The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-09-20
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such man is coward, but lhomp
son was an exception. He had
courage enough, but seemingly de
lighted in continually teasing some
one, or thought it showed smartness
to do so. But the time came when
he and all others respected Harper
for his lofty principles and heroic
courage, and acknowledged with
candor and sincerity their own con |
temptible conduct.
Harper's regiment formed a part
of the first Union army to march
into Virginia, and he soon had a
chance to show what he was. After
the capture of Alexandria he led a
squad of men out some distance to-
one of the railroads and captured a
train on which were a number of
fleeing Confederates and three "a
Ipounder guns. He also got into a
brush with the enemy on the Lon
don & Hampshire railroad, in which
he took more prisoners than he had
men in his command. For these ac-
tions, in which he showed marked
skill and great boldness, he was
"mentioned" in the dispatches and
promoted to lieutenantcy. Short
lily after this Harper was in com
mand of a company of scouts, and
near Balls Cross Roads was sudden,
lily attacked by a much stronger
force of South Carolina troops and
during the hot fight that ensued,
Harper's little band was surrounded
and its surrender demanded, but
Harper led bayonet charge on the
enemy with such dash and deter
mination that he swept them out of
the way, and taking prisoners col
onel, captain and ten men, returned
to the Union lines in safety with his
own wounded and his prisoners. A
lday or two later, at Fairfax Court
House, he had a hard fight with a
Georgia regiment, but finally routed
them by counter charge just at the
fright moment. The commanding
ofhcer, Col. Upton, and score Of
his men, were taken back to the
| Union camp. After this incident
There were no men louder in Har-
lper's praise than his former torment
Tors, and isis" was never more heard
in camp.
| At the Inflated Bull Run battle
Harper again proved himself gooc
soldier and skillful officer. Aftel
the panic in the Union troops be
Igan, Harper, with most of his ole
company, prevailed upon some flee
ing troops to join him, and in q
short time he had succeeded If
stopping and steadying quite body
of men of different commands. He
soon had them faced to the front
but this unexpected action brough
the Confederates down on him il
large force. The enemy came sweep
ing along, exulting over their easy
Victory, when suddenly their ad
Vance was sent Keeling back on t.
the main body with a loss of NAM
in killed and wounded. Here the,
! brought up battery on the jumI
and soon opened most destructiv,
. cross-hre on the devoted little bant
, that had thrown themselves acros
the path of their hilarious progress
: Harper coolly called for volunteer
to charge the battery, and abou
two hundred offered themselves
Fixing bayonets, they raced for tn
, Iguns, whose threats were spittin
. Igrape and canister at short range il
. a fiery deluge. The struggle anon
the guns was brief, as all such fight
must be, but the artillery could no
be brought away because Harpe
.. and most of his charging party wer
, piled up with the enemy among tn
now silent guns. This action ende
the organized fighting on the field
. Captain Harper's name sppeare