The National tribune., 1906-02-22

head of his regiment appeared a VOL
ley was fired which killed the Colonel
and wounded one man. 1t was very
poor shooting, or more of us would have
been killed or wounded. We returned
the fire promptly, and the enemy fed
being secure against pursuit. Our Ma
Jor, whose name l cannot remember,
took command. We returned to the
main body and with them 10 Baton
Rouge, taking our dead and wounded.
There were some queer things or oc-
currences connected with that expedi-
ton. The force consisted of two (or
three, am not suret regiments of cav
airy, one of infantry and a section OF
artillery. We left Baton Rouge in the
afternoon, and camped near Redwood
Bayou, about IS miles out. Early next
morning we crossed the bayou and cap
tured a picket. Capt. Wooster, Co. E,
with 35 men, led the force. We crossed
beautiful open space, grass-coTered,
about mile across, then through heavy
timber about one and a half or two
miles, then higher ground sparsely cov-
cred with timber. and met the advance
of the enemy. Capt. Wooster sent back
report, after exchanging a few shots
and halting- and we We're ordered to
wait further orders. 1t soon became
evident that the enemy was making
flank movement at our left, and the
,dptdlD ItDOTItu lie WAS
directed to send two or three men to
observe the movement and report. 1t
was my fortune 10 be one of the two
who crawled through the bushes TO see
what We could. We counted them as
they rode by twos till satisfied, and
returning reported that at least 200
men had gone 10 our rear. The Captain
was then ordered to take their trail
with his 35 men and follow them back.
About halfway back we met a Lieuten-
ant returning to the front; a good shot
killed his horse, and he became our
prisoner. Just before emerging from
the trees we fiOundered through bad
slough, made worse by the enemy, who
preceded us. Coming TO the edge of
the beautiful open prairie, we discover
ed on the other side of il 800 In line
ready for charge. The artillery had
been ordered to the front, and began
to shell those in front, and that in
formed the flanking force that instead
OF an ordinary scouting party of so TO
100 men that they expected 10 capture
they were themselves in a tight place
And what could 35 men do TO hold
them in the box? Capt. Wooster and
Lieut.. Pixley were In my rear as we
stood in line One said: what shall
we do?" The other replied: We are
not going TO surrender" Then said
the first: I'VE must chi our way
through them" Just then one of our
number, who was more familiar with
conditions than the rest, said: There
IS blind road a short distance TO our
left II we can break through cane
and vines to that we are all right; IL
leads to our main body" The Confed-
frates had started; officers swords
shone. the yell was ringing clear When
the Captain heard of the blind road he
said "Fours -gallop-march, and
we MINCED info the fbipiyaf Soma yyara
unhorsed; one horse fell. and l helped
cut the vines to liberate him; nearly all
lost our hats, but we got out of the
vines and back to the front and our
prisoner with US. Comrade Croiik, who
had the prisoner, rolled the sleeve in
such way as 10 give him a good grip,
and threatened TO shoot him IL he did
not do his best to keep up, and Cronk
took him through all right. Getting to
the front there was more waiting, and
II was then that Col Boardman asked
TO take his regiment and go on. Rid
ing bare-headed became decidedly un-
comfortable. Seeing a man sitting on
his porch with a hat on, rode up and
said: Friend, please lend me your
hat" He replied: 1T is all the hat
have, and cannot spare it." With a
little more emphasis I said: But | am
working for Uncle Sam and you are
sitting liz the shade, and / must have
tiidt hdl ne arose aulchiy, Drought
me'the hat. saying: "Oh, certainly, GER
tainly." And then l was mean enough
10 say: THANK Sou. Call at my office
In Baton Rouge, and / will settle for
it."
/ always wondered why the 300 did
not fire on us or try to capture us till
in the Fall OF 1865, on duty in New Or
leans ] met man who was one of the
900. He said they thought we had an
ambush and Kent from
US as possible, only wanting TO get to
the front again. They got there, and
by our dallying had plenty of time TO
prepare the ambush that lost us our
Colonel.
Now, comrades, If 1 need correcting
Tor any Of my statements YOU win have