The Republican., 1898-09-22

andIng of troops. When he had si-
fenced the works a 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
tion. Two of them made their way di-
rectly into the fort without seeieg a
man. After getting inside one of rhem
shot down a 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 S1assosoped
up in the bomb-proofs, and one com
pany of federals could have made
every man prisoner. The fire of the
fleet 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
as 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
war.
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 were hurried
along to the rear. A force of about
rs confederates moved into the hills
by the flank, and marching down a
ravine fell upon these batteries. It
was said that the artillerists hadn't
even revolvers to defend 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 1s0
horses attached to gun and caissons,
every last one of them was led away,
and with them went about so artiller-
lists as prisoners. The affair was over
SO quickly that the infantry hurryirg
up found no enemy to fire upon. The
confederates were led by captain,
who had an unlighted cigar in his
mouth. 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.
The Nerve of an Orderly
During Kilpatrick's raid around At
lanta there was some of the hottest
cavalry fighting of the war. Near
Lovejoy'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 three-gun
battery, shooting and sabering as they
-ode, but not haltirg to take posses
ion of the guns. There were enough
artillerists 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 a 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 a stout fence, so
high that no horse would take the
jump. In this emergency, and while
shots were being exchanged with re-
volvers, Kilpatrick's orderly, who was
a private soldier from the Fourth
Michigan cavalry, dismounted and be-
gan tearing down the fence. He had
an opening in two or three minutes
and was the first one over. He rode
straight at the guns. shot the captain
and got possession of his horse, and
later on assisted to spike the guns. He
was slightly wounded by two bullets
and II others passed through his cloth
ing. There were only 81 federals, and
while none were killed five horses were
lost and five or six men wounded. Kill
patrick, who had two bullets through
his hat, rode up and shook hands with
his orderly after the fight was over
and said to him:
I'VE can't have such good fighters
hanging about headquarters. You will
have to go back to your regiment and
become a sergeant"
Fighting for the COIOrs.
At Beaver Dam. where the confed
crate cavalry came UP with Sheridan:
raiding force, there was fighting ovel
the highways for a distance of six
miles, and the charges and counter
charges broke the troops of both com
mands up into small bodies. After 6
fierce charge by portion of Gregg