. Down in Dixie : life in a cavalry regiment in the war days, from the Wilderness to Appomattox . s or so from the head of the column, the lieuten-ant said to me. Load your carbine and keep it readyfor use, but dont fire unless the enemy opens on you,for it is desired to secure a favorable position for watch-ing the movements of the rebels as soon as it is lightenough. It was quite dark down there in the woods. I didnot take kindly to the thought that I was to be used asa target for the rebel pickets. This riding to the frontto draw the enemys fire was a new experience to I tried to com
. Down in Dixie : life in a cavalry regiment in the war days, from the Wilderness to Appomattox . s or so from the head of the column, the lieuten-ant said to me. Load your carbine and keep it readyfor use, but dont fire unless the enemy opens on you,for it is desired to secure a favorable position for watch-ing the movements of the rebels as soon as it is lightenough. It was quite dark down there in the woods. I didnot take kindly to the thought that I was to be used asa target for the rebel pickets. This riding to the frontto draw the enemys fire was a new experience to I tried to comfort myself with the hope that wewere so far out on the left that we would not encounterthe Confederates. The advance business was as new to the doctorshorse as it was to me. I had to use my spurs freely toinduce him to otq down the road ahead of the otherhorses. We got started after awhile, and the still huntfor Lees right and rear was begun. It was lonesome work for man and beast. Suddenly,and without any intimation of what he intended to do,the horse began to neigh. It may have been in the. r THE NEW YORK j A8T0R, LENOX i TILDtN FOUNDATIONS \ DOWN IN DIXIE. 249 animals ordinary tone of voice, but to me it seemedto be loud enough to be heard way back to the Rapi-dan. I expected the Johnnies would open fire at staff officer rode up to me — after waiting long-enough for me to draw the enemys fire if they wereclose at hand — and said : Whats the matter? Horse whickered, sir. What made him ? Cant tell, sir; he broke out without any notice. Ever do it before ? Dont know. I only got him yesterday belonged to an infantry doctor who was shot. ^ That accounts for it; a doughboy horse dontknow anything about this kind of work! Take yourplace at the rear .of the detachment, and if that horseneiphs ao^ain, break his head with vour carbine. All right, sir. Another man was sent to the front, and we movedon. We did not run into the rebel pickets, and theofficer sai
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectunitedstateshistoryc
