The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-04

would be out OF camp only about half
| the customary time.
Just about sunset, as we were ap-
preaching n long bridge over one OF the
wide high banked. but shallow creeks
peculiar 10 the tide water region OF Vir-
ginia, the word was passed back from
fthe advance
"Close up, Quick Send the major up
The major commanding the battalion
| dashed toward the front, and the rest or
US followed rapidly AS my company was
the second In column we soon saw what
was the matter. and II didn't please us
much. A body OF the enemys cavalry
was approaching the bridge from the
other side.
This was something We had not count
ed upon. IL was enraging. IL was also
ridiculous We were between the John
nies and their camp. the Johnnies were
between us and our camp. and the
bridge, which both parties agreed In
wishing anywhere else at that particular
moment remained just where II was ana
looked as dark and threatening as II II
meant 10 make no end OF trouble. III
would be foolish for either body TO ford
the stream, for those tide water creeks
Invariably have one bank which IL too
steep for horses 10 climb or descend, ex-
cept through occasional tributary gullies.
The major began TO think. So. evident
Iv did the commander OF the Johnnies,
while I INDUCED in a wild hope that they
would both keep on thinking until one or
the other got tired and took his men
away
I'VE can reach the Blue church road
for camp by making n detour through
the fields at our right" suggested pru-
dent captain. Meanwhile. as soon as
they cross the bridge and show fight we
can fours about come on the left into
line and drop half OF them from their
saddles before they can fire more than
once"
mo" said the major. IL don't want
10 show them our rear. They'd never
stop blowing about IL II they got away
We've twice as many men as they. We
ought 10 be heavy enough TO press them
back. II we can cross first, we can drive
them into our camp like cattle"
They're as close TO the bridge az We"
said the captain.
Wen try, anyhow" said the major
mo sabers. men-revolvers only Then
the major put his hand on his revolver
and shoute@:
Charge
We were within 100 yards OF the bridge
so we easily heard the Confederate com
mander, a grayish brown man from top
TO toe. who rode TO the front. dropped his
bride I'm his saddle, drew two Old fash
toned horse pistols from holsters and
yelled:
"Gitl"
Then that grayish brown man fired. II
Is astonishing how much damngo can be
done by the buckshot which can be put
into an old horse pistol afterward
learned that all the horses In the first set
OF fours, as well as two or the men
were hit. though none was seriously In
jured. by that grayish brown mans dou-
BILE shot.
In half a minute some OF our men were
on the bridge. but so were some or the
enemy Ten seconds later the bridge was
jammed with horsemen.
Fire FAST Fire fast!'' screamed our
major
The major meant well. but how much
firing could be done on a bridge only
wide enough for about four men abreast
after the men In front had emptied their
revolvers. How were any but the surest
shots and those nearest the front to fire
without hitting their own comrades. who
already were using their revolvers as
hammers or hitting the Johnnies with
bare fists? There was little firing on the
other side. for nearly all the Confederates
carried shotguns or muzzle loading mus
kets which they could not reload in
haste, so after firing once they used their
guns as lances, punching our men IN
breast or face and being horribly cursed
I'm return.
Meanwhile each horse was looking out
for No. /. The horse Is a wedge shaped
animal. and each of our four footed
wedges pushed his head and shoulders
between those OF horses I'm front OF him.
This gave the animals absolute rest as
well as safety while their riders were
lighting
The major turned to the rear. first eau
tloning his captains to maintain tho
pressure. and soon we heard him say:
1.-TWO rear companies dismount Third
company deploy on the right; fourth on
the left Pepper their rear with car
bines as long as there's man OF them
I'm the saddle! Aim cnrefullyl BE care
ful not TO hit our own menI'
This promised sickening slaughter. for
our men with their carbines could get
within 100 yards OF the most distant
Johnny, and do n great deal OF harm be-
fore the enemy could dismount and fire
more than single shot. Probably the
enemy would follow our example as soon
as they saw what we were up TO. IL any
OF them were left after we had given
them vollcy, or two. This Is not Joke.
Our Sharp carbines were as true as sport
ing rifles. For several months we had
been taught when fighting dismounted
with carbines or revolvers. to shoot from
rest whenever possible, and our prac-
tce shooting showed that anywhere
within point blank range we could shoot
well.
At the majors orders three men OF ev-
cry set OF fours In the last two COM
panies dismounted and hurried to trees.
logs and fences near the creek.
Now men," said the major 10 US. "as
soon as they begin 10 fire and clear away
the rear you press upon the advance with
all your might. II we drive them OF the
bridge, divide right and left. soon as
you get across and ride down their ranks.
and well capture every mothers son Of
them who's alive
Tins seemed practicable and hoped
II might begin n: once Had there been
no other reason. II would be vastly pleas
anter 20 take lot OF prisoners into camp
than 10 bury an equal number OF Confed.
crate dead. for burial party duty stays In
ones mind.
"Why don't those skirmishers begin
firing7" shouted the major. though II was
not easy 20 hear him above the horrid
din on the bridge.
Crack" went one Of our carbines.
refined my horse toward the edge OF the
road 90 see when the enemys rear should
become weak enough for the pressure TO
icgin
c,ocL .,uraoN L.,