Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-08-23
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LITTLE BUT BRAVE.
Noble Example Of Courage in the Act
Of a Frenchmnn in the
Union Army.

uACcciS III 1OO1 there was a uLCle man
named Gabriel Meter engaged in bust
ness at Cromwell, Ky. He closed up his
shop and entered the union army as a
captain in the Twenty-sixth Kentucky,
where he so distinguished himself as to
attract the attention of the governor,
who commissioned him colonel and au-
thorized him to recruit a regiment to
be called the Thirty-eighth Kentucky
mounted infantry. He first established
his camp at Hartford, but soon after
wards removed to Owensboro, KY,
where the writer Joined the command.
That he was as brave as marshal
Ney" himself went without saying, and
the general opinion was that he was as
reckless too. [ soon became convinced,
however, that that was mistaken no.
ton. From personal experience and OBJ
servation I formed for myself the opin-
ion that both his acts and words proved
that he was possessed of good judg-
ment and sound discretion, as well as
unquestioned courage. Meter was at
this time about 26 years of age, rather
below the medium size, but we'll formed,
with fair complexion, of neat appear
ance, faultless in apparel, and as polite
as the proverbial French dancing mas
ter" Had his life been spared he would
have achieved honor and distinction for
himself, and glory for his adopted coun-
try.
Tho' -gh he was strict disciplinarian;
and wanted his men to look and act as
soldiers, he treated them with great
kindne SIS, and was ever solicitous both
for til cir welfare and their comfort.
In his disposition, gentleness and firm
ness were mingled together in about
equal proportions.
Our camp was at the old fair grounds,
but a short distance from the western
suburbs of the town. At this time we
had about 500 names on the rolls of all
the different embryo companies; but
as the chief business in hand was that
of recruiting, both officers and privates
were allowed to go wherever there was
a chance to bring in another recruit,
so that not more than half of the men
were in camp at any one time.
This was the condition of affairs at
the camp when at an early hour on the
morning Of September 10, 1862, while
a dense fog covered the earth, we re-
ceived information that confederate
cavalry, numbering about 500 men, had
made forced march by travelling all
night, and now occupied the town.
Our morning meal was indefinitely
n0Sfn0na1 of IN
make hasty preparations for our first
fight. While our colonel was busily en-
gagged in getting his men into proper
position he received further informa-
ton that a portion OF the enemy was
concealed in the woods west of our po-
sition, ready to pounce upon the camp
and take possession as soon as he
should leave it to attack the force in
town, as they confidently expected him
to do.
So he decided to reconnoiter in that
direction first. He started with his en-.
tire command, except our company
composed of about 25 men and small
squad handling a six-pound brass gun
which he left there to watch the enc.
my in town and protect the camp.
By this time the fog had cleared
away. Moving a short distance down
the lane leading from the fair grounds
to the river, he halted his men and re-
turned to give our captain his final in
structions. While thus engaged his at.
tention was called to an officer coming
from the direction of the town bearing
flag of truce, who had been halted by
! our pickets. He motioned to him te