The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-08-24

ODD INCIDENTS OF WAR
BY CHARLES B. LEWIS.


landing of troops. When he had 81
ienced the works few hundred men
were thrown ashore, but through |
some misunderstanding the force was
not increased. For "a hours this de- |
tachment expected every moment to
be attacked by troops sent from the
fort. but as they were not molested |
number were sent out after informaS
aiOn. Two of them made their way di-
rectly into the fort without seeiSg
man. After getting inside one of rhem
shot down dispatch bearer and took
his papers and his horse, and the other
entered bomb-proof and called upon
the 200 men to surrender. When sur
render was made he found himself in
the position of the man hanging to the
bear He couldn't stay there, and he
couldn't bring his prisoners away. He
solved the problem by hurrying away
AFTER reenforcements, but his superior
officer would not credit his story and
refused to let him return. For full
hour the entire garrison was cooped
up in the bomb-proofs, and one COM
Pany of federals could have made
every man prisoner. The fire of the
feet had been so hot and continuous
that the garrison had become ratified
for the time being. Two hours later
they were fighting again like heroes.
The man who brought the horse and
dispatches away had only begun. to ten
his story when he was put under arrest
rs \ liar, but his courage was after
wards acknowledged by promotion
Had the officer in command of the de-
tachment been the man for the hour
he could have presented the govern
ment with Fort Fisher as Christmas
present, and become the hero of the
WaF.
The Capture of Two Batteries.
In June, 1864, when Hunter was fall
ing back from his raid on Lynchburg,
with the confederates following and
harrassing him, a sharp attack was
made on the rear guard at Salem. 1t
was in the early morning, with the
most OF the men preparing breakfast,
and something like panic took place.
While the infantry were engaged in
holding the enemy in check the wagon
train and two batteries we're hurried
along to the rear. A force of about
rs eoDfederates moved into the hills
by the flank, and marching down
TnViue fell upon these batteries. 1t
was said that the artillerists hadnt
even revolvers to defenl themselves
with, and the struggling infantry ran
away at the first alarm. The confed-
crates could neither use the guns nor
get them away, and they contented
themselves with spiking them and de-
stroying the carriages. OF the 120
horses attached to gun and caissons,
every last one of them was led away,
and with them went about so artuler-
lists rs prisoners. The affair was over
so quickly that the infantry hurrying
up found no enemy to fire upon. The
cOntederates were led by a captain,
who had an unljghted cigar in his
month. His first act, upon rushing out
OF the ravine, was to beg light of a
federal lieutenant, who was smoking
Three or four federal officers were
brought to court-martial for the stu
pid blunder which cost the govern
ment so dear, but the results have been
lost in the dust of time.
Yhe Nerve of an Orderly
During Kilpatrick's raid arcund At
lnnta there was some of the hottest
cavalry fighting of the war. Near
I.oVejoy's station he was headed by a
large confederate force, and it was
charge and countercharge for several
hours. In one of the charges federal
brigade galloped through a three-gun
battery, shooting and sabering as they
-ode, but not haltirg to take posses
ion OF the guns. There were enough
ArtiIlerists left to work the guns, and
they were at once put to work on the
rear OF the charging brigade. Kilpat-
rick and his staff were in field to the
left OF the guns. and when they re-
opened he moved forward to silence
them. AS they reached the highway
they were checked by stout fence, so
high that no horse would take the
jamp In this emergency and while
shots were being exchanged with re-
VOlTers. Kilpatrick's orderly, who was
a private soldier from the Fourth
Michigan cavalry, dsmounted and be-
gan tearing down the fence. He had
IN opening in two or three minutes
aud was the first one over. He rode
straight at the guns, shot the captain
and got possession of his horse, ant
Iairr on assisted to spike the guns. He
was slightly wounded by two bullets
and u others passed through his cloth
ing. There were only 81 federals, ant
while none were killed five horses were
LOST and five or six men wounded. Xii
patrick, who had two bullets through
his hat, rode up and shook hands will
his orderly after the fight was over
and said TO him:
We can't have such good fighter
hanging about headquarters. You viii
have TO go back to your regiment anc
become a sergeant"
Fighting for the CoIors.
At Beaver Dam where the confed
crate cavalry came up with Sheridan
raiafRg force, there was fighting owe
che highways for a distance of si
mi.rs. and the charges and counter
charges broke the troops of both CON
maDds up into small bodies. After
Iieree charge by portion of Gregg
federal brigade q color bearer foun
himself alone OF the edge of the clou
- ~ I'D .,,ol,o LNli1a tr,yino, :