The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-11-06

= After.that Black Prince became more
of a favorite than ever, and every man in
the regiment looked upon him as a special
pet, and he was allowed to nibble at
many ration when the soldier who
generously divided with him had a very
scant share for himself Other officers
tried in vain to secure the horse, but tho
major thought too much of his favorite to
part with him on any terms, and the
two became inseparable in the long
marches that followed on the way to
Chattanooga.
| There were many thrilling adventures
| connected with the closing days of that
memorable campaign, but the one in
which the major. and Black Prince fig
ured most notably was in the fight at
Bakers Creek. The major had ridden
beyond the confederate lines during a
| cavalry duel between q detachment OF fed
erals and squadron of confederate troop
ers. He was not near enough to take
hand, but the fight was going on in full
view, and so intensely Interested was he
in the hand-to- hand conflict that he did
not notice the approach of squad Of fed
eral sharpshooters.
| 'SurrenderP' came sharp command,
and turning, he was confronted with half
dozen rifles leveled at him, and within
polnt-blank range. He was SO startled
by the sudden approach Of the sharpshoot-
ers that he did not have time to collect
his thoughts.
go to-P' he cried, and at the same
| time 70 ht6 hn h6u HoA
of as the crack of the rifles rang out on
the evening air. One bullet passed
through the front of blue blouse which
ne had thrown across his shoulders as he
rode out of camp, another struck the
front OF his cap and .nicked out corner
OF 1t, andshe felt his horse shrink as
bullet struck him in the fieshysportion of
his hind leg. But the noble animal only
tiinched, and, maddened by the pain,
took the bit between his teeth, dashed
down the slope like the wind, crossed the
little stream at bound, and tore through
| the woods on the opposite side before the
rider hat' time toscheck his wild career.
The confederate troops were drawn up
facing the road along which he was rid
ing, and as he emerged from the trees
the pickets commanded him to halt,
thinking that he was leading party of
federal cavalry on a charge.
1t was out of his power to halt, as his
horse was laundering along at breakneck
speed with the bit between his teeth, and
in an instant there was a deafening roar
as the entire line fired at the horse and
rider, and the gloom of the twilight was
illumined by the flash of hundred mus
kets. The bullets whistled about the
major ears like bees, and it was said by
an eyewitness, afterward that there
must have been Thousand shots fired at
the flying horseman as he rode along in
front of the lines. An infantry man left
the lines, dashed into the road directly In
front of him, took deliberate aim, and
blazed away. and a lock of the majors
hair f1oated away as he passed the soldier
lyon had better practice little,'' he.
yelled as he rode by.
No use to practice on you," answered
the soldier, as he bit off the end of
cartridge and proceeded to reload in the
most matter of fact manner; "for they
say that mans never drowned that's
born to be hanged
| By that time thesrider had checked his
horse, and flung off the blue blouse which
he had forgotten in the excitement, and
he was instantly recognized by the men
of his regiment.
''It's the Major and Black Princep'
shouted soldier; stop shooting,'' and
a great cheer went up over the miracu-
lous escape of the popular officer and his
no lessspopular horse; and the federals
| who had watched the wild ride from the
crest of the ridge took up the shout. No
horse and rider ever had grander recep
ton in the western army.
From that time until the army went
into.winter quarters near Ringgold, the
major and his black horse were the pride
of the regiment, and many rough Jour-
ney did they undertake together through
the. lonely mountain passes of east Ten
| nessee. Black Prince recovered from his
wound, SO that.there was only a scarcely
perceptible limp in his walk to indica tie
that he had been wounded; his usefulness
was. not the least impaired, and he con-
tinued the favorite charger of the major
all through the campaign.
But early in January there came
heavy storm of sleet, and brother officer
borrowed Black Prince to ride out on a
reconnoitering expedition among the
black hills between Ringgold.and Dalton.
The roads were covered with Ice, an the
trip was a very dangerous and trying
one. 1t was long after midnight before
the officer returned and cold wind was
blowing and the air was full of fine snow.
The officer dismounted and sought the
nearest bivouac fire to thaw his numbed
limbs and, through some careiessness on
the part of the servant to whom the horse
was consigned, he was allowed to stand
unprotected in the chilling blast for some
time before he was carried under shelter.
The result was that he was taken with
J a violent chill, and, in spite of all that
could be done for him, he lay shivering
beneath covering of warm blankets as
the long, weary hours of the night passed.
One of the soldiers, who was very much
attached to the animal, carried his own
blanket to the shed and wrapped it
around the shuddering form, and the
tears fell from his eyes as he stood ex-
49,.