The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-06-23
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Black Hawk.

III is one OF the most pathetic horse
stories of the war;" declared the colo
mel. Then, when the veterans of the
blue pressed him, the old Confederate
soldier closed his eyes and began to
tell of the incident he referred TO,
Which happened at the Battle of Shi-
l0h. General William B. Bate, who
died a United States Senator from
Tennessee, was colonel of the Second
Tennessee He had two horses, one
an ordinary horse which he used on
the march and for other rough SER
vice; the other. Black Hawk, a thor
oughbred. black as a crow and of great
beauty and stamina.
The night before the battle the
cOmmOner horse was stolen, and the
next morning a. daylight | we'll re-
member what a superb picture our
colonel made on Black Hawk, who
looked fit TO race for a kingdom.
The usual position of a colonel is
thirty feet to the rear of his regiment,
and it was in that position that
Colonel BaIe first went into the fight
AT the second Standard | want
to see no stubborner fight than we had
down there amid the woods, round
that little church on the banks of the
Tennessee-the Federals gave it 10 us
hot, and it was mere our lines were
nearly broken; it was here also that
Colonel Bate had to PVT himself in
front of his regiment before they
oh NTH nh dofo inc
tion to drive the boys in blue again.
All this time the battle was raging
everywhere.
Time and again Colonel Bate led
us against Sherman's brave boys-that
thoroughbred horse and rider always
IN front. Once he made us short
speech just before We had to charge
again. having been repulsed at the
first attempt. He said he wanted US
only to follow him, that he would not
take us where he would not go him
self, and we believed him.
This last fight was terrible. Before
we struck the enemy, Colonel Bate
was shot out of the saddle, the men
dropped round us right and left, but
We charged on, leaving all as they fell.
when Colonel Bate dropped, Black
Hawk seemed TO be at loss what to
do; but as the regiment swept OIL he
quickly fell into his place just in the
rear of the regiment and followed us
on into battle. We must have fought
on for a half-mile after that. and it
was strange sight TO see that horse
following the regiment as stately as if
on dress parade, and it touched every
man to see him riderless.
AT the first opportunity an ambu-
lance was sent back TO find the colonel
and take him to the field hospital,
some three miles in the rear. In the
confusion no one thought of Black
Hawk, but he had not forgotten his
brave rider, for be actually followed
the path of those who carried the colo
mel to the hospital straight up to the
hospital tent. Then, to the surprise
of Colonel Bate, who had been badly
but not fatally wounded in two places.
one ball passing through his shoulder
Black Hawk poked his head in at the
tent door and affectionately whinnied
10 his master, who was then in the
hands of the surgeon.
The next instant he turned, walked
a few PAGES in the woods, staggered,
and fell down dead
An examination showed, what no
one had noticed, that he had several
bad wounds. one of which proved
fatal
"As long as General Bate lived"
concluded the colonel, che used to say
that he could still see the almost hui
man look Black Hawk gave him as he
turned away, with that last gentle
whinny, to die"