The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-09-17

the horse by the bit With all his
strength, and driving the Faurs into
his fanks, he cleared tbs frightened
girls by a flying leap and won't gal
looping down the field
You ought 20 have heard the ringing
cheer that hundreds of voices sent
after the gallant young rider
We had been fighting al: day. The
confederate line of battle Mad beea
withdrawn from the level ground,
where our division had pressed the
enemy slowly but steadily back, and
now occupied the crest Of a low hill
that lay south Of us. Here they made
a stubborn resistance, and twice had
they repulsed cur charge upon their
new position ~ss~
The second charge had just been
made, and our brave men. after ter
rible slaughter. had been ordered to
fan back beyond musket shot, where
they now rested on their arms until
another attack should be ordered.
Between US and the enemy lay a
stretch of meadow land that, 10 the
morning had been very fair to look
upon Now II was dotted all over with
dead and wounded men and horses,
dismantled artillery wagons and guns
and knapsacks.
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.
Gen King, who commanded our di.
vision, had given me personal orders
/ to charge a battery on the enemy's
left led my men at a gallop up the
/ hill, and we captured the battery;
but a superior force Of the enemy
swept down upon us at that moment,
and we We're compelled to fall back.
1t 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 saddlebow SO that the
flag was always to be seen waving
above his head. And SO it happened
that, when the brave sergeant fell
pierced by a ball, the flag still waved
but 1t was above a riderless and ter
rifed horse.
When we had gained the position
to which the general had ordered us
to retreat, our first thought was foI
the safety of our company flag. A sol
dier prizes his battle flag more than
his life. you know, and would give
his blood freely to protect it from
capture or dishonor Ours had beer
| presented to us by our friends at home
and we loved It with enthusiasm
Suddenly Ned Barton who had dis
mounted and now stood holding Rock
ct by the bridle-rein, turned to m,
and cried with great vehemence:
Captain, there is the sergeant'i
horse-and seel he still carries oui
aagl"
looked toward where he pointed
and saw the horse galloping wiidl,
over the meadow where we had jus
heen hgb.ng, With the flag flying from
the upright stat at his saddle Boil
armies had caught sight of him, anc
such a shout as you never heard wen
up at the singular spectacle.
Captain" cried Ned again, Il mus
have that nag if / die in saving II
Don't refIse me--I'm OFF," and befor,
/ could speak a word the boy wa
dashing the spurs into Rockets flank
and rushing over the meadow towarr
the riderless horse. He had searcel,
! started when three horsemen gallope,
down the hill from the enemy's line
, evidently intending to capture the fal
, before Ned could reach t.
War, battle, discipline orders. wer
all forgotten, and then men from bot
sides, federal and confederates. crowd
j ed tumultuously forward. yelling anl
cheering over the race between tn
+ blue-coated boy and his three gray
} coated competitors,
They were all four now within eas
I range Of the muskets from either side
I but no one thought Of raising a gu
against them-it would have been fou
j murder. Frightened at the clamor o
] both sides OF him the sergeants hors
5 now changed his course and ran fror
. his pursuers. so that their directio
. was at sharp angle with his
r II was a question OF speed-an