The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1905-03-16

ceptiOn of myself the braveSt 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-
, tions 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. \ lively skirmish with small
arms began, but the result was insig-
nificant The enemy declined to show
force beyond what was necessary TO
engage with our skirmish line. The
breastworks We're 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; if 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 point
of vantage where, because Of turn
in the river, he could see the interior
of the breastworks.
Just then the Confederates opened
fire with whitening volley. Suddenly
Ash commanded his squadron to re-
treat, while he, bending forward on
his 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
volley after volley.
There seemed no hope for him, and
we waited in intense anxiety. On he
kept, in spite of the storm of lead.
Then, as he reached point where his
view of the Confederate lines was still
more extended, he raised his hat and
waved it over his head. 1t was sig.
nal of triumph.
~, fhn rnnfoInr
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 borse, 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
q man, and had for himself seen, and
displayed to every one else, a full
force of infantry occupying the Con-
federate works.
Captain Ash said afterward that he
had not thought of the scheme of
drawing out the enemy's force until
he had reached the brink of the river
and saw the great number who Occu-
pied the works. To go on meant GER
tain death to many of his command: to
retreat in the direct line of fire was
equally disastrous: and the inspiration
to do what he did suddenly seized
him.
need not say that as we cheered
the bold rider our hearts went out to
the generous foe who appreciated and
chivalrously acknowledged gallant
act.