The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-09-17

cheer that hundreds 81 voices sent
after the gallant young rider.
We had been lighting al day The
confederate line Of battle bad been
Withdrawn from the level ground,
where our division had pressed he
enemy slowly but steadily back. and
now occupied the crest Of a ioW hill
thar lay south II Us Here they made
stubborn resistance. and twice had
they repuised our charge upon their
new position.
The second charge had just been
made, and our brave men. after ter
able slaughter. had been ordered 10
fall back beyond musket shot. where
they nov rested On their arms until
another attack should be ordered. or
night should gi7e them rest
Between Us and the enemy lay
stretch Of meadow land that. in the
morning, had been very fair to look
upon Now IL was dotted all over with
dead and wounded men and horses,
dismantled artillery wagons and guns
and knspsacks-
We had not had time. as yet. TO
count up our losses. even IN my own
company. but all Of us knew that
sergt Watkins had fallen. the gallant
fellow who bore our company flag.
This is how We knew II:
Gen. King who commanded our d.
vision. had given me personal orders
to charge a battery on the enemy's
left led my men al a gallop up the
Mill. and We captured the battery;
but superior force Of the enemy
swept down upon US al that moment
and We were compelled to fall back.
Il was then that Watkins fell. but
the flag did not go down with him.
Wanting both hands free in the battle.
he had devised a means Of fastening
the stan to his saddle-bow so that the
flag was always to be seen waving
above his head And so II happened
that. when the brave sergeant fell.
pierced by a ball. the flag still waved.
but Il was above a riderless and ter
rified horse.
When We had gained the position
to which the general had ordered us
10 retreat. our first thought was for
the safety OF our company flag A sol
der prizes his battle flag more than
his life. you know. and would give
his blood freely 10 protect il from
capture OF dishonor Ours had been
presented TO US BY our friends at home
and We loved It with enthusiasm.
suddenly Ned Barton. who had dis
moW ted and now stood holding Rock
et by the bridle-rein. turned 70 me
and cried with great vehemence
Captain. there is the sergeant's
horse-and see. he still carries our
fiagl"
! looked toward where he pointed
and saw the horse galloping wildly
over the meadow where we had just
been fighting. with the flag flying from
the upright stan at his saddle Both
armies had caught sight Of him. and
such a shout as you never heard went
up al the singular spectacle.
Captain" cried Ned again. Il must
have that flag. II die in saving It,
Don't refuse me-I'm on" and before
could speak a word the boy was
dashing the spurs into Rockets fanks
and rushing over the meadow toward
the riderless horse. He had scarcely
started when three horsemen galloped
down the hill from the enemy's line
evidently intending to capture the flag
before Ned could reach It.
War. battle. discipline. orders. we're
all forgotten, and then men from both
sides. federal and confederates. crowd.
ed unanimously forward. yelling and
cheering over the race between the
blue-coated boy and his three gray
coated competitors.
They we're all four now within easy
range Of the muskets from either side.
but no one thought OF raising a gun
against them--it would have been foul
murder. Frightened at the clamOr on
both sides Of him the sergeant's horse
now changed his course and ran from
his pursuers. so that their direction
was at a sharp angle with his
It was a question OF speed-and
Rocket provei himself WORTHY Of his
name. While the confederates were
yet a hundred yards away from the
coveted prize. Ned Barton gsasped the
bride of the riderless horse and
turned in the direction Of our lines.
Dropping his own reins upon Rockets
neck he raised his cap with his left
hand and saluted the discounted an
tagonists. And then the men on both
sides cheered