32 THE MASSACRE ON THE NUECES RIVER
somewhat to their rear, intending to attack from that direction,
but when we pulled triggers four of the guns snapped, mine
only firing. While the Scott boys, Henderson and Hester, were
picking the tubes of their rifles in an effort to clear them of bad
powder, the Confederates made a determined charge upon the
Unionist camp. All of them, however, were driven back ex-
cept one man, presumably an officer. He did not retreat, but
shouted in a commanding voice, "They are giving way, boys;
come on. Charge." Encouraged by that information, the
Confederates faced about and again charged, and won the fight.
While these assaults were being made, I fired as rapidly as
I could at the Confederates, but my comrades could do nothing.
When I saw Major Tegener and the survivors of his command
leave the camp and the Confederates take possession of it, I
told the men with me to get the horses, and hurried back to
Bauer's body where I had left my saddle. I at once saddled a
comrade's horse, using a Confederate blanket for a saddle pad,
and also taking another one to use as a pallet. I captured these
blankets right where Comrade Bauer lay dead, mounted my
horse, and rode in a circle completely around the encampment
and scene of battle. At a point west of the camp about 250
yards, I was hailed by four Confederates. As I did not stop,
they fired several shots at me and I at them. Crossing to the
east bank of the river, I came upon four of my comrades, namely
Henry Schwethelm, Jacob Kusenberger, F. and A. Graf, but
as they took me for one of the enemy, I did not succeed in
halting them. Going on a little further I came to a high bluff
in a cedar brake which overlooked the late battle ground, and
here I remained until'about 10 o'clock a. m., watching the Con-
federates. as they stood and walked about the camp and its dead
and wounded, and going to and from the river, their only place
of securing water. Then, satisfied that I could do no good by
longer stay, I rode away, dazed by a tragedy that had robbed
of their lives nineteen vigorous young men, and wounded more
or less seriously six whom I knew of.
The number of dead and wounded would have been the same,
or nearly so, on each side, had not the Confederates killed all
