Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1913-07-24
War Story OF 80 Years Ago.
BY H. L. RILEY.

ago, appeared III your paper ~
July 10th. l will tell some of the hap
penings of thc day before or Saturday,
July 4th. Our little force at Lebanon
was thrown into excitement when news
reached US that the Raider, John Nor
gans forces were fighting the 25th
Michigan regiment at Green River
bridge out on the Columbia pike not
far from Lebanon. Our commander
sent out scouting party mounted On
horses that were rot drilled. They
came into camp little before night
and were going back on the scout that
night, and | being just kid and very
brave. like d great many Others when
not in danger, begged che of the DO, S
to let me 60 in his place ON the night
scout, so he readily agreed, so we
started after dark out the Columbia
pike. We were al mounted, was on
fine bay horse. l was unaccquainted
with his occupation.
| 1t was a beautiful moonlight nigh,
We got cut three or four mics from
camp, going up long slant in lane,
our advance ran onto the enemy's
pickets. They came down slant in
hurry to meet US. Our commander
ordered us to dismounl, which order
was quickly obeyed and hhched
our horses to an old time rail fence
we then advanced until IN sight of the
enemy's pickets when we were ordered
to fire on them which we did and then
fell back a short distance and all of US
got over inside of the field and all of
US lay down in the fence corners ex-
pecting the enemy to come down the
road on US, but to our surprise some
one discovered large body Of them
good long distance from US across
the field, hurrying to get in our rear
so they would be enabled TO gobble US
up, but We were ordered 10 skedaddle.
| Every man ran to his horse and was
mounted without any trouble, except
myself My horse got scared and
pulled the fence down with three or
four rails tangled up in his bride
reins, running back WARD win mis-
head up in the air holding the rails off
of the ground till could not get the
rails out of the reins. and every other
man on his horse putting the spurs to
him. was getting scared, so taking
my knife and cutting both BRIDE reins
close up to the bits and thought
could get on him. If | had accomplish !
ed my aim, | would not have cared |
snap for a bride but the scamp as /
soon as lie found he was loose he
started off m fast gait after the ,
crowd, got hold of the saddle horn /
trying to get my foot in the stirrup |
so that would nave been enabled to .
land safely in the saddle, then would /
not have cared how fast he ran just so
We were getting away from John.
But the old scrapper was low down,
mean. He wou!G nos .e: me get my
foot in the st!rrup so / had 70 aban-
don the horse and take 70 my scrap
pers. Being alone and big crowd of
John's close on nay heels. You be: | was
a scared Yanke= Tor Few moments,
as no one seemed to take any interest
in my welfare, just then, but good
old Burr Young, who is now living in
Madisonviie, KY, saw the condition
was in, followed for me to run AMI
get ahead OF MIN and climb on tie ,
fence corner and leap on his beast be-
hind him as he rode by. ran until /
was almost given out and got little
ahead, climbed on the fence corner
and as he rode by without making any
halt | made leap and landed safely
astriGe behind my go d and best friend.
He tod me TO drop my gun hut | chung
10 it and ne said when | mad the leap
| gave him narC ap on me side OF
his head ana face with any Eun, and
came near knocking him OFT ~ his
his horse, but after coming some dis
lance, we halted and nv reiniess horse
was in the crowd and got on h.m,
and ran another race and IN chechlng
up, my horse got in the lead for no
checkers and Mayor Wilcox crew his
pistol and was going to shoot M
thinking | was running tnrough cow
ardice, but good Burr said 10 him dot.'t
shoot that boy for ne has no brIai ana
no way to control his horse. We
.skrmished with tuem until nearly cay.
When we got ms de OF pit.e'- and
rode into town and turned our horses
oyer To the owners | eat breakfast !