The National tribune., 1901-04-11


WEARY"
Weary, and not fully awake myself, I
dreamily listened to that muffied, rumb-
ling sound, breaking the stiffness of the
morning air. Clearer, deadlier. came the
eminous, rushing noise, and then ! knew
it was ''the battles opening roar" Bur
bridge and Garrard We're coming. Day
was breaking, and Morgan's men were
astir. The sounding of 'tthe alarming
bugle had reused up the soldier ere the
morning star"
Burbridge and Garrard, two brigades,
attacked US confidently, impetuOuSiy, ir-
resistibly. In no condition to fight, Nor
gan's kentuckians were helpless. The
4th KY, the largest regiment, had no am
munition for their Enfield rifles. Trusting
to luck, the men Of that fine regiment,
looking askance at an infantry musket
with bayonet attachment had neglected
to throw away their Enfelds and ann
themselves with Gen. HobsOn's guns,
captured on Saturday. However, they
formed in line with empty guns, vainly
trying to stem the oncOming, rushing,
overwhelming blue tide. 1t was no battle.
There was some desultOry fighting, TO ced
here and there by the Federals.
At the first note of alarm Gen. Morgan
had ordered retreat by way of the
avenues of escape-the Augusta Road,
and the disputed bridge on the other
side of the town. Pressing US closely, our
movements were plainly discernible to the
enemy. Scarcely making an effort TO
check them, our only thought being to get
away, we were soon crowded into the
town, routed and thoroughly demOralizad.
The blue line came steadily towards us
In the form Of a crescent, evidently int nd
Ing to cut us off from either of the p ss-
bic lines of retreat. However, before The
points Of the crescent had reached the
bridge and the Augusta Road, many of
our men had escaped by both routes.
While falling back on the town / saw
Gen. Morgan going out the Augusta Road,
and Of course | was glad TO see him get
ting away.
The scene in the town was indescrib-
able. Men were gallOping hither and
tbither, yelling and swearing. Frightened
women and children were crying. In short,
1t was pandemonium.
When the points of the blue crescent
swung into the road at both ends Of the
town, nearly all of Trimble's battalion
and many others, took the river route. A
detachment Of the enemy had gained the
further shore, going by way of the bridge,
and our men who escaped the terrors of
the river Were forced TO surrender or fight
their way through the intercepting force
on the other side. Many men and horses
were killed in the river.
Some of our most gallant men escapai
by way of the disputed bridge" nOtwith-
standing the valiant fight made there by
Allen and his 9TH Ohio cavalrymen.
A number Of our men were killed
wounded, or captured in the tOwn-how
many, / never knew. AS to myself, Provi-
dence WAS my guide. Mounted on my game
little mare, the one obtained between
Lexington and Georgetown, ] drifted aim
leSClV ahOTf tho a still small
warning me TO avoid the disputed
bridge" where Capt. Allen the Adjutant-
General of Garrard's Brigade, was way
ing his sword with one hand and shooting
with 'tother, all the while vOciferously
and terrifcally sounding his battle cry
Remember Rogersyiller' Not thinking
1t would be conducive to my health to
meet my versatile young friend and old
acquaintance Of ROgersvi!le, knowing that
be was mad and in full war paint, / was
thinking Of taking the river route TO T. e.
dom or death, when tall. fine looking
young officer at the head of squad of
men dashed by me, calling cut that he
knew the topography OF the country and
could flank the enemy and gain the open
country without crossing the river.
Falling in behind him ] followed his
lead, going in the opposite direction from
the disputed bridge" Following the
young oilicer-Berry, think, was his
name-the little cortege Calloped through
obscure streets and out Of town by devious
by-lanes and isolated pathways until. fnal-
ly, we crossed a little stream, tributary to
Licking River called Indian Greek, as /
remember. GallOping across blue grass
pastures and through woodlands. we came
Into the Augusta Road not far behind
Gen. Morgan's rapidly retreating column
consisting of probably 300 men. Overtak.
Ing the General. l found him smiling and
pleasant, just the same as if nothing un.
usual had happened. Certainly, he had
been in close places and met disaster on
previous occasions. / found that we had
saved the prisoners, In tolerably good
order and condition, but for my life ]
could not see what earthly use we had for
them. They were the biggest kind Of
elephants on our hands.
BEFRIKNDING A PRISONER.
Riding along the column of prisoners
! observed a nice looking little fellow
HmpiBg along, seemingly in distress. He
was mere boy. not weighing more thar
lilo pounds. Feeling sorry for him,
made inquiries, and found he was footsors
and weary-in fact, suffering and ex
hausted. Very gratefully he accepted my
Invitation to 'get up behind me and ride.
He rode behind me all the way to Clays