The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-03-23


such conduct. We were in a skirmish
pit, and had to lie low, for every time
q man showed his head above he got
the contents of a Confederate sharp
shooters gun. There was small tree
which DISTRACTED our view Of the
enemy which troubled us not little.
There was a man in the pit by the
name Of Dick Brian, who said he
would go back to the pioneer corps,
get an ak and fell the tree. He pro-
cured the ak and safely returned to
the pit. Then we began to think the
man was In earnest. We knew that
he would not get one-half Of the way
to the tree before he would be riddled
with balls, and demonstrated with
him, but Is was no use. He took the
ak in one hand and his gun in the
other and started. He did not reach
one-third Of the distance before he
was stretched on the plain, mangled
with bullets. His life was lost to him;
he was lost to his country and to his
family, through an act which a mo-
WINGED him was sheer folly.
For my part, / did not call that
bravery. 1 was always much drawer
when / was behind a tree, and the
larger the tree the better. do not
wish to intimate that the men Of the
late war were not brave men, for 1
think that they were all with the ex-
ception of myself the brsvest men
that ever marched In the ranks Of an
army.-B. B., in American Tribune.
Courage that Was Appreciated.
In the winter Of 1864 Lees army
was in camp along the Rapidan River.
The Union forces under Meade occu-
pied the country across the river.
General Merritt was then a cavalry
commander, and the cavalry were al
ways busy making reconnaisances,
although the severity Of the weather
had suspended other operations. Gen.
eral Merritt tells this story:
One morning in February my divi-
sion Of cavalry started with instruc-
tons to discover the extent Of the
enemy's force on the Rapidan with
out bringing on general engagement.
In due time we found ourselves face
to face with the enemy, and the river
between. A lively skirmish with small
arms began, but the result was insig-
niicant- The enemy declined to show
force beyond what was necessary to
engage with our skirmish line. The
breastworks were long and formid-
able, but whether they were occupied
by few or many soldiers our most in
genious plans failed to discover.
1t was finally decided that the only
way to make the enemy show his
force was to try to cross the ford in
our front. If this succeeded, the enemy
was to be driven out of his works If
possible; II not, he would drive us
back across the ford, probably with
severe loss to our troops. Reluctantly,
under these conditions, the division
was organized for the work.
Leading the advance guard, which
consisted of a squadron of cavalry,
was Captain Ash. His instructions
contemplated that only his advance
guard should cross. 1t was hoped that
this maneuver would draw the enemy
from behind the breastworks and
cause him to display his force. Ash
advanced with his squadron amid the
stiffness Of death. The skirmish firing
was hushed, and the silence which
prevailed showed that the enemy was
intent on keeping US In ignorance Of
their numbers and determined to make
us pay heavily for information.
The anxiety was intense. We knew
that when the enemy opened fire at
short range our loss would be great,
and that the advance guard must be
the first and greatest sufferers. Ash,
with his small command, moved on.
The works in front, gloomy, silent,
denuded, seemed deserted. The men
started to cross the ford, and Ash
pushed on ahead. He gained a point
of vantage where, because Of a turn
In the river, he could see the interior
OF the breastworks.
Just then the Confederates opened
fire with a whitening volley. Suddenly
Ash commanded his squadron to re-
treat, while he, bending forward on
lis horses neck, rode at rapid gallop
along the river bank parallel to the
breastworks. followed, as he came op-
posite each new part Of the works, by
| yolley after vOlley.
There seemed no hope for him, and
we waited in intense anxiety. On no
kept, in spite Of the storm Of lead.
Then, as he reached point where his
view Of the Cor federate lines was still
more extended, he raised his hat and
waved 1t over his head. 1t was q sig.
nal Of triumph.
To our amazement, the Confsder.
ates, moved by admiration, ceased fir.
ing. Instead, they mounted on their
breastworks as thick as they could
stand, and throwing their hats into
the air cheered him again and again.
Ash refined up his horse, and turn
ing toward the Confederates raised his
hat In a graceful salute. Then he rode
leisurely into our own lines, amid the
cheers Of both sides. He had accom-
plished the work without the loss Of
man, and had for himself seen, and
displayed to every one else, a ful
force Of infantry occupying the Con
fadorafo works