a tempest, his troopers yelling like a lot of
devils. They first struck the Fourth Ohio, which could make but little
resistance. Col. Minor Millikin, the gallant commander of the First Ohio,
led a portion of his regiment in a brilliant counter charge, but had to
retire with fearful losses. In the onslaught the dear, fearless colonel,
my intimate college friend, engaged in single combat with a Texas ranger,
and was slain.

"There was no staying the Confederates. They outnumbered and outflanked
us, and, to tell the melancholy truth, our defending cavalry finally
retired in confusion to the rear and left the ammunition train to its
fate--high and dry in a corn field. As may be imagined, our teamsters, the
train guards, and the ordnance officer (yes, I must admit it), were not
left far behind in the general stampede. We fired one volley from behind
the protection of our wagons and then hunted cover in the rear of a
friendly fence and in the nearest thicket. Our teamsters outran the
cavalry. Most of them never reappeared. The Confederates began to collect
and lead away our teams and wagons, and our condition seemed desperate,
indeed, hopeless.

"Happily, this appalling state of affairs did not last long. Some of our
cavalry rallied, other Union detachments came to the rescue. Wharton had
soon to look to his own flanks, and was kept too busy to carry off our
train. The conflict fortunately shifted. Capt. Elmer Otis, with six
companies of the Fourth Regular Cavalry, attacked Wharton's command with
great vigor and success. Soon two battalions of the Third Ohio Cavalry
came up from the rear. I hastened to appeal to the commander to aid our
train guard in saving the train, and he at once covered our front and held
the enemy in check until our badly-wrecked train, with its disabled wagons
and scattered animals was reorganized and put in moving order. We repaired
and patched up the breaks. Everybody, even officers and stragglers helped,
and nearly every wagon was finally recovered."

The third attack referred to by General Thruston came from a force that
Wharton had not yet met. Before they had time to take advantage of their
success, Kennett was upon them. Col. Eli H. Murray, at the head of his
gallant regiment, the Third Kentucky, charged down upon the train,
sweeping Wharton's cavalry before him. Here the brave Captain Wolfley,
with eighty men, and Captain Breathitt, with his battalion, charged with
such velocity as to turn t