Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-01-27

surgeon steadily In the eye said, quite
emphatically: Mark me for duty."The
surgeon quickly complied. Easton
again took the colors, and with help
reached the front. lost sight Of him
until about three o'clock p. m. Our
ammunition had given out; we were or.
dered back. We had to abandon bat.
terry, and the enemy turned on us i'm.
mediately. Seeing this our lieutenant.
colonel, Hall (the colonel having been
badly wounded), although shot through
the leg, ordered US to charge with the
bayonet and recapture those guns.
The charge was led by Sergt, Easton.
The enemy were driven back, and
Sergt. Easton, Capt. Neal, and a few
other boys spiked the guns" then beat
hasty retreat for the Landing. over
three miles away.
Easton had taken the government
bunting flag into the fight, leaving the
regimental banner and silk flag In the
company quarters. In retreating he
made n detour to the quarters, and amid
rain Of leaden hail secured the two silk
flags, and with the remnant Of the old
bunting made safe retreat.
One more incident: During the sum
mer Of so, while cnmped on the Hatchie
river in Tennessee, Gen. M. M. Crocker
had the Eleventh Iowa moved across
the river from the rest of the brigade.
The enemy formed n line almost around
us, and were daily expecting attack.
Our force was too small to hold our
ground without achievements. Our
position was critical. The colonel
called for volunteer sergeant for Vi.
dette duty, Sergt. Easton responded.
and was sent up the river mile or more
with 20 men to see that the enemy did
not close our only avenue of escape.
Toward midnight m owls boot
sounded across the river to the right.
in few minutes n similar sound an
swered from the opposite direction.
They seemed to be about a mile apart.
The sergeant was standing with his
back against tree, motionless Soon
came second call and reply. mot
much OWL" remarked the sergeant to
me sentcntlously, "but the sort Of
bird we're out here AFTER Calling
for four men to follow, he led the way
into the dense, dark forest, getting as
nealy on n line between the hooters as
possible. Suddenly we found we were
lost. But one man said: "Sergt. e., you
catch the fellow on the right, and I'll
try for the one OH the left"
Nearer and nearer came footsteps,
with an occasional cracking Of twigs
underfoot. When they were four or
five feet from us: "IIalt!" sang out
the sergeant, making a spring toward
his "ow." A rapid exchange Of shots
rang out. The birds" wheeled aud ran,
the sergeant in close pursuit, firing at
the rctreatlng "owl," until the bird"
jumped or fell into the river.
In short time the sergeant put In
an appearance, hot, dirty and woe-be-
gone-looklng, scratched and bleeding
from coming In contact with the low.
hanging beech limbs. But his feelings
were the worst lacerated, as he had
failed to accomplish what he had ex-
pected to do.
But the colonel had heard the shoot
ing, Also the owls (?). and had come out
to see what had been doue. lie was
more excited than the sergeant. as
he was In undress uniform and on his
horses bare back. He said brave off,
GERS were in demand and he would
never rest until Sergt. i. wore shoul-
der-straps.
In the spring Of '63 large envelope
reached Easton containing a captains
commission and an order to report at
for duty. And so he left