"saucy battery" in Hancock's corps, of which it was part.

Texas Flag Captured by the Sixteenth
Indiana.

war.

Court-Martialing a whole Division. It was near sundown when General T. J. Wood, whose conduct all through the three days' battle of Lookout Mountain, marked him as one of the ablest leaders of the National armies, rode along the lines of his superb division. Loud shouts of enthusiasm everywhere greeted his appearance, until at last his feelings, no longer controllable, broke out in a speech:

"Brave men," said he "you were ordered to go forward and take the rebel rifle pits at the foot of these hills; you did so; and then, by the Eternal! without orders, you pushed forward and took all the enemy's works on top! Here is a fine chance for having you all court-martialed! and I myself will appear as the principal witness against you, unless you promise me one thing."

When flags are captured in the height of battle, it shows close and severe fighting. A New Orleans paper states that in the bloody engagement which took place near Mansfield, the battle-worn and weather-beaten banner of a Texas regiment of rebels was captured by Captain Doxie, of the Sixteenth Indiana mounted regiment, attached to the first brigade of Lee's cavalry, after one of the most desperate hand-to-hand encounters of the When the stalwart Indianians met the rough riders of Texas, there could of course be no child's play, and consequently the ground was piled with slain in the struggle for the possession of that flag, which bore the inscription-"Texans never can be slaves." Captain Doxie, the hero of the fight, came forth from the battle covered with wounds, inflicted by sabrestroke and pistol-shot. The flag was brought down to New Orleans by Colonel Brisbane, of General Lee's staff, and was presented to Miss Mary Binny Banks, the 66 daughter of the brigade," in presence of her mother, at the residence of the General. The young lady showed a great ise!" they cried, and amid such exclamadeal of emotion as she took the battle- tions as, "Of course we'll hold them!" stained trophy-which had so long waved "Let any one try to take them from us!" triumphantly in the centre of a hecatomb" Bully for you! "Three cheers for old of heroes slain-in her hands. Mrs. Wood!" the gallant officer rode off the

"What is it? what is it?" laughingly inquired the men.

"It is," resumed the General, "that as you are now in possession of these works, you will continue, against all opposition of Bragg, Johnston, Jeff. Davis and the devil, steadfastly to hold them!"

At the conclusion of this speech, the enthusiasm of the soldiers knew no bounds. They left the ranks and crowded around their General. "We promise! we prom

Banks made a few feeling and commenda- field.

tory remarks, complimenting the gallantry

River.

of Captain Doxie and his brave men, and Brilliant Strategy of General Smith at Red promising to interest herself in securing the promotion of those who had so nobly The brilliant and successful strategy of contended for the prize and torn it from General Smith at the close of the second the possession of a desperate foe. It day's fighting at Red River, is well known. was a white and red banner, with blue The whole two days had been full of disunion, but so old, faded, and battle-worn, aster, when suddenly, in the midst of rethat the colors could scarcely be distin- treat, a favorable point and a happy guished. Perhaps it had waved on every thought struck the mind of General Smith, field from Wilson's Creek to Pleasant Hill. an educated soldier, and he at once availed

himself of it. He placed a division in Some fortune, kind to him but cruel to front in line of battle, and arranging his his regiment, which was composed of artillery and the residue of his forces tough, brave veterans, frequently placed along the ridges in the valley between which the road ran, he awaited the approach of the confederates.

On they came, yelling and foaming with the flush of success, and with rebounding speed they rushed upon the troops they saw before them. Then, apparently alarmed at their overwhelming force, retreated, first in order, and then at a trot, and the enemy followed. When the gorge was completely filled, grape, canister, and musket shot opened upon them, and the destruction was appalling; those who could, fell back to their main body, the few who passed through were taken prisoners, and the Federal troops re-formed, the forces under Smith continuing to cover their retreat until all safely reached Grand Ecore. As soon as the army had thus been extricated from its crushing danger, General Banks rode up to General Smith and said

him in command-seniority of rank doing
the business. On the occasion referred to
he was leading his regiment, under orders,
on an expedition in Western Virginia,
when he came near the town of
He had felt his way cautiously toward the
town, with skirmishers thrown forward,
and employing all the precautions neces-
sary when a strong force of an enemy is
in the neighborhood. Thus the valiant
Major proceeded until he met some of the
residents of the town, who assured him
that no rebels were there that the citi
zens of the place were prepared to receive
the Union troops with a welcome.

Upon receiving this information, the
Major was almost instantly transformed
from an anxious, cautious skirmisher, into
a terrible son of Mars.
His eyes pro-
truded, his pursy form swelled, he flour-
ished his saber high in the air, and in a
stentorian voice ordered his command to

"God bless you, General! You have close up, to trot, and to gallop. Away saved the army from destruction."

"I hope he will bless all of us," was the brave soldier's terse and significant reply.

Falstaff in the Cavalry Service.

went the Major, followed by his regiment, charging directly through the town pellmell, with great rattling of hoofs and clanging of sabers; nor did he draw rein and order a halt until he was a clear mile beyond the limits of the village. Once safe beyond the possibility of an ambush, beyond a town where he had supposed secesh were lurking, the indomitable Major kept on his way rejoicing.

In one of the Union cavalry regiments there was a Major whose character more resembled that of Falstaff in some respects than that of any other officer. The But, oh! the wonderment and terror of Major blustered when there was no dan- the women and children of the town, and ger, and when in a tight place he either the rage of the Major's veteran troopers! showed the white feather or attempted to The ladies had prepared a collation for the conceal it by some act that seemed like yankee soldiers—either from a friendly blind desperation. Being an arrant cow-feeling or a desire to propitiate them, tables ard, he feared the reputation of a coward were spread in front of their houses, and as much as he did death itself, and therefore would make a terrific charge-but without judgment,-if he supposed that people whose opinion he feared were looking on. One of his exploits may here be cited.

women and children were in the streets to welcome the hungry warriors and their 'gallant chieftain' to their repast, and what was their dismay, when the whole body galloped furiously through the streets, actually endangering the lives of the inno

cent would-be entertainers, and overturn-| ing the well-loaded tables!

Hurrah for the Gunspiker. Colonel Roberts, of the Forty-second Illinois, rendered himself conspicuous for his bravery at Island No. 10, (where he so gloriously spiked the battery,) and at Farmington; services so distinguished, that, in the subsequent battle in which he engaged, he acted as Brigadier-General. His regiment was also noted for its coolness and bravery. When ordered to fall back, they did so under a terrible crossfire of grape and shell, with all the regularity of a parade. Halting occasionally and facing about, they would check the onward rush of the enemy, and then quietly resume their retreat. Their coolness was so conspicuous, that General Palmer,

struck with admiration, galloped along Smith's Chapel to fight the Feds, and I their lines, hat in hand, shouting: "Brave have fed any amount of rebels. I won't Forty-second, I wish I could be the father lie any more! You have got it all. I of every one of you!" Colonel Roberts have done all I could to aid the South." exposed himself constantly with perfect sang froid to the hottest fire of the enemy, and when the last regiment, the Fortysecond, passed through the gap, he in person commanded the rear guard. Several times during the fight, as the Colonel rode along the lines, the boys ceased from their labors to "hurrah for the gunspiker!"

Owning Up.

Major McKee, at the head of a Union force, hunted up a great many secessionists of the rampant sort, in Southern Missouri, so actively, indeed, as to nearly fill the various county jails. When he caught one of this type, he said:

"Well, how much of a rebel have you been? You know more about what you have done than I do. I know some, and you know it all.”

The Major had come down so hard on them that they feared to lie to him. Another man came in at the same time as the above, to take the oath.

"Well, Sir, what have you done?" "Nothing."

"Well, Sir, I will put you in jail for not doing something."

After he had been in jail about two hours, he sent for the Major, and told him where there were eleven kegs of powder, and a Government wagon, and owned to helping cut up a ferry boat on the Missouri river, in the summer.

Seven Rebels Captured by One Fed. One of the neatest of military exploits during the war, was that performed by Captain Drake DeKay of General Mansfield's staff, while awaiting the General's One old man said, as he trembled, "Ma- arrival at a house called Moore's Ranche, jor, I have not done any thing."

a kind of summer hotel kept by a man

"Stop," said the Major, "you know named Moore, at Ocean View. All the

you have got some powder hid."

66

"Oh, yes, there is some."

white men, and most of the women of the vicinity had fled-it was said by those

they had left behind-to the woods, to gained precisely one month earlier at prevent being forced into the rebel ser- Winchester. It was a victory following

vice.

upon the heels of apparent reverse, and therefore reflecting peculiar credit on the brave commander to whose timely arrival upon the field the final success of the day must be attributed.

Captain DeKay, while supper was being prepared, mounted his horse and determined to explore the country, followed only by his negro servant. As he was passing a swamp toward evening, he came The General was at Winchester in the suddenly upon seven of the secession early morning when the enemy attacked— troops, who were lurking by the roadside, fifteen miles distant from the field of opeand were armed with double-barreled rations. General Wright was in comguns. The Captain turned instantaneously mand. The enemy had approached under and shouted to his (imaginary) company cover of a heavy fog, and flanking the exto prepare to charge-and then riding for-treme right of the Federal line, held by ward rapidly, revolver in hand, told the Crook's Corps, and attacking in the centre, men they were his prisoners, as his cav- had thrown the entire line into confusion, alry would soon be upon them, ordered and driven it several miles. The stragthem to discharge their pieces and deliver glers to the rear were fearfully numerous, them to him, which they did without de- and the enemy was pushing on, turning lay. He then informed them that his against the Federals a score of guns alonly 'company' was his negro servant, ready captured from them. and directed them to follow him into camp.

An hour later, just after General Wool had returned from Norfolk, the Captain rode to the beach and informed Colonel Cram, as Chief of the General's Staff, that the seven prisoners, whom he had marched to the beach, were at his disposal. Their arms were taken away, and on promising to take the oath of allegiance, the men were at once dismissed. One of them proved to be Moore himself, who came over to his house, where he found half a dozen Feds in full possession, and just preparing to discuss a most comfortable supper which his obliging colored cook had got ready for them. Like nearly all the rebel soldiers in that section, he said that he had been forced into the service, and was only waiting a chance to run away; but his statements on this point did not obtain, to say the least, any more credit than they deserved.

This was the situation a little before noon when Sheridan came on the field, riding, said one of his staff, so that the devil himself could not have kept up. A staff officer meeting him, pronounced the situation of the army to be "awful."

"Pshaw," said Sheridan, "it's nothing of the sort. It's all right, or we'll fix it right!"

Sheridan hastened to his cavalry on the extreme left. Galloping past the batteries to the extreme left of the line held by the cavalry, he rode to the front, took off his hat and waved it, while a cheer went up from the ranks not less hearty and enthusiastic than that which greeted him after the battle of Winchester. Generals rode out to meet him, officers waved their swords, men threw up their hats in an extremity of glee. General Custer, discovering Sheridan at the moment he arrived, rode up to him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him on the cheek. Waiting for no other parley than simply to exSheridan Riding to the Front. change greeting, and to say "This retreat The victory gained by General Sheri- must be stopped!" Sheridan broke loose dan at Cedar Creek, Va., October 19th, and began galloping down the lines, along 1864, surpassed in interest the victory the whole front of the army. Every

where the enthusiasm caused by his ap- same proceeding with him, until Torbert pearance was the same.

was forced to cry out, "There, there, old fellow; don't capture me!"

Sheridan's ride to the front, October 19th, 1864, will go down in history as one of the most important and exciting events which have ever given interest to a battle scene; and to this event is to be attributed the victory of the day.

The line was speedily re-formed; provost-marshals brought in stragglers by the scores; the retreating army turned its face to the foe. An attack just about to be made by the latter was repulsed, and the tide of battle turned. Then Sheridan's time was come. A cavalry charge was ordered against right and left flank of the enemy, and then a grand advance of the Boy Soldiers at the Old Ones' Trade. three infantry corps from left to right on the Knoxville, Tennessee, is a town well enemy's centre. On through Middletown, known. Across a little creek is a place and beyond, the Confederates hurried, and called Shieldstown. The spirit of war exthe Army of the Shenandoah pursued. hibited itself warmly among the boys six, The roar of musketry now had a gleeful, eight, and ten years old, and the fight raged dancing sound. The guns fired shotted fiercely between the Shieldstowners and salutes of victory. Custer and Merritt, Knoxvillers. They used slings and minie charging in on right and left, doubled up balls, which they handled with great dexthe flanks of the foe, taking prisoners, terity. They had camp-fires built along in slashing, killing, driving as they went. a line. Every morning each party apThe march of the infantry was more ma-peared on its own side of the stream, jestic and terrible. The lines of the foe drawn up in array, ammunition was disswayed and broke before it everywhere. tributed out of a bag, fifteen rounds to the Beyond Middletown, on the battle-field fought over in the morning, their columns were completely overthrown and disorganized. They fled along the pike and over the fields like sheep.

man, and they commenced. Old soldiers of the Ninth Corps, who had been through many a storm of shot and shell, kept at a respectable distance as they hurled their minies with vigor. One day the ShieldsThus on through Strasburg with two towners made a charge at the single plank brigades of cavalry at their heels. Two that crossed the stream, the Knoxvillers thousand prisoners were gathered together, ran, all except one little fellow about eight though there was not a sufficient guard to years old-he stood at the end of the send them all to the rear. The guns lost plank, swearing oaths like Parrott shells, in the morning were recaptured, and as calling them cowards, and, by a vigorous many more taken, making fifty in all, and discharge of minies, repulsed the assault. according to Sheridan's report, the enemy The casualties amounted to bruises and reached Mount Jackson without an organ- cuts in all parts of the body, rather serious ized regiment. The scene at Sheridan's to look at, or to think what they might head-quarters at night, after the battle, have been; but every little fellow was was wildly exciting. General Custer ar- proud of his wound. So it went on for rived about nine o'clock. The first thing several days, when one bright morning, as he did was to hug General Sheridan with they were drawn up in full-fighting array, all his might, lifting him in the air, and and only awaited the military signal to whirling him around and around, with the commence, suddenly appeared some women shout: "Bywe've cleaned them out in rear of each—a half dozen were caught and got the guns!" Catching sight of up, severely spanked, and led off. The General Torbert, Custer went through the rest were disconcerted and dispersed.