The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-05-10

hcers were placed at the head of the
legion surrounded by patriots carrying
| loaded pistols. On the first sign of
| treacherT to Lees plans these officers
We're to be shot dead. Lee rode at the
head OF column. and all We're instruct
ed to masquerade through the hostile
country as Tarleton's legion. The first
persons encountered by the pseudo
ioyallsts We're two young men, mount
ed and armed, who represented fresh
band of North Carolina partisans un-
der one Colonel Pyle. Pyle was march
ing in search of Tarleton's camp to
fight under his flag. On being brought
| before Legion Harry these new loyal
list recruits readily believed that he
| was Tarleton, the fiery Britisher.
Lee at once sent Colonel Pickens a
written note to place his command in
ambush along the road on which
Colonel Pyle was marching. He then
sent one of the North Carolinians I'M
| der escort of desperate dragon of his
own band to lead Colonel Pyle into the
trap. The unsuspecting youth bore
verbal message from carleton" to
Pyle asking the latter to draw his
forces up on the roadside so as to al
low his own travel worn men to reach
their camping ground first. The mes
senger speedily galloped back with the
assurance that Colonel Pyle was "most
happy to comply with the request of
Colonel Tarleton."
The sequel was more savage than
Lee intended, but it is impossible to
play with powder as safely as with
sand. Legion Harry meant to get
Pyle's detachment between his own
ranks and those of Colonel Pickens,
who brought up the rear.
Lee gave his hand to Pyle, compli-
menting him on the fine appearance Of
his recruits, while the line rang with
shouts Of God save the kingv' The
officers and men riding behind Lee,
taking their cue from his gestures,
We're about to demand the surrender
of the loyalists when some Of the lat
ter discovered Pickens' we'll known
South Carolina militia drawn up on
the left of the supposed Tarleton col
umn and at once opened fire. At this
Lees men rushed upon the enemy pell
nell. Fighting hand to hand, the
slaughter was terrible. Colonel Pyle
had mustered 400 men. and 90 of these
We're killed on the spot and many left
wounded. The surprised loyalists cried
for mercy. but Lees men. and especial
~ Pickens' militia, thirsted for venge-
ance upon Tarleton's numerous acts of
savagery.
Colonel Pyle fell into Lees hands a
wounded captive. Instead of follow
ing up the fleeing loyalists Legion
Harry started for Tarleton's own
camp, only three miles off, but the
cowardly butcher had got news of the
disaster to his lucllless ally and again
fed from Lees approach. AS it was,
Lee just missed cutting off the mis-
creant at one of the fords of the Haw.
Fortune the capricious goddess" said
he in his narrative of the affair, gave
US Pyle, but saved Tarleton.''
Lee rose to the rank of general and
after the war wrote a memoir of his
campaigns. the only record of the kind
left by competent officer Of the patri-
OF army. And this record, by the way,
was rescued from oblivion and repub-
lished, with notes and explanation, by
General Robert q. Lee, the brilliant
soldier son of the great Virginian.
Light Horse Harry's" memoirs con-
tain all too little of the personality Of
their author, but now and then give a
touch Of the human nature dominant in
those godlke patriots we revere as be-
ing above the common mold. Writing