The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-04
they Had a Nice lime.

Wat YET .WrltteD. IN the early AUTUMN Oh
1854, after the fall OF Atlanta. Ross brig
ade OF Texas cavalry was doing outpost
duty for General Hoods army. then meet
Jonesboro. about twenty miles southeast
OF Atlanta when General sherman. with
his army, was occupying that city. The
brigade ranks were much depleted by the
all-sumrner hshting, so that the companies
we're consolidated, making Eve companies
instead OF ten to the regiment. This gave
us about twenty supernumerary officers In
the Sixth. Ninth and Whltneld's legion.
They organized themselves into a scout
ing party, and. by permission. Joined
them, being the only man from the Third
Texas. Tney were gallant, experienced
officers. among them Captain H. w. Wads
OF the Sixth Texas. whom we selected as
commander. We we're also Joined by Cap
tain Reains. very daring soldier from
Missouri, whose company was In the Vicks-
burg surrender He had returned to Mis-
seurI for recruits, was captured and es-
capped through Canada and made his wai
to General Hoods amy.
This scouting party was sent on duty in
to the large scope of country lying north
OF the West Point railroad aud south OF
Campbelltowl, county seat Of Campbell
county, was situated On the south bank OF
the river twenty-five miles north vest"
wardly from Atlanta. Tho Federal outpost
In this direction was some twelve miles
out from the city Une morning we met
Lieutenant Bob Lee. with his scouting
party. Bob Lee, for gallant conduct, had
been promoted from the ranks OF the Ninth
Texas TO first lieutenant and placed IN
command OF scouting party, We agreed
to join forces for the day and go on Al
expedition. Bob's party numbered nlno-
teen and we were twenty one. Forty meh,
we'll mounted and we'll armed with Colts
revolvers. Of which We carried from TWO
10 four each We moved toward the Chat
tahoochie river. intending to pass near
the enemy's pickets, On our wsy we
picked up Penn Jarvis a gallant member
OF company X, Third Texas. who was glad
to 90 with us He was finely mounted and
carried rifle. the only gun 10 the party,
but had no pistol. Following any trail
that led in the proper direction. near noon
we struck the south side OF farm lying
IN little valley. Along the opposite ridge
north and short distance beyond tho
farm ran what was called the Ridge road
one OF the main roads leading from At
lanta TO Campbellton. Between the field
aud road and partially hidden by
skirt OF timber was farm
house. near which we heard a
gun fire and hog squesl. Throwing
down the fence. we rode into the field
and across IT, passing out at gap on the
opposite side Three or four OF the men
galloped up to the house. ana, leaping
their horsss over the low rail fence they
surprised and captured two Federal In
fantrymea In the act OF cleaning the hog
they had killed, They told us thar n
party ef about sixty cavalry with ;wo
wagons had gone out on the Campbelltou
road, Moving irt0 the road. We saw the
fresh tracks OF the cavalry About mile
on the road We cana 10 house. where
two ladies told us the party had passed Oh
short time before and that II numbered
about sixty men. an officer and tvs four.
male wagons, We moved on slowly send
ing two OF our men In advance 10 warn u,
ot their approach on their return provided
they came back the same road Their wa
another road leading from Campbell on Il
Atlanta, called the River read. runnin,
along the hank OF the river for SOM d,s
tarrf from the town The Ridge road en-.
tered the town a, the southeast and tn,
River ROAD at the northeast Now. fol
aocut three milts out II was PRACTICAL,
impossible for a horssman to pass from
one OF ihese roads 10 the other We move,
70 within two miles OF the town. and oil
the brow OF Hill on the south side o
the road few PAGES back in the ,hicl
black Jack brush, formed a linz paralle
with the road; here with brides ana pls
tolls we'll in hand, We waited From gu
positior we could see some two hundre,
yards down the road toward Campbell on
and were instructed II the enemy cam
our way, TO hold our Are and remain per
fe'Hly duiot until their column came 4,
front OF us and then charge them in IN
nank' Press7hly our two scouts came gal
I5pfng up the hill, pursued by two Of IN
enemy's cavalry We could already no,
sheir column oomirg IN the hill and So
the head OF 81. They were driving som
mich cows and calves. and az We learne,
later, We're well loaded down with pluuder
OF which they had robbed the citizens
Ono OF the men pursuing our scouts halle
before coming opposite cur ins, but ~
other one came on, passing nearly tn
whole length OF the line. fred his gun
refined In his horse shouted "You d
rebel and etood as II waiting for IN
column 10 come up. The temptation wa
TOO great for some OF our men, who IRE
on him. As he fell to the ground. we al
with ono impulse spurred our horses int
The road. wheeled TO the left and with
yell. charged az full speed into the hea
OF their column and the speed was neve
slaakenei until We saw one OF ths
wagons, their officer and few OF his me
through the town and well into the Rlv'
road.
They we're armed with seven shootr
spencer rifles and Colts revolvers. Tht
ran and Aired back al us all the way, b,
beyond a little powder burns on the fac
Of some OF our men not one Of us r
ceived scratch or injury OF any kind.
At the end OF the run we had in Of
possession one wagon and team and twei'
prisoners. Going back over the ground, v
found fourteen dead and fifteen wound,
men. Gathering up all the guns pisto
and horses. we had between thirty and 10
~ rifles. few pistols and ever so MAJ
horses we'll rigged. In the wagon we
several boxes Of 'hat tobacco and 9th
things, such as turkeys, chickens, Ell
We put three or four slightly wound
men In the wagon. paired of with the u
injured prisoners mounted on captur
horses and. leaving the badly wound
and the dead TO be cared for by IN.
comrades. we took up the line OF mar
southwark.
As the writer was going back ON 4
road we had fought over. assisting
gather up the rifles and pistols, he car
to a long. lean. elderly wounded ma
who had dragged himself Just outside
the road. refining up 10 look for arms. 4
old fellow stretched up his hand. in VIII,
be held 4 greasy leather poekethook. ss
Ing, Hero taxa this. but plesse dol
t1li ne, He was told 70 keep his poke