The National tribune., 1906-02-15

ever they could. The brigade during
the siege of Vicksburg was encamped
down in a gulch between Logans bat
teries and Fort Hill (the rebel forD,
and it was my business TO take the or
ders from the headquarters OF the bri-
gade, which was located back of Lo-
gans battery, out of sight of the John
nies, of course. / could reach the bril-
gade and keep out Of sight of sharp
shooters by going about two miles
around and coming up through the
gulch, but laZiness or recklessness
caused me generally to- go over the
ridge between some very heavy guns
and coming out in plain sight of the
rebel batteries. i had been having some
pretty close calls. and the battery men
had warned me time and again. bur j
laughed al them. But one day the Gen
eral sent for me to come to the big
tent. and he told me that he and his
staff We're going TO visit the brigade
He asked me which way l went down
to the brigade. I told him that we had
better go around and come UP through
the gulch. He cut me off pretty short,
and demanded which way ] had been
going. / told him I had been going
over between the batteries but it was
very dangerous. He few into Il passion,
md said some pretty rough words;
wanted To know il l thought his staff
and himself were afraid TO go where
had been every day.
Well. / did not feel very nice: but
] urged that so many of us on horses
going over the ridge would lead the
rebs TO think cavalry charge was in
tended. The staff laughed and Gen.
Stevenson ordered me to get my horse
and take the lead over the ridge. Now,
J felt like l was in a rather peculiar
position; if some of us were wounded
or killed / would feel like l Was very
much to blame: but If l made any more
objections to leading them over the way
/ had been going the General would
get more angry still and maybe order
something worse, for / knew he was
one of the easiest old fellows TO go off
-'half-cocked'' ] ever had anything to do
with. So l made up my mind that if
the battery men did not stop us and
explain the danger TO the General that
j would propose that we go over on
the run when we arrived at the danger
point So, behold the grand parade,
Cen ]. d. Stevenson and staff with a
high private in the lead. When we
came 10 the battery nothing was said,
and / halted and made the suggestion
that We had better go down the hill
pretty rapidly, but to myself / said
Good Lord, deliver us" I did not
wait to hear what the General said, but
gave my horse the spurs, anS then
well. there was roar of muSisetry and
the bullets began TO sing. ] was look
ing ahead. The men of the brigade
came out of their tents like they had
all been asleep. AS soon as they saw
who it was coming, such a yell as they
raised: Grab root" Fall OFF, Lay
down!" and everything else they could
think Of. / looked back, and saw the
General and his staff lying down or
their horses; some of them had los
their hats. / pulled up my horse. ant
went back, dismounted, and picked VI
the hats. The Confederates ceased fir.
ing and began cheering me, or, at least
/ took It that way. The brigade cheered
and / rode slowly down to where the
staff was standing. The General be
came red in the face, and ! expected
'cussing," but one Of the staff was re
marking as ] rode up: why, General
he said il would be dangerous"
/ hated it bad enough, for / knew
the 9Th Mo. would make all they coul,
out of il. He only said 10 me. Don
ever come over that place again on
horse Well, / did not The brigad
laughed over il a long time, but / die
not. II was miracle that none of III
party. was killed.-C. X. Allen, Co. A
% III. cav. Marionyille. Mo.