The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-06-22

mile above, that he fell just as his
horsce turned in a big gate, immed-
lately afterward the horse fell, both
being dead, when some Of his COM
rades came up. He was buried IN
the yard. This occurred about two
} or three miles below little hamlet,
called at that time, McPhearsonville
and mile or so above the railroad
bridge.
Of course, this threw us into as
much of panic as it did the Yankee
regiment. We knew good and we'll they
would be on us in a few minutes, and
capture Or drive US into the river.
Running back to where little Rich
I ardson was holding down the prison.
ers, they hearing the firing and stamp
ing Of feet; knew there was enacted
a tragedy, close by. Like most men
when they think they are at death 5
door, fell topraying, more fervent per
haps, than ever before in their lives.
They all thought US bushwhackers,
and expected no mercy at our hands.
The easiest way for US would have
been to knock them in the head, but
we tried to save them. It would have
been suicidal in US to turn them
loose. I mounted the horse, Richard
son the mule, and started the prison.
ers toward the river, with our men
behind them.
The Yankees were soon on our
track and every time rifle would
crack the faster we pushed the Yam
KEGS and the louder they prayed.
Richardson and I undertook to stand
off the soldiers until our men and
prisoners could be put across the rlv-
er, provided a boat could be had in
that inky night. The Yankees were
too cautious to push US hard. Any
way we reached the river, got boat
and put the prisoners across. There
was a discussion among Us as to what
was to be done with the horse and
mule. Some we're for driving them in
the river and make them swim across,
others were in for turning them loos"
outright. But T could not give up my
pretty spotted mare, yet none wished
to undertake the hazardous attempt
to swim them. Richardson at last
said,
"Captain, I am a good swimmer,
and have handled horses in water,
nov if you swim the mule, I will the
mare.'
Now this boy had put it up to me,
and I could not back out. We ex-
changed saddles and rode down the
stream a piece, to get clear place,
free of vines, to make our plunge.
The last boat load was near the
other bank before we found suitable
place to enter the stream. We were
on little knoll, five or six feet Of the
water, and I told Richardson to leap
his horse in. I knew the mule would
follow. But his animal would not
take the water, with all the spurring,
so he called to me to lead and he
would follow. With little coaxing, the
mule. leaped far out in the water and
began swimming toward the light Of
the picket, that now looked like
twinkling stars. I heard great splash
behind me and knew Richardson was
following. But the mare kept floun-
dering and the lad cried out,
"Captain, my mare can't swim,
then, II believe she, is drowning"
I told him to "loosen the relns,
get off and hang to the stirrup.' y
I had called for the boat to come
in great haste. Then I heard his
plantive call for "help." But what
could I do? A horse cannot be
checked in water. I had already been
frozen to the bone, and when that icy
water struck me in the leap, it seemed