hurled into cloud of dust
and smoke-it might be said, of dark
ness-upon an invisible enemy await.
ing them under cover. An ambuscade
could not have been more fatal. With
out personal reconnaissance the leader
executes the orders of his commanding
general.
The attacking column reversed, it
comes back with its trophies-two
guns, few prisoners--it dead and
wounded lying around and being cared
for, repassing what had been charged
over. Then was realized the strength
of the enemy's position as described,
and that the charge was made into the
very jaws of. Death, his uncanny
shadow overcasting all. Everyone
did his duty. The special mention OF
any for bravery is omitted.
The glory that all had won
Not dimmed by the naming of one.
Sergeant Major G. Lee Briscoe, of
Claiborne county, Mississippi, who left
home as corporal company A, Tensas
cavalry, had fallen wounded from his
horse, and when remounting, along
with his gallant roam, met death
beyond the cannon he had as
sisted in capturing, and by COL,
Writ Adams side. A mimic ball
had sung his sudden requiem
The loss in men and horses was heavy,
falling principally upon the Louisaua
squadron--that day marching in front
composed of company A, Tensas
cavalry and company F.. The former
commanded by Capt. A. Bondurant.
the latter by Capt. A. @. Cage.
Capt. A. Bondurant had horse
killed under. him and was himself
wounded in the foot.
Lieut.. Geo. Montgomery, company
A, Tensas cavalry, a veteran of the
Mexican war, was among the dead.
After SO long of time tue names OF
others who were killed and wounded
escapes the memory.
Gen. Armstrong continued his re-
treat by riding around the enemy's
position and avoiding other concentra-
ton of troops in the endeavor to cap
ture or inflict loss upon him ere cross
ing several large streams that had to be
forded and which rain might render
impossible.
At Britton's Lane, Col. Writ Adams
bestrode beautiful cream colored
mare, the property of Col. Slemon's of
Arkansas, who commanded regiment
in the same brigade. The two colonels
had exchanged horses tempo. arily that
day. The beautiful animal came out
of action with blood streaming from
her nostrils, caused by a wound in her
head, which she tossed gaily as she
champed the bits, proundly bearing
her valorous rider. Col. Slemons rode
up, congratulated Col. w rt Adams on
his gallant leadership and miraculous
escape from death, and saying, "Such a
charge to the cannon's mouth and
beyond with horse shot in the head
under the rider would give me q seat
in congress from any State we're / the
man when the war is over" The war
over Col. Slemons and his gallant
record in defense of his State was re-
membered and an Arkansas constitu-
ency elected him to represent them in
congress although not riding the cream
colored mare Britton's Lane with a
bulletin her head and flowing blood
from her nostrils.
Another incident worthy Of mention
'evincing the faithful performance of
duty by the negro servant who accom-
panied his owner to the war, occurred
at Britton's Lane. Private Jim r.
Ogden, company A, Tensas cavalry,
first fours in the charging column, had
his horse killed under him, ridden over
and crushed, was left to fall into the
hands of the enemy, he being thought
past recovery, adiagnosis in which the
foe agreed, for they failed to capture
and parole one 30 near dead.
Jack Carraway, Ogdcns faithful
servant, sought him out, remained
with him at private house, where ht
took him and nursed him. When saf
fciently recovered assisted in evad.
ing the federal outposts and
brought him safely into regiments
camp near Holly Springs, Miss.
whence Ogden was furloughed home t.
recuperate and secure remount. Jacl
Csrrawsy was disabled by rheumatism
and moves around on two crutches un'
able to make living. He now draw
a so-called Confederate pension from
the State Of Mississippi for his fsitLf /
services in the field, as sttested by par
ticipsnts in the charge at Britton'
Lane and those familiar with the fact