The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-25
MUSKET AND SWORD.
4sirEsaiFic FIGHT THAT WAS Dscio.
- ssts co ev ACCIDENT.

| Ino Uh0UDeCte0 Onmo1 IDat Ats
tended an Exciting Episode Of the
| Civil war-A sabsr slashing That
One Man Will Never Forget.
II do not get pension" said the vet
eran, who had trotted his first heat at
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 II were not in
comfortable circumstances might try
for it, and still l had about - much Of
the scrap Us anybody know of, for be-
gan early and quit late. Luck Is with
some people, though, for l came out with
out a scratch, and didn't lose day on
account Of sickness, but l am flying the
track. l think you said you wanted that
story about the man who killed himself
trying to kill me.
ut was In one of those innumerable
small fights that were happening in Yir-
ginia all the year round and was 10 little
that It did not even get name. was
in an infantry regiment, and 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 find-namely, some part Of
the enemy's advance. In clump Of
trees we found it in the shape Of hun
bred or so cavalry, wearing the gray uni
form we had seen good deal of in that
neighborhood. 1t meant business, Of
course, and in very few minutes there
was mixing Of contending forces which
was, to say the least, extremely demo-
cratic.
1.-THE troop of cavalry was composed Of
hot headed young southerners who had
no idea of anything but rushing right
into the midst Of US, yelling and swing
ing their sabers around their heads as il
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 OF Of half dozen Of
US like lot of young butchers out for a
picnic At the same time we were not
entirely idle OF neglectful Of such oppor-
tunities as might be presented, and l
may say that the general result Of the
server was real hot stuff il may use
bit Of modern language.
II 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 &C.
tive part, tile activity iii that occasion
not having been Of the kind, you may
remember, which gives a soldier wide |
experience in fighting, notwithstanding
there was enough experience in conduct
ing q retreat to last a 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
pulled mildly in "Reminiscences of his run.
"As was saying, being inexperienced
in fighting, didn't know Just what to
do, as Is the way with most new soldiers,
SO l kind of ducked my head and went
into 1t on the blind luck style, trusting in
Providence and keeping my powder dry.
In such 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, sense of
one scarcely knows what,
and the end has come either to the fight
or the fighter.
II had reached the slap and the bang
period and was feeling pretty good. see
ing that l had knocked a man or two
over and hadn't been knocked over my
self, and was getting into the spirit Of
1t In fine fettle when found myself
hand to hand or musket to saber with
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 I he'd somehow
got load in my musket and was ready
for that kind of business, but he was so
close that shooting was out Of the ques-
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 80 hot
for me that did not dare to take away
my guard long enough to use 1t on him
instead Of on myself.
II 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 l felt that If something didn't hap
zen for my side very soon there would be
me more bluecoat grave to dig on the
He saw his advantage, too,
md with yell he came at me again,
that big saber of his SO high
md strong that 1t seemed to me to be
he sword Of Michael or Of some other of
hose picture people | 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 il he wanted IT,
But he would not give me n chance to
10 even this much. He banged that con-
Ounded sword around my head until l
ould only hold my gun up and try to
ave my face SO that my friends would
ave something to identify me by after
he battle was over. He rained his
lows so thick that ! weakened fast, and
ust as l began to sing from exhaustion
e reached around with a terrific blow to
ettle me once for ALL had sunk down
alf to my knees, with the musket fallen {
onward, and us he let the sword fall 1t y
truck the hammer of the gun instead of
lie barrel, and with crack that could
distinguish in all the row and the rum
us my old musket went off with con-
ussion that threw It clear out of my .
ands and sent the entire charge square q
ito the face of my foe. Lea
Even under the exciting circum-
tances ! realized that something out Of IL
be ordinary had happened, though 1
ould not tell what it was, and cast my
yes up as I stumbled forward. The
ace Of the lieutenant was not there. 1t
ad been blown off by the discharge of
he gun, so close in the fight we were,
nd we went down together, both cover