The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-11-19

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light. We knew what that meant.
The enemy was near and alert. Sher-
man had kept him on a hot griddle.
No more sleep, much as we needed it.
POcketing our orders, we looked over
the ground where the charging line
was to form. That done, it was time
for the men to be up, get breakfast
and be ready to move. The order was
for the right to proceed through the
woods to a certain point and halt
Mine was the right regiment. 1 was in
place ahead of time. The next regi-
ment was to connect with my left,
and so on until the division was in
line. My left became hotly engaged.
1 rode down there. Half of the left
company was on knoll, exposed to q
CALLING fire. BY about-facing and a
three-quarter right wheel, then facing
to the front, the men would be under
cover. That was done. The other
troops had not yet come up.
Returning to the right 1 heard
troops marching in front of my left.
What could it mean? Was the enemy
stealing up to surprise us? Soon a
hot fight was on. While trying to
find out what was the matter thought
Of that change in my left company. I
was in a cold perspiration at once.
That wheeling had changed the forma
ton Of the balance of the division. 1t
was a startling situation. l had en-
dangered the safety of the division,
possibly the corps. and maybe the ar
my. These thoughts ran through my
mind as fast as the sweat rushed
through my pores. l was dumfounded
1t was too late to cor
rect the mistake. In great agony l
rode down the line, feeling like GRIM
inal. The firing ceased. l was sure
the division had been captured or
driven back in disorder. If cannon
ball had come that way 1 would have
invited it to tarry with me. 1 was
the most unhappy man in the army,
when staff officer rode up and ex-
citedly exclaimed:
Colonel Hobart, the enemy has
been fianked and defeated. Push your
regiment to the vacated works and
wait for orders
"They were about the sweetest words
that ever fell upon my ears. Instead
of blundering by wheeling that left
l had so changed the line as
to take the enemy by surprise on the
flank. 1t was pronounced a brilliant
achievement. The division command
er was praised. Two colonels COM
manding brigades were breveted brig
adiers. l didn't want cent for what
| had done. 1t was glory enough to
see my blunder blossom into victory.
1t was a good time for me to keep
still-'saw wood as they say now."
"See that little German?" asked Gen
eral Oscar FL. LaGrange, the dashing
now a New York City
official
"Sheriff Richter, of st. Paul. know
him very WELL"
"Then you know n very brave man.
He didn't look like a sheriff when our
regiment was organized at Kenosha.
He was young, small, modest and
green, but learned rapidly. A tiger
cat could not be fiercer than that little
German in battle"
General Joe Wheeler's cavalrymen
were making the First Wisconsin cav
airy extra work; had checked it sever
al times. A squad of boys in gray
across field, banked by a heavy for
est, peppered into it like hailstorm.
1t was plain that they were trying to
draw the First into a charge-to am
bush it. Volunteers were called for
to make a dash at the Wheeler dele
CATION. The first man to ride out and
report was the stubby little German,
by Ed Troxell and two 9TH
ers. "Take to the saber, boys" said
and away they rode. Two
quickly returned. Richter and Troxell
flew at the enemy like the tiger-cats
they were TroXell was first to over
take man. Hand to hand they
fought for union and cOnfederacy. 1t
was not play. One must get hurt
maybe go lover the river in the shade
Of the trees" The confederate sad
lie was emptied. Troxell's horse be-
came unmanageable, plunged straight
For the enemy's line, through it, and
he was a prisoner. Richter faced
nan and began saber swinging and
.hrusting as though the cause depend
ed upon his success. He succeeded
Another horse was riderleSs. Soon
two other horses joined the pair with
no one to rein them. How awful is
war!
1t was some time before Richter re-
turned to the regiment. The colonel
md others gave him a hearty welcome
md showered him with thanks and
"Where is Ed, boys?" asked the lit
lie German hero.
"Thev killed him, Fred" The news
upset the little fellow; he couldn't be
comforted. Troxell and Richter had
been bunkmates ever since they en-
listed. They were the Damon and
t'ythias of the troop.
That evening TroXell rode into camp,
bringing with him the man he had
The demoralized horse had
taken him into the confederate ranks,
but in the excitement he had escaped.
The wounded man piteously pleaded to
be taken into our lines, where he could
be cared for. His plea was not in
vain.
There was a touching scene when
Richter and TroXell met that night.
"They told me you were killed, Ed"
81 could swear l saw you fall from
your horse, Fred"
Their eyes ran over and their voices
got stuck, and the brave boys, who
had to do something, threw their arms
about each others neck and stood
there and cried like schoolboys who
had been denied membership in down
east chestnutting party. The reaction
came; they broke down-joyfully broke
down; so did the colonel and others
who saw them. l more than half