The National tribune., 1901-06-06

partially recovered their normal noncha-
liant gayety when Breckinridge, tall,
straight and dignified, the ideal Kentuck-
ian among Kentuckans, appeared and
rode to the front. Elegantly attircd,
wearing the full-drcSS uniform of Il Con-
fcderate Major-General, his bearing was
indeed knightly.
\ brilliant staff of dashing officers fol-
lowed the imposing chieftain. Among
them was Col. J. Stoddard Johnston. Ad-
jutant-Gencral, n nephew of Gen. Albert
Sidney Johnston, cOnSpicuOuSly a beau
sabreur, and then, as now, a noted Iittera-
teur While the General, the handSOmest
man | ever saw, and his glittering retinue
were riding along toward the front, it was
interesting to note the many quaint re-
marks, witty, grave, cynical and prophet
ic, made by a thousand Kentucky cavalry
men: Boys, that man has been Vice
President of the United States"'
THE BATTLE OF MARION.
Continuing our march we arrived at
Seven-NIile Ford, where we were met by
courier from Col. Witcher bringing the
intelligence that Stoneman was coming
back, and that Witcher was fighting his
advance at Mt. Airy, beyond Marion. Nov
ing rapidly to Marion, we met another
courier from Witcher, saying that he was
retreating somewhat hurIiedly, being hard
pressed by overwhelming numbers.
1t being apparent that a collision would
soon occur, the COnfederates made the
usual preliminary preparations and grimly
rode forward TO battle. About two miles
beyond Marion near the covered bridge,
over the HOlSton, we met Witcher's little
battalion rapidly retreating before two
Federal regiments. Probably unaware of
our proximity, the sanguine enemy,
flushed with success, charged upon Witch
er and that movement brought them sud-
denly in contact with Giltners Brigade.
The 10th Ky. M'td Rifles quickly dis
mounted and poured a volley into the con-
fused, now recoiling Federal advance.
Three of their officers calamity stood
their ground, fighting with saber and pis-
tol. One of them was killed. and the 9TH
ers, one a Major, were captured. | wish
l had their names. They are eminently
worthy of being written in the Nalhalla
of American heroes.
Giltners entire brigade, dismounted,
double-quicked to take possession of a hill
on the left, already occupied by detaCh-
ment of the enemy, and plainly the key
to the position. The 10th Ky. Cav. the
10th Ky. M't'd Rifles, Capt Bart Jen-
kins's troop, and squadron of the 4th
Ky. Cav, charged the hill and took pos
session of it. The remaining eight COM
panies of the 4th Ky. moved to posi-
ton behind rail fence on low, open
ground, forming the center of our line
and commanding the approaches to the
bridge. Cosby's and Dukes little bri-
gades deplOyed to the right of the rail-
road and turnpike, driving the Federals
from a low range Of hills, thus forming
the left of our battle line. These move
ments were preliminary to what is known
as the battle of Marion, fought in the
rain, mud and cold between 1000 Con
federate Kentuckians," under Breckin-
ridge, and Stoneman's Federal cavalry,
o1anr-
day, Dec. II and IS, 1864. Among the
Federals was regiment or more of
"smoked Yankees'-as the COnfederates
facetiously called the negro troops.
1t was late in the afternoon when the
lines of battle were fully established but
the enemy made several charges at va
rious points in our line, endeavoring as
we supposed to break through. All such
attempts were repulsed, and at nightfall
general firing ceased, but the lines being
In close proximity desultory firing contin.
ued throughout the night. At s or 8
o'clock Gen. Breckinridge, for some rea-
son, ordered slight advance of the entire
line. The night being very dark and the
opposing lines not being, in places, more
than 200 yards apart, messengers bear
Ing orders to the several battalions found
it necessary to proceed slowly and eau
tously for fear of passing through gaps
in the line and falling into the hands OF
the enemy.
LOST BETWEEN THE LINES.
While bearing a message to Capt. Jen-
kins, who occupied a somewhat isolated
position on the left, ] became hopelessly
lost and, when l moved, / momentarily
expected 20 ride into the Federal lines
Neither side had dared to build fires, and
there l was, alone, very lonesome, and so
completely turned round that / had
no idea whatever of direction | was
afraid to go forward or backward, 10 the
right or to the left. Ny feelings can bet
ter be imagined than described-I GER
tainly cannot describe them. However,
1t would not do for me 10 remain motion
less. i must go in some direction, trust
ing to luck. Riding along slowly, very
slowly, l finally saw glimmer of light
in the distance. Stealthily | approached
that Pickering beacon and to my infinite
relief found a section of Confederate ar
tllery, encamped near the turnpike far in
the rear Of headquarters, which were just
in rear of our line fronting the bridge
/ never found Capt. jenkins that night
Sometime in the night the enemy made
furious assault on our line at the bridge,
but they were promptly driven back.
NO SUNDAY IN THE ARMY.
Somehow It happened that nearly all
of our most desperately fought engage
ments occurred on Sundays The same
fatality was with US in this battle of
Marion.
Under cover Of night number Of the
enemy, probably 40 or 100, effected a
lodgment within the bridge, making of it
a sort of caponniere-a fatal movement to
them. With the dawn of Sunday morn
ing they quickly realized that they were
in the wrong box" They could not get
out, and to remain in the trap was un-
comfortably dangerous The sharpshoot-
ers of the 4th Ky, and nearly all of them
were sharpshooters, watched the point of
exit from the bridge as closely and eager
ly as cat watches a rat-holc.
am always sorry for human being
or other animal, that | see in u tight
place. | am built that way. / certainly
felt sorry for those poor fellows in that
bridge. The first one that ran out. max
ing dash for his base, was stopped by
the unerring mimic ball from a Kentucll-
ian's Enfield rife. Another attempted a
home rum" and shared like fate; then
another and another. 1t was fun for the
Kentucky rifemen on the outside. but no
laughing matter to the boys in the bridge.
1t was case of "I'll be killed if | do,
and I'll be killed if / don't" Probably
10 or 20 of the poor fellows undertook
to make the dangerous "home rum" all.
or nearly all, meeting q common fate
Warned by the experience of their COM
rades, the remaining Federals covered in
the bridge and awaited coming events"
When it became evident that none of
those remaining had the temerity TO
from fha bridgo TO hano,,o -.