The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-07-11


put on my clothes and told him l
should ride as far as l could stand it.
hoping ] might be able to get back to
obr lires.
Just as we started on the retreat 1t
began to rain very hard, and was so
dark we could not see the horse in
front of us. was riding by the side
Of Cant. Hastings. at the lsad of the
men from the Fifth Michigan Cavalry.
Coming to the forks in the road. we
dIS@vered that the column IN front Of
ne ~ entirely disappeared. we cali
ed TO them, but got no answes Men
were sent out on each road to try to
find them. They all returned without
success. The column had broken in
two about in the middle. About one
hundred and fifty men were with Col
Dahlgren and about two hundred with
us.
We were without a guide, and none
of us knew anything of the country
After consultation we concluded to
take the left hand road, as that was
more in line of rocket sent up by Gen.
Fitzpatrick; also it would take us out
side the breastworks.
It rained very hard until about a.
m. when it turned into snow. AS
soon as it was daylight the column
started on the march. BY this time
had become quite weak from the loss
of blood and the nard march in the
rain. My wound had become very
painful. ! required help to mount my
morse, and every step ne took would
send daggers through me. But the
thought Of Libbey Prison would nerve
me up to try. if possible. to get through
to our lines. fell in with the off4c-
ers of the First Vermont Cavalry
about the middle of the column. Two
or three Of my company found me and
rode by my side to keep me from
falling off my horse
After riding in this way for about
five miles. we came to Old Church.
Just as we got to the Corners we were
fired on from ambush by some one
hundred and fifty men under the com
mand of Col. Bradley T. Johnson. The
head of the column cut It's way through
and kept right on it's way. AS the
First Vermont came up, they hal to
fight a superior force; while u the
head OF the column had turned about
and rendered the assistance they
coald easily have done, the whole
force Of rebels would have been driven
on or captured. ! saw that the first
Vermont would have all they could do
to take care Of themselves and to get
through the ambush. | told the Of
fcers TO abandon re; that if they had
to help me through, very likely some
ablebodied men would be captured |
The result was. ali the wounded ami
dismounted men were captured. l
among the number.
had Surrendered to sergeant. /
Very soon after had done so. a boy
belonging TO a regiment we had been I
hghting came within ten feet Of me
and fired at me. saw what he was up I
20, and about the time ! though he /
would FIRE l dropped on my horses (
neck. He shot over me, as hal cal /
culated he would Almost instantly (
man shouted, stop tnat shootingl"
Looking in the direction Of the voice,
saw an officer coming toward us as
fast as his horse could run. Refining
lp near me, he said: who fired that
shot at this olficer?" No one answer
ed him (there were at least a dozen
rehs about mel Then, turning to me,
he asked Captain, tell me who fired
At you and l will shoot him" He
held a large revolver in his hand, and
think he meant just what he said.
declined 10 point him out, saying to
lhe OFFICER that as long as he did not
bit ne TO let him go He then took
me to Col Johnson in person. then
learned that the officer was Capt.
Williams, adjutant to Col johnson.
they soon found was badly wounded
and used me very kindly. They inyit-
ID me TO dinner with them In the
afternoon they sent me in charge Of
} sergeant to a house Aear by. where
bad supper q fair bed 70 sleep in and
breakfast the next morning. for which
have alwEys held . very grateful