Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-08-17
tn. OLD soldier. story.


81 DO not set pensloa.' said the
veteran. who had troticd his arst heat
al Bull Run. breaking into Wild gal
lop bstore' he passed under the wire NJ
Washington. and finally slapped TO re-
tire from the turf Al Appoma;toS. nor
do want one. though | suppose "
were not in comfortable circumstances
Nigh, try for IL: and stlll had about
as much OF the scrap as anybody !
know OF. for began carly and quit
late. Luck Is with some people.
though, for came out without a
scratch. and didn't lose day on ae-
count OF d!ckacss. But ] am flying the
track. think you said you wanted
that story about the man who Killed
himself trying TO XIII me.
ut was one OF these lnnumcrasic
small fights that were happening IA
Virginia all the year round. and was -
little that Il did not even ge; n name.
] was In an Infantry regiment. and n
detachment OF $50 OF us had been sent
TO the front OF the dkIrmish line to feel
around and see what We might fnd
that We did not want TO ilad. namely,
some part OF the cnemy'S advance. In
n clump OF trees we found II In the
shape of n hundred or so cavalrymcn.
wearing the gray uniform We had seen
n good deal OF In that nc!ghborhood.
It meant business. OF course. aad in n
very few minutes there was mixing
OF contending forces which was. to say
the least OF It, extremely democratic.
The troop OF cavalry was composed of
hot-headed young Southcrners who
had no Idea OF anything but rushing
right into the midst OF US. yelling and
swinging their sabre5 around their
heads as II they were riding In tour
namcnt at one of their county fairs.
They seemed to be utterly regardless
of our feelings. too. and before we
could say scat they had slashcd the
scalps OF OF half n dozen of our boys
and were cutting up the rest OF US like
lot OF young butchers out for a pic
mic. At the same time we were not
entirely idle or neglectful OF such op-
portunities as might be presented. and
may say that the general result OF
the meeting. to the eye OF the casual
observer. was real hot stuff.' II may
use a bit OF modern Language.
81 had had very little experience in
military affairs of any kind. and up to
that time Bull Run had been the 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 n soldier a wide
experience in fighting. notwithstanding
there was enough experience in con-
Quoting n retreat to last lifetime. Gee.
how we did run that day. 1t makes
me warm to think about 1t even now
and the veteran smiled at the thought
and puffed mildly in reminiscence OF
his run.
"As I was saying. being inexpe-
renced in fighting. didn't know Just
what to do, as is the way with most
new soldiers. so kind OF ducked down
my head and went into 1t on the blind
luck style, trusting in providence and
keeping my powder dry. In such a
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, q
throatful of nasty sulphur smoke, pos
sibly bee sting in body or limb, fall
in the leaves or dust or mud, n sense
of something one scarcely knows what
and the end has come, either to the
fight or to the fighter. had
reached the slap and the bang period
and was feeling pretty good, seeing
that had knocked a man or two owe,
and hadn't been knocked over myself
and was getting into the spirit of it in
fine fettle when found myself hand tc
hand, or musket to sabre, with a young
lieutenant about my own age and build
He came straight at me, cutting with
intent to kill and | tried to shoot hin
off of his horse, for had somehow go
a lead in my musket and was read,
for that kind of business. but he wal
so close that shooting was out OF tn,
question, and / could only Use my guI
as guard to keep off the fierce on
slaught of his slashes. | made severa
efforts to swing around SO I couli
Shoot. but he saw what was after an,
kept it so hot for me that I did not dar
to take away my guard long enougl
to use It on him instead Of on myself
! put up the best defense | could, try
ing 20 punch him with my bayonet, bri
the young fellow evidently had som
rsjLtGry training, in swcr% excrc!os q