The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-11-24

AS / approached the gap | discovered
| two men, one standing on the ground,
| the other seated on his horse. They
| seemed at loss to account for me COM
ing on perfectly unconcerned toward them
They suffered me to approach WITHIN
| about 40 steps, when the one that was
mounted wheeled his horse and aimed to
| run off down the opposite side of the gap,
but l halted him twice, and then tred.
| The shot took effect between the shout
ders, just to the left OF the backbone. He
| yelled murder twice in a terrified voice,
and then fell forward on his horse's
withers, while the frightened animal rush
ed madly down the hill
My whole attention was instantly de-
voted TO the other man, who was mount
/ ing and preparing TO follow his conlrade S
| example. | was afraid he would shoot
me while / was reloadng my gun, when
was a Smith e WesSon carbine; but he
was too badly scared: he never stopped,
! but went down the hill at a break neck
| pace
| ran to the top OF the HILL and, behold,
just at the foot of it were about $50 rebels,
who had been, as l afterward learned,
foraging. They were somewhat scattered,
for when got my first view of them they
were running from every direction for their
horses, which were standing in a bunch,
under a strong guard, right where two
roads crossed. For this point my second
man was running.
GAME OF BLUFF.
Just as he got to it fired, he being
about 125 yards off when l did so; and
without looking to see what damage l had
done, ! turned in my saddle and called
out. Forward, the 4th Forward, the 4th
Ohiol' then, turning upon the enemy
again, l drew my pistol and tried 1T three
times but every cap was wet. | then at
tempted to load my carbine third time,
lint If fiY trIlneT-
works, and could do nothing with it.
All this time the rebels were mount
ing, and each fellow as he gained his
saddle took the road for Auburn without
stopping to look back. A few stopped
long enough to discharge their guns, so
that there were perhaps Is shots fired at
me, some of which cut very close, but did
no damage.
One fellow, drawer than the rest, walked
right out in the middle of the road ana
raised his gun to his face, took a long,
careful aim, and pulled the trigger, but
and loud, but | suppose the powder was
damp. He broke for his horse then as fast
as his legs would take him. thought 1t
was very questionable whether my
friends would ever hear from me again
when | saw him taking such deliberate
aim at such close quarters, as we were SO
near together that / could have counted
the buttons on his coat.
| waited till they all got well started
down the road, which was in a surpris-
ingly short space of time, and wheeled
my horse and took the road for MuTfrees-
borO; and, there is no mistake about II,
rode rapidly.
AS / passed the next house / saw
woman standing in the porch, watching
my actions all the time; but she could
not see the enemy from where she stood
told her to tell the rebels when they re-
Al. l,,4 IN
the attacking party, and that he said he
had logged $50 of them and could DO 1t
again.
ON THE BACK TRACK.
This fight, il fight it might be called,
took place at Hooper's lanyard two miles
from Milton, and on my retreat ! rassed
through the latter place. Stopping a mo-
ment, / called a man to me, and gave
him the same message | gave To the
woman and as | expected pursuit. made
for MurfreesbOro at once, which was IA
miles distant.
However | saw no more Of that party,
though did see another squad OF 20 that
did appear as if they were after somebody.
The fear of pursuit by the first party
gave me a good speed, and the sight of a
second caused me to persevere, until i
was once more safe within our lines.
knew no more about the affair at that
TIME IMAM What IS cohtaiHeu III INC pdi
ticulars have related; but party of our
cavalry soon afteTward went out in that
vicinity to scout, and there learned that
my first shot had killed picket and NOR
tally wounded horse, and that my sec
ond had wounded a man severely and
passed through the neck of one horse, and
subsequently, wounded a second one; and
that the enemy had gone to the town OF
Auburn, seven miles distant without halt
ing or breaking their gait, and that they
deserted a large forage-train, which
could have destroyed had ] known where
to look for il; but it was behind pro-
lection OF the hill
Lieut.. Henry, Of Co. A, was out on a
scout in the same direction shortly after
ward, and the same particulars were
learned by him. He had a talk with