The National tribune., 1899-07-06
A RIDE WITH KAUTZ.
North Carolina Iohnny Recalls . Meeting Wits the
GeaeraI In 1861.

Uesefa IN 1905.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Gen.
Kautz's articles recall a ride with that dis
tinguished soldier in September, 1864.
Gen. Gary's Cavalry Brigade was in
camp some 10 miles below Richmond, near
the River Road" and north of Deep Bot
tom. Our camp was 800 or 400 yards north
of the River Road in the woods, on a
hill. "A neighborhood road led from the
River Road by our camp to Darbytown OF
the Charles City Road.
Gary's Brigade was composed of the 18th
5. c. Cav, the Hampton Legion, and the
oath Va. About Sept 23 call was made
for volunteers from the 18th S. c. Cav. TO dc
picket duty at White House Landing OF
the Pamunky. The Landing was about
20 or 25 miles northeast from our camp
and i'll rear of the right wing of Meade's
army.
The 7th S. C. Cav. had been organized in
May preceding, and remained IN. the vi.
cinity of Richmond, but had seen n good
deal OF active service from about the second
Cold Harbor on. | was 4 private in Co. G.
9TH s. G. Cav, mere boy, very green as
soldier, and had not learned the art of war
so fast as some of my comrades. So
thought the detail fun.
About noon of the 2Sth we were relieved
at the Landing, and later in the day started
for our camp. The innate inclination of
soldiers to prowl caused our squad of a
dozen TO grow less at every fork of the road
and when night came but five were to-
gether.
Our camp was about six miles northeast
from Darbytown, and when / got to that
place about s o'clock but one comrade was
with me, and there we separated, he going
up the Charles City Road towards Rich
mond and l by the neighborhood road
leading from Darytown to our camp.
Gen. Hancock, in our absence, had
crossed strong force to the north side of
the James to make a demonstration for the
purpose Of drawing rebel forces from Peters
burg.
This movement had brought about
changes of which was ignorant, and it had
'demOnstrated' Gary's Brigade to a new
locality, and when / left Darbytown for
camp there were norebels east of a line from
that point to Deep Bottom. They had been
driven in nearer to Richmond.
On the morning of Sept. % I was some
what tired and sleepy, too, and had gotten
in a mile or so Of our former camp, when |
fell asleep, jogging along on my horse, with
my hands resting on my gun, which lay
across my saddle.
l likely had not slept but minute or two
when j was awakened by the report of a
pistol shot, seemingly, right at me. On
tonishment and chagrin, that some Yam
KEGS We're just checking up their horses
right in front of me. That pistol business
had frightened me, and told the Yankees
very promptly that l would surrender.
reckon l was afraid they might conclude
that l would undertake to clean them up,
and under the circumstances did not want
to make any false impressions. Evil
IDENTIFY the shot had been fired not with in
tent to hit me, but to let me know was in
their way.
The column, which had been in a sweep
ing trot, now stopped. ] do not know why
was not disarmed instantly, but held
my gun as it was when l awoke till about
the time the head of the column reached
me. A sandy-whiskered officer came up in
rather excited manner, and said some
thing about hanging me if did not give up
my gun, and that if did l would be treated
as a prisoner of war. / afterwards learned
from my guard that that officer was Col.
Spears.
was informed that my captors were the
advance-guard of Kautz's Division, and
that it was part of the 11ta Pa. Cav.
After was disarmed, and my gun broken
over a fence, l concluded (by requesO to
get out of the road and let the Yankees pro-
ceed. A private was ordered to stay with
and keep me on the roadside till Gen. Kautz
came up.
A large part Of the division had passed
in review when Gen. KautZ reached my
grand stand. was ordered in with him,
and he and rode side by side back to
Darbytown. -,
MY recollection Of his appearance is that
he was of medium but heavy build. his
beard was full and clipped rather short,
and in all he was a gOOd-lOoking man,
having kind expression.
He had on his fatigue suit, which was
much better looking than mine. He rode
a beautiful dark-bay horse. which was
sleek and fat. ] was dressed, as were most
rebel privates, rather shabbily, and my
horse was rather thin.
This picture of Yankee General and a
rebel private riding together presented, no
doubt, a ludicrous contrast, perhaps not
often seen during the war.
1t seemed that was the first rebel capt
ured by KautZ's cavalry on the north side
If the river that morning, and the
something as to the locality of rebel picket
posts; but having been absent week, l
could give him no information.
After learning that ] knew nothing of
Importance or benefit to him. which did not
take long, he asked me number of ques-
ions about our soldiers and their condition,
IS if he thought the war was then nearing
he close. He asked me if our soldiers
we're not very few on this (north) side of the
liver. He asked me how many men l
thought we had in and around Richmond,
and if they were not getting tired of fight
ng. He asked if our force was not very
and suggested that the condition
IF my horse indicated that our supply of
provisions was about exhausted.
With smile he asked me if we had not
mad more beef lately than usual. / pre-
sumo that this question was suggested by
.he fact that not long before that Gen.
Wade Hampton had gone in the rear of
Meade's army on the Petersburg side, and
somehow, yet unexplained so far as l know,
got back into our lines almost unmolested,
with $500 beeves.
By the time we reached Darbytown Gen.
kautz had gotten tired of me, and l was
again placed beside my guard. On the
way up the Charles City Road towards
where it enters the outer defenseS of Rich
nond, a Captain of Hoods Texas Brigade
vas captured. He being afoot, l was
ordered to dismount and march with him.
l marched with the Texas Captain till
We got so near our defenSes that our men
,ould shell the column. Soon the shells
,ame so thick and fast that considerable
confusion was created, and soon there were
10 Yankees in the road in front of us (the
)risoners). The column had passed quick
y out of the road to the right or north.
When the soldier who was leading my
lorse few PAGES in front of me started to
cave the road the horse would not lead as
asst as was desired, and the Yankee letting
he bride loose, cried out: "Who ever wants
hat horse can get him." The horse stop
,ed, and ran and mounted him, and then