The Columbus journal., 1903-08-05

vent such q result, and the best I
could do was to punch viciously q
him with my bayonet when I wasn't
the gun up to ward Oh his
sabre. He had the advantage and saw
that he had. and he came at me with
q wild rush. This time would have
gone down beneath his blows certain,
for they fairly rained down ON my
gun barrel, but in some providential
way-for me. At least-for It must
have been Providence. he struck the
hammer. Of my musket with his sword
blade, and the gun went on with an
explosion that threw It out ofs my
hands and sent the entire charge
square into the cavalryman's face. We
went down together. both covered
with blood-his blood. But only ono
Of Us got mp again"
The Flag Over Riehmond.
The Poughkeepsie Eagle prints the
following communication:
The question, who first raised the
United States flag over Richmond in
April, 1867" Is not Z very important
one, in view of the peaceful occupa-
ton of that city. but its continued
agitation suggests that 1t ought to be
answered. The facts are undoubted.
ly correctly stated by Col. Kreutzer.
commanding the Ninety-eighth New
York volunteers. In his interesting
history of that regiment.
Col. Kreutzer says that his regi-
ment belonged to Devens' division,
and was the first regiment which en-
tered the City Of Richmond after its
evacuation by the Confederate troops
on the Sd of April. 1865. To quote
his own language:
arrived opposite the front en-
trance of the city hall. we halted.
Across the street the Capitol grounds
were filed with goods taken from the
burned district, and the portico and
steps of the edifice were densely
packed with the homeless tenants, ex-
tremely old, extremely young, sick
and infirm.
"Adjt. Oakley. followed by q color
sergeant, pressed his way through the
crowd and, ascending the building.
first waved our regimental flag from
the roof of the Capitol Of the South
ern Confederacy. Leaving the SER
geant with the flag. Oakley descend
ed. An hour after Sergt. Hardy was
relieved by Lieut.. J. L. de Peyster Of
Weitzel's staff: and De Peyster. as
sisted by Capt. Langdon. Weitzel's
chief of artillery, hoisted over the
building q storm flag which had
waved over the St. Charles hotel in
New Orleans during Gen. Buffers ad-
ministration.
De Peyster was honored by Gov.
Fenton with q brevet lieutenant
colonelcy. but no member of the
Nine:y-eighth ever received from any
one q thank or the merest recognt-
ton for the service. When De Pey-
ster raised his garrison flag ever the
Capitol of Virginia he displaced the
silken colors of the Ninety-eighth. He
may parade his honors and vaunt
over his services among his prfncely
friends and relatives, but in this par
ticular an unpretending adjutant and
plain sergeant in the Ninety-eighth
we're an hour ahead Of him on the
calendar of time, II not on that Of his
tory. EDWARD ELLSWORTH.
The Fateful Order to Halt.
In less than one-half hour my
troops would have swept up and over
those hills. the possession of which
was of such momentous' consequence.
It is not surprising. with full realiza-
ton of the consequences of q halt,
that l should have refused at first to
obey the order. Not until the third
or fourth order of the most peremp-
tory character reached me did obey.
I think I should have risked the con-
sequences of disobedience even then
but for the fact that the order to halt
was accompanied with the explana.
ton that Gen. Lee, who was several
miles away, did not wish to give bat
tie at Gettysburg. 1t is stated on good
authority that Gen. Lee said, some
time before his death, that II Jackson
had been there he would have won in
this battle q great and possibly de-
cisive victory. l cannot vOuch for the
truth of this statement, as I did not
hear it; but no soldier In q great crisis
ever wished more aruently for q de-
liverer's hand than I wished for one
hour of Jackson when I was ordere ed
to halt. Gen. John B. Gordon. In
Scribrer's.
General Grants Supreme Courage.
Gen. Grants courage was supreme.
No man could face danger with great.
er c0mposure. He did not seem to
know the meaing of peril when duty
called him to risk his life. At one
time I saw the general escape death
by a very slight margin. We were
camp at Spottsylvania Court
house. and under the fire of Confed.
crate battery. All of the headquarters
equipage had been removed except .
camp stool, and on this the general
was sitting. while the shells of the
enemy's guns shrieked over our heads.
A shell passed just over the general.
not missing him, apparently. more thar
q few inches, and struck the ground
about thirty feet away. Without show
ing the slightest nervousness, he
called to me to Get the she'll" say
ing: Lets see what kind of ammuni
ton that battery is using" I weni
and picked up the shell. which was
spherical case. and the gen
eral examined 1t as coollJ as II there
was not an enemy's gun within . hun
dred miles of him.-NatiOnal Maya
zine.
Desert Lizards.
There is no place like the desert for
lizards. As a man rides through the
white sands or over the black malapi
mountains In Arizona or Southeastern
California and sees the fash and
skurry of these brilliant and grace
full creatures the suggestion of death
and solitude is broken, and, behold.
ing SO much life, he is brought to
wonder II the country is really q des-