The National tribune., 1902-03-06

ceed directly TO Duyault's Ford. Upon
arriving there | found Col. Carter making
all the preparations within his power TO
repel the anticipated attack.
about a. IN. the enemy recommended
the fight at Carriers Station, and toward
/ or . p. IN. made his appearance again
on the other side of the river, opposite
our position. BY this time the firing had
become so heavy at Carriers Station that
| was afraid Gen. Vaughn would not be
able to prevent the enemy from crossing
the river there. Desiring to create di-
version in his favor, | thought that if the
force confronting us could be driven of
and made to retreat on JOnesborO, the one
in front of Vaughn would also fall back.
to avoid a flank attack. The steep and
otherwise difficult bank just in front of
our position forbade all thought of attack
in that way, but there was a ford about
a mile and half below, from which a
good road led through level ground to the
rear Of the enemy's position. | instructed
Capt. Messick to take 30 picked men,
cross at this ford, and assail the enemy
in the rear. | then requested Col Car
ter to order one of his battaljOns to dash
down 10 the brink of the river, as soon as
the firing commenced and cross and at
tack if the enemy showed signs Of being
shaken by Messick's movement.
Capt Messick had crossed the river
and proceeded some 200 or 300 yards upon
the other side. when he met a battalion of
Federal cavalry approaching, doubtless to
try flank movement on us. They were
marching with drawn sabers, but foOlshly
halted at sight of our men. Mcssick
promptly ordered a charge, and dashed
into them. The impetus with which his
column drove against them made the Fed
erals recoil, and in q little while entirely
give way. Stephen Sharp, of Cluke's reg
iment, rode at the c0lOr-guard, and after
shooting the color-hearer through the head
seized the flag. While he was waving il
in triumph, the guard fired upon him, two
bullets taking effect. one in the left arm,
the other through the lungs. Dropping
the colors across his saddle, he ciubbcd his
rifle and struck two of his assailants from
their horses, and Capt. Messick killed a
third for him. Ten or 10 of the enemy
were killed and wounded. and II prison
erS were taken AEcSsick, pressing the
rcut. whirled around upon the rear of the
position. When Col. Carter saw the CON
fusion produced by Messick, he ordered
the 10th Ga. TO charge the position j.
front. The whole force then rapidly re-
treated. pursued by Messick's detachment
and the Georgia battalion, the distance Of
four or five miles. Shortly afterward the
demonstration against Carriers Station
ceased. Lieut.. ROOdy, an excellent young
officer, lost leg in Messick's charge.
STEPHEN SHARP.
Perhaps the hero of more personal ad-
ventures than any other man belonging to
Morgan's command was Stephen Sharp,
who charged with Messick and captured
the flag. He had once before captured
a standard by an act of equal courage
BY the exercise Of almost incredible dar-
ing he had effected his escape from prison.
With a companion, named Hecker, he de-
liberately scaled the wall of the prison
yard, and forced his way through the Op-
posing guards. In that daring adventure
Sharp was shot and bayoneted, but, his
wounds not being serious, both he and
Hecker got away. When, subsequently
they were making their way to Virginia,
through the Kentucky mountains, they
We're attacked by six or seven bushwhacl-
ers, who shot Hecker from his horse.
Sharp shot four of them, and escaped. He
was the hero of other exploits too numer-
Gus to mention. Although the wounds he
received at Duyault's Ford were serious,
he survived them, and married the lady
who nursed him."
ITO hn continual