Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-09-22
COMP ANY'S MASCOT.

1t was ON the morning Of Sept
1868, that the Confederate Genera
Frazier was asked by General Burr
side to surrender Cumberland Cup. A
General Buckner had rctreaied towar
Chattanooga while General Burnside
forces lay at the gap, the garrison fel
secure against attacks by the Confed
crates. The Federal army was In pos
session of Knoxville, and Genera
Burnside had ordered to the gap six
teen regiments and two trains Of artil
lery. The Confederate force, under Gen
eral Frazier, was about 1000 strong
stationed at Morristown, where h
could control the railroad with sup
plies for General Buckner's army. TIL,
former was ordered to meet the ad
vance Of the Federals, who wer,
marching toward Jonesville.
His hope was, we afterward learned
that part Of General r. e. Lees
army Of northern Virginia would re-
enforce him before our march Of thir.
ty-six miles could be made. But he
had reckoned without the Union host
We showed front so formidable that
General Frazier wisely laid down his
| arms. and Generals Buckner and Jones
fed across the mountains Of east Ten
nessee.
General Longstreet had evidently ex-
pected that General d. II. Hills corps
that occupied secure position at Cat
totts gap. In Pigeon mountain, which
was about fifteen miles from Chatta-
noOga. Il spur of Lookout mountain,
would come to his relief, but as Gen.
erals Hindman and Hill still hoped for
succor from Buckner the opportunity
to evacuate voluntarily was lost.
1t was at this juncture that General
Thomas moved upon Hills left wing
aud closed the gateway to Buckner's
force. This was the turning point In
the speedy victory for the Union in
Tennessee. 1t was at Gordon's Mills
that We met General Pat Cleburn.
A crash of musketry made US reel
early In the engagement, and the fire
was so terrific that we were obliged
to withdraw to better position on the
hill Then night came on
General Cleburn's men were Just
over the brow of the hill, so close
that we could hear their voices as
they called back and forth to each
other. Like ours, tholr camp was un-
lighted. Every well regulated COM
pany, 1t is said, owns to q mascot.
The mascot Of Company III was Ted
dy. If he had any other name we did
not know 1t. and / doubt If he did.
He was q harmless sort Of half wit
who had followed the army from the
Ohio border He was q happy-go-
lucky wight. rarely understanding the
simplest things said to him, but his un-
falling cheerfulness and good nature
had won for him the honor place of |
mascot Of the company. He was the
possessor of q very fine reglmental flag,
and he seemed not to know how 1t be- |
came his, but his devotion to II was so |
absolute that we had learned to re.
spect it.
The Confederates were early astir,
md we could hear the horses champ
ne their bits and the men exchanging
words about the preparations for the
lay. OF course they tried the bluff
,ame on US of raising shouts every
low and then as if re-enforcements
lad come We were ready for the
lard day TO come, resting on our arms.
Waiting for the signal of battle.
Suddenly, about o'clock, a furry
vas felt in the air, and crash came.
ieneral Cleburn's men had struck our
light wing, and that awful rebel yell
Ounded In our ears. sharply reverber-
ting through the pass. and we knew
hat something unexpected had &C.
urred. We had no time to question
hat that might be, but later we
armed that General Buckner's men
ad strengthened our neighbours force
nj that were in for the conflict
)r good or Ill. We were surprised, for
e bad not expected 1t to occur until
luch later in the day. The din be-
lmc horrible. Somehow we felt that
crisis not altogether to be desired by
5 was at hand.
AT this desperate juncture Teddy
as seen to run to the rear and plant
mself on n nillock some 200 yards
way. Here he unfurled his flag.
lall never forget the thrill that swept
y soul az the folds of that splendid
inner foated to the breeze. Was 1t
$ appeal to high heaven in our be-
If?
l wondered then; think so now.
ne sun seemed to wrap its stars and
ripes in q very glory of brightness.
len the band played, as IL answering
e call Of its colors. "The Star Span
ed Banner" and a shout to match
at Of the rebels rose on the air.
The flag with the cross Of the south
rs plainly to be seen In the advanc-
: line. Suddenly the maddening
es Of the Confederates ceased, and
, saw their columns waver, the flag
me down, and there followed q clear,
termlned retreat. 1t Is a matter Of
story to those who bore the brunt of
1T unexpected attack that II the en-
y had earried out their original In u
iton to engage us before the second
'ision came to our relief the history
that 'battle among the clouds" 80
uld have had different telling.
tee all, 1t is but the repetition of the
t that we are the creatures of cir
instances. An officer taken prisoner
the fight told us that when the Con-
crates saw the flag and knew that ,
had been REINFORCED they thought ,..,
pest not to force the fight, as with M,
Buckner's help 1t would have been 49,
errible disaster" ,r'
nd so 1t was that Teddy's flag. the ,na
scot Of Company II, had done the ,,,s
TX. You may call II special prov H.,