The record-union., 1898-01-31

IdNOIIlG part N1tI MIN Oil ally tSAiJsJ
and the two became inseparable in the
long marches that followed on the way
to Chattanooga.
There We're 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
cavalry duel between a detachment OF
Federals and squadron of Confederate
troopers. He was not near enough to
take a hand, but the fight was going
on in full view, and so intensely inter-
ested was in he in the hand-to-hand con-
flict that ne did not notice the approach
of a squad of Federal sharpshooters.
Surrender came a sharp command,
and turning he was confronted With
half dozen rifles leveled at him, and
within pcint- blank range. He was so
startled by the sudden approach of tha
sharpshooters that he did not have
time to collect his thoughts.
Go to -" he cried, and at the
same time put spurs to his horse, who
bounded off as the crack of the rifles
rang out on the evening air. One bull
let passed through the front of a blue
blouse which he had thrown across his
shoulders as he rode out of camp, an
other struck the front of his cap and
nicked out a corner of it, and he felt
his horse shrink as a bullet struck him
in the fleshy portion of his hind leg.
But the noble animal only fiinched,
and, maddened by the pain, took the
bit between his teeth dashed down the
slope like the wind, crossed the little
stream at a bound and tore through
the woods on the opposite side, before
the rider had time to check his wild
career. The Confederate troops were
drawn up facing the road along which
he was riding, and as he emerged from
the trees the pickets commanded him
to halt, thinking that he was leading
a party Of Federal cavalry on a charge.
1t was out of his power to halt, as
his horse was laundering along at
breackneck 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 muskets. The bull
let's whistled about the Majors ears
witness, afterward that there must
have been a thousand shots fired at
the flying horseman as he rode along
in front of the lines. An infantryman
left The lines, dashed into the road
directly in front Of him, took deliberate
aim, and blazed away, and lock of
the Majors hair fioated away as he
passed the soldier.
You had better practice a little" he
yelled as he rode by.
No use to practise on you," answered
the soldier, as he bit off the end of a
cartridge and proceeded to reload in the
most mater-offact manner; for they
say that mans never drowned that's
born TO be hanged
By that time the rider had checked his
horse, and flung off the blue blouse
which he had forgotten in the excite
ment, and ne was instantly recognized
by the men of his regiment.
It's the Major and Black Princel"
shouted a soldier; stop shooting" and
a great cheer went up over the miracu
lous escape Of the popular officer and his
no less popular 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 a grander
reception in the Western army.
From that time until the army went
into winter quarters near Ringgold, the
Major and his black horse We're 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 indi
cate that he had been wounded; his use
fulness was not the least impaired, and
he continued the favorite charger of the
Major all through the campaign.
But early in January there came
heavy storm of sleet, and a brother Off
Ger borrowed Black Prince to ride out
Nh a reconnoitering expedition among
the bleak hills between Ringgold and
Dalton. The roads were covered with
ice, and the trip was a very dangerous
and trying one. 1t was long after mid
night before the officer returned, and
cold wind was blowing and the air was
fun Of snow. The officer dismounted
and sought the nearest bivouac fire to
thaw his numbed limbs, and through
some carelessness on the part of the
servant to whom the horse was con-
signed, he was allowed to stand unpro-
tected in the chilling blast for some time
before he was carried under shelter.
The result was that he was taken with
a violent chill, and, in spite of all that
could be done for him, he lay shiverlng
beneath a covering of warm blankets as
the long, weary hours Of 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
posed TO the cold night wind, watch
ing the sufferings Of his favorite. They
drenched him with brandy and did
everything that could be done to relieve
him, but just as the reveille sounded he
lifted his head, neighed feebly, and then
fell over on his side, dead.
There was deep grief in the regiment
over his death. and the boys asked leave
to give him a military funeral which
was granted. A detail Of men followed
the body to it's last resting place-a deep
grave had been dug in the frozen earth
at the head of the valley, and there they
laid the blanketed form of Black Prince,
and fired a parting salue above his
grave.
Then it was that a soldier skilled in
such work procured a stone and rudely
Sat4raJ With = o paiat Of a r11ctv ba yopa+