The Lone Star defenders; a chronicle of the Third Texas cavalry, Ross brigade Page: 72 of 306
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THE WAR IN MISSOURI 65
shine, afterwards ascertained to have been Sigel's
column of General Curtis' army. We were drawn up
in line and ordered to prepare for a charge. To
illustrate what a magic influence an order to charge
upon the enemy has, how it sends the sluggish blood
rushing through the veins and livens up the new
forces, I will say that while we were standing in line
preparing to charge those fellows, I was so benumbed
with cold that I could not cap my pistols. I tried
ever so hard to do so, but had my life depended upon
it I could not have succeeded. We were thrown into
columns of fours and ordered to charge, which we
did at a brisk gallop, and before we had gone exceeding
one-half mile I had perfect use of my hands,
was comfortably warm, and did not suffer in the least
with cold at any time during the rest of the day.
We charged into the town, but the enemy had all
moved out. I suppose it was the rear of the command
that we had seen moving out. That afternoon
we were ambushed by a strong force, and
were fired on in the right flank from a steep, rough
hill. We were ordered to charge, which order we
attempted to obey by wheeling and charging in
line up a hill so steep and rough that only a goat
could have made any progress, only to find our line
broken into the utmost confusion and under a murderous
fire of infantry and artillery from an invisible
enemy behind rocks and trees. In the confusion
I recognized the order "dismount and fall
into line! " I dismounted, but when I fell into what
I supposed was going to be the line I found Lieutenant
J. E. Dillard and J. B. Murphy, " us three,
and no more." While glancing back I saw the regi-
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Barron, S. B. The Lone Star defenders; a chronicle of the Third Texas cavalry, Ross brigade, book, 1908; New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth27719/m1/72/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Public Library.