Year: 1862

rear. Meantime the firing was brisk in 'front.'


and the latter companies urged their horses


forward at the top of their speed, but the


enemy soon sspied their movement, and turn


ing their horses, clapped spurs to them, and


away they flew in the direction. of Corinth.


Forward dashed the Federal cavalry in pur-


suit. The race at once became exciting


They had the start us, but we kept firing


at them, and finally, with drawn sabrs, we


were among them. The first secesh7 blood


drawn, flowed from long-legged chap in


butternut habiliments, who dismounted and


attempted to gain thicket at the right, but
Captain Botham, who led the advance, was


too quick for him, and giving him handsome


blow that laid open his skull and portion Of
his neck and head, put him in a condition that
rendered his capture perfectly easy. Anoth-
er fellow in the everlasting butternut, strove
hard to escape, but well mounted Illinois
boy dashed up to his side and ordered him to
halt. Nothing needing, on he went faster
and faster, the command to halt was repeated


with no result, when the Federal cIapped his
revolver just back of the poor wretchs ear,
and firing, sent ball quite through his head


The horse gave leap at the report, the body
rolled out Of the saddle, and when we return
ed, lay stark and stiff where it had fallen. On


we went over hills, and logs, and gullies,
while, meantime, the rebels separated, one
party keeping straight forward, the other
varying off to the right; and now occurred, I
will venture to say, one Of the most gallant
and daring teats of personal bravery that the
annals Of this war can furnish.


Captain Botham, who was finely mounted,
pursued the rebels who bore off to the right,
and with the cry, Come on boysw gave his
horse rein and spur, and quickly disappeared
in the wood through which their course lay.
He was followed by two or three of our cav
airy, Captain Sailor taking the same direction
with his company. But Captain Botham,
without hat, his face glowing with excite
ment, his saber flashing aloft, outstripped all
save the three men in question, and went fly
ing after the frightened foe, now fairly on the
Corinth road. The chivalry ran well, but the
mud-sills gained upon them every instant.
The party numbered about fifty strong; and
in the mad race they threw away their blan-
kets, haversacks, and, in some instances, their
revolvers, carbines, and sabers. Like all re-
connoitering parties, they were all armed to
the teeth. At the end of the first mile the
Captain left both of his companions behind,
and about the time the half of the second mile
was accomplished he came up with the rear
of the flying column, yelling at the top OF his
voice. By a single blow with his saber, he
killed the first man he reached, the good blade
cleaving his skull; but just at this time OBJ
serving a road that led into a field on the
right, in order to avoid stretch of the high
way that was very bad, he dashed into it, and
by the maneuver headed off about thirty Of
the rebels, crying out to them to surrender or
he would cut them all down, at the same
time swinging his sabre madly around his
head. They drew rein at once. and there he
stood alone with them, and in a loud voice
babe them throw down their arms and sur
render Meantime, one-half of them, when
they found themselves headed of, turned
down a road to the left. But their captor
put stop to this by swearing that if another
man left he would shoot him dead in his sad |
die. The two caValrymen who started with
Capt. BOtham now came up and disarmed the
prisoners. Upon counting them the Captain
found that he had bagged thirteen live "secesh'
single-handed and alone! Has tile feat been |
beaten during the war? Thirteen of their
cavalry taken by single mud sill Upon
each Of the prisoners was either loaded pis-
tol a loaded carJiae, or a sabre They were
never more completely panic stricken. They
were all safely brought to camp. Eight or
ten others were also taken, and four or five /
killed and wounded. None Of our men rel
ceived a scratch, although several Of our hors-
es were wounded-C0r Detroit Adrertiser.