The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-08-09
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LITTLE BUT BRAVE.
of FrenchmAn In the
Union Army.

When the first call was made for vol
unteers in 1861 there was a little man
named Gabriel Meter engaged in bust
ness at Cromwell, Ky. He closed up his
shop and entered the union army as a
captain in the Twenty-siXth Kentucky,
where he so distinguished himself as 10
attract the attention of the governor,
who commissioned him colonel and au-
thorized him to recruit a regiment to
be called the Thirty-eighth Kentucky
mounted infantry. He first established
his camp at Hartford, but soon after
wards removed to 0wensboro, KY,
where the writer joined the command.
That he was as brave as Marshal
Ney" himself went without saying, and
the general opinion was that he was as
reckless too. / soon became convinced,
however, that that was a mistaken no.
tion. From personal experience and OBJ
.servation formed for myself the opin
ion that both his acts and words proved
that he was possessed of good judg-
ment and sound discretion, as well as
unquestioned courage. Netter was at
this time about 26 years of age, rather
below the medium size, but well formed,
with fair complexion, of neat appear
ance, faultless in apparel, and as polite
as the proverbial French dancing mas
ter" Had his life been spared he would
have achieved honor and distinction for
himself, and glory for his adopted coun-
try.
Though he was strict discipinarian,
and wanted his men to look and act as
soldiers, he treated them with great
kindness, and was ever soicitous both
for their welfare and their comfort.
in his disposition, gentleness and firm
ness were mingled together in about
equal proportions.
Our camp was at the Old fair grounds,
but a short distance from the western
suburbs of the town. At this time we
had about 500 names on the rolls of all
the different embryo companies; but
as the chief business in hand was that
of recruiting. both officers and privates
were allowed to go wherever there was
chance to bring in another recruit,
20 that not more than half of the men
.Here in camp at any one time.
This was the condition of affairs at
The camp when at an early hour on the
morning of September 10, 1862, while
a dense fog covered the earth, we re-
eeived information that confederate
cavalry, numbering about 500 men, had
made forced march by travelling all
night, and now occupied the town.
Our morning meal was indefinitely
postponed, and we at once began to
make hasty preparations for our first
ight. While our colonel was busily en-
gagged in getting his men into proper
position he received further informa-
lion that portion of the enemy was
concealed in the woods west of our po-
sition, ready TO pounce upon the camp
and take possession as soon as he
should leave it to attack the force in
town, as they confidently expected him
TO do.
So he decided to reconnoiter in that
direction first. He started with his en-
tire command, except our company,
composed of about 25 men and small
squad handling a siy-pound brass gun,
which he left there to watch the enc
my in town and protect the camp.
BY this time the fog had cleared
away. Moving short distance down
the lane leading from the fair grounds
to the river, he halted his men and re-
turned to give our captain his final in
structions. While thus engaged his at
tention was called 20 an officer coming
from the direction of the town bearing
a flag of truce, who had been halted by
our pickets. He motioned to him to