The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-24


route: but, wishing to gain still more
information without requiring the es-
cort to make a long detour, he directed
them to return 10 their station by a
shorter route, while he himself went
by more circuitous way. Before he
could rejoin his command he was dis
covered by a troop of Confederate cav
airy on reconnaissance similar to his
own. The commanding officer, seeing
that he was unaccompanied, immedl-
ately gave chase, and a rapid pursuit
followed. The Union officer was but
eighteen years of age, he was well
mounted and a light rider. and thought
| ne had a fair prospect of escape, es-
pecially as. in his opinion, his horse
could outfoot the troop of Confederate
cavalry.
The Confederate commander, how
ever, was mounted on a powerful thor
oughbred, and, soon leaving his troop
well in the rear, gained rapidly on the
young officer. AS they struck into a
we'll beaten road, it was evident that
! it was a race for life. The young off,
Ger seeing that the other, who had
lett his troop far in the rear, gained
upon him resorted to a strategem to
| effect his escape.
Coming to a sharp turn in the road,
| he passed for a moment completely out
! VI SlSIl, anu wheeled IN DenlnQ some
thick evergreen trees. Springing from
! the horse, he waited with cool deter
mination the approach of the Confed-
crate officer. AS the latter swept round
the turn of the road, the union officer
fired upon him, rolling him in the dust.
Then springing upon his own horse
again, he seized the bride of the con-
federate charger, whirled round to-
wards the union lines, and swept back
over the few miles that separated him
from them. His own forces, who had
awaited his return with much anxiety,
were much relieved when he dashed
up to them leading the captured charg-
er. This is but one of the many des-
perate encounters which characterized
the great war
AN ACT OF GREAT DARING.
Another act of great daring was OBJ
served at Malvern hill. This was the
closing battle of that campaign known
as the seven days before Richmond"
where the siege of Richmond was
raised, and Mcclellan changed his base
of operations from the York river to
the James. There had been six days
desperate fighting, in which both con-
tending armies sustained severe losses,
but in the end the ground was held by
the confederate forces, and the gradual
retreat of the federal forces toward
the James river was the result On the
afternoon of July l, 1862, the army of
the Potomac had taken position on the
strategic ground of Malvern hill-a
very strong position, overlooking the
surrounding country.
There were a few fluctuations, but
mostly wide fields Of flowing grain and
rich green grass, that in places was
from ten to fifteen inches in height,
presenting one of the most beautiful
and picturesque midsummer prospects
that could possibly be imagined. The
scattering trees of the open forest in
full foliage and the green fields in
terspersed with flowers, under ordinary
circumstances would have formed
scene most fascinating to behold.
The artillery was placed in position
and the infantry was drawn up in line
of battle along the most commanding
crests, preparatory to the final struggle
OF that remarkable campaign. The con-
federata army followed in pursuit of
the Union forces after the desperate
battle of Glendale, or Nelson's farm,
as 1t is sometimes called. They had
taken position in the stretches of tim
Der some three miles from Malvern
Hill. They did not long allow the
Union forces to remain in inactivity
The first lines that were advanced by
brigades, divisions and corps received
terrific fire from the Union- batteries
on the crests of Malvern Hill, but they
still moved on up the slope occupied by
the federal troops In these advances
and assaults the destructive work
Of our artillery was very evil
dent, and when they reached
the infantry line they were
hurled back with serious loss. In
one of the advances made later in the
afternoon was a confederate regiment
led by a bold young colonel who
moved forward with his command
with great spirit over the plain.
After they had debouched from the
timber, the artillery cut wide gaps in
the line, but they closed in towards the
center on the colors and moved for
ward with splendid martial spirit AS
they assembled the slope and came I'M
der the scattering fire of the infantry
line, their pace slackened, and they
seemed to move with less elastic step,
a growing semblance of hesitation, and |
gradually moved more slowly and with |
less inpetuosity. Impatient at this ap-
parent caution and trepidation on the |
part of his command Gas body, not as |
sviduals, for the regiment was under |
such splendid discipline that not sol