The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-09-26
An Incident Of the Civil War.
Brilliant Charge Of Small Detachment Of Cavalry I'm
der Command Of Sergeant J. A. NJ Collins

charm calculated to attract one of a
venturesome disposition. At times
we would meet superior force of
the enemy when we would seek safe
ty in fight, barely saving ourselves
| from capture by our superior mounts.
| 1t was not unusual after one of these
close calls to hear the boys declare
that II ever they got back to camp
alive they would never leave 1t unless
forced to do so. Next morning all
such resolutions of the previous day
were forgotten and they would be
clamoring for detail on scouting
party if one was going out.
Our duty while on the march was
to reconnoiter to the front and flank
independent of the cavalry, which was
in advance of the main column, to
report any force of the enemy. large
or small. but to never become engaged
with them If possible to avoid it: re-
port condition of roads and bridges,
distance to good water and extent OF
isame, location of mills for grinding
corn, and many other duties, all OF
which. because of our small number,
was attended with an element of dam
ger not experienced by the infantry
or large bodies of cavalry.
During the battles, and at other
times If conditions were favorable. we
transmitted messages. in the day time
| by waving flags, and at night with
torches Our men were required to
pass a mental as well as q physical,
examination before being eligible for
enlistment in this corps. In addition
to being men of objectionable charac-
| ter, they were endowed with a prod
igality of moral courage, which in bat
tile or in critical positions manifested
tits superiority as lasting force over
the physical type. They were loyal
to their leader under all conditions,
, capable OF taking the initiative in a
crisis, and ever ready to respond to
any call for duty however dangerous.
In fact, the only occasion on which
WAS compelled to make detail was
when it was known in advance that
the expedition was liable to be q
tame affair.
Captain McClintock, our ranking of
ficer, was of a fine type OF true man
hood, brave but not reckless, yet dar-
ing in the extreme in the perform
ance OF duty. AS might be expected
of such a man, he was quite partial
"a b,yard,>,,r -, l.; ,,,. 4. j., ~.
line of duty. When any such service
was required he was sure to lead il,
accompanied always By volunteer
squad. Lieutenant ]. Q. Adams was
courageous, cautious and thoroughly
conservative in the performance of
duty, incapable of rashness, and
thought more of obeying orders than
Iof making a display by needlessly ex-
posing his men to danger. which was
truly commendable, especially so
while We were SO far removed from
our base of supplies
When once outside our own lines,
with all the caution one is capable OF
exercising, we were ever liable to be-
come involved in some grand mix up
before the day was over. As one out
lof many such exploits In which We
participated, allow me to recount the
following in which unwillingly play
cd very prominent part This is an
actual demonstration of how reputa.
! lions for daring were often made.
when in fact the actors were seeking
no such distinction, as was certainly
the case in this instance.
Soon after General Sherman aban-
doned his base of supplies at Atlanta.
Ga, and headed for the sea, while out
with q scouting party of ten men we
overlook General Osterhaus with his
numerous aides. orderlies and a body
guard Of hundred cavalrymen. They
| had halted on the brow OF hill and
were engaged at long range with some
two hundred confederate cavalry who
on a hill opposite were in battle for
nation across the main road entering
/ the village of McDonough, which was
directly IN their rear Between the
lcontending forces wa. a ravine, ap.
preached from our side down grad.
lual slope through some timber and un-
derbrush. while after crossing the
lravine the ground was bare Of either.
The ascent on the confederate side
/ was quite steep In front of the town,
hut sloped of gradually into an ex-
tended common on their right hall
a mile or more from the main road on
which our forces were seeking TO en-.
Ter the village. AS we rode up to the
/ line the general at once ordered me
to take my men through the woods
and brush to our left down to the
creek. cross over on the enemy's right,
deploy as mounted skirmishers, firing
as we advanced over the commons.
We were armed with Spencer car.
hines, each OF which wac good for
eight shots without reIoading. Al.
though small in number. yet with re.
peating arms we were capable Of max.
ing quite noisy demonstration which
/ l was confident was all that was ex.
pected Of rs. as his plan undoubtedly