The Philipsburg mail., 1899-10-13
MUSKET AND SWORD.
TERRIFIC FIGHT THAT WAS OECIO.
ED BY ACCIDENT.
The Unexpected Climax That At.
tended an Exciting Episode OF the
Civil War--A Snber Slashing That
One Man VIII Never Forwet.

tended an Exciting Episode of the
| Civil War--A Saber slashing That
One Man VIII Never FORGET.
Il Go not get pension" said the vet.
eran, who had trotted his first heat ct
Bull Run, breaking into wild gallop be-
fore he passed under the wire at Wash
ington and finally stopped to retire from
the turf at Appomattox, NOR do want
one, though l suppose if l were not in
comfortable circumstances might try
for it, and still l had about as much Of
the scrap as anybody know of, for l be-
gan early and quit late. Luck is with
some people, though, for | came out with
out scratch, and didn't lose q day on
account of sickness, but | am flying the
track. think you said you wanted that
story about the man who killed himself
trying to kill me.
1T was in one of those innumerable
small fights that were Happening in Vir-
ginia all the year round and was SO little
that it did not even get name. l was
III an infantry regiment, and a detach-
ment of $50 of US had been sent to the
front of the skirmish line to feel around
and see what we might find that we did
not want to fnd-namely, some part OF
the enemy's advance. In clump Of
trees we found it in the shape of hun
dred or so cavalry, wearing the gray uni
form we had seen good deal of in that
neighborhoOd. 1t meant business, of
course, and in a very few minutes there
was mixing Of contending forces which
was, to say the least, extremely demo-
cratic.
''The troop Of cavalry was composed of
hot headed young southerners who had
no idea of anything but rushing right
into the midst of U.S. yelling and swing
ing their sabers around their heads as if
they were riding in tournament at one
of their county fairs. They seemed to be
utterly regardless of our feelings, too,
and before we could say scat they had
slashed the scalps off of half a dozen Of
us like lot of young butchers out for
picnic. At the same time we were not
entirely idle or neglectful of such oppor-
tunities as might be presented, and I
may say that the general result of the
meeting to the eye of the casual OBJ
server was real hot stuff if | may use
bit of modern language.
Il had had very little experience in
military affairs of any kind, and up to
eAat tliIc Dun nun uuu DCSll Cue only
real battle in which | had taken an ac-
tive part, the activity on that occasion
not having been Of the kind. you may
remember, which gives a soldier a wide
experience in fighting, Notwithstanding
there was enough experience in conduct
ing retreat to last a lifetime. Gee.
how we did run that day. 1t makes me
warm to think about it even now." and
no y-nt i,1 .l,a \
puffed mildly in reminiscence of his run,
AS | was saying, being inexperienced
in fighting, l didn't know Just what to
do as is the way with most new soldiers,
so | kind of ducked my head and went
into it on the blind luck STYLE trusting in
Providence and keeping my powder dry.
In such Il scramble nobody ever knows
what is going on or how best to do the
things he has to do 1t is slap, bang, |
shout, shoot slash, jab-a rush and roar,
a throatful of nasty sulphur smoke, pos
sibiy bee sting in body or limb. a fall |
in the leaves or dust or mud, sense of |
one scarcely knows what, |
and the end has come either to the fight
or the fighter.
Il had reached the slap and the bang
period and was feeling pretty good, see
over and hadn't been knocked over my
self, and was getting into the spirit of
it in fine fettle when | found myself
hand to hand or musket to saber with a
young lieutenant about my own age and
build. He came straight at me, cutting
with intent to kill. and | tried to shoot
him off his horse, for had somehow
got load in my musket and was ready
of hI1S hut bn
close that shooting was out of the aues-
ton, and | could only use my gun as a
guard to keep off the fierce onslaughts
Of his slashes. l made several efforts to
swing around so | could shoot, but he
saw what l was after and kept it so hot
FOR me that l did not dare to take away
ny guard long enough to use it on him
instead of on myself.
Il put up the best defense could, try
ng to punch him with my bayonet but
he young fellow evidently had some mil
tary training, in sword exercise at least
or he knocked my gun around pretty
much as he pleased. Indeed he had such
success that he was wearing me out fast,
md | felt that if something didn't hap
zen for my side very soon there would be
me more bluecoat grave to dig on the
morrow. He saw his advantage, too,
md with yell he came at me again,
wingng that big saber of his so high
md strong that it seemed to me to be
he sword Of Michael or of some other of
hose picture people l remembered to
lave seen in my books, and | made up
ny mind to give him one more poke with ,
ny bayOnet for luck and let him have !
ny scalp if he wanted it,
but he would not give me chance to
10 even this much. He banged that con-
ounded sword around my head until |
ould only hold my gun up and try to ,
ave my face so that my friends would