Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1899-08-18
MUSKET AND SWORD.
A TERRIFIC FIGHT THAT WAS OECID-
ED BY ACCIDENT.

The Unexpected Climax That At.
tended an Exciting Episode of tho
Civil War-A Saber Slashing That
One Man Will Never Forget.
IT do not get pension" said the vet
tran, who had trotted his first heat at
Bull Run. breaking into wild gallop be-
fore he passed under the wire at Wash
angton and finally stopped to retire from
the turf at Appomattox, NOR do want
one, though l suppose IL were not In
comfortable circumstances might try
Tor It, and still I had about as much Of
the scrap as anybody know of, for be-
gan early and quit late. Luck Is with
some people, though, for came out with
out q scratch, and didn't lose day on
account of sickness, but I 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 innumerabae
small fights that were happening in Vir-
ginia all the year round and was so little
that it did not even get q name. l was
in 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 hum
dred or so cavalry, wearing the gray uni
form we had seen good deal Of In that
neighborhood. It meant business, Of
course, and In a very few minutes there
was a 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 II
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 dozen Of
US like lot Of young butchers out for q
picnic. At the same time we were not
entirely idle or neglectful Of such oppor-
tunities as might be presented, and !
may say that the general result Of the
meeting to the eye of the casual OBJ
server was real hot stuff il may use
q 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 l had taken an &C.
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 a retreat to last lifetime. Gee,
how we did run that day! It makes me
warm to think about it even now" and
the veteran smiled at the thought and
puffed mildly in Renaissance Of his run.
"As I was saying, being inexperienced
in fighting, didn't know just what to
do, as is the way with most new soldiers,
so I kind of ducked my head and went
into it 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
a throatful Of nasty sulphur smoke, pos
sibly bee sting in body or limb. fall
in the leaves or dust or mud, sense OF
something, one scarcely knows what
and the end has come either to the fight
or the fighter.
81 had reached the slap and the bang
period and was feeling pretty good, see
ing that I had knocked man or two
over AID hadn't been knocked over my
self, and was getting into TIE spirit OF
it. in fine fcttl" ''.''''" 7 f'"'"h myself