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rear.
Soon the brave and faithful sentinel, B. F. Oliveros, signaled that the enemy were advancing.
Happily for the Federals, their advance guard was a considerable distance to the front, so that when it reached Captain Dickison the main force had not passed the position of Lieutenant Reddick.
Captain Dickison had concealed himself about twenty feet from the road, and, when the advance was within a few yards of him, he arose and ordered them to surrender.
They replied with a volley which drew the fire of the dismounted Confederates, and a charge immediately followed which resulted in the killing or capturing of the entire advance.
At this alarm the main body wheeled around and dashed back in great confusion, Lieutenant Reddick gallantly pursuing them through an almost impenetrable scrub, killing 3 and mortally wounding their commanding officer.
Company H remounted, and some of them also pursued the enemy through their picket lines, capturing and bringing out several of their pickets, the total capture being 35.
Being only a mile and a half from the city, and knowing the enemy would soon be out in large force, the prisoners and arms were sent to the rear.
Captain Dickison and Lieutenant Reddick rode up to where a wounded Federal officer lay near one of his men, mortally wounded.
On examining the officer's wound, Captain Dickison saw it was mortal, and, as his surgeon, was not in attendance, he bound it with his handkerchief and made a pillow of his only blanket for the dying soldier.
Choice being given him to be paroled or carried off as prisoner, he accepted parole, as also did his wounded comrade.
The next day death, the last conqueror, claimed his own. After performing this humane act the Confederate officers had barely time to regain their command when a Federal force came out to remove their wounded and dead.
Had not their advance guard been good soldiers and well trained, the entire battalion would
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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