OF THE RIGHT STUFF.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XXIII, 4 June 1898, Page 719

OF THE RIGHT STUFF.

Cases of individual bravery amounting to recklessness are related of men of both armies in the Civil Mar. In the ’Red Book of Michigan’ there is a history of the doings of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War. To this history Colonel Trowbridge contributes an incident connected with the repulse of the Confederates under General Wheeler at Strawberry riains. August 24. 1864. Eight men, it appears, had been detailed to guard McMillan’s Ford, on the Holston. One of them ‘went, off on his own hook.’ as Colonel Trowbridge expresses it. so that only seven were left. One of them, who bore the unheroic name of Griggs, was a large and powerful fellow the farrier of Company B. These seven men actually kent. a Confederate brigade from crossing the ford for three hours and a half. The fighting was severe. Finally the big farrier was badly wounded, and the Confederates, by swimming the river above and below, succeeded in capturing the whole party. General Wheeler was filled with admiration at their valour, and at once paroled a man to stay and take eare of Griggs. Then he said to the wounded fariier: ‘Well, my man. how many men had you at the ford?’ ‘Seven, sir,’ answered Griggs. ‘My poor fellow, don’t you know you are badly wounded? You had better tell me the truth; you may not live long.’ ‘I am telling the truth, sir,’ said the indignant soldier. ‘We had only seven men.’ ‘Well, what did you expect to do?' asked the general, with a laugh. ‘To keep you from crossing, sir.’ The general was still more amused. ‘Whv didn’t you do it?’ he asked. “Well, you see. sir. we did until von bit me. and that weakened our forces so much that yon were too many for us.’ General Wheeler, more amused than ever, inquired of another prisoner—who happened to be a horse farrier too - ‘Are all the Tenth Michigan like you fellows?’ ‘Oh. no!’ said the man. ‘we are the poorest of the lot. We are mostly horse farriers and blacksmiths, and not much accustomed to fighting.’