The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-02-20

vance regiment, we were continually
meeting fleeing squads of Manson's ano
Crufts scattered forces which the vi
dittes would send back to the head Of
the regiment, and they would tell OF
their defeat-describe the battle. Dur.
inc these parleys the regiment would
halt in the dusty pike, in line.
We met Col. T. T. Garrar1 and part
of his regiment, the Sd Ky. Cav, re-
turning from Clay's Ferry, the point
where the Lexington and Richmond pike
crossed the kentucky River. lie told
the Colonel of Manson's utter rout and
defeat that the road was full Of strag-
gIers escaping from the battlefield.
Col. McCook decided to proceed to and
hold the ferry During the night we
met Gen. Nelson in an ambulance,
which halted near where / stood Col.
Dan McCook rode up beside the ambu-
lance, and | heard Gen. Nelson tell him
that he had destroyed the ferryboat at
the ferry, and that the enemy could not
follow. Col. McCook said he would
advance and hold the ferry, and protect
such fugitives as escaped. Gen. Nelson
said ali right, but 10 take his regiment
and cover the retreat, and added:
Colonel, we are whipped and whipped
like hell. Use your judgment and do
the best you can" Nelson certainly ex-
pressed his feelings and the situation
cOnciselv.
We reached the river, after an all
night march Of is miles, about an hour
after sunrise and camped in Mr.. Shep
Rogers orchard, ON the right of the pike,
with pickets advanced to Clay's Ferry
at the Hacker House. On the opposite
side of the river was Mrs. Reins's plan
tation About 10 a. N. the rebels
planted a battery on the brow Of the
hill beyond the Reins House, on the
opposite side of the river, and shelled us
out Of the orchard. We fell back out
Of range, over the bill, and commenced
our retreat to Lexington.
During the night, on our advance TO
the river, while making one of our halts,
we had become so tired and thirsty that
as soon as we halted we sank down
exhausted in the road on either side
We had been subjected to alarms con-
stantly during the night by picket-fring,
but always from the front or hanks.
This time the alarm came from the rear,
and while we were halted in wood we
could hear horses galloping and chains
rafting on the finty pike, and some
body in the rear cried: i" Morgan's Cav
airy" Half awake, | jumped over
the bank Of the pike and landed In a
bunch of pokebeTy bushes in a fence
corner, minus my gun. The SD stam-
peded, but soon rallied. Nobody !
acknowledged to having broken ranks,
and stories Of hair-breath escapes from
death was thrilling in the extreme. The /
alarm was caused by mule, with double |
trees attached to his harness, which |
came charging down the middle Of the |
pike clean through TO tie head Of the
regiment.
] was lucky enough to recover my
gun. My messmate, 10 Swan, lost his !
gun and cap. And here want to record |
the fact that 10 was an upright and |
highly-esteemed citizen at home The |
loss of his gun and cap necessitated
upon his part prompt action. Some
thing civilizing must be done to retrieve
his misfortunes. Therefore, when he /
found Private Chubb, Of Co. X, soundly |
sleeping on our next halt, he gently re-
heved him Of bis cap and gun, which,
under different environments, 10 would
have denounced as rank stealing. He
discreetly removed the X from the cap,
and with spittle made a mud-clay and
rubbed it over the ok spot, erasing
every vestige Of identification. The
next day, as we were in full retreat to
Lexington, and the burning sun was beat
ing down on as, Chubb came along the
baTcheaded and foot blistered,
cursing everybody and the thief in par
ticular, telling Jo, among others, that
had stolen his gun and cap.
10 was the man you could tell your
troubles 20, and Chubb found in him an
earnest and sympathizing friend.
10 jc ooActudcd)