a fairer may-day never dawned than that which greeted us last spring in tennessee,
"when the box-tree, white with blossoms,
made the sweet may woodlands glad;"
and the green hills and fresh-leaved trees were hung resplendent in yellow, white and purple flowers.
my first sergeant and myself sat after breakfast beneath the tent-fly, finishing our muster-rolls. the 30th of april is a "mustering day" in the united states service, when all its officers and soldiers must be called and counted, and their names be transmitted on proper rolls to proper authorities. as we thus worked, an orderly came in, and handed me an order to take two days' rations, and scout toward and beyond paris. but the rations were not then in camp; so after issuing orders to saddle up, the sergeant and i resumed our work, not sorry that the delay would enable us to complete our rolls.
suddenly, on the still, damp air of the morning, there came, echoing from fort henry, the boom of a cannon. we started. "what does that mean?" a week before there had been a rumor one evening that memphis was taken, and the colonel at the fort had sent us word that[pg 110] if the rumor proved true, next morning he would fire seven guns. we had then listened, but there were no guns; and later news stated that memphis was not taken, and could not be.
a second gun sounded—and a man near us gave a "hurrah!" "you need not hurrah," said another; "they've got four guns loaded down there, and are only firing them off." a third fired, and a fourth, and in the pause which followed, each said, "i wonder if there will be another!" a moment passed, and the fifth rang out loud and clear. a cheer sounded through the camp, and everybody came out of his tent. "what can it be? something has happened." "no, nothing has happened; they're only practising, or playing a trick on us." bang! went the sixth. the sanguine men gave a loud cheer. "will there be another?" "yes!" "no!" "i'm sure there will." "i'm sure there won't." a silence—the pause seems endless—surely five times as long as between any others. all are breathless. "there! i told you so." "i knew it was nothing." "memphis can't be taken in a month—there's nothing to fire about. you won't hear any more to-day." "there's no use in waiting any"——bang! went the seventh, louder and clearer than all the rest put together. the men jumped on the logs and wagons and cheered wildly; and the officers who were not on duty rushed for their horses, and galloped furiously toward the river, while our two little howitzers rung out seven responses to the great guns of the fort.
[pg 111]
an hour passed; those who had the fastest horses came back. "was it memphis?" "no, not memphis—better than memphis—guess." no one can guess. "it is new orleans—farragut has taken new orleans." another cheer runs through the camp, and we congratulate ourselves on carrying such news with us on our scout.
but the rations were strangely delayed. the men yawned, and wished they would hurry up; and the horses stood saddled round the tents, with their heads down, quietly dozing through the day. late in the afternoon they came, and, with them, an order to send a larger party, and for me to report to our major for orders. i did so.
"when will your squadron be ready?" asked the major.
"it is ready now."
"well then you may start at daybreak; i will follow with the others at nine, and join you at paris in the afternoon."
a new tent had arrived that day from st. louis, to take the place of my old and leaky one; and bischoff had amused himself, during the afternoon, by pitching it, little thinking that i was to sleep in it just one night. it felt like having a new house, and its fresh, snowy walls, the perfection of neatness.
there were men stirring long before daylight, and with the first grey streaks of dawn, we mounted. our road was a short cut, leading by narrow, winding ways,[pg 112] through tall woods, up little streams, and over high hills. in the cool calm of the morning, it was a picture of peace and safety; and no soldiers ever moved more joyously than we, or seemed less likely to be fugitives and prisoners before the march should be done.
three miles from camp we halted at a sparkling brook to adjust saddles and water horses. the squadron was marching in three platoons, with an interval of a hundred yards between them. the first came up, halted and dismounted; then the second, and the third, so quietly and orderly, that i felt a satisfaction i had never felt before.
at last we came to paris. its little square was green, and its streets were prettier than in the gloom of that march morning. we picketed our horses on the court house fence, and strolled around. everybody agreed in saying that our old acquaintances, king's cavalry, had gone to corinth, and that the country round us was cleared of guerrillas. beauregard was calling in all his troops then, and this seemed probable. but one of the first questions put to me was, "when will the major and the rest of the party be here?" the order had been given the night before; i had marched at daybreak; no one had passed us on the road. "how did this information reach them?" i asked; "who could have brought it?"
the main body of our detachment arrived during the afternoon, and i was ordered with my squadron to the farm of a mrs. ayres, some three miles off. i had heard[pg 113] nothing of mrs. ayres, except that she was "a prominent secessionist," and quite wealthy; and three months' active cavalry service had quite accustomed me to riding into people's houses, and taking possession for the use of the government. yet i was rather taken aback, when a lady with grey hair and widow's weeds came out, as i rode up. i said that i regretted to intrude, but that i was ordered to stop there; and she said that it was very unpleasant; she and her daughter were alone, no gentleman in the house, and she wished we would go somewhere else. i explained that no one would come in the house or be guilty of any rudeness, and that she might feel perfectly safe. but she reiterated her request, and went on: "i am a secessionist, sir; i am opposed to the union. i scorn to deny my principles. of course you will do as you choose, sir. i am a woman, and unprotected, and you have a company of soldiers; i can offer no resistance," etc., etc. i answered that i admired her sincerity, and cut the argument short by asking in which yard she preferred my putting the horses, and from which stacks we should get forage. there were woods on the right of the house; the men filed into them, and in a few minutes fires were lighted, horses picketed, and we were bivouacked for the night.
an hour or two elapsed, and i received a message that mrs. ayres wished to see me. i went in—the house was large and handsomely furnished, and she was evidently far superior in intelligence, education, and[pg 114] position, to the simple country people among whom we had hitherto been thrown. i afterwards learnt that one son was then at richmond, a member of the confederate government, and another with beauregard, at corinth. i began the conversation by hoping that she had recovered from her alarm. she said, "oh, entirely," and that she had expected the officers in the house to tea, and that she had beds enough for them. i replied that i had promised that no one should intrude, and that i intended my promise to apply to myself as well as to my men. mrs. ayres hastened to say that it was no intrusion; that i must at least stay and spend the evening; she really could not allow me to go out in the dark and cold, while she had houseroom to offer. "my daughter plays," she said; "perhaps you like music." i said that i liked music exceedingly, and should be most happy to hear some, and as i was finishing my civil speech, miss ayres came in. she was a pretty girl of seventeen, and gave me an icy bow that said i was there by military power, and was no guest of hers. "mary," said her mother, "captain n. wishes to hear some music." the young lady gave another icy bow. there was a little black girl curled up in a corner near the fire. "bell," said miss ayres, "carry the candles into the other room." the little black girl uncurled herself, and seizing the candles, marched into the other room. there she placed the candles on the piano, and immediately popped under it and curled herself up again on the floor.[pg 115] i moved round, and took my position at one end of the piano, as an admiring listener should. it was a handsome instrument, and seemed like a friend, for i read on its plate, "wm. hall & sons, new york." it had come from new york, and so had i. miss ayres took her music-book, and i waited for her to begin. she partly opened the book, then stopped, and looking deliberately at me, said, "well, sir, what must i play?" had she slapped me in the face i should not have been more astounded. it was evident that she was in the same frame of mind her mother had been in at the gate. but i had been so particularly civil that this cut was too unexpected. i felt my color rise, but kept my temper down, and inwardly resolved that her little ladyship should take this back before our acquaintance ended; so i answered, almost sweetly, that i would leave that to miss ayres' better taste! we had a little contest then, she trying to make me order something, and i trying to make her select the piece. it was a drawn game, and ended in her suggesting a couple of pieces, and my saying, "either of them."
an hour passed very agreeably, and when i arose to go, all coolness had entirely vanished, and the invitation to stay was really cordial. but it was an inflexible rule with me, when on these expeditions, to sleep beside my guard, so i declined; and, after thanking them, went out.
the next day came in brightly; but as i was preparing to resume our march, there came a message[pg 116] from the major, saying we would not leave till afternoon. the day wore wearily away; and toward evening there came a second message, saying we would not start till eight the next morning. then a feeling of uneasiness came over me. this long delay i did not like. the sky, too, became overcast, and a heavy storm soon gathered over head. i made our little arrangements for the night; the horses were moved under cover; the men found refuge in a barn; and a little carriage house was taken for our guard tent. i received another invitation to the house, and paid another visit more agreeable than the first. as i came out, the rain was coming down soakingly. i had put out additional pickets, and used the additional precaution of going out myself with the relief. the first time i did so, it came near terminating my expedition. it was fearfully dark, and the horses had almost to feel their way. i knew we should find the picket about a mile from the house, where the woods ended on the brow of a hill. i had selected the place, because there they would be hidden by the trees, yet would have a clear view, on an ordinary night, through the fields beyond. i knew, too, the angle of the fence they were to be in, and expected to find them with little trouble. we approached the spot, but were not challenged, and i began to wonder if anything was the matter. we went a few steps farther, and i found we had passed the woods and were descending the hill. still no challenge. it would seem the simplest thing in the world[pg 117] to call out, but this could not be done—here they must challenge us. suddenly, close behind us, and in a very startled tone, came "who comes there?" and with it the "click," "click" of a pistol. i answered just in time; for, in the darkness, and amid the beating of the storm, we had passed them unseen and unheard, and they thought that we were a party approaching from the opposite direction, and, in another moment, would have fired.
day came at last—a drizzly, rainy day—and we set out for como. the country was new to us, and much better than we had yet seen in tennessee. there were groups of contrabands at every house, reminding us that it was sunday; and we passed a little church, whose congregation was within, their saddled horses tied around the building. we all remarked that the people seemed more cheerful than any we had seen; and soon a man we met took off his hat, and said, "the union, the constitution, and the enforcement of the laws;" yet we had seen so little patriotism in tennessee that we doubted this. at length we reached como, and stopped in the barnyards of a leading secessionist. hardly had we dismounted, when a large, good looking man followed us into the yard, and said, "i'm truly glad to see you, gentlemen, you've come at just the right time." he then introduced himself to me as mr. hurt, of como; and said that his house was a quarter of a mile back—he had seen us pass—he had run after us—he was a union citizen—all must[pg 118] go back and dine with him—his wife had seen us, and was actually getting dinner ready.
i walked back with mr. hurt to his house. his wife i found a pleasing lady-like woman, and she repeated the invitation to bring all. i said i thought bringing fifty men into a private house to dinner, and that on sunday, was a little too much; but she said quite earnestly that she could do nothing better on sunday than care for union soldiers. soon one man, and then another, came in, whose looks more than their words assured us of a warm and living patriotism to which we had long been strangers. from them i learnt that there were many more hiding in the surrounding woods, and that a party of rebel citizens had recently been amusing themselves by arresting union men, and sending them off to memphis. i determined that so far as i was concerned, this fun should stop; and when the major, with the main body, arrived, i submitted my plan to him, which he approved, and ordered me to execute.
my plan was very simple—to take twenty-five of my best mounted men, and stay behind, ostensibly as a rear guard; to start about dark, as if to follow the major; but, in reality, to turn off on the first cross-road, and arrest the parties during the night, rejoining the major in the morning.
accordingly, after dinner i strolled up to where the men were, and said, carelessly, to the first-sergeant, that one-half of us were to stay as rear guard, and he had[pg 119] better pick out those who had the freshest horses—there might be a good deal of riding to do. in a little while the detachment started, leaving me with my party, little thinking how soon we were to be a rear guard in reality. as the last of the column vanished down the road, my anxiety of the previous evening returned, and i sent a vidette up the caledonia road. it was then three, and we should not start till six; so i went into the barn and lay down, hoping to have a little sleep to make up for the three previous nights. but i was soon roused to see a union man, whose brother had been arrested, and then to see another who was to act as guide; and then mr. hurt came in to insist on my going back to his house and sleeping there; so i rose and walked back. at the house we found a young man, a cousin of mrs. hurt, who had heard of our arrival and ventured in from the woods. we sat down upon the piazza and fell into an interesting conversation. three of her brothers were in the southern army—"as good union men as you," she said, "but forced in." their little boy was named emerson etheridge, after the tennessee member of congress, who has stood so firmly for the union; and on the large tree in the yard was hoisted the last flag that had waved in western tennessee.
as we thus talked, a little man was seen coming up the road, and thereupon the whole family left me and rushed out to meet him. they came back laughing, shaking hands, and asking questions, while the little[pg 120] man both laughed and cried, and said, "oh, my dear friends, you do not know what sufferings i have been through since i left you!" he was their yankee schoolmaster. for ten years he had lived quietly there, but a year before had been ordered off, and narrowly escaped being hung. he had left a child behind, and now, hearing the country was quiet, had ventured back to see his old friends and his child.
the afternoon glided away, and it was nearly six. mrs. hurt had left us to hasten tea, but we still sat on the piazza, talking as before. suddenly mr. hurt sprang up and said, "what are those men?" i looked and saw my vidette coming in between two countrymen: whether they were bringing him, or he them, seemed doubtful. i seized my sabre and pistol, and walked to the gate.
"there is bad news, captain," said the man.
"what is it?"
"these men say there are three thousand rebel cavalry at caledonia."
i suppose i looked incredulous, for one of the men said, very earnestly, "it's so, sir. ask mr. hurt; he knows me."
"he's a good man," said mr. hurt; "but i don't believe three thousand any more than you do."
"it's really so!" cried the man with great earnestness. "mr. ashby saw them, and sent us over here to tell you, and the other union people; and we have run our horses all the way across."
[pg 121]
i glanced at the horses: they were covered with foam and mud. i looked at mr. hurt: his face had suddenly grown very serious.
"did edward ashby see them himself?" he asked, in a low tone.
"yes!"
"and he told you himself?"
"yes!"
"then, captain," he said, turning to me, "it is so."
there was a moment of dreary silence.
"how long were they passing mr. ashby's?" i asked.
"three hours."
"which way were they going?"
"toward paris."
"how far is it from caledonia to paris?"
"twelve miles."
i knew that three thousand was a reasonable estimate. i also knew they must have heard of our whereabout, and that a party might be coming up the road at any moment; yet i ventured one more question:
"what troops did they say they were?"
"jeff. thompson's."
"jeff. thompson's! that is very strange. where did they say they were going?"
"they said they'd come for provisions and union men."
this answer completed the distress of those around me. the cousin looked toward the woods; the little[pg 122] schoolmaster asked if he might not stay with his child just this one night? mr. hurt said that he meant to risk it till morning, while his wife said that he must fly at once: they might burn the house, but they would not hurt women and children, and she was not afraid. i shook hands hastily with them, and hoped that we might meet again. i told my vidette to gallop up the road and tell the men to mount, but to say not a word of the reason why. and then i followed as rapidly as i could, and with many glances over my shoulder, wondering that the enemy's advance was not already upon us. it was not half a mile to the barnyards, but the way seemed endless, until a turn in the road showed me the men mounting, and bischoff coming to meet me with my horse. in a moment more i was mounted, and had sent a messenger, on a gallop, to the major, while the rest of us followed at a less rapid gait.
arriving at irving's farm, where the main body had halted for the night, i found all as quiet as though nothing could happen. the horses were unsaddled, the men reposing, and the major had gone to a farm a mile distant. i ordered my own men to saddle up, and galloped after him. we rode back to irving's, and held a consultation with the other officers, the result of which was that he took an escort and went down the road to see mr. hurt; while i was to wait till ten o'clock, and, if he did not return by that time, to retreat northwardly to the little town of dresden.
i went into the house, and talked to the ladies of the[pg 123] family. they were wealthy secessionists, and it was advisable to conceal, so far as possible, our movements. as ten o'clock approached, i slipped out, and ordered the men to mount and be perfectly still. then, returning, i said to the ladies, that they must not feel alarmed if they heard our pickets and guards during the night, and, bidding them good evening, went out. i saw, dimly, the men drawn up in line.
"bischoff," i called, in a suppressed tone, "where are you?"
"here, captain," said bischoff, close beside me, as he held my horse under a shadowy tree.
i mounted—gave some instructions to the other captains—the men wheeled into column—and we were moving slowly and silently toward dresden.
the rain, which had stopped during the afternoon, began again. the road plunged down into dense woods, and the darkness was profound. some refugees, mounted on mules, and wrapped in their home-spun blankets, joined us—picturesque, but sad exiles, in keeping with the wild and stormy night. they were our guides, and but for them we could not have found our way through the hidden road.
"well, quartermaster," i said to the young officer who rode beside me, "this is our first retreat."
"yes," he answered; "and a most appropriate night for a first retreat."
it was not improbable that we should be attacked in the rear; and not improbable that a party had been[pg 124] sent round to intercept us in front; and every sound seemed the signal for an affray. occasionally the wagons became snagged, and word would be passed up the column; a halt would be ordered; men would dismount, feel for the wagon, and disentangle it from some tree or stump; word would be passed up again, and we would resume our march. thus, about three in the morning, we approached dresden, when i unexpectedly ran upon our advance guard standing still. i quickly ordered a halt and demanded what was the matter. a horse, they said, had disappeared in the middle of the road; they could not even find him. i called for matches, and several men tried to strike a light; but the rain had soaked through everything. i recollected a little tin box of wax tapers in my great coat pocket, and by dint of striking one of these under my cape, obtained a light. the little flickering ray disclosed the feet of the horse, sticking up in the air, his body hidden in a narrow gully which the rain had washed across the road. i dismounted six men to try and pull him out, and with the rest went on. here the major overtook us. he had gone back, but had learned nothing of the enemy. in a few minutes we entered dresden. pickets were posted on the different roads, the horses were crowded into some barns, and then, with the men, i crawled up into the hay-loft, and, soaking wet, lay down for an hour or two on the soft hay.
we waited all the morning, and about one in the[pg 125] afternoon started, still moving northwardly toward paducah. the road was hard and good; the sun came out, drying our wet clothes, and everything seemed promising and pleasant. as we passed the first house, the family appeared in front of the door, and waved a little flag. it was the first flag we had seen in tennessee. my squadron, which led the column, broke into rapturous applause as they caught sight of the starry emblem; and as each of the others came up, wondering what could have caused the commotion, they repeated the cheers. a cavalcade of union men accompanied us, and as we approached their homes, they would dash ahead and notify their families that we were coming. at every house the inmates appeared, waving handkerchiefs and clapping hands; and at several the long hidden flag was brought out to help in welcoming "the union soldiers," who cheered the flag whenever it was displayed. thus our march went on, more like a gay, triumphal procession than a retreat. we stopped at a little house, and a venerable matron, with her grand-daughter, came to the gate and welcomed us. the old lady shook hands with all who were near, and solemnly hoped that god would be with us; and the younger one laughed and cried. she hoped, she said, that we would not think her bold or crazy; but she felt as if we were friends, and it was the first time she had been safe for months. her husband and father were then hiding in the woods from guerrillas. she had two brothers in the rebel army, and, she[pg 126] added, with a bitter emphasis i cannot describe, that they were rebels, and we might capture them or kill them; but she wished we would kill them.
we went on and descended into the valley of the obion. the sun was sinking in the west, as our column wound through the great trees and came upon lockridge mill. on the right, i saw a large white house surrounded by a garden; on the left a barn yard with an eight-rail fence; in front and beyond us, the obion and the mill.
"we will stay here to-night," said the major.
"left into line. march. be prepared to leave at a moment's notice," i said to my men, "and to saddle up in the dark. break ranks."
the men scattered through the yard, picketing their horses. the second squadron picketed theirs on the outside of the yard, and the third went back to the farms on the edge of the valley, to act as a rear guard.
"where will you put our horses, bischoff?"
"at this tree in the yard, captain," said bischoff.
"very well; i must see if there are any pickets wanted between us and the rear guard." and i turned my horse and rode slowly back.
it was a noble valley, smooth as a floor, and covered with huge oaks and elms. i came to the third squadron; they had dismounted; their horses were tied to the fences; their lieutenant had gone out with their pickets; and their captain came up and laughingly said he had[pg 127] taken a prisoner, and introduced me to a lieutenant of an illinois regiment, who had just ridden in. he was a very handsome and intelligent young man, and informed us that he was a tennessian, and had come to see if recruits could not be found there. he seemed greatly elated at being back in his own state, and as we rode along, i remarked to myself how hopeful and happy he was. we arrived at the house and dismounted; i gave my horse to one of the men, and went in to introduce mr. crawford to the major. him we found in an upper room. he had taken off his jacket and was seated, comfortably smoking. i introduced the lieutenant, and then went out, intending to post the pickets in front. the men were on some logs opposite the house, finishing their supper; the sun had set, and the light was fading and growing hazy amid the great trees.
i walked across the little garden, and laid my hand on the gate. as i did so, i heard a yell toward the rear; i turned quickly, and far up among the trees i saw three of the rear guard. their horses were on a gallop; they waved their caps wildly, and shouted something which sounded like "saddle up." at the first glance i thought they were messengers; but, at the second, i saw running beside them a horse with an empty saddle. i knew what that meant.
"saddle up, and fall in," i shouted to the men; "and you men in the house call the major; tell him we are attacked."
[pg 128]
i looked for my horse, but he had disappeared. i rushed to the barnyard, and there saw the man who had held him.
"hamelder," i cried, "what have you done with my horse?"
"bischoff took him, captain."
i hurried to the tree. bischoff, knowing the horse would have a night's work, had seized on the moment of my going into the house to unsaddle and rub him off. but bischoff stood faithful at his post in the confusion; while every other man was hurrying for his own horse, bischoff was saddling mine. as i came up, he held the horse and stirrup for me to mount as coolly as though we were at a parade.
"never mind this," i cried, "i can mount without this nonsense; saddle your own horse and be quick—be quick." but my buffalo, rolled up as it had been unbuckled from the saddle, lay on the ground, and bischoff stooped for it. "throw it away," i cried, "saddle your horse and come out of this yard, or you're lost."
i turned; all of the squadron had gone out—i was the last; and as my horse dashed over the broken fence, bischoff was left alone.
my men were in line, but a disorderly stream of flying men and riderless horses was pouring past. i looked round for the major, but he was not in sight, and i found myself the ranking officer there. "i must act, it is no time to wait for orders," i said, as i looked[pg 129] up the valley, and saw the head of the rebel column. they were coming on a gallop, their shot guns and rifles blazed away, and their wild yells were louder than the volleys they fired. between us were the last of the rear guard and the horses of those who had fallen, "wild and disorderly." turning the other way, i saw the river and the bridge. "we must check their advance," i thought, "and then cross the river and tear up the bridge; it is our only hope. i will charge them." i touched my good horse as i drew my sabre, and he flew round. i was giving the orders, "draw sabre. by platoons. left wheel," and the squadron was executing them, when the men of the second squadron rushed franticly round the barnyard fence and into my line. in an instant all was confusion. there was no time to restore order, the rebels were not the width of a city block distant, and their buck shot flew thickly, wounding men and horses, while there rose the thundering sound of cavalry at full speed. i still had a hope of the bridge. in another instant they would be upon us. "about," i cried, "gallop and form across the bridge." as we went by the yard, bischoff had not come out. "he has sacrificed himself for me," i said; "but i cannot leave my command to save him, though he were my brother."
across the narrow bridge we went safely, though it swayed and trembled under the tramp of galloping horses. as the men wheeled and reformed, i moved to the right and looked back. hitherto i had seen but[pg 130] the head of their column, and had formed no idea of its strength. now i saw, far up the valley, a solid unbroken column of perhaps a thousand men. between them and the bridge were a few men, and many flying horses, which ran madly. the enemy were armed with guns, and my men had but sabres and pistols. the captain of the second squadron had been at the bridge, trying vainly to rally his men; but they had gone, and mine were the only ones left. "all is lost now," i said; "i will not keep my men here to be sacrificed for these runaways." i gave the order, and we were galloping down the valley, the pursuing foe close upon us.
but, to return to bischoff. he rode that day a fiery, little, black horse, that became nearly frantic as he heard the rushing sound of the enemy's horses. bischoff threw the saddle on him, and as he buckled the girth, the rebels appeared opposite the gate. there was no time to waste then. quick as lightning he drew out his knife, and cutting the reins by which the horse was tied, swung, himself into the saddle. the little horse wheeled. by cutting the reins, bischoff had lost all control of him, but he seemed to know precisely what was needed. instead of going to the gate, he turned and rushed at the fence. it was higher than himself, and bischoff thought they were lost; but the little horse gave a tremendous bound, and came bravely over. they were now neck and neck with the rebels; it was a race to the bridge. the little horse won, and dashed over ahead of their foremost horses. but he[pg 131] was only ahead—there were not six feet between them, and he crossed amid a shower of balls, and almost hidden by the smoke of their rifles. bischoff lay flat on the saddle, and trusted everything to the horse. the bridge crossed, he soon widened the gap, and in a few minutes bore bischoff triumphantly among his friends.
it was a fearful ride across that valley. the road, level and straight, did not shelter us from the enemy. trees had fallen across it, and there were deep bog holes, into which horses plunged and fell. as you rode, you came upon a man whose horse had fallen in leaping a tree, or mired in struggling through a mud hole. here was one who had risen, and was trying to escape to the neighboring woods, and there another, who could not extricate himself from his fallen horse. as i looked back and watched the fate of those i knew, i saw the first of the enemy, as they came up, fire upon our prostrate men. it looked as though no quarter was given. before i had ridden far, i came upon the captain of the second squadron standing in the road. he had been wounded and unhorsed. i endeavored to pull up and take him behind me; but my horse, excited and fractious, reared and plunged so that i could not stop. i called to the captain to take another horse, led by one of the men. he did so, but in a few moments was thrown, and before he could rise, found himself surrounded and a prisoner.
at length we emerged from this, to us dark vale, and felt our horses tread firm ground. we had gained a[pg 132] little on the enemy, and were just beyond the reach of their guns. i got the men formed once more into column, and the retreat, though still at a gallop, became orderly. i asked after the other officers; two had escaped and were with us; three were captured, and the major had been shot near the bridge, falling beside one of my men. i was therefore again in command, and had to determine speedily on a plan.
there had been with us a farmer, named gibbs, mounted on a white mule, which ran like a deer. gibbs was perfectly cool, and when we came out of the valley, he had pulled out a plug of tobacco and taken a customary bite, with the remark that he guessed we were all right now. i asked gibbs if he knew the road to hickman, on the mississippi. to which he replied: "oh, yes." "then come with me," i said, "and lead us there;" and i took him to the head of the column. telling the sergeant who led to follow gibbs, i fell out and began to drop back to the rear. unfortunately, the white mule would not lead, and in a few moments gibbs rejoined me. i then took a couple of young men, who were also escaping with us, up to the head, and giving them the same directions, again fell back. unluckily, excited and riding on a gallop by moonlight, they passed the hickman, and continued on the paducah road.
gibbs fell out of the column, and rejoined me, as it passed. i told him he had better not run this unnecessary risk; but he said he had been offered $200 for his[pg 133] mule, and would risk anything with it. bischoff also fell out, and we three rode at the rear. we did not ride so long. suddenly from the bushes and woods on the side of the road, there was a flash; and bang! bang! came the fire of our hidden foes. in an instant every horse was at full speed, rushing by. my own gave a wild bound. poor tennessee! he had been acting nobly from the first, and i thought he was only excited by the firing. my attention was chiefly upon the men, but as i gathered up the curb-rein to check him, i noticed that it was gone on the side next to the firing. still i did not think he had been hit. but he put his head down, and rushed between gibbs and bischoff. they caught him by the bridle, but in a moment he had dragged them half off their saddles. i told them to let go, and he dashed forward, striking madly against the horse in front. the concussion sent us over to the ditch, but he did not stop. with his head down, and running straight as an arrow, he flew by the entire column. i returned my sabre to the scabbard, and winding the snaffle-rein round my wrists, made every effort to stop him. it was in vain. i exerted all my strength; i used all the art i was master of, or that mr. rarey had taught; i drew his head from side to side, till his mouth touched the stirrups; but he went on, on, on at the same furious pace. the road lay through thick woods and down a series of steep hills. on one of these it turned. the horse refused to follow its windings, and kept straight on. it was like a [pg 134]locomotive rushing through the woods. there were two trees before me, close together. on he went, dashing between them. he struck against one and reeled, but did not fall. beyond, and on the steepest of the hill, lay a fallen tree. his head was down almost to his knees, and i knew he could not see. i made a great, a last effort to raise him. it failed—the tree seemed under me—there was a crash—a blow—and i lay on the ground, the horse struggling on top of me.
i tried, vainly, to rise and remount; but my right arm hung useless, and i felt dizzy and weak, while my good horse still struggled on the ground. yet the enemy were coming. i dragged myself quickly down the bank, at the foot of which ran a little stream. as i reached it, i heard the gallop of horses on the hill above me. "my sabre," i said, "must not fall into their hands." i unbuckled it quickly, and gave it a last look. it was the parting gift of my best friends, and had been my constant companion by day and by night. i could not bear to part with it thus. for an instant i hesitated. "perhaps they will not see me," i said; "but no, the risk is too great; whatever happens to me, they shall not have the sabre." a log lay across the brook. i leaned forward, and under its shadow, threw the sabre in. it splashed in the dark water and was gone. "shall i throw my pistol after it? no! it will be but a pistol more for the confederacy. here they come." i stretched myself close beside the bank, and the party of horsemen galloped by.
