ON the 19th of October, in 1864, one of the Union armies was encamped on Pine River. They had driven the Confederates under General Jubal Early from Lancaster two weeks before, capturing many men and guns and sent them pell mell up the Shenandoah Valley. So on this night, as they encamped on Pine River, they felt very secure.
The left wing was held by the 19th corps who were encamped in a woods. They had thrown out many pickets as the ground in front of them was also wooded. The center was held by the 8th corps and the right, by the 7th.
General Bill Werritan, their commander, had gone to Washington to consult with the War Department, and it happened that General Early and the Confederate Army were very wide awake and busy on that October night. At about four o'clock in the morning, a large division of confederates made ready for a surprise attack upon the Union left wing.
The men even removed their canteens, that they might make no noise. Not a shot was to be fired. The attack was to be with cold steel. One by one, they silently overpowered the pickets on the Union left and the first knowledge the sleeping corps had of the attack was when the confederates charged into their camp with set bayonets. Union soldiers awoke from their pleasant dreams of security to be bayoneted in their blankets, while others were clubbed to earth with the butts of muskets. In less time than it takes to tell it, where a moment before there had been peaceful tents and the green trees in the quiet woods, was a terrific, ghastly hand to hand struggle. The Confederates swept through the woods like a cyclone, and in half an hour's time, were in full possession of the camp.
Meanwhile, twenty miles away at the town of Lancaster, General Bill Werritan had just alighted from a night train from Washington. With him were two of his staff officers. They at once took a carriage to the hotel where the General had left his horses during the Washington trip. As the General alighted from the carriage he clutched the arm of one of his lieutenants and cried in an excited voice, "Listen, what is that sound?"
"I didn't hear anything, General," replied the officer. "What did you think you heard?"
As the soldier spoke, a low, faint rumble floated down the valley to their ears.
"By thunder!" cried Werritan. "That's what it is. It is cannonading. Can Early have reorganized his men again after Lancaster?"
"I don't know, General," returned one of the officers.
"By thunder, I do," returned Werritan excitedly, "It's a surprise attack. Where's my horse? Here, you nigger, bring my horse."
"Ah'm very sorry, sar," said a colored boy coming up on the run, "but both of your hosses is no good. As you know de black was lame when you lef him and de gray has done got epizoot."
"Well, that's a pretty mess of fish. What am I going to do, lieutenant?"
"Here comes a hoss for you, boss," put in the colored boy as an old negro slowly led a beautiful chestnut gelding past the hotel.
"Here uncle, bring that horse here a minute. I want to see him," called the General.
Very much flattered by the attention he had created, our old friend Rastus from Eaton Manor, who left there to come to Virginia two months before to be near his young master, led Palo'mine up to General Werritan's side.
"Whose horse is this?" asked the General.
"Dat hoss, General," said Rastus proudly, drawing himself up to his full height, "is de property of Major Halsey Eaton of de Buckeye Raiders, Sar."
"Can he run?" inquired Werritan.
"Run, General? Ah should say he could sar, you jes hit upon de right word, sar. Why, if dis 'ere hoss wuz on the tail end of a hurricane he could run right through it, sar, and split it into two pieces. He sure could. Ah guess you don't know dis hoss, General. Why, dis is Palo'mine what won de Kanetucky sweepstake in 1860, under de salberkat of King Crescent, Sar."
"Hurrah!" cried the General. "He's just the horse I want. Let me have that bridle."
The old darky drew back hurriedly "No sar," he said. "Ah couldn't on any count. Massar Halsey Eaton, he done said to me when he left, 'Now Rastus, don't you let no man so much as put a hand on dis hoss. You feed him, and groom him, and exercise him yourself. Don't let anybody touch him. Massar Halsey 'low he couldn't fight at all on another hoss. Palo'mine he done gone lame for a week but he is all right now."
"It's all right, uncle, you let me have him. I'll fix it up with Major Eaton. The rebs have attacked us and I have got to get to Pine River in no time. Give me that bridle."
"Ah couldn't no how," protested Rastus. "Massar Halsey he skin me alive."
"Men," said General Werritan turning to his officers, "we're losing valuable time. Take him prisoner. We'll confiscate the horse."
The men drew their swords and advanced upon poor Rastus with great seeming ferocity.
"O mercy General," wailed the old negro. "Spare my life, General, and you may have the hoss, but, Massar Halsey will skin me alive, sure as preachin."
"Put him in the guard house for a while and then let him go," said General Werritan winking at the officers.
So without further words, he put his hand upon the pommel of Halsey's saddle and sprang lightly to Palo'mine's back, without even touching a stirrup. And they were off for Pine River, the Kentucky thoroughbred running in that long, swinging, easy gallop that eats up distance like the bounds of a greyhound.
The General sat his horse like a centaur, yet he rode with the ease of a cowboy. Palo'mine at once knew that he was being ridden by an experienced horseman. While as for the General, he had not been thirty seconds in the saddle when he saw that he was riding a wonderful horse. There was none of the jar that there usually is in a headlong gallop, but, merely a rhythmic motion which rose and fell as evenly as the swell of the ocean. From the ease of the movement they did not seem to be going very fast but the General noted with joy that the keen morning wind cut his face and sang in his ears. He had never in all his life seen, from the back of a horse, trees, fences and houses fly past in this manner. Pebbles and small stones flew from beneath the hoofs of the flying thoroughbred, while a thin cloud of dust floated up behind them. On, on, they went. One mile, two miles, three miles, at this terrific pace. Then, as they reached a gentle grade the General allowed Palo'mine to slow down. He did not trot but merely reduced the speed to a slow canter. For a mile he held this pace, then, they reached a level stretch and were off again at the wild free gallop.
At the little hamlet of Brownville, five miles from Lancaster, the General pulled out his watch and gave a low whistle as he noted they had covered the five miles in thirteen minutes. But there was no pausing or rest for them. Away to the south the rumble of cannon grew louder each moment, so Palo'mine rushed on.
But Werritan was now fifteen miles away.
In the meanwhile, the unfortunate 19th corps had made a desperate stand before the only good crossing place on Pine River, but many of the men had lost their guns during the desperate assault upon the camp and most of the regiments had been broken up. So the stand was a futile one, for the
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confederates brought both artillery and infantry into play and soon had them fleeing across the river. But Palo'mine and General Werritan were coming.
Both foot passengers and vehicles gave the General all the road as they saw him coming in a cloud of dust. Farmers paused in their barn chores to gaze after the flying horseman. Children who were fortunate enough to be up early on this eventful morning, pressed their small faces against the window pane and gazed with wide eyes and open mouth at the rushing horseman. Fortunate, indeed, were those who could say in after years that they had actually seen Werritan upon that famous ride.
On, on the Kentucky thoroughbred galloped. With each passing mile, the General expected to see him slow down. But he did not. Never had the great man strode such a horse. His gait was so easy and so swift it was a joy to the soldier to feel the cold morning wind cut his face and to see the trees and fences rush by. Seven miles, eight, nine, and ten were passed. They were now at the village of Hastings, just half way to Pine River. The General again looked at his watch. Ten miles in twenty-seven minutes. It was incredible. Was it wise to let this willing horse run so fast? But the need was great and Palo'mine showed no signs of slackening. So the General gave him the rein and they flew onward.
In the meantime, the beleaguered 19th corps had taken up a strong position on the north side of Pine River. But the confederates continued to shell their position and send volleys of minie balls humming across the river at them. Soon the confederates' cavalry was crossing the river still further to the Union left and the Federal position was even more desperate. But Werritan was coming.
Eight miles from Pine River the General met an orderly upon a dripping foam covered horse.
"Hurry, General," he cried. "Hurry, our left wing has been badly beaten. We are being driven back. It is endangering the center and the right."
"God, why don't they fight?" roared the General. But the orderly heard no more for the rest of the great man's remarks were drowned in the sound of galloping hoofs. The orderly turned his jaded horse back to follow his commander to the front. Palo'mine was a score of rods away. Vainly the orderly urged his good horse with spur and whip. Further and further the cloud of dust drew ahead of them and in two minutes' time Palo'mine and the General were out of sight.
But the Kentucky thoroughbred was now showing signs of the great strain upon him. He also was dripping with sweat and the inside of his legs was white with lather. The General knew that the need for speed was very great, yet he did not even urge the horse. He knew that he would do all he could without urging. Six miles from Pine River was a little up grade and here Palo'mine again slowed down to a canter and so regained his wind. Finally the cross road to Hazeltown was reached. They were now five miles from Pine River. Once more the General consulted his watch. Fifteen miles in forty-two minutes. It was incredible.
In the meantime, the Confederate cavalry had crossed Pine River and were scattering the 19th corps. The Union cavalry had engaged them and the battle swayed back and forth. The position of the center and the right had now become untenable, so the 8th and 7th corps were also crossing the river. Confusion reigned. The master mind was not there. The army had lost its purpose and its will. But Werritan was coming.
Three miles from Pine River the General and Palo'mine met the first stragglers fleeing from the confederates.
"My God, boys, what are you doing? You are going the wrong way. Come back with me. The battle is not lost. Come back!" If the General said more the stragglers did not know, for he passed them and was out of shouting distance almost before they knew he was coming.
Now the stragglers became more numerous. At each furlong they met them, disheartened and crushed, fleeing from the Confederates. But the General called to each serried band, imploring, commanding them to come back with him. All caught his enthusiasm, his fighting spirit, and this army of stragglers rolled up like a great snowball as the General swept on.
But now Palo'mine had begun to show signs of the terrible strain. The wild, free gallop had diminished to a slow canter and the General had to occasionally touch him with the spur to keep him going at this pace.
Half a mile from Pine River the faithful horse suddenly slowed down and turned in at a bar way by the side of the road. Werritan jerked on the bit and applied the spur freely before he could get him to go on. He seemed possessed to stop at this bar way, but finally he went wearily forward.
Just fifty-eight minutes from the time they had left Lancaster, General Werritan sprang from Palo'mine's back on the outskirts of the battle field of Pine River and called loudly for another horse.
An orderly came clattering up and dismounting, gave the General his horse and he disappeared in the melee of the battle field.
Every student of history knows what happened during the next hour. Of how he rode up and down the line, cheering his men, making speeches, to them, reorganizing the regiments, coordinating the army once more, and how the soldiers worked. How they cheered as he rode by for the soul had come back to the army. The master mind was once more in command.
When all was in readiness they charged back across the river and fell upon the confederates who were still routing the Union camp. It was not a battle but a complete rout. Thousands of Early's men were captured and many of his guns, while the Confederate General himself was killed. Thus ended the power of Confederacy in the Shenandoah Valley and it was brave old Palo'mine who had saved the day.
Meanwhile, the faithful horse stood by the roadside where the General had left him. His head was down, he was panting and gasping for breath, he was as wet as a drowned rat and white with lather and foam. His sides were streaked with blood where the General's spurs had pricked him. Three troopers who were riding by stopped to look at him.
"Godfrey, Bill," said the first. "That horse is done for. Some fool has ridden him to death. He will be so foundered that he won't be worth a dollar."
"Guess you're right," returned Bill. "If he was mine, I'd pull off his shoes and feed him to the crows."
"You fellows has both of you got another guess coming," said the third trooper. "I hail from old Kentuck' and ef I know a Kentucky thoroughbred when I see one, he is that kind of a hoss. I've often seen hunters blown as badly as that in a fox hunt. He'll be all right in an hour or two." And the troopers rode on.
Fifteen minutes later Palo'mine wearily raised his head and drew a long deep breath, then, he shook himself as though shaking off the terrible fatigue that had clutched him. He looked at the battle cloud to the south and to the peaceful fields to the east and west as though he were looking for something. Then, turned slowly about and trotted briskly back towards Lancaster. At the bar way where he had tried to stop with the General he turned in. It was only four bars high and ordinarily he would have jumped it like a deer, had he wished to, but now he stood looking at the bar way forlornly for at least a minute. Perhaps he was thinking, who shall say, for then he went up to it and taking the top bar in his teeth shook it vigorously. After a few shakes the offending bar came loose at one end and he dropped it on the ground. If a horse may ever be said to smile, Palo'mine smiled at this achievement. Then he treated the second bar in the same manner, after which he stepped airily over the other two into the meadow beyond. Midway in the meadow the rowan was trampled by many hoofs. There were dead and wounded soldiers and horses lying about, while several riderless horses, still bridled and saddled, were cropping the grass. But, this was a familiar scene to Palo'mine. Whenever he came to a wounded man lying in his path he would trot carefully around him. At the further side of the meadow was a low stone wall and this Palo'mine jumped, into a pasture beyond. Here there were more dead and wounded men and stray horses. Forty rods from the wall, in a little ravine by the side of a small brook, Palo'mine found what he was searching for. It was a wounded trooper, lying in a small pool of his own blood. Palo'mine stood over him for several minutes looking down at him wistfully, waiting for him to move, but he gave no sign. Then the horse carefully stood parallel to the trooper and went down upon his knees, waiting for Halsey to mount. But still the trooper made no sign. Presently when his hind quarters had begun to tremble from standing in this strained position, he reached over and gently touched the man on his face with his lips. This was a kissing trick that Halsey had taught him. To the horse's great joy, the man opened his eyes and smiled up at him. Then after a moment he reached up his hand and patted the horse's nose.
"Why, faithful old Palo'mine, you good old scout. You have come for me," said the soldier feebly. "I prayed to God to send some one and he has sent you. I will be ready in a minute." Then the soldier again closed his eyes, but his hands kept a tight hold on Palo'mine's bridle rein.
Presently, with great difficulty, Halsey raised himself upon his elbow and then by degrees, with both hands, pushed his body up into a sitting position. Then, he gradually worked his body toward the horse, until he could put his elbows over the saddle. Next, he dragged his legs up to the cantle of the saddle and wearily mounted. Then he clucked to the horse. Very gently Palo'mine got to his feet. Halsey did not try to guide him, but gave him his head and he never quite knew what happened during the next three hours.
Palo'mine trotted across the pasture, he then skirted the wall until he came to a gap that the soldiers had made that morning where he passed through. Straight to the bar way he trotted and then down the road to Lancaster.
Three hours from the time that he had picked Halsey up on the battle field, he trotted into Lancaster and the trooper had just life and intelligence enough left to guide him to the field hospital. Here, willing hands lifted Halsey from the saddle, while he gave directions for them to send Palo'mine around to the stable where he knew Rastus must be waiting for him. A few minutes later a surgeon was carefully dressing Halsey's wound and checking the flow of blood.
"That's not a bad wound," he remarked, as he worked. "You'll be all right in a week or two, but the bullet must have cut a small artery. They picked you up just in time. I think you would have bled to death in another hour."
"It was my faithful horse that did it," whispered Halsey. "He saved my life."
Meanwhile, Palo'mine, in a comfortable stall, was enjoying a fine feed of oats and the best rub-down he had ever had at the hands of old Rastus.
This had been the greatest day in his life, yet he did not know it. All he knew was that he had worked desperately hard and that he was very tired.
But, by carrying General Werritan twenty miles in fifty-eight minutes, he had saved the battle of Pine River, while by picking Halsey up and carrying him to Lancaster he had saved his beloved master's life.