Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-03

CAVALRY.
After the occupation of Chattanooga,
before the battle of Chickamauga, one
battalion of our regiment was the ad-
vance guard on the road to Graysville
and Ringgold. The battalion did not
march in line Of battle. but kept line
Of pickets deployed as skirmishers with
a reserve VOL to the front. About noon
we struck a section of the country that
had run to weeds. There were great
tall weeds higher than mans head
everywhere on both sides of the road
The pickets were stumbling through
these weeds keeping their line as well
as possible, but as there were no signs
of an enemy the battalion halted for
dinner along the road.
"The boys, of course, did not believe
that there was confederate soldier
within striking distance. Even the ma
ior in command Of the battalion was
taking his ease. In the midst of the
Inner there was a little commotion in
the weeds about, but nothing to cause
alarm. and trusting in the watchfulness
Of the pickets in front. no attention
was paid to it, Suddenly. however, the
faces of men on horses showed over
the tops of the weeds and our men real
lied that they were surrounded by con-
federate cavalry. The officer in COM
mand of the confederates was so sure
that he had the union men completely
ii his power that he looked down,
laughing, and said, iocularly: Here's
hi in Georgia, boys. Surrender
ellis men seemed to look upon the
matter as a great joke. They outnum-
bered the union forces two to one. and
sitting on their horses with revolvers or
sabers in hand they laughed at the
blank amazement Of the boys who had
been caught eating dinner. They
formed line completely encircling our
battalion and waited for the boys to re-
cover from their surprise. The major.
without rising to his feet, said Give
them one volley men, and get out of
this as best you can Quick as flash
the volley was fred and while the
horses were rearing and plunging, the
laughing of the cavalrymen was
changed to cursing, and the men in
blue made a wild break through the
confederate line. They lodged into the
weeds, some Of them running under the
horses bellies, and all but so escaped.
"Among those who escaped was the
color-bearer When the first intima-
ton of the presence of the enemy came
he tore the flag from the staff, tied it
about his person under his blouse. ran
under the horse Of the cavalryman who
had his revolver aimed in his direction,
and hid in the weeds until the commo-
ton was over. While he was waiting.
we'll to the rear of where the cavalry
was charging about, he came upon the
pickets. They explained that when
they discovered the approach of the
cavalry they fell back in accordance
with instructions, supposing that they
we're retreating on the reserve. but,
confused by the weeds, they changed d.
rection and retired on a line to the
east of where the battalion was at rest
and did not discover their mistake un-
til the attack came upon the battalion
itself; then they hid in the weeds and
awaited results. As I said all Of the
battalion except about so escaped, but
you never could prevail upon any one
Of the men to tell the story. In fact, l
have never liked the name Of Graysville
since that day, but I know how it feels
10 be felt by the enemy."-Chicago In
ter Ocean,