Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-07-04
A Fourth in Dixie Land.

were confined 1000 Union OH
GERS whom the fortunes OF war
had made prisoners to the Con
federates. Among these was the
colonel of the 10Th New York
Cavalry, better known as the 1st
New York Dragons. The pre-
vious May at Trevellyn Station,
Va, he had led his regiment IN
a desperate saber charge. A
confederate shell killed his horse
and fearfully rnangled his left
leg. With his head pressing
hard against the wheel OF a
captured gun and pinned to
the earth by the dead horse
which had fallen upon him he
Law fer three long hours while
the tide of war argrily beat
around him, when he found him
self a prisoner in Confederate
hands.
The morning of this Fourth OF
Tu1v found him sitting by the
brook which flowed through the
prison enclosure applying the
cooling water to his mangled and
feverish limb. While thus en-
gaeed a committee from the
prisoners came to him and said:
"Colonel, the prisoaers are going
to celebrate the Fourth, and wish
YOU to deliver the oration. He
said: ''Boys, 1 am scarcely able
to stand. Besides which a cele-
bration will only provoke the
rebs and make our condition
more intolerable."
The committee lett him and
made his views known to the
prisoners. They were directed
to return to the colonel and ln-
sist that he address them. The
|colonel more urgently argued
against the proposed celebration.
| A third time he was waited up
on, and finding himself absolute
ly alone in his opposition, con-
sented to address them. He was
placed upon an empty upturned
rice hogshead and the prisoners
formed a hollow square about
him. Glancing upward he saw
beautiful fag-the stars and
; stripes, flying above him. Al
ready had this flag been enthusl-
ast;cally carried around the s Ell
closure followed by several hun
dred men singing Rally Aroune
the Flag" The colonel began
his oration. He spoke earnestly
} and patriotically. He recounted
the sacrifices and suferings o
: the men who won our natlona
independence. He paid fitting
f tribute to the Marions, Sumpters
e Lees, Waynes, Greens and War
Z rens of that period. He deplore'
. the fact that sectional STRIFE ha'
v arisen among the defendants q
! these heroes. He was frequently
i and wildly applauded. He ha'
n spoken about fifteen minute
y when the prison gate opened an
: a confederate officer led in a tu
company of men in gray carry
ing loaded muskets. He torme
line, caused bayonets to be ike
and at a charge advanced upo
s. the unarmed prisoners. Speak
n ing to his audience the colon'
of said, "Men, be perfectly still an
!. quiet'; then facing the advan'
" ing line of steel he commande(
e. "Haltm Instantly the me
ut halted and came to a carry IN
The orator colonel addressing tt
ne officer charged him with inte'
to to murder and denounced him {
th a coward. "None but a cowa1
n. would shoot or bayonet unarme
ke unresisting prisoners. FIRE
ar you dare. In twenty mlnut
as afterward we will be burnli
ad and sacking your city" L
nd prisoners shouted "Well do
nd That's it," The officer deman
he ed possession of the ofendi' e
ok flag, and was informed that
IRE was the property of the prlsone
nd and would not be surrenoere
NO "Inform the commandant,' s.
he the colonel, "that we are not
oh revolt, not planning escapse'
re- objecting to the recognized a
led usual treatment Of prisoners
yas war;" Seeing their determ1n
ed attitude the officer quietly wi
led drew his men. "Now me: mef
addressing the prisoners, TINS
he not the end of it. Some OF
lch probably myself will be sent
Make no resistance, but atts
to to what VOL, NAV hear. Qu1e