Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-03-11
Courage that Was Appreciated.

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 cavalry
commander and the cavalry were al
ways busy making "Reminiscences,
although the severity of the weather
had suspended other operations. Gen
cral Merritt tells this story:
One morning in February my diyi-
sion of cavalry started with instruc-
lions 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
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 Were long and formid-
able, but whether they were occupied
by few or many soldiers our most I'M
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 10 be driven out of his works Ii
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 skrmish firing
was hushed, and the silence which
| prevailed showed that the enemy was
intent on keeping us in ignorance OF
their numbers and determined 80 make
ms pay heavily for information.
The anxiety was intense. We knew
that when the enemy opened fire al
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
dcnuded seemed deserted. The mel
started to cross the ford, and Ash
pushed on ahead He gained poln
Of vantage where, because of turl
in the river, he could see the lnterio
of the breastworks.
Just then the Confederates opene
fire with a whitening volley Suddenl,
Ash commanded his squadron 10 re
treat, while he, bending forward OF
his horses neck, rode at rapid gallol
along the river bank parallel TO In
hrcastworks, followed. as he came op
poslte each new part of the works, b,
volley after vollcy,
There seemed no hope for him, AM
we waited in intense anxiety. On h.
kept, in spite of the storm OF lead
Then. as he reached a point where hi
view of the Confederate lines was still
more extended, he raised his hat an,
waved it over his head. 1t was a Sig
nal of triumph.
To our amazement. the Confedcr
ates, moved by admiration, ceased fir
ing Instead, they mounted on thci
breastworks as thick "a they C0ul,
stand. and throwing their hats Int.
the air cheered him again ana again.
Ash refined up his horse, and turn
ing toward the Confederates raised hi
hat in graceful salute. Then he ro1'
leisurcly into our own lines, amid III
cheers of both sides. He had accom-
pllshed the work without the loss o
man, and had for himself seen an,
displayed to every one else, ful
force Of infantry occupying the Con
federate works.
Captain Ash said afterward that b.
had not thought of the scheme o
drawing out the enemy's force unit
he had reached the brink Of the rive
aud saw the great number who occu
pied the works TO go on meant Ger
tain death to many Of his command; +
retreat In the direct line % fire wa
equally disastrous; and the inspiration
10 do what he did suddenly seize
him.
! need not say that az we cheers
the bold rider our hearts went ont I
the generous foe who appreciated an
chiyalrously acknowledged n gallan
act
Value Of Confederate Money.
That Confederate money was neye
taken seriously is well illustrated say
Ippincott's Magazine, in the follow
ing story told by the late General JON