Show I I MUCH DELAYED WAR REPORT Gen Dan Macauley of Indiana Relates Relate Humorous Incident That Originated Originated Originated In 64 The following anecdote as related related b by y Gen Dan Macauley of Indiana affords affords af- af fords a striking illustration of the humorous turn that often concludes a situation originally tragic The beginning beginning begin begin- ning of the story takes us back to those hose stirring events of 1864 which heft had the Shenandoah Valley as the theater theater the the- ater of action flack Back and forth across that hat narrow stage with its picturesque setting etting strove those real real life life heroes Sheridan and Early In the most dramatic dramatic dra dra- matic momentous duel of the war In n this prolonged contest courage and determination were well matched matche while rare technical skill availed itself of every possible advantage to force torce a final issue That last stroke of Earlys Early's the surprIse surprise sur- sur prIse rise of the Union forces in the mornIng morning morn- morn Ing ng hours of the nineteenth of October was so well conceived and so brilliantly brilliant brilliant- ly y executed It almost deserved suc suc- cess The night before the battle General Wright then in command owing to Sheridan's temporary absence ordered ordered ordered or or- dered a to be made by byone byone byone one of his brigades On its return it reported no enemy In sight and this added greatly to the sense of security that hat prevailed among the union troops for or it was generally believed that Early had left the valley for good discouraged by his recent defeats General Macauley at this time was attached to Crooks Crook's corps as n a brigade commander and stationed on the extreme ex ex- reme left the late President Hayes holding a similar position Ip in the same corps My camp said General Macauley was aroused just before daylight by bythe bythe bythe the noise of light firing While it attracted attracted attracted at at- some some attention we Ve regarded It t as picket firing only and of ot no con con- sequence But nut upon Its continuance some moments longer a group of ofil- ofil officers cers gathered and discussed Its possible possible pos pos- sible meaning none of ot us however having any Idea that It came from the enemy In force especially after so recent recent recent re re- re- re cent a defeat At this juncture a major major ma ma- jor jar general rode up and ordered me to send a staff officer to the place from which the firing evIden evidently ly came and If It the he trouble was found to be seri sent serious ous ous to order a regiment that was stationed stationed stationed sta sta- there to hold hold Its position at any cost st stand and all b hazards ards I l had ad M on n my staff a certain major who was Vas dl distinguished d for his great I courage courage m mAl Al r I Quickly Recognized My Lost Mes Mes- He was a good deal of a dandy in In dress and manner and parted his hair hall hallIn In the middle and was was withal the wit and wag and the most gallant of our headquarters family I said to him The general is scared but go anc and see what those pickets are shooting at and if needs be be tell that colonel colone what to do The order was scarcely given and the major out of sight when p pandemonium pandemonium pande pande- nde broke loose Volleys by regiments regi regi- ments brigades and divisions poured Into us as the enemy we had thought so comfortably distant came rushing through rough our lines taking t. us completely complete complete- ly b by surprise and giving us no chance to return a single shot I soon had business In Indiana but went first to Winchester in an ambulance to see seethe seethe seethe the surgeons My major of course I did not see again Seven years afterward I was holdIng holdIng holding hold hold- Ing a military court at Annapolis Md trying an interesting case that tha had drawn Ira wn a great crowd to the court court- ro room m. m In the very midst of an Important Important important Im Im- im- im argument a big handsome fellow fellow fel- fel fel- fel low entered the door doo elbowed his way through the shoving right and left disturbing Interrupting and stopping stopping stop stop- ping proceedings until he reached the judges judge's seat Then Than with a sharp click he brought his heels together raised his arm in a brave military salute and sang out General Macauley there Isn't a ad add add d d-d d d tiring tiling over there but General Genera Gordons Gordon's Georgia division I quickly recognized my lost messenger messenger mes meso acknowledged his tardy report and told the lawyers court was adjourned ad ad- adJourned until the next day then the major and 1 J went out and had hall a n nt ht of I It t. t I J. J j 0 i |