Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-09-25
COMPANY'S MASCOT.


1t was on the morning OF Sept. 7.
1863 that the Confederate General
Frazier was asked by General Burn
side TO surrender Cumberland gap. As
General Buckner had retreated toward
Chattanooga while General Burnside's
forces lay at the gap. the garrison felt
secure against attacks by the Confed-
crates. The Federal army was In pos
| session OF Knoxville. and General
I Burnside had ordered 10 the gap six
\ teen regiments and two trains of artiI-
/ ferry. The Confederate force. under Cen
| eral Frazier. was about 1000 strong.
/ stationed at Morristown. whore he
could control the railroad with sup
/ plies for General Buckner's army. The
/ former was ordered TO meet the ad-
vance OF the Federals. who were
marching toward Jonesvile.
His hope was. we afterward learned
/ that q part Of General r. T.. Lees
army Of northern Virginia would re-
/ enforce dim before our march Of thir-
! ty-siX miles could De- made But he
/ bad reckoned without the Union host
! We showed "a front $50 formidable that
| General Frazier wisely laid down his
arms aud Generals Buckner and Jones
/ fed across the mountains of east Ten
uessee.
General LonCstrect had evidently ex-
pected that General u. II. Hills corps
that occupied a secure position at Cat
| tott's gap. in Pigeon mountain. which
was about fifteen miles from Chatta-
uooca. a spur 81 Lookout mountain.
would come To- his relief. but as Gen
erals Iludman and Hin still hoped for
Succor from Euckncr the opportunity
20 evacuate voluntarily was lost
10 was 600 this iuncture that General
Thomas moved upon Hills left wing
and closed the gateway 90 Buckner's
force. This was the turning point I'm
the speedy victory FOR the Union I'm
Tennessee. II WIS no Gordon's Mills
that we met General Pat Cleburn
a crash of mu>kery made us reel
early ga the enga-emcut. and the fire
was SO terrific that we were Obliged
10 withdraw TO a better position on the
hill Then night came on.
General Cleburu's men were iust
over the brow of the him. So close
that we could hear their voices rs
they called bach and forth 90 each
other. Like ours. their camp was IN
lighted. Every well regulated COM
pauy. IL is said. owns TO "a mascot.
The mascot OF Company n was Ted
dy. II DE had amy other name we did
not know it. and I doubt II ne did
He was % harmless sort OF half wit
who had followed the army from the
Ohio border. Tie was happy-go-
lucky wight. rarely understanding the
simplest things slid to him. but his uu-
failing chcerfulnCss and good nature
had won FOR him the honor place Of
mascot of the company He was the
possessor OF very fine rcgimentaI nag.
and me seemed not Co know how it be-
came his. Out his devotion 10 IL was SO
absolute that we had learned 10 re-
spect a.
The Confedcrates were carly astlr
and we could holy the horses champ
Ing their bits aud the men exchanging
words about the preparations for the
day. or course they tried the blum
game on us Of raising shouts every
now and then as il rc-enforcements
had come. We were ready for the
hard day 20 come. resting ON our arms.
waiting for the signal OF buttle.
Suddenly. about z O'Clock. a furry
was felt in the air. and a crash came
General Clcburns men had struck our
right wing, and that awful rebel veil
sounded in our ears. sharply reverber.
oting through the pass. and we knew
That something unexpected had oc-
CURED. We had no time 20 question
what that might be, but later we
learned that General Buckner's men
had strengthened our neighbours force
and that we were IN for the conflict
Tor good or iil We were surprised, for
we had not expected il TO occur until
much later In the day. The din be-
came horrible. Somehow we felt that
a crisis not altogether TO be desired by
us was at hand
At this desperate tuncture Teddy
was seen 10 run To the rear and plant
himself on hillock some 200 yards
away. Hero he unfurled his Gag.
shall never forget the thrill that swept
my soul as che folds OF that splendid
--t---''' .-NtAA VI " tue bAftLt- W as IL
his appeal 10 high heaven I'm our be-
half?
/ wondered then; ! think so now.
The sun seemed to wrap its stars and
stripes In very glory Of brightness.
Then the band played, as If answering
the call OF its c0lors, The Star Span
gled Banner" and a shout TO match
that or the rebels rose on the air.
The flag with the cross Of the south
was plainly 10 be seen In the advanc-
ing line. Suddenly the maddening
cries OF the Confederates ceased. and
we saw their columns waver. the nag
come down. and there followed clear.
determined retreat II is q matter OF
history TO those who bore the brunt OF
that unexpected attack that if the en-
envy had carried out their original in
tention 10 engage us before the second
division came to our relief the history
or that battle among the clouds"
would have had a different telling.
After all, il is but the repetition Of the
fact that we are the creatures of cir
cumstances. An officer taken prisoner
-