The National tribune., 1901-05-02

as mlQnlgnt approached he became more
| set in his peryersity, and finally broke
past US and started up the road, with head
| and tail in a position that denoted top
speed. The Lieutenant reined his horse
and talked TO the steer a few moments as
| he disappeared in the moonlight, then
| turning his horse about remarked that we
! had better find our regiment and get a
| few minutes sleep before the command
| started on the march in the morning. We
| found the regiment about 1 or 2 o'clock,
waiting for beef, but all fast asleep.
The 18th we were on the road at sun
| up; got into Asheville about 10 a. m;
| stopped here to rest up our horses for n
| few hours, and as this was the County
seat of st. Clair County, we went around
which was the Jail. Some of the boys
opened the door with fence-rail key and
! liberated six or seven prisoners, one Of
whom was a young lady about IS or 20
years of age, who had served three months
of sentence given for stealing some sew
ing-thread.
We were in the saddle at l o'clock,
moving east; skirmishing this afternoon in
| the rear, in which Captain of the 9TH
| Iowa was said to have been killed, which
report | never heard confirmed or denied.
We struck the CoOsa River at Greenport
about sundown at a point where the river
cuts its way through the Green Noun
tains, and went into camp for the night
Co. A, OF the Sth Ind, was quartered
just in the edge of a blackberry patch;
the fruit was ripe and lucious, and Capt
Foot and | picked and ate berries by
moonlight. About 10 o'clock at night
Maj. Graham, of the Sth Ind, was or
dered to cross his battalion over the river
and take position on the south side. This
he did on rope ferry, which would carry
but 10 or II men and their horses at one
time.
The next morning (the 14th) we were
aroused by the rapid reports of carbines
and musketry, which told us that the en-
emy were engaging Maj. Graham's bat
talon in a pretty sharp skirmish. The
bugles sounded boots and saddles" and
the command was soon mounted and NOV
ing down the river to a ford about five
miles below; but as the move had to be
made in plain view of the enemy, they
fell back to a position opposite the ford
and took shelter behind the rocks and
trees that grew thickly along the river
bank and stubbornly disputed our right
to cross. The two Rodmans that started
out with us had been abandoned on the
18th for lack of horses. The ford crossed
between two islands, the first and largest
below the ford, and about one-third of the
way across the river; the second, above
the ford, and about two-thirds of the way.
We took possession of the first and went
into business without much effect. The
bugle recalled the Sth Ind. to the head of
the island. | was riding in the first file
of Co. A, at the head OF the column, and
when it halted | was within six feet of
Rousseau, with Lieut.-Col. Jones, of the
Sth Ind, between us. The first words ]
heard were from the General: Colonel,
who will lead this charge?" Il WILL" re-
piled the Colonel.
Rousseau: But you are too valuable
man. l can't spare gou."
Jones: MY life is worth no more than
any private Of my regiment"
Rousseau: But as an officer you are
worth more to me-"
Jones: where my men go into danger
| go with them"
Rousseau: How viii you conduct this
charger
Jones: "I will proceed to the second
island and form; then with A and b of
the I'd KY. to cover. / will make the
charge with A and B of the Sth Ind
Rousseau: 'ff the opposite bank is
Jones: "Dismount and go out with the
carbine."
Rousseau: "If not mireyY"
Jones: Ride out and give them the
saber."
A pause in the conversation followed.
/ turned my gaze to the opposite bank,
regiments securely lodged behind the
rocks and trees, stood ready to give US a
reception.
Intervening was a sheet of water dash
ing along over innumerable boulders that
threw the water up in hillock forms as
high as our horses's backs; q torrent SO
swift in its maddened rush that 1t looked
as though no horse could keep his
feet while fording it, with all the care his
rider could give him. The prospect Of a
successful charge looked anything but fiat
tering, nor did 1t inspire a very great de-
gree of fighting courage, and as one that
would be engaged in that charge 1 must
confess that my thoughts went back to
home and friends on the Wabash.
After a few moments of deliberation
the General said: Colonel, hate to lose
so brave man as youi l wish l had let
you go back to the ferry when you pro-
posed it. How long will il be before you
cap reinforce Graham by doing so now?"
Two hours" replied Jones.
Rousseau's one word, 60" was all
that was necessary, and the Sth Ind. was
dashing across that intervening space Of
water between the island and the main-
land In manner that reminded ono of the
Red Sea incident. where the children of
Israel went through dry footed.
We had gone but a short distance when
the Colonel halted q negro and asked him
if he knew of ford between there and
the ferry. Hs did, which proved to be
near at hand. By this unexpected good