The National tribune., 1901-06-27

the keen edge of his saber as it CLEANED
in the MONDAY sun, cutting the branches
| from the topmost limbs of the trees as he
rode down upon me. / was so overcome
at the proportions of everything about the
| fellow that my faculties refused to act
and my limbs were motionless. In fact
1 stood there paraIyzed, watching this
giant rise and fall in his saddle as his
horse came leaping over logs and brush,
right on to me.
Not until he was almost within strik-
ing distance did l recover my senses or
realize my great peril. None too soon,
| thought of the drill, guard against cav
airy" and as quick as a flash | brought
my gun down to a charge, forgetting that
the bayonet was not fixed, and, also, that
my gun was loaded, and | could have un-
horsed him before he reached me. My
gun had but little effect in checking the
charge, and seeing that my assailant was
about to cut me down, l sprang to one
side and raised my piece on high to pro-
tect my head from the descending blow.
The stroke which was intended to split
me in half spent its force on my gun
barrel, but not, however, missing me, as
the point Of his long saber dropped over
and struck me on the head, laying open
the scalp some two inches and cutting into
the skull. | was not knocked down by
the blow, and as his horse kept right on,
thought of the charge in the gun, and
bringing it down, fired at the horseman,
the ball hitting him between the shoulders,
rolling him from his horse on to the
ground.
The blood from the cut in my head ran
down over my face, completely binding
me for time, so l only fred the one
shot.
AS soon as the first shot was fired
the boys in the mill-there were four or
FIVE there at that time-ran out on the
elevated walk and opened fire on the
Johnnies, while those who were with me
took to trees on the first alarm and com
menced firing. The fight was of short
duration, but was very spirited while it
lasted.
One Of our men was shot in the leg,
another struck on the side of the head by a
bullet, besides my own wound.
We never knew the full extent of dam
age inflicted on the enemy, but could
swear to one killed and one wounded be-
sides the wounding of one horse and the
loss of another.
The horse that had been ridden by the
dead Johnny appropriated as my legiti-
mate property, as it was the shot from my
gun that made him riderless.
AS soon as we could bury the dead rebel
and get our truck together we made haste
to leave the neighborhood, going TO the
morning before, reaching it late the next
day, well loaded with freshly ground corn
meal, hams, bacon, and sweet potatoes,
and each man with fairly good horse.
SOME FRIGHTENED REBELS.
In the Fall of '63 Rosecrans's army,
with laborious marches, climbed the rug
ged sides of the East Tennessee noun
tains TO get in the rear of Bragg's posi-
tion at Chattanooga. The Fourteenth
Corps having the center, crossed Sand
Mountain to McLemore's Cove, n beauti-
full little valley southwest Of Chattanooga
and some IS or 20 miles distant
AS my regiment was filing down from
the mountain, having the advance that
day, Henry Miller and Ollie Baker, pair
of precious youths belonging to my com
pany, proposed that we go on 4 recon
nOiSSance or our own account.
They had learned that the troops would
halt for the night about six miles from
where we came down from the mountain
and would camp near the mouth of Nick
a-Jack Cave, from which flowed stream
of cool, clear water.
When we reached the valley we slipped
from the ranks and started across the val
ley with the intention of securing the
country around about in search of grub"
We soon came to q road leading to the
right of the one the troops were on, and
taking IT, was soon on our way. We had
Travelled a couple of miles when we were
rewarded by the sight of little log cabin
situated at the mouth of n ravine, and
which proveu to be the humble habitation
Of negro family, and of course we re-
ceiyed cordial welcome from those dusky
sons and daughters of the South, who
were ever ready to share the ICON pone"
and fat bacon" with n Yankee soldier.
or give aid to an escaped Union prisoner.
The object of the forage being some
thing to eat, we went to the cabin and