Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-03-19

''BRACED HIMSELF AND KILLED NEIGs."
crate camp. On passing the house where they
had been supplied with brandy. the scouts OK.
hibited eight prisoners, two more than they
had promised"
During the Gettysburg campaign the
Black Horse rode with Stuart's fighting
squadrons. At Aldie the commander sc.
lected 80 men Of the troop as forlorn
hope to stay the advance of regiment Of
Federal infantry. He declared that he
never expected to see a man Of them return
alive The dash was made in column Of
tours down a turnpike. The dust raised
by the galloping hoofs covered up the in
Significance Of the force, and the enemy,
after one volley, recoiled in confusion.
The bold and hazardous ride saved the line
from disaster. Later the company rode
into Stevens5urg just as the Third Vir-
ginia cavalry was suffering defeat. With.
out hating, Captain Randolph led his
Black Horse in spirited dash among the
Federal troopers and saved the Third regi.
ment from humiliation.
These troopers fought with Stuart in
his last campaign against Sheridan, and
the day after Stuart fell, at Yellow Tavern,
Captain Randolph was killed while de-
Tending the very gates of Richmond. Cap.
tain A. D. Payne, another Of the private
troopers of 1851, took command and led the
company at Petersburg and in the Shen.
andoah VALLEY in all the stirring saber bat.
ties Of the year. Another incident related
by Colonel Scott throws light upon the
bitter warfare Of the Shenandoah valley:
"Just after the affair az Waynesboro Martin
and Campbell Of the Black Horse and mem.
Der Of the First Virginia were returning to
Ak@SN 1aN S~. -
In the evening and raining, and the troopers
had thrown their waterproof blankets over
their shoulders, in measure covering their
uniforms. Three mounted mon were seen
coming up behind them, and as they were in
the rear Of Sheridan's forces they supposed
the trio were Federal soldiers. Drawing and
cooking their pistols, they rode slowly that
they might be overtaken. The Federals-for
such they were-had suspicious and prepared
for fight. As soon as they came alongside
the scouts wheeled and demanded surrender,
when they were fired upon by the strangers.
The latter proved to be Lieutenant Meigs of
6heridan's staff and two orderlies. Meigs'
shot passed through Martins body but he
braced himself, returned the fire and killed
Meigs. Martins companions captured one or.
derby, and the other escaped. He reported to
Sheridan that Meigs' party had been bush.
whacked. and Sheridan, in retaliation, ordered
the burning Of every house within five miles.
Martin recovered and returned home to Eau.
quier. After the war General Meigs, father OF
the lieutenant, sought to have Martin arreste'.
and tried by court martial for murder. But
when the facts as here stated were certified to
him by Captain Payne. the matter was drop
ped. for Lieutenant Meigs had been slain in
legitimate warfare
At Appomattox the Black Horse COM
pany was cut off from Lees army ard did
not surrender. It was about to march to
North Carolina and join Johnston's forces
when news came of the last surrender.
Then the cavaliers dispersed and hung uI
their swords for good.
GEORGE L. KILNRR-